Question:
Is it permissible for a resident to be the makmum of an imam who is a traveller?
Answer:
According to a hadith narrated by Imran bin Husain, he said:
غَزَوْتُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَشَهِدْتُ مَعَهُ الْفَتْحَ فَأَقَامَ بِمَكَّةَ ثَمَانِيَ عَشْرَةَ لَيْلَةً لاَ يُصَلِّي إِلاَّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَيَقُولُ يَا أَهْلَ الْبَلَدِ صَلُّوا أَرْبَعًا فَإِنَّا قَوْمٌ سَفْرٌ
“I went on an expedition with the Prophet, and I was present with him at the Conquest. He stayed eighteen days in Mecca and prayed only two rak’as [at each time of prayer]. He said, “You who live in the town must pray four; we are travellers.” [1]
It can be understood that a person who isn’t travelling can follow an imam who is a traveller. However, he must complete the remaining rakaat after the imam traveller finished praying the two rakaat (for he performed qasar).
This is considered as the ijma’ of the scholars. This is as stated by Imam Ibn al-Munzir: “And they (the scholars) have agreed that a person who is a resident when he follows a traveller imam and the imam finished praying and gives the salam after two rakaat, the makmum who is a resident then has to complete his prayer.” [2]
Wallahu a’lam.