the prayer, which entails completing it and refraining from the shortening permitted by fear and travel. It is thus known that the command to establish the prayer entails the command to perform it fully to the extent possible.
As for His words concerning the fear prayer, “and you establish the prayer for them” [al-Nisā’: 102], that constitutes establishing and completing it in a state of fear, just as the two-unit prayer while travelling constitutes establishing and completing it. It is authentically established from Umar ibn al-Khattāb, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said: “The prayer while travelling is two units, the Friday prayer is two units, and the Eid al-Fitr prayer is two units—complete, not shortened—as declared by your Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.”
This elucidates the report narrated by Muslim and the compilers of the Sunan from Yaʿlā ibn Umayya, who said: “I said to Umar ibn al-Khattāb, may Allah be pleased with him: ‘Why do people shorten the prayer today when Allah, Glorified and Exalted, merely said, “If you fear that the disbelievers may harm you” [al-Nisā’: 101], yet that condition no longer exists today?’ He replied: ‘I was puzzled by the same thing that puzzled you, so I mentioned it to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. He said: “It is a charity that Allah has bestowed upon you, so accept His charity.”’” The questioner’s surprise arose from his assumption that shortening the prayer in every case was conditional upon the absence of safety. The Sunnah therefore made clear that there are two kinds of shortening, each with its own condition.
The Sunnah also established that the prayer prescribed while travelling is complete, for that is how the Prophet commanded people to perform it. It is not diminished in reward and recompense, even though it is shortened in form and performance, for the worshipper is at times commanded to lengthen the prayer and at other times commanded to keep it brief.
Moreover, Allah the Exalted said: “Then, when you are secure, establish the prayer. Indeed, prayer is prescribed for the believers at appointed times” [al-Nisā’: 103] [al-Nisā’: 103].