Is shortening the prayer permitted when the traveler is in an area of ruined structures surrounding the town?
Chapter on the Traveler's Prayer
Al-Mughni
Book of Prayer
Primary text
If a traveler exits the town and is amidst the walls of his orchards, shortening is permitted because he has left the inhabited structures behind. The same ruling applies if the surroundings consist of ruined, desolate areas, provided those structures are not prepared for residence. The evidence is that these ruined areas do not resemble occupied habitation.
Supporting text
Al-Qadi and Al-Shafi'i hold that shortening is not permitted in the surrounding ruins if habitation is still possible there, likening it to inhabited areas.