It is permissible to offer voluntary prayers atop one’s mount when travelling, no matter what direction it is facing

Ibn 'Umar reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to say Nafl prayer on (the back of) his camel in whatever direction it took him.

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ نُمَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَانَ يُصَلِّي سُبْحَتَهُ حَيْثُمَا تَوَجَّهَتْ بِهِ نَاقَتُهُ .

Ibn 'Umar reported that the Apostle ﷺ used to pray on (the back of) his camel in whatever direction it took him.

وَحَدَّثَنَاهُ أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو خَالِدٍ الأَحْمَرُ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ كَانَ يُصَلِّي عَلَى رَاحِلَتِهِ حَيْثُ تَوَجَّهَتْ بِهِ .

Ibn 'Umar reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to say prayer on his camel while coming from Mecca to Medina, in whatever direction his face had turned;
and its was (in this context) that this verse was revealed:" So whether you turn thither is Allah's face" (ii. 115).

وَحَدَّثَنِي عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ الْقَوَارِيرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ بْنِ أَبِي سُلَيْمَانَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُصَلِّي وَهُوَ مُقْبِلٌ مِنْ مَكَّةَ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ عَلَى رَاحِلَتِهِ حَيْثُ كَانَ وَجْهُهُ - قَالَ - وَفِيهِ نَزَلَتْ { فَأَيْنَمَا تُوَلُّوا فَثَمَّ وَجْهُ اللَّهِ}

This hadith has been narrated by another chain of transmitters and in the one narrated by Ibn Mubarak and Ibn Abu Za'ida (these words are narrated). Ibn 'Umar then recited:" Whether you turn thither is Allah's face," and it was revealed in this context.

وَحَدَّثَنَاهُ أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ، وَابْنُ أَبِي زَائِدَةَ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ نُمَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي كُلُّهُمْ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ نَحْوَهُ . وَفِي حَدِيثِ ابْنِ مُبَارَكٍ وَابْنِ أَبِي زَائِدَةَ ثُمَّ تَلاَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ { فَأَيْنَمَا تُوَلُّوا فَثَمَّ وَجْهُ اللَّهِ} وَقَالَ فِي هَذَا نَزَلَتْ .

Ibn 'Umar reported: I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ praying (Nafl prayer) on a donkey's back while his face was turned towards Khaibar.

حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، قَالَ قَرَأْتُ عَلَى مَالِكٍ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ يَحْيَى الْمَازِنِيِّ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُصَلِّي عَلَى حِمَارٍ وَهُوَ مُوَجِّهٌ إِلَى خَيْبَرَ .

Sa'id b. Yasar reported: I was travelling along with Ibn 'Umar on the way to Mecca. Sa'id said: When I apprehended dawn, I dismounted (the ride) and observed Witr prayer and then again joined him. Ibn 'Umar said to me: Where were you? I said: I apprehended the appearance of dawn, so I dismounted and observed Witr prayer. Upon this 'Abdullah said: Is there not a model pattern for you in the Messenger of Allah ﷺ? I said: Yes, by Allah, and (then) he said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to observe Witr prayer on the camel's back.

وَحَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، قَالَ قَرَأْتُ عَلَى مَالِكٍ عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرِ بْنِ عُمَرَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ كُنْتُ أَسِيرُ مَعَ ابْنِ عُمَرَ بِطَرِيقِ مَكَّةَ - قَالَ سَعِيدٌ - فَلَمَّا خَشِيتُ الصُّبْحَ نَزَلْتُ فَأَوْتَرْتُ ثُمَّ أَدْرَكْتُهُ فَقَالَ لِي ابْنُ عُمَرَ أَيْنَ كُنْتَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ خَشِيتُ الْفَجْرَ فَنَزَلْتُ فَأَوْتَرْتُ . فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ أَلَيْسَ لَكَ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ أُسْوَةٌ فَقُلْتُ بَلَى وَاللَّهِ . قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَانَ يُوتِرُ عَلَى الْبَعِيرِ .

'Abdullah b. Dinar reported on the authority of Ibn 'Umar that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to observe prayer on his ride (no matter) in which direction it had its face turned. 'Abdullah b. Dinar said that Ibn 'Umar used to do like that.

وَحَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، قَالَ قَرَأْتُ عَلَى مَالِكٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ دِينَارٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُصَلِّي عَلَى رَاحِلَتِهِ حَيْثُمَا تَوَجَّهَتْ بِهِ . قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ دِينَارٍ كَانَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ يَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ .

'Abdullah b. 'Umar reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to observe Witr prayer on his ride.

وَحَدَّثَنِي عِيسَى بْنُ حَمَّادٍ الْمِصْرِيُّ، أَخْبَرَنَا اللَّيْثُ، حَدَّثَنِي ابْنُ الْهَادِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ دِينَارٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُوتِرُ عَلَى رَاحِلَتِهِ .

Salim b. 'Abdullah reported on the authority of his father that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be. upon him) used to observe Nafl (supererogatory) prayer on his ride no matter in what direction it turned its face, and he observed Witr too on it, but did not observe obligatory prayer on it.

وَحَدَّثَنِي حَرْمَلَةُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ سَالِمِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُسَبِّحُ عَلَى الرَّاحِلَةِ قِبَلَ أَىِّ وَجْهٍ تَوَجَّهَ وَيُوتِرُ عَلَيْهَا غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ لاَ يُصَلِّي عَلَيْهَا الْمَكْتُوبَةَ .

'Abdullah b. 'Amir b. Rabi'a has reported on the authority of his father that he had seen the Messenger of Allah ﷺ observing Nafl player at night on a journey on the back of his ride in whichever direction it turned its face.

وَحَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ سَوَّادٍ، وَحَرْمَلَةُ، قَالاَ أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَامِرِ بْنِ رَبِيعَةَ، أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ أَبَاهُ أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّهُ، رَأَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُصَلِّي السُّبْحَةَ بِاللَّيْلِ فِي السَّفَرِ عَلَى ظَهْرِ رَاحِلَتِهِ حَيْثُ تَوَجَّهَتْ .