When should one say his salat full (tamam) and when should one say it qasr (two rakat instead of four)? Is the general perception about a person being resident of a city sufficient for him to say his salat fully [in that city]?
Answer
The conditions for qasr in travelling have been mentioned in the Manual of Islamic Laws. When a person considers residing in a city for a long time, and in the general perception it is considered as such, he is not considered as a traveller (e.g., if he intends to reside in that city for year and a half,). But if he intends to stay in that city for a short while only and is considered, in the general sense, as a visitor, he should pray Qasr (shortened), unless he intends to stay in a city for more than 10 day consecutively, his prayer would be full in that city.