did not perform the prayer in full for that reason, but shortened it so that they would pray the traveller’s prayer with him as prescribed, while he taught them the resident’s prayer as prescribed, ‘Uthmān had even greater reason not to lead them in the full prayer for that reason.”

Al-Tahāwī said:

“Others have said: ‘He performed the prayer in full only because he held that none should shorten it except someone who makes camp and moves on.’”

They cited as evidence what he narrated from Hammād ibn Salamah, from Qatādah, who said:

“‘Uthmān ibn ‘Affān said: ‘Only someone who carries provisions and waterskins, makes camp and moves on may shorten the prayer.’”

It was also narrated through his well-known chain from Sa‘īd ibn Abī ‘Arūbah. Someone else narrated it through an authentic chain from [‘Uthmān ibn Sa‘d] (1), from Sa‘īd ibn Abī ‘Arūbah, from Qatādah, from ‘Ayyāsh ibn ‘Abd Allāh ibn Abī Rabī‘ah, that ‘Uthmān ibn ‘Affān wrote to his officials:

“Take heed: no tax collector, [nor a farmer] (2), nor a merchant is to pray two units. Only someone who has provisions and waterskins with him is to pray two units.”

It was also narrated through Hammād ibn Salamah that Ayyūb al-Sakhtiyānī informed them, reporting from Abū Qilābah al-Jarmī, from his uncle Abū al-Muhallab, who said that ‘Uthmān wrote:

“I have learned that some people go out for trade, to collect taxes, or [to harvest dates] (3), and then shorten the prayer. Only someone who is on the move or facing an enemy may shorten the prayer.”

Ibn Hazm said:

“These two chains of transmission are of the highest authenticity.”

Al-Tahāwī said:

“They said that ‘Uthmān’s position was that none should shorten the prayer except someone who needs to carry provisions and waterskins, and someone who is on the move. As for someone who was