Section: Further Discussion of Shortening the Prayer and Why ‘Uthmān Prayed in Full at Minā

Some views on this matter have already been mentioned. The first two views are reported from al-Zuhrī, and Ahmad mentioned both. ‘Abd al-Razzāq narrated: “Ma‘mar informed us, reporting from al-Zuhrī, who said: ‘ ‘Uthmān prayed four units at Minā only because he had resolved to remain there after the Hajj.’”

Al-Tahāwī favoured this explanation, although he also mentioned the other two explanations. He cited the report transmitted by Hammād ibn Salamah, from Ayyūb, from al-Zuhrī, who said: “‘Uthmān prayed four units at Minā only because the Bedouins had become numerous that year, and he wished to teach them that the prayer consists of four units.”

Al-Tahāwī said:

“This indicates that he acted as he did to teach the Bedouins that the prayer consists of four units. It is possible that, when he wished to demonstrate this to them, he intended to stay, thereby becoming a resident whose obligatory prayer was four units. He therefore led them in four units for the reason Ma‘mar related from al-Zuhrī.

“It is also possible that he did this while still a traveller, for that reason.”

He said:

“The first interpretation is more plausible in our view, because the Bedouins knew less about prayer and its rulings during the time of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, than they did during the time of ‘Uthmān. They had then only more recently left behind the ways of pre-Islamic ignorance, and during the time of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, they had greater need to learn about the obligatory prayers than they did during the time of ‘Uthmān. Thus, since the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him,