Nevertheless, in a city such as Damascus—indeed, in any large metropolis—the disagreement between the two opinions is purely theoretical and has no practical consequence. The second opinion explicitly stipulates that praying in the mosque is only superior if the building can accommodate every worshipper, and no mosque of that size exists. Consequently, the two views converge, in line with the position of the overwhelming majority of scholars, that praying in the musallā (open prayer-ground) is preferable. Imām al-Shāfiʿī, may Allah have mercy on him, even declared that praying in the mosque is disliked whenever it is too small, as will be shown shortly.

Al-Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī said in Fatḥ al-Bārī, 2/450 (al-Salafiyyah edition), under the first hadith:

“The continual practice of the Prophet ﷺ of going out to the open plain for the ʿEid prayer—despite the superior merit of his mosque—serves as evidence that doing so is recommended and better than performing the prayer in the mosque.”

Al-Shāfiʿī stated in al-Umm: “It has reached us that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to go out for both ʿEids to the musallā of Madinah, and those who came after him did the same, except when prevented by rain or something similar. The general practice in all other towns was likewise, save for the people of Mecca.”