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Abstract

This paper investigates the rulings of prayer during travel and residence (safar and hadr) by focusing solely on the first verse of Surah Al-Isra. This verse commemorates the miraculous Night Journey (Al-Isra) of the Prophet from Makkah to Jerusalem. Imam Al-Qurtubi, in Al-Jami' li Ahkam al-Qur’an, delves into the theological and legal implications of this journey, viewing it as a divine endorsement of the permissibility of travel for religious purposes, including prayer, and as a foundation for understanding concessions during travel. The paper aims to derive legal insights into the principles of Qasr (shortening of prayers) and Jama’ (combining prayers) based on this singular verse, exploring how travel symbolized by the Prophet’s nocturnal journey relates to the flexibility of Shari’ah in worship. A comparative juristic approach follows, highlighting the interpretive depth provided by al-Qurtubi and its practical impact on Islamic legal thought.