except at Banu Qurayzah.” The Companions differed in their understanding of this hadith. Some understood the Messenger’s intent to be that they should hasten to set out so that the time for the afternoon prayer would not arrive before they were at Banu Qurayzah. When its time came while they were still on the road, they performed it and did not delay it until its prescribed time had passed.

Others understood the Messenger of Allah to mean that they should not pray until they reached Banu Qurayzah. They therefore delayed it until they arrived there, thereby performing it after its prescribed time.1

There is no doubt that the correct view was that of those who performed the prayer within its prescribed time, for the texts requiring prayer to be performed on time are unequivocal, whereas this text is open to interpretation. The proper method is to interpret what is ambiguous in light of what is unequivocal. Thus, one cause of disagreement is understanding the evidence in a manner contrary to what Allah and His Messenger intended. This is the fourth cause.