scholars generally held that Friday prayer is not performed while travelling, with only an isolated dissenting view on the matter. The majority of scholars likewise hold that Eid prayer is performed only where Friday prayer is held. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, did not perform Eid prayer while travelling, and during his lifetime the Eid prayer in Medina was held only as a single congregation. No one performed Eid prayer individually. This is the position of the majority of scholars, though there is well-known disagreement concerning it. Thus, following his Sunnah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, Muslims at Minā perform the stoning and then slaughter their sacrificial animals.

Whatever he did to draw closer to Allah is an act of worship to be performed with that same intention. Whatever he declined to do, despite the presence of a reason for doing it, is neither an act of worship nor recommended. Whatever he did as a permissible act, without intending it as worship, is permissible.

Some scholars recommend imitating him in the outward form of such acts, as Ibn ʿUmar used to do. Most scholars, however, say that following him means intending what he intended. Merely resembling him outwardly, without sharing his purpose and intention, does not constitute following him. Thus, when he did something without intending it as worship, performing it as worship is not recommended: that is not following him, but acting contrary to his example.

It is established in the authentic hadith collection that he would pray wherever he happened to be when prayer became due. It is also established in the authentic hadith collection that:

“When Abū Dharr asked him, ‘Which mosque was first established on earth?’ he replied, ‘The Sacred Mosque, then al-Aqsā Mosque. Thereafter, wherever you are when prayer becomes due, pray, for that place is a mosque.’”

It is also related in