Book 4: Prayer

Anas said that God’s Messenger prayed four rak'as at the noon prayer in Medina and two rak'as at the afternoon prayer in Dhul Hulaifa. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Haritha b. Wahb al-Khuza‘i said, “God’s Messenger led us in a prayer of two rak'as in Mina when we were more numerous and more secure than we had ever been before.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ya'la b. Umayya said: I remarked to ‘Umar b. al-Khattab that God had said, “You may shorten the prayer,” only “if you fear those who are infidels may afflict you” (Al-Qur’an; 4:101), whereas the people were now safe. He replied that he had wondered about the same matter, so he asked God's Messenger and received the reply, “It is an act of charity which God has done to you, so accept His charity.” Muslim transmitted it.

Anas said: We went out from Medina to Mecca with God’s Messenger and he prayed two rak'as at each time of prayer till we returned to Medina. On being asked whether they had stayed any length of time in Mecca, he replied that they had stayed ten days. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ibn ‘Abbas said the Prophet (ﷺ) made a journey during which he had a stop of nineteen days, and he prayed two rak'as at each time of prayer. Ibn ‘Abbas said, “So when we are stopping nineteen days between here and Mecca we pray two rak'as each time, but when we stop more than that we pray four.” Bukhari transmitted it.

Hafs b. ‘Asim said: I accompanied Ibn ‘Umar on the road to Mecca and he led us in two rak'as at the noon prayer, then went to the place where he had alighted and sat down. Seeing some people standing he asked what they were doing, and I replied that they were engaged in glorifying God. He said, “If I had done so I would have perfected my prayer. I accompanied God's Messenger, and he prayed two rak'as and nothing more while on a journey. I also accompanied Abu Bakr, ‘Umar and ‘Uthman, and they did the same." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ibn ‘Abbas said that God’s Messenger used to combine the noon and the afternoon prayer while travelling, and also to combine the sunset and the evening prayer. Bukhari transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Umar said that on a journey God’s Messenger would pray on his riding beast in whatever direction it turned, making a sign with his head* in prayer during the night, but not in the obligatory prayers; and he would observe a witr on his riding beast. *To indicate the bowing and the prostration. (Bukhari and Muslim.)