his example in that capacity; the military commander follows his example in that capacity; and the one who carries out the prescribed punishments follows his example in that capacity. Likewise, whoever adjudicates or issues legal opinions follows his example in that capacity.

People have disagreed about certain things he did: were they exclusive to him, or may the community also do them? Examples include his joining a prayer as its leader after someone else had led the people, and his declining to offer the funeral prayer for someone who had misappropriated war spoils or for a killer.

Furthermore, when he performed an act for a reason known to us, we can follow his example in it. But when we do not know the reason, or when the circumstances were merely incidental, this is a matter over which people disagree. An example is his stopping at a particular place during a journey. Some scholars consider it recommended to stop where he stopped, as Ibn ‘Umar used to do. They maintain that simply doing the same thing as he did is good, even if his action was incidental, whereas we do it with the intention of emulating him.

Other scholars say that following his example is recommended only when we act on the same basis as he did. If his action was merely incidental, it is not prescribed for us to deliberately pursue something he did not intend. For this reason, most of the Emigrants and the Helpers did not do what Ibn ‘Umar used to do.

Moreover, following his example may sometimes concern the particular kind of action, and sometimes its broader category. He may perform an act for a reason that applies both to that particular kind and to others, rather than for a reason exclusive to it. In that case, what is prescribed is the broader practice. An example is his undergoing cupping, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, for this was prompted by his need