The prayer was prescribed as consisting of two rak'ahs both when one was resident and when travelling. The prayer while travelling was left according to the original prescription and the prayer of one who was resident was enhanced.

This has been transmitted by Abu 'Asim and Hammad b. Mas'adah as transmitted by Ibn Bakr.

I prayed along with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) four rak'ahs at the noon prayer at Medina and two rak'ahs at the afternoon prayer in Dhu al-Hulaifah.

When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) halted at a certain place (while on a journey), he would not leave that place till he offered the noon prayer. A man said to him: Even if in the middle of the day? He replied: Even if in the middle of the day.

I remarked to 'Umar al-Khattab: Have you seen the shortening of the prayer by the people today while Allah has said: "If you fear that those who are infidels may afflict you", whereas those days are gone now? He replied: I have wondered about the same matter for which you wondered. So I mentioned this to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He said: It is an act of charity which Allah has done to you, so accept his charity.

I asked Anas b. Malik: Narrate to us what you heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say. He said: When we travelled along with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), we would say: Did the sun pass the meridian or not? But he (the Prophet) would offer the noon prayer and then proceed.

I asked Anas b. Malik about the shortening of the prayer (while travelling). He said: When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) went out on a journey of three miles or three farsakh (the narrator Shu'bah doubted), he used to pray two rak'ahs.

I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: Allah is pleased with a shepherd of goats who calls to prayer at the peak of a mountain, and offers prayer, Allah, the Exalted, says: Look at this servant of Mine; he calls to prayer and offers it and he fears Me. So I forgive him and admit him to paradise.

They (the Companions) proceeded on the expedition of Tabuk along with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He combined the noon and afternoon prayers and the sunset and night prayers. One day he delayed the prayer and came out (of his dwelling) and combined the noon and the afternoon prayers. He then went it and then came out and combined the sunset and the night prayers.

Ibn Umar was informed about the death of Safiyyah (the wife of the Prophet) when he was at Mecca. He proceeded till the sun set and the stars shined. He said: When the Prophet (ﷺ) was in a hurry about something while on a journey, he would combine both these prayers. He proceed till twilight had disappeared. He then combined both of them (the prayers).

On the expedition to Tabuk if the sun had passed the meridian before the apostle of Allah (ﷺ) moved off, he combined the noon and the afternoon prayers; but if he moved off before the sun had passed the meridian, he delayed the noon prayer till he halted for the afternoon prayer. He acted similarly for the sunset prayer; if the sun set before he moved off, he combined the sunset and the night prayers, but if he moved off before sunset, he delayed the sunset prayer till he halted for the night prayer and then combined them.

Abu Dawud said: Hisham b. 'Urwah narrated this tradition from Husain b. 'Abd Allah, from Kuraib on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas from the Prophet (ﷺ) like the tradition narrated by Mufaddal and al-Laith.

'Abd Allah b. al-'Ala' narrated on the authority of Nafi' saying: When the twilight was about to disappear, he alighted and combined both (the prayers).

When the sun set at Mecca, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) combined the two prayers at Sarif.

He would delay the evening prayer till he combined the evening and the night prayers when the twilight disappeared.

The Prophet (ﷺ) was engaged in the Battle of Tabuk. If he moved off before the sun had declined, he would delay the noon prayer till he would combine it with the afternoon prayer and would offer them together. If he moved off after the sun had declined, he would combine the noon and afternoon prayers, and then he proceeded; if he moved off before the evening prayer, he would delay the evening prayer; he would offer it along with the night prayer, he would delay the evening prayer; he would offer it along with the night prayer. If he moved off after the evening prayer, he would offer the night prayer earlier and offer it along with the evening prayer.

Abu Dawud said: This tradition has not been narrated by anyone except by Qutaibah.

I accompanied the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on eighteen journeys and I never saw him fail to pray two rak'ahs when the sun had passed the meridian before offering the noon prayer.

I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) praying on a donkey while he was facing Khaibar.

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sent me on some business, and when I came to him he was praying on (the back of) his riding beast (moving) towards the east and making the prostration lower than the bowing.

We went out from Medina to Mecca with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and he prayed two rak'ahs (at each time of prayer) till we returned to Medina. We (the people) said: Did you stay there for some time ? He replied: We stayed there ten days.