It is reported in the hadith of Abu Qalaba...

It is reported in the hadith of Abu Qalaba, and this is in the Sihah, that the Prophet (S) told a man from the Banu `Amir: "The Almighty Allah (S.W.T.) has lifted the [burden of] fasting from the traveler, and [the difficulty of] separating the prayers." One who studies the Sunan, and the sayings of the Imams about the prayer, and fast of a traveler will find documented sources, religious edicts and the consensus of the community [maintaining that], that the shortening of the prayer, and iftar when traveling have been legislated by Allah, the Almighty, in the religion of Islam.

When traveling, what is required to be performed for one of the two (prayer and fast) is necessarily required for the other, without doubt. The Ruling of Shortening The Prayer (Qasr) The Imams (leader of congregational prayer) of the Muslim community have different views on the ruling of shortening the prayer when on a journey. Amongst them are those who see the qasr to be a fixed obligation on a traveler, this is the view of the ‘Imamis’ (Shi’i) in following their Imams.

Abu Hanifa, and his companions, and all the Kufans have ruled likewise. Amongst them are those who rule that the ‘qasr’ (shortened prayers) and ‘itmam’ (offering the full prayers) are both obligatory when on a journey although the traveler has a choice between the two like the choice in paying an obligatory expiation. Such is the view of some of the companions of [School of] al-Shafi`i.

Amongst them are those who have said that the ‘qasr’ is a highly recommended [act], this is the view of [School of] Malik according to the most famous reports from him. Amongst them are those who see the ‘qasr’ as a ‘rukhsa’ (deviation) and that the complete [prayer] is better. This is what [School of] al-Shafi`i ruled according to the most famous reports narrated from him. This is reflected in his companions.

The [School of] Hanbalis have permitted the ‘qasr’ [prayers], it is better than the ‘itmam’ although offering the full prayers is not detested. Our proofs The Imamis (Shi’i) have argued that the ‘qasr’ is obligatory based on the ‘Sihah’ (authentic traditions) which have been related by the masses and [based on] proven texts from the Imams of guidance from the ‘Ahlul Bayt’ (Holy household of Prophet A.S.), peace be upon them.

Amongst the ‘Sihah’ of the masses is what Muslim has reported in his ‘Sahih’ in the book of the prayer of the travelers and shortening it, [reported] from Ibn `Abbas from two chains of transmission.