Travel Rulings
On this page you will find various useful tools regarding travel for Shi’as, and many common issues which people face. Please choose which option you’d like to view:
This section helps you determine if you need to fast during your trip, answers FAQs, & includes a downloadable guide
Qasr Prayers in Travel
This section provides Qibla directions while on a plane, prayer direction from any location globally, and how to pray Qasr Salat
Travel from the GTA
This section caters to those who live in the Greater Toronto Area with an interactive map that helps determine whether you're travelling outside of city boundaries
Travel Rulings Explained
Additional Informative Videos:
Praying in the state of travel – https://youtu.be/abmRdLwxD90
Frequent travel – https://youtu.be/7HnsjREE6bY
Praying in another city – https://youtu.be/DsXyBMVmQ9U
Miscellaneous rulings – https://youtu.be/VPsQc0jyPSY
Praying on a plane – https://youtu.be/FQocxgUhicE
Fasting During Travel?
Prepared by Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi ©Al-Ma’arif
Use the form below to determine whether you should fast during your travels. If you’re located in the Toronto area, you can use the map further below to determine your exact distance of travel from the city limits.
Are you travelling out of city limits at a minimum distance of at least 44KM round-trip (ex 22km going, 22km coming back) OR 44KM one way? Choose the Yes or No button accordingly.
You haven’t traveled far from city limits. Your fast is valid and should be carried out as normal.
Visit al-m.ca/ramadhan for further resources surrounding fasting like fidya, kaffara, travel FAQs, medicine use, & more.
Qasr Salat
Qasr Salat Explained
Prepared by Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi ©Al-Ma’arif Foundation
Qasr prayers are to be done if you travel at least 44KM round-trip (ex 22km going, 22km coming back) OR 44KM one way from your city limits. You can pray qasr or break your fast once you reach “hadd-e tarakkhus — the point of permissibility”. This is defined, in our context, as a point from where you can’t see the last homes of that city. This distance is not fixed because it varies from city to city depending on different urban layouts, terrains, population distribution, and other unique factors.
If you live in the Toronto area, you can use the map below to calculate your travel distance from the GTA border.
Qasr Salat is to be prayed as follows:
Fajr – 2 Raka’at
Zuhr – 2 Raka’at
Asr – 2 Raka’at
Maghrib – 3 Raka’at
Isha – 2 Raka’at
If You Prayed Full Salat by Mistake
Prepared by Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi ©Al-Ma’arif Foundation
If you knowingly prayed full salat when you were supposed to pray qasr, your salat is invalid. (For all other doubts related to salat, visit al-m.ca/salat)
If you accidentally prayed full salat out of ignorance of the following:
It is acceptable, your salat is valid
Travelling from the Greater Toronto Area (GTA)
Prepared by Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi ©Al-Ma’arif Foundation
Use the map below to determine whether or not you will be considered a traveller when leaving the city boundaries of the GTA. Instructions as follows:
- Red markers have been placed at all major exit points of the GTA. If you know which point you’ll be leaving from (ex. 401 West from Milton), then click on your exit marker once. The ‘From’ box in the directions form below, will automatically enter that location’s coordinates as your starting point.
- Enter your destination in the ‘To’ box as desired, & click ‘Go’.
- Route directions will be shown, with the travel distance shown in kilometres.
- If the distance travelled outside city limits is at least 44KM round-trip (ex 22km going, 22km coming back) OR 44KM one way, you will be considered a traveller.
