If he intends to complete it, then he must complete it, according to those who hold that it is permissible for a traveller to offer the prayer in full.

If he intends to shorten it, he shortens it. The evidence for this is the Prophet’s saying: “Actions are only by intentions, and every person shall have only what he intended.” (1)

If he intends neither shortening nor completion, then the established position in the school is that he must complete it. They reasoned that the basic rule is the obligation to complete the prayer; therefore, if he does not intend to shorten it, he must follow the basic rule, namely, completion.

The second view on this issue is that he shortens it even if he did not intend to shorten it, because the basic rule regarding the traveller’s prayer is shortening. This occurs frequently: a person begins a four-unit prayer while travelling, without shortening even crossing his mind. But after he begins the prayer and recites al-Fātiḥah, or bows, or the like, he remembers that he is travelling and then intends to shorten it. According to the established position in the school, he must complete it.

The correct view is that he is not required to complete it; rather, he shortens it, because that is the basic rule. Just as a resident is not required to intend completion, likewise a traveller is not required to intend shortening.

His statement: “Or he is uncertain about his intention.”

This is the ninth issue: if he is uncertain whether he intended to shorten the prayer—meaning, he is uncertain whether or not he intended shortening—then he must complete it. This issue differs from the first issue: in the first, he is certain that he did not intend it, whereas in the second, he is uncertain.