I said to 'Umar b. al-Khattab, and the rest of the hadlth is the same.
The Book of Prayer - Travellers
Sahih Muslim 686 b
Contextual Analysis
This narration references a previous hadith where a companion inquired about prayer regulations during travel. The phrase "the rest of the hadith is the same" indicates this transmission follows the established ruling without adding new legal content.
Scholarly Commentary
Classical scholars note that such abbreviated narrations serve to confirm the widespread acceptance of a ruling among the companions. Imam Nawawi explains that when narrators use this formulation, it demonstrates the consistency of Islamic legal principles across multiple chains of transmission.
The reference to 'Umar ibn al-Khattab specifically highlights that these prayer concessions during travel were practiced and affirmed by the senior companions, giving them greater weight in Islamic jurisprudence.
Legal Implications
This hadith confirms the permissibility of shortening prayers (qasr) during travel, a ruling established in the previous complete narration. The four schools of Islamic law all maintain this position, though they differ in details regarding distance and duration requirements.
The mention of 'Umar specifically reinforces that this practice was maintained during the caliphate, indicating its continued application beyond the Prophet's lifetime.