two rakʿahs while travelling, and Abu Bakr, ʿUmar, and ʿUthmān did likewise. (1)

ʿĀʾishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said, “When Allah first made the prayer obligatory, it was two rakʿahs by two—whether resident or travelling; the travel prayer was thereafter kept as it was, while the prayer at home was increased.” Another wording in al-Bukhārī reads: “The prayer was prescribed as two rakʿahs; then, after the Prophet ﷺ migrated, it was set at four, while the travel prayer remained in its original form.” (2)

Aḥmad adds: “—except for Maghrib, for it is the odd-numbered prayer of the day, and except for Fajr, because in it the recitation is lengthened.” (3)

Ibn ʿAbbās, may Allah be pleased with them both, said, “Allah prescribed the prayer through the tongue of your Prophet ﷺ as four rakʿahs when resident, two while travelling, and in…"