Al-Bayhaqī (1) identified defects in this hadith because its chain of transmission was disconnected and because he judged (2) ‘Ikrima ibn Ibrāhīm to be weak.

Abū al-Barakāt Ibn Taymiyya said: The grounds for declaring him weak may be questioned, since al-Bukhārī mentioned him in his History (3) without criticizing him, although his customary practice was to mention criticisms of narrators and those who were criticized. Ahmad, and before him Ibn ‘Abbās, explicitly stated that a traveller who marries must pray in full. This is also the position of Abū Hanīfa, Mālik, and their followers (4). This is the best explanation offered in defence of ‘Uthmān.

It has also been argued in ‘Ā’isha’s defence that she was the Mother of the Believers, so wherever she stayed was as though it were her homeland (5). This explanation is likewise weak, for the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was also the father of the believers, and his wives’ motherhood derived from his fatherhood. Yet he did not shorten his prayers (6) for this (7) reason. Hishām ibn ‘Urwa narrated from his father: She used to pray four units while travelling. I said to her, “If only you would pray two units.” She replied, “My sister’s son, it causes me no hardship” (8).