A related example is that when Allah Most High prescribed the five daily prayers in Mecca, He prescribed each as two units. They remained so during travel, while the prayers offered when not travelling were increased, as established in an authentic report from ‘Ā’isha, may Allah be pleased with her, who said:

“When he migrated to Medina, the prayers offered when not travelling were increased. The Maghrib prayer was made three units because it is the day’s odd-numbered prayer. The Fajr prayer, however, remained two units because of its prolonged recitation, which made a greater number of units unnecessary.”

The scholars have differed over which is better: prolonging the standing or increasing the number of bowings and prostrations, or whether the two are equal. These are three views, all of which are reported from Ahmad. An authentic report establishes that the Prophet was asked:

“Which prayer is best?” He replied, “That with prolonged standing.”

It is also established that he said:

“You will never make a single prostration to Allah without Allah raising you one degree thereby and removing one sin from you.”

He said to Rabī‘a ibn Ka‘b:

“Help me to help you by prostrating frequently.”

It is well known that prostration in itself is better than standing, but the remembrance recited while standing—namely, Quran recitation—is better. The precise conclusion is that it is best for the prayer to be balanced: if one prolongs the standing, one should also prolong the bowing and prostration, as the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to do in his night prayers, as reported by Hudhayfa and others. Likewise,