Volume 3 – 76 – Prayer in Mina
1960 – Abdurrahman bin Yazid (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
He said: Osman (bin Affan) (may Allah be pleased with him) performed the four-rak'ah obligatory prayers in Mina, [each prayer] four rak’ahs. Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) relates that I prayed two rak'ahs with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him), and two rak'ahs with Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), and two rak'ahs with Omar (may Allah be pleased with him). Hafs bin Giyas added in the narration: I also prayed two rak'ahs with him [Osman] during the early years of his caliphate. Osman (may Allah be pleased with him) completed his final years. Then he added from Abu Muawiyah, "Then you were parted." I desire and love that every four rak’ahs I pray be accepted in two rak’ahs.
'Ameesh said: Muawiyah bin Qarra, a teacher, related to me from his teachers: Abdullah bin Mas'ud performed four rak'ahs. It was said to him, "You criticized Osman (may Allah be pleased with him), then you yourself performed four rak'ahs." Ibn Mas'ud replied, “Opposition is reprehensible.” [28]
From Zuhri, may Allah be pleased with him, has been narrated:
Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, performed four rak'ahs [of prayer] in Mina (after completing the obligations of Hajj), for he had decided to return and reside [there].
It is narrated from Ibrahim (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said:
Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) performed the obligatory prayers of four rak'ahs in Mina. For he had taken Mina as his domicile.
COMMENTARY
– This hadith is disconnected (munqati’) because Zuhri did not meet Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him).
According to a narration from Zuhri, may Allah be pleased with him, he said:
Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, acquired property in Taif after the Hajj and intended to reside there; therefore, he performed the four obligatory prayers (of the afternoon prayer) in four rak’ahs. Those who came after him among the imams took this as an example.
From Zuhri, may Allah be pleased with him, it is narrated:
‘Uthman ibn Affan, may Allah be pleased with him, performed the prayers in full at Mina due to the Bedouin Arabs. For that year, the Bedouins were numerous, so he had people perform four rak'ahs and instructed them regarding the four rak'ahs of the prayer.
EXPLANATION
‘Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, initially performed obligatory prayers of four rak’ahs during the early days of his caliphate, but towards the end of his caliphate he performed two rak'ahs. The reasons for this are clearly stated in hadith narratives. However, there have been those who object to Zuhri’s explanations regarding the causes.
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, would perform the obligatory prayers as two rak'ahs while being a guest in Mina. ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab would act as a traveler (sefarī), return after giving the greeting, and say to the people of Mecca, "Complete your prayers, for we are a visiting people." Scholars differed on this matter. Imam Abu Hanifa, ash-Shafi’i, Sufyan ath-Thawri, Ahmad ibn Hanbal; the Imam and travelers would perform (as sefarī). The people of Mecca would complete after the Imam gives the greeting. Malik and Auza'i said: If the Imam performs as a traveler (sefarī), then the congregation also performs as travelers (sefarī), whether they are Meccans or visitors, there is no difference.
(Translation of Meanim al-Sunan, vol. 2, p. 414)
According to the Hanafi school of thought, if the person leading prayers in Arafat, Muzdalifa, and Mecca is a resident (muqīm), then all those following him – both residents and visitors – complete their prayers fully. If the Imam is a visitor, someone who cannot stay in Mecca for fifteen days before the Day of Tarwiya, he performs the prayers as two rak'ahs, and those who are also visitors perform them with him as travelers (sefarī). The residents complete their prayers after the Imam’s greeting. (From the book *Manasik al-Hajj (Irshad us-Sar)* by ‘Aliyyul Kari)
According to ash-Shafi'i, one may be considered a resident if they stay in Mecca for four days before the Day of Tarwiya. (Same work)