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Fatwa CenterPraying in a moving car
Question
My aunty, most of the time, prays her salat (prayer) in travelling car (not stopped) and I think it is wrong because we change direction most of the time. She always says that intention counts the most. I agree but I think at least Farj should be prayed in parked car. Could you please give me hadith to respond to her?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
The prayer during the time of traveling by any means of transportation is of two kinds: obligatory prayer or supererogatory one. If the prayer is obligatory and the traveler can delay performing the prayer till the time of the next prayer provided that its time does not expire, then he may delay it and pray it combined along with the next prayer at the beginning time of the next prayer. This is only applicable to Thuhr and ‘Asr or Maghrib and ‘Isha prayers. If he cannot delay it because the time of the prayer may expire, then he should pray according to his ability. If he can pray standing, he must do so. If he cannot do so, he should pray according to his circumstance, while making gestures for Ruku’ (bowing down) and Sujood (prostration), however, the gesture for prostration should be lower than that of Ruku’. Nonetheless, if one can prostrate on the surface of the car or train, then this is better. Allah Says (what means): {Allah burdens not a person beyond his scope.} [Quran 2:286]
However, we would like to point out that whoever prays an obligatory prayer is obliged to face the Qiblah and his prayer is void if he does not face it unless he fears that the time of the prayer may expire, then he may pray even to a direction other than the Qiblah according to his ability but he should face it when beginning the prayer by saying Allaahu Akbar, and this is in case of necessity.
As regards supererogatory prayers, it is not a condition that the person faces the Qiblah but it is desirable for him to do so when starting the prayer by saying Allahu Akbar and then he may continue the prayer in the direction of his destination.
The Hadeeth is authentic and it is reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim that the Prophet used to pray in whichever direction his mount is going when praying a supererogatory prayer.
Allah knows best.
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