To work out how to make up a prayer missed during a trip, first ask whether you were still legally travelling when its time ended. If you were, the missed prayer is treated as a travel prayer; if its time ended after you had reached home, it is treated as a prayer missed while resident. The schools differ on whether a travel prayer made up after returning home is shortened or performed in full.
Does a prayer missed on a journey count as a travel prayer?
The key point is your status when the prayer time ended, not simply where you happen to be when you make it up. If you were still a traveller at the end of the time, the prayer was missed during travel. If you had already arrived home and were resident when the time ended, it was missed as a resident.
Shortened or in full: the rule and where the schools differ
The Qur’an permits shortening prayer during travel: “When ye travel through the earth, there is no blame on you if ye shorten your prayers, for fear the Unbelievers May attack you: For the Unbelievers are unto you open enemies.” (Surah An-Nisaa, 4:101) Prayer also has appointed times: “When ye pass (Congregational) prayers, celebrate Allah’s praises, standing, sitting down, or lying down on your sides; but when ye are free from danger, set up Regular Prayers: For such prayers are enjoined on believers at stated times.” (Surah An-Nisaa, 4:103)
Ibn ‘Umar reported: “ ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I accompanied the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) on his journeys, and he would not perform more than two Rak‘ahs. Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, and ‘Uthmān used to do the same.” (Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim) This report describes the Prophet’s ﷺ practice and that of the first caliphs on journeys. For an overview of the rules for shortening and combining prayers during travel, see the rules of Qasr and Jam’ while travelling.
If a prayer time ends while you are still travelling, make up that prayer during the journey in its shortened form, where shortening applies. If you make it up after returning home, scholars differ: some hold that it remains shortened because it was missed while travelling; others say it should be completed in full because you are now resident. The reverse situation—making up a prayer missed at home while travelling—also has differing rulings. For the discussion of shortening prayers while travelling, consult IslamQA’s discussion of shortening prayers while travelling. This is the specific point of difference; it should not be confused with the general permission to shorten an on-time prayer during travel.
Putting it into practice
First, work out which obligatory prayers you missed and whether each prayer time ended while you were travelling or after you became resident. This distinction helps you apply the relevant guidance rather than assuming that every prayer made up on the road is automatically shortened. For broader guidance on making up missed prayers, read the general guidance on making up missed prayers.
Next, make up the prayers as soon as possible and, when several are due, keep their original order where you can. Anas ibn Mālik reported that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever forgets a prayer should perform it as soon as he remembers it; there is no expiation for it except that: {and establish prayer to remember me.} [Surat Tā-ha: 14]” (Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim) Finally, keep a single record of what you have completed; you can use the Prayer Tracker to keep track of your daily prayers so that you do not lose track while travelling or after returning.
Frequently asked questions
Can I combine missed prayers when making them up?
Combining (Jam’) means praying two prayers within the time of one of them; it is distinct from making up a prayer whose time has already passed. Do not assume that permission to combine prayers during a journey automatically applies to missed prayers. The ruling on combining make-up prayers is discussed differently by scholars, so distinguish the case from combining on-time prayers while travelling.
Start by identifying whether each prayer time ended while you were travelling or after you returned home. Make up the prayers promptly and in order where possible, while recognizing that scholars differ on whether a travel prayer made up at home is shortened or full. Keep one record so you can complete what remains.
Sources quoted
Every quotation was checked word for word against the Quran and hadith texts in our database.
- Surah An-Nisa, verse 101
- Surah An-Nisa, verse 103
- Hadith narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim — authentic
- Hadith narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim — authentic
The Al Muslim Plus editorial team · reviewed on October 13, 2026