People seeking political asylum and the concession of travel

Q 1: I am one of the Iraqi refugees who are heartily hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the custodian of Al-Haramayn Al-Sharifayn (the Two Sacred Mosques: the Sacred Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah) king (Part No. 6; Page No. 421) Fahd ibn ‘Abdul-‘Aziz Al Saud. We found the people of the KSA generous and hospitable to Arabs and Muslims in terms of comfort, safety, medical care and Islamic education through the local radio for the International Islamic Relief Organization where it broadcasts the recitation of the Glorious Qur’an and Hadith, in addition to the continuous follow up by the people in charge to all the needs. Anyway, we are grateful to the KSA as well as its respectable Arab people. O Shaykh, I have some questions for which I would like some answers, should we shorten our Salah because we are on a journey or complete it because we are non-travelers?

A: It is obligatory for a non-traveler (sojourner) who intends to stay more than four days to perform Salah in complete form because the rulings of travel have ceased to be applicable because of changing your intention to stay. If a person intends to stay for four days or less, or does not know the duration for which they will stay, they may offer the Salah shortened, according to which the Four-Rak‘ah Salah (Prayer consisting of four units) is shortened to two Rak‘ahs (units of Prayer) because the rulings of travel still apply to them, except if a person performs Salah (Prayer) with those who should perform the Salah in full, in this case they have to complete their Salah, as does their Imam (the one who leads congregational Prayer). You belong to the third category who do not know how long they shall stay, so you may shorten the Four-Rak‘ah Salah, except when you offer Salah with those who perform four Rak‘ahs; in this case you must offer your Salah in complete form as them, as mentioned above, because the authentic Sunnah indicates that. (Part No. 6; Page No. 422) May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.