I was on a recent business trip where my flight left the country of my residence at 9:00 am on a Saturday. I arrived at my destination 2 hours later and proceeded to shortening my prayers and joining them for the duration of my trip. My trip ended on Wednesday, which according to my count means I stayed 4 days and 4 nights away from home. Was I entitled to shortening my prayers or should I have prayed normally? Am I counting the nights I stayed there correctly? I also do happen to drive around quite extensively on these trips. Should I be keeping a count of the distance I drive to see if I do pass the 83 km mark? How should I proceed with my prayers for the trip if I do pass 83 km on one of my drives? And if the trip is extended to five nights, would I shorten my prayers for the first four days then pray normally, or should I pray normally from the first day. I would appreciate your kind response to my list of questions.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

The shortening of the prayers during those days was the proper and correct procedure. So you acted properly, Insha' Allaah, as you only stayed four days. According to the majority of scholars, it will be an obligation upon a person to perform the prayers fully if he/she stays more than four days. Whoever intends to stay only four days, can shorten the prayer. The evidence is what Ibn 'Abbaas and Jaabir narrated. They narrated that the Prophet came to Makkah on the morning of 4th of Thul-Hijjah. So he stayed the 4th, the 5th, the 6th and the 7th, and on the 8th after he prayed Fajr, he went to Mina. He shortened all his prayers during these days in Makkah and had intended to stay for this period. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] Moreover, during your stay, you used to travel from one place to another, so you are considered a traveller anyway. So your shortening of the prayers is in accordance with the Sunnah of the Prophet .

Allaah knows best.