If someone were to ask: Why did the author not simply say, “Its time begins when the sun has risen to the height of a spear,” thereby sparing the reader the need to refer back to the time of the Duha prayer?

The answer is that there is a benefit in this. Scholars refer the reader to what has preceded or to what will follow in order to encourage the student of knowledge to investigate. Thus, in this case he said, “like the Duha prayer,” so that I would return to the discussion of the Duha prayer and examine when its time begins. I would then bring together two pieces of knowledge: one concerning the Duha prayer and the other concerning the Eid prayer. But had he said, “when the sun has risen to the height of a spear,” that benefit would not have been attained.

If someone were to ask: What evidence shows that its time is the same as that of the Duha prayer?

The answer is that the evidence for this is that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and his Rightly Guided Caliphs did not perform it until the sun had risen to the height of a spear (1). The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Pray as you have seen me pray.” He also said: “Whoever performs a deed that is not in accordance with our matter, it is rejected.” In another wording: “Whoever introduces into this matter of ours that which does not belong to it, it is rejected.”