at Minā on account of the Bedouins, whose numbers had increased [that year] (1). He therefore led the people in four units of prayer to teach them that the prayer consisted of four units. Al-Bayhaqī also transmitted a report through [Mūsā] (2) ibn Ishāq, the judge: [Ya‘qūb ibn Humayd] (3) narrated to us; Sulaymān ibn Sālim, the freedman of ‘Abd al-Rahmān ibn Humayd, narrated to us, from ‘Abd al-Rahmān ibn Humayd, from his father, from ‘Uthmān ibn ‘Affān, that he performed the prayer in full at Minā, then addressed the people, saying: “O people, the Sunnah is that of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and his two Companions. However, [ignorant common folk] (4) have appeared among the people, and I feared that they would [take this as the established practice] (5).”)

Al-Bayhaqī said: “Other explanations have also been given. The more likely explanation is that he regarded shortening the prayer as a concession and therefore considered performing it in full permissible, as ‘Ā’ishah did.”

I say:

This is far-fetched. ‘Uthmān departed from what the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and his two successors after him had consistently practised, even though it was easier for him and for the Muslims. Yet ‘Uthmān was known for his forbearance, for choosing the easiest course for himself and his subjects, and for avoiding severity and harshness. It is therefore incongruous that he should undertake the more burdensome and demanding course, abandoning what the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and his two successors after him had consistently practised—despite his eagerness to follow their example—merely because this less preferable course was permissible, unless he believed that doing so served an overriding benefit that prompted him to act in this way. Even supposing that he was entitled to pray four units, how could he require those praying behind him to do so? For when they followed him as their imam, they prayed as he prayed