And Ibn ‘Umar was the most knowledgeable of people concerning the sunnah and the most diligent in following it. As for the scholars, they differed over whether this was recommended. Allah knows best.

He was asked:

“What about praying after the adhān for Maghrib and before the obligatory prayer?”

He answered:

As the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—had instructed him, Bilāl would leave an interval between his adhān (call to prayer) and his iqāmah (call to commence prayer), allowing enough time for two rak‘ahs. Some Companions would pray two rak‘ahs between the two calls, and the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—would see them and approve of their doing so. He said:

“Between every two calls there is a prayer; between every two calls there is a prayer; between every two calls there is a prayer.” Then, the third time, he added, “For whoever wishes,” lest it be taken as an established sunnah.

If the caller leaves an interval of that length between the two calls, this prayer is good. But if he follows the adhān immediately with the iqāmah, then the sunnah is to occupy oneself with responding to the caller, for the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—said:

“When you hear the caller to prayer, say what he says.”

No one should forgo responding to the caller in order to pray these two rak‘ahs, for “the sunnah for anyone who hears the caller is to repeat what he says, then send blessings upon