just as he would shorten the obligatory prayer when travelling, even reciting the two surahs of refuge in Fajr. It is also reported that he recited al-Zalzalah in both rak‘ahs of Fajr. Such shortening was due to particular circumstances.

Those who favour more numerous rak‘ahs over longer ones have cited the hadith of Ibn Mas‘ūd, who said:

“I know the Mufassal surahs that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to recite, two surahs in each rak‘ah.”

They take this to indicate that he did not prolong the standing. Yet this provides no proof for their position. First, he combined two Mufassal surahs. Moreover, he would recite a surah slowly and distinctly, so that its recitation took longer than that of a longer surah.

Furthermore, Hudhayfah reported that:

“He recited al-Baqarah, al-Nisā’ and Āl ‘Imrān while standing in a single rak‘ah.”

Ibn Mas‘ūd also mentioned that he prolonged the prayer until, as he put it, “I contemplated doing something wrong: sitting down and leaving him.” Clearly, this would not have happened with just two surahs. Thus, it is clear that he recited two surahs on some occasions. There is no doubt that he made some rak‘ahs longer than others, as ‘Ā’ishah and others reported. And Allah knows best.