48 english miles

[ummsara]

Could someone shed some light on the ruling of one becoming a musafir after journeying a distance of 48 english miles?
From where did this ruling originate? Is it applied by most Hanafis around the world?

[Taliban1]

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

When a person leaves his hometown intending to travel for 48 miles/77 Kilometres then the rules of a musāfir (traveller) will apply. As soon as he exits his city, he will have concession to perform qasr (shortened prayers).

Hanafis derive this ruling from a number of Ahadith found in Hadith books. One such hadith is translated below:

Hazrat Ali Radhi Allah unhu was asked about Mash ala Khuffain (Masah on socks). He said, " Rasool Allah sallallahu alaihi wasallam declared 3 days and nights for Musafir and one day and night for Muqeem".

Hanafi Fuqaha measured the distance one could travel normally in three days and nights on foot and on camels at that time. It was approximately 48 miles.

This ruling is applied to most of the hanafis in the world.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

وفي الاختيار لتعليل المختار
بَابُ صَلَاةِ الْمسافر وَفَرْضُهُ فِي كُلِّ رُبَاعِيَّةٍ رَكْعَتَانِ (ف) ، وَيَصِيرُ مُسَافِرًا إِذَا فَارَقَ بُيُوتَ الْمِصْرِ قَاصِدًا مَسِيرَةَ ثَلَاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ وَلَيَالِيهَا بِسَيْرِ الْإِبِلِ وَمَشْيِ الْأَقْدَامِ، وَيُعْتَبَرُ فِي الْجَبَلِ مَا يَلِيقُ بِهِ، وَفِي الْبَحْرِ اعْتِدَالُ الرِّيَاحِ، وَلَا يَزَالُ عَلَى حُكْمِ السَّفَرِ حَتَّى يَدْخُلَ مِصْرَهُ أَوْ يَنْوِيَ الْإِقَامَةَ خَمْسَةَ عَشَرَ (ج 1 ص 79 دار الكتب العلمية)

روي عن علي بن أبي طالب رضي الله عنه أنه سئل عن المسح على الخفين فقال: "جعل رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ثلاثة أيام ولياليهن للمسافر ويوما وليلة للمقيم" (مسلم 276)

[ummsara]

for your answer.

Would anyone know which Hanafi Scholars have calculated it to be 48 English miles as opposed to 48 Shar'ee miles?
I have learned that Hazrat Gangohi preferred 48 shar'ee miles which equates to 54.5 English miles.

[a.s.]

for your answer.

Would anyone know which Hanafi Scholars have calculated it to be 48 English miles as opposed to 48 Shar'ee miles?
I have learned that Hazrat Gangohi preferred 48 shar'ee miles which equates to 54.5 English miles.

Yeah, Isn't it 55 miles?

[abuhajira]

The Ulama have differences of opinion regarding 77 kms and 88 kms being the distance for one to be a Musaafir. The difference stems from 48 miles being Shar’ee miles or English miles. A Shar’ee mile is longer than an English mile. 1.67 is equivalent to an English mile. If an English mile is considered, then it will be 77 kms. If a Shar’ee mile is considered, then it will be 88 kms.

The Jamee’atul Mufteen (Board of Muftis) consisting of eleven Darul Iftas of South Africa is to discuss this on the 27 May 2006. We will make an announcement regarding the verdict of the Jamaee’atul Mufteen.

and Allah Ta'ala Knows Best

Mufti Ebrahim Desai

The Jamiatul Mufteen decided:

The Jamiatul Mufteen of , a Board consisting of 12 Darul Ifta's, concluded that the distance after which one could make qasr is 78 km.

The complete calculation is a bit tedious, but in the end the difference is because of difference in ijtihad on which mile to consider. In such case the best solution is for the panel of ulama to sit and make one decision for the ease of opting an answer. Hence it would be prudent to go by the Jamiatul Mufteen's opinion.