2676 — “That is the sunnah of Abu al-Qasim, may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him”—meaning that a traveller completes the prayer when following a resident imam; otherwise, he shortens it.

This authentic sunnah is narrated by Qatadah, from Musa ibn Salamah al-Hudhali, from Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him. A number of narrators relate it from Qatadah:

First: Ayyub, from him, from Musa, who said: “We were with Ibn Abbas in Mecca, and I said, ‘When we are with you, we pray four rak'ahs, but when we return to our lodgings, we pray two rak'ahs?’” He repeated the above statement. It was recorded by Ahmad (1/216), al-Siraj in his Musnad (fol. 120/1), al-Tabarani in al-Mu'jam al-Awsat (1/278/1—Islamic University facsimile), and Abu Awanah in his Musnad (2/340), through Muhammad ibn Abd al-Rahman al-Tufawi; and also by al-Tabarani (2/92/2), through al-Harith ibn Umayr. Both narrated it from Ayyub, from him, with this wording. Al-Tabarani and al-Siraj added: “Even if you resent it.” He said: “No one narrated it from Ayyub except al-Harith ibn Umayr and al-Tufawi.”

Second: Shu'bah, from him, with the same report. Its wording is: He said, “I asked Ibn Abbas, ‘How should I pray when I am in Mecca and do not pray with the imam?’ He replied, ‘Two rak'ahs: the sunnah of Abu al-Qasim, may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him.’” It was recorded by Muslim (2/143–144), al-Nasa'i (1/212), and Ibn Khuzaymah in