Fatwa ID: 04608

Answered by: Maulana Irfan Ali

 

Question

 

I am serving as the only Imam in an area in Cambridgeshire and it is over 80 miles away from my home in Oxfordshire.

Previously I was allowed to go home once a month for 4 days after staying here for about 25-26 days, so there was no issue regarding Qasr.

Recently, new committee members have taken charge and they have said that I need to go home every 2 weeks (14 days) from now on for 3 days and then come back.

So, this Masjid is my place of employment, and accommodation is provided and I have quite a lot of my belongings here.

I intend to stay here for the duration of my employment, and I do not intend to stay here once my employment is over.

However, my family all live in Oxfordshire and some of my belongings are there as well.

Now my questions are the following:

1) Can this Masjid/ place of employment become my 2nd Watn Asli or not?

2) Or will it be a Watn Iqamah for me?

3) And will I have to lead Qasr salah here or can I lead it in full? 

 

 

 

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

 

 

Answer:

 

The watn asli usually refers to a person’s hometown where he has taken up residence or a place beside his birthplace in which he has assumed permanent residence along with his family. After settling he has no intention of leaving the place.

 

If a person relocates with his family and possessions to his place of employment with the intention that he will live there forever even if his employment terminates then this place will assume the status of watn asli.

 

However, if a person relocates with his family but intends to live in his place of employment only for the duration of his employment then there are two opinions. Some scholars say this place will not be regarded as his watn asli. Whereas other scholars have regarded such a place as watn asli, i.e. both places will be considered as watn asli

 

Ibn Humam in his Fathul Qadeer has written that a place will cease to be regarded as watn asli if the following two conditions are found:

 

1. A person completely disassociates himself from his watn asli and moves away with his family.
2. He assumes permanent residence in another town

 

It is a safer option to perform qasr salah as you are closer to the conditions of a traveler.

 

 

Only Allah knows best

Written by Maulana Irfan Ali

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

 

 

بحر الرائق ص١٣٦ج٢

 

احسن الفتاوي ص١٠٢ج٤