Sir, after what distance does the prayer of travel apply?

1. Estimate in kilometres: The reports (athar) of the majority of the Companions and hadith scholars — Ibn 'Umar and Ibn 'Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them, used to give the fatwa of shortening at 4 burud (approximately 77 to 80 kilometres). The fatwa of contemporaries: as a precaution, if the journey is approximately 77 to 80 kilometres or more beyond the populated area of one's city, shortening is permissible and is the Sunnah.

2. The preponderant researched position ('urf): According to Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn 'Uthaymin, may Allah have mercy on them, no fixed limit for a journey is prescribed in the Qur'an and Sunnah — the criterion is the common custom ('urf): every distance that is regarded as a "journey" in society and for which a person makes proper preparation (provision for the road, a mount/vehicle) — the rulings of travel apply to it. Evidence: Anas ibn Malik, may Allah be pleased with him: «كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ إِذَا خَرَجَ مَسِيرَةَ ثَلَاثَةِ أَمْيَالٍ أَوْ ثَلَاثَةِ فَرَاسِخَ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ» (Sahih Muslim: 691).

3. The place of shortening: Shortening is not permissible inside one's home/city; it begins as soon as one goes out beyond the city's boundary and last populated area.

Summary: If the journey is approximately 77–80 kilometres or more (or is regarded as a proper journey in custom), one may shorten as soon as one goes out beyond the city's boundary.

Translated from the original Urdu fatwa.