Fath al-Rabbani

Benefits: … From some of the aforementioned ahadith, it is established that at Muzdalifah, the Maghrib and Isha prayers were performed with one iqamah, but in the following ahadith, mention is made of two iqamahs: It is narrated from Sayyiduna Jabir bin Abdullah radi Allahu anhu, who says: “Indeed, the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam came to Muzdalifah and performed Maghrib and Isha there with one adhan and two iqamahs, and he did not perform any supererogatory (nafl) prayer between them. Then the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam lay down until dawn appeared, and he performed the Fajr prayer when the morning became clear to him, with one adhan and one iqamah.” (Sahih Muslim)

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar radi Allahu anhuma that the Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam combined the two prayers at Muzdalifah and performed each prayer with an iqamah, and neither did he perform any supererogatory prayer before or after these two prayers. (Sunan al-Bayhaqi: 5/120)

Keep in mind that the Companion who mentioned two iqamahs possesses additional knowledge, and his narration does not negate the narrations mentioning one iqamah, because the iqamah that is established from those ahadith is also mentioned in the hadith of two iqamahs. Therefore, giving preference to additional knowledge over lesser knowledge, and the affirmative over the negative, we will act upon the ahadith mentioning two iqamahs. This is the only possible way to reconcile and harmonize these narrations. Another reason is that Sayyiduna Jabir radi Allahu anhu described the Hajj of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam in great detail, and in this matter, he only mentions two iqamahs. Just as Sayyidah Aisha radi Allahu anha said that the statement of the person who claims that the Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam urinated standing should not be accepted, while in fact he sallallahu alayhi wa sallam did urinate standing; the reason is that Sayyidah was not aware of the other hadith. In the same way, it is possible that those Companions who mention one iqamah at this place did not hear the second iqamah. And Allah knows best what is correct.