Thus, if this is the case, the correct view is that whoever wishes to offer it may pray as many rak'ahs as he wishes. This has been reported from a number of the early generations: Ibn Humayd (1) narrated to us: Jarīr narrated to us, from Ibrāhīm: A man asked al-Aswad, “How many rak'ahs of the midmorning prayer should I offer?” He replied, “As many as you wish.” (2)
A second group adopted the hadiths reporting that the prayer was not performed, giving them greater weight because of the soundness of their chains of transmission and because the Companions acted accordingly.
Al-Bukhārī (3) reported that Ibn Umar did not offer it, nor did Abū Bakr or Umar. I asked (4), “What about the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him?” He replied, “I do not think he did.”
Wakī‘ (5) said: Sufyān al-Thawrī narrated to us, from ‘Āsim ibn Kulayb, from his father, from Abū Hurayrah, who said: “I never saw the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, offer the midmorning prayer except on one day.”
‘Alī ibn al-Madīnī (6) said: Mu‘ādh ibn Mu‘ādh narrated to us: Shu‘bah narrated to us: Fudayl (7) ibn