go out to the open prayer ground.” He therefore appointed a man to take his place, who led (1) the people in prayer in the mosque. It was said that he performed two units of prayer with the additional declarations of Allah’s greatness; and it was said, rather, that he performed four without such declarations.

Furthermore, Ibn Abbās held a gathering for remembrance and supplication on the Day of Arafah in Basra during Alī’s caliphate, and it has not been related from Alī (2) that he objected to it.

The people after Uthmān—the adherents of the four legal schools and others—agreed upon the first call to prayer that he instituted, just as they agreed upon Umar’s practice of gathering the people behind a single imam during Ramadan.

As for Alī’s institution of holding two Eid prayers (3), scholars differed regarding this and Friday prayer, expressing three views.

It was said: Only one Friday prayer and one Eid prayer are prescribed in a city. This is the view of Mālik and some of the followers of Abū Hanīfa, because this is the sunnah.

It was also said: Multiple Eid prayers, but not multiple Friday prayers, may be held in a city. This is the view of al-Shāfiī and one of the two positions reported from Ahmad. Those who hold this view, however, based it on the premise that settled residence and a quorum are not required for the Eid prayer as they are for the Friday prayer. They said, “It may be performed whether one is resident or traveling (4).” Yet this conflicts with the mass-transmitted practice of the Messenger of Allah—may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him—and that of his rightly guided caliphs.

It was also said: When there is a need, it is permissible to hold two Friday prayers in a city, just as Alī held two Eid prayers due to need. This is the well-known position reported from Ahmad ibn Hanbal, most of the followers of Abū Hanīfa, and most later scholars among the