1. A long period over a long distance: this is unquestionably travel, as when someone flies from al-Qasim to Mecca and remains there for ten days.

2. A short period over a short distance: this is not travel, as when someone leaves, for example, from Unayzah to Buraydah in the forenoon and returns the same day, or goes to al-Rass or somewhere farther away, yet the distance is still close and is not considered a long journey.

3. A long period over a short distance: meaning that he goes to a nearby place which is not regarded as belonging to his town or forming part of it, and remains there for two or three days. This is travel. Thus, if a person were to go from Unayzah to Buraydah, for example, intending to stay for three days, two days, or the like, he is a traveller.

4. A short period over a long distance: such as one who goes from al-Qasim to Jeddah and returns on the same day. This is called travel, because people prepare for it and consider themselves travellers.

Question: If it is unclear whether something is customarily regarded as travel or not, then two fundamental principles pull the matter in opposite directions:

The first principle is that travel consists in leaving one’s place of residence. Accordingly, this principle would lead us to rule that it is travel.

The second principle is that the presumption is residence until travel is established. So long as a person is uncertain whether he is travelling, he is uncertain whether he is a resident or a traveller; and the presumption is residence. Therefore, in such a case, the prudent course is to pray in full, because the presumption is residence until it is established that it is called travel.