dwellings there during his caliphate. This had not been the case in the Prophet’s time, peace and blessings be upon him; rather, it had been open ground. Hence he was asked: “O Messenger of Allah, shall we not build you a structure at Minā to shelter you from the heat?” He replied: “No. Minā is a camping ground for whoever arrives first” (1). ‘Uthmān therefore interpreted the shortening of prayers as applying only while travelling (2). This interpretation was rejected on the grounds that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, stayed in Mecca for ten days while shortening his prayers.
The fourth interpretation is that he stayed there for three days, and the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, had said: “An emigrant may stay for three days after completing his pilgrimage rites” (3). He thus described him as a resident, and a resident is not a traveller. This interpretation was rejected on the grounds that this was a limited stay in the course of a journey, not the residence that stands in contrast to travel. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, stayed in Mecca for ten days while shortening his prayers. He also stayed at Minā after his pilgrimage rites for the three days of stoning the pillars, while shortening his prayers.
The fifth interpretation is that he had resolved to reside and settle permanently at Minā and make it the seat of the caliphate. He therefore prayed in full, but later decided to return to Medina. This interpretation, too, lacks strength, for ‘Uthmān ibn ‘Affān was among the earliest emigrants. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, had forbidden an emigrant (4) to reside in Mecca after completing his pilgrimage rites, permitting him to remain there for three