Offering salah in a vehicle

Is it permissible for a traveler to pray nafl (optional) prayers while traveling in a car?

 بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما

It is permissible to offer nawafil (optional prayers) with gestures while traveling in a vehicle. Furthermore, one would not be required to face the qibla either. However, it would not be permissible to pray in such a manner for fardh or wajib prayers. Consider the following hadith: 

‘Amir bin Rabi’a (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates, “I saw the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) offering nafl salah on an animal with gestures of his head in whatever direction he was already facing, but he would not do so  for the obligatory prayers.”

(Bukhari)

والله اعلم

Allah Knows best.

Approved by: Mufti Husain Ahmad Madani