—namely, that they cited the first narration of Abū Saʿīd, which will be mentioned shortly, together with the ḥadīth of Abū Hurayrah. From these two reports it is clear that praying in the musalla or in the mosque is valid, and that both earn reward. At the same time, the first narration shows that performing it in the open area is superior, for the Prophet ﷺ consistently did so.

I say: Observe, dear reader, how they have now returned to the correct view that we are calling for, thereby overturning their own previous words. But do you imagine they will remain there? No—they soon reverted to their starting point. After quoting from al-Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar the forthcoming statement of Imām al-Shāfiʿī, they said:

“Whoever ponders what has preceded together with the ḥadīth recorded by al-Bukhārī1 from Umm ʿAṭiyyah—‘The Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded us to bring out on the days of Eid al-Fiṭr and Eid al-Aḍḥā the adolescent girls and the menstruating women…’”