Nasai

454. Commentary:

➊ In this hadith, the prayer referred to excludes Maghrib and Fajr, because these prayers are not altered whether one is traveling or at home. Maghrib is always three units (rak‘at) and Fajr is always two units (rak‘at).

➋ The apparent meaning of this hadith is not intended, because the verse of the Noble Qur’an: ﴿There is no blame upon you for shortening the prayer﴾ [النساء4 : 101] indicates that the prayers subject to shortening were originally four units (rak‘at). The traveler was given the concession to perform two, unless the meaning of the hadith is that before the Mi‘raj (Ascension), the prayer was two units (rak‘at). When, on the occasion of Mi‘raj, five prayers were made obligatory, some were made four units, then the prayer during travel was made two units, so it remained as it was before Mi‘raj, and the prayer at home was left complete.

➌ The Hanafis have deduced from this hadith that the prayer during travel is only two units (rak‘at); one cannot perform four, just as one cannot perform six for Zuhr. However, this meaning is contrary to the aforementioned Qur’anic verse as well as to the position of the narrator of the hadith, ‘A’ishah radi Allahu anha, because she used to perform four units even during travel. According to the Hanafis, the opinion of the narrator is given preference, not the apparent wording of the narration.