Q 3: Nowadays, we are holding tactical exercises outside Riyadh and we are far from urban regions, so we shorten Salah (Prayer). What is the ruling on the Nafilah (Supererogatory) Salah we offer before and after the obligatory Salah?

A: The regular supererogatory prayers should not be performed by a traveler except for the two Rak`ahs of Fajr (Dawn) Salah. It is related in the Two Sahih (authentic) Books of Hadith (i.e. Al-Bukhari and Muslim) that `Abdullah ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) said, I accompanied the Prophet (peace be upon him) and did not see him offer the supererogatory Salah while traveling. Allah (Exalted be He) says, (Part No. 7; Page No. 246)  Indeed in the Messenger of Allâh (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) you have a good example to follow According to the Hadith narrated by Yazid ibn Zuray`, it was said by Hafs ibn `Asim: When I was sick and Ibn `Umar came to visit me, I asked him about offering the supererogatory Salah while traveling. He said, I accompanied the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) on a journey but I did not see him offering supererogatory Salah. Were I to offer supererogatory prayer, I would have completed (compulsory prayer). Al-Bukhari related on the authority of Hafs ibn `Asim that He heard Ibn `Umar saying: I accompanied the Prophet (peace be upon him) and he never offered more than two Rak`ahs during the journey. Abu Bakr, `Umar and `Uthman used to do the same. May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.