travel through the land, and whom the uninformed consider wealthy because they refrain from asking—such a person is either unable to earn a living or able to do so at the cost of an activity in which he is more obedient to Allah than he would be by earning a living. Pursuing the activity in which he is more obedient is what is prescribed for him. This varies according to people’s circumstances.

As explained earlier, what is best varies “sometimes” according to the category of worship: prayer as a category is better than Quran recitation, Quran recitation is better than remembrance of Allah, and remembrance of Allah is better than supplication.

“Sometimes” it varies according to the time: after Fajr and Asr, Quran recitation, remembrance of Allah, and supplication are prescribed rather than prayer.

“Sometimes” it varies according to the outward act a person is performing: during bowing and prostration, remembrance of Allah and supplication are prescribed rather than Quran recitation. Likewise, remembrance of Allah and supplication during circumambulation are prescribed by scholarly agreement, whereas Quran recitation during circumambulation is a matter of well-known disagreement.

“Sometimes” it varies according to the place: at Arafah, Muzdalifah, the stoning sites, and Safā and Marwah, remembrance of Allah and supplication are prescribed rather than prayer and similar acts. For someone arriving in Mecca, circumambulating the House is better than prayer, whereas for residents of Mecca, prayer is better.