The majority held that if he prayed on the road, it would suffice.

This is due to the general meaning of the Prophet’s statement, peace and blessings be upon him: “The earth has been made for me a place of prayer and a means of purification.” (1)

As for the Messenger’s statement to Usamah, “The prayer is ahead of you,” its reason was that if he had stopped to pray, the people would have stopped as well. Had he held them up at that place while they were eagerly awaiting their arrival at Muzdalifah, this would have caused them hardship that they might not have been able to bear. Thus, his guidance, peace and blessings be upon him, was one of gentleness and facilitation. However, if someone did pray, his prayer would be valid, due to the general meaning of the hadith: “The earth has been made for me a place of prayer and a means of purification.” This is the correct view.

Question: If one fears that the time for ‘Isha will expire before reaching Muzdalifah, then he must pray on the road: he should get down and pray. If he is unable to get down to pray, then he should pray even in the vehicle, for the journey may be moving too slowly for him to reach Muzdalifah before midnight, and he may be unable to get down and pray because the traffic is not stopping. In such a case, if he is compelled to pray in the vehicle, then he should pray, because the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, once prayed on his mount (2) when the sky was raining and the ground was flooded, out of necessity. He must fulfill, as far as he is able, the conditions, pillars, and obligatory elements of the prayer.