Shu‘bah also narrated from ‘Abd Allāh ibn Dīnār, from Ibn ‘Umar, that he did not offer the midmorning prayer, but would pray when he visited the mosque of Qubā’, which he visited every Saturday (1).
Sufyān narrated from Mansūr (2), who said: “They disliked observing it regularly as they did the obligatory prayers. They would offer it on some occasions and leave it on others”—meaning the midmorning prayer (3).
Sa‘īd ibn Jubayr said: “I sometimes leave the midmorning prayer, even though I wish to offer it, for fear that I might come to regard it as obligatory upon me (4).”
Masrūq said: “We used to teach Quran recitation (5) in the mosque and would stay behind after Ibn Mas‘ūd left. Then we would rise and offer the midmorning prayer. When Ibn Mas‘ūd heard of this, he said: ‘Why do you burden Allah’s servants with what Allah has not imposed upon them?! If you insist on doing it, then do it in your homes (6).’”
(1) Also recorded by Sa‘īd ibn Mansūr (Fath al-Bārī, 3/53) and Sa‘dān ibn Nasr al-Bazzāz in his Juzʾ (hadith collection), p. 30, both from Sufyān ibn ‘Uyaynah, from ‘Abd Allāh ibn Dīnār, with the same report. Al-Bayhaqī (5/248) also recorded it through Sa‘dān.
(2) Ibn Battāl’s Commentary reads: “from Mansūr, from Ibrāhīm.” I fear that “from Ibrāhīm” has been omitted from the manuscripts.
(3) Ibn Abī Shaybah (7878) recorded a similar report from Wakī‘, from Sufyān, from Mansūr or someone else, from Ibrāhīm, as the latter’s own statement.
(4) Ibn Abī Shaybah (7867) also recorded an abridged version. Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr cited it in al-Tamhīd (23/194) and al-Istidhkār (15/163) as a statement of Abū Mas‘ūd al-Ansārī concerning the sacrificial offering: “I refrain from offering the sacrifice, even though I am well off, for fear that my neighbors might consider it obligatory for me.” It is also recorded by ‘Abd al-Razzāq (8148, 8149) and al-Bayhaqī (9/265).
(5) Meaning: the Quran. Kāf, ‘Ayn, and Nūn read naqraʾ (“we recite”).
(6) Recorded by Ibn Abī Shaybah (7861). ‘Abd al-Razzāq (4838) and al-Tabarānī (9/290) recorded similar reports.