he narrated the well-known report transmitted by ‘Abd al-Razzāq, from Isrā’īl, from Abū Ishāq al-Sabī‘ī, from Abū Laylā, who said:

“Salmān arrived in a party of twelve riders from among the Companions of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. When the time for prayer came, they said: ‘Step forward, Abū ‘Abd Allāh.’ He replied: ‘We do not lead you in prayer or marry your women; Allah guided us through you.’ A man from the group then stepped forward and led them in four units of prayer. Salmān said: ‘What have we to do with a four-unit prayer? Half of that would have sufficed us, and we have greater need of the concession.’”

He said: “Thus Salmān made it clear, in the presence of these Companions, that shortening the prayer is a concession.”

I say:

This incident took place during the caliphate of [‘Uthmān] (*). Salmān objected to praying four units because it was contrary to the Sunnah known to them: prayer leaders had not been praying four units while travelling. His statement, “We have greater need of the concession,” shows that it is indeed a concession—but a concession we are commanded to take. Likewise, eating carrion in circumstances of extreme hunger is a concession that one is commanded to take; refraining from fasting when ill is a concession that one is commanded to take; and praying after dry ablution is a prescribed concession. Concerning passing between al-Safā and al-Marwah, Allah says:

“So whoever performs Hajj to the House or performs ‘umrah, there is no blame upon him for passing between them.”

Yet this is prescribed, whether as an essential pillar, an obligation, or a recommended practice. The man who led Salmān in four units may have considered shortening the prayer inapplicable to someone in his circumstances—either because he considered his journey short