lacking in excellence. He did not mean it was not a shortening of the number of rak'ahs, because that is contrary to what the Quranic verse and the consensus indicate, as the difference of opinion is only regarding shortening versus completing. It has been established by his own narration from the Prophet, peace and blessings of God be upon him, in the hadith of Ya'la ibn Umayyah, that it is shortened. Similar to this is what Mujahid narrated, who said: A man came to Ibn 'Abbas and said: "I and a companion of mine were on a journey; my companion would shorten [the prayer] and I would complete it." Ibn 'Abbas said to him: "It was you who were shortening, and your companion who was completing." Recorded by al-Athram. He meant that his action was better than yours. Then, even if it were established that the original obligation was two rak'ahs, it would not preclude the permissibility of increasing upon them, just as when one follows a resident Imam. This differs from increasing two rak'ahs upon the Dawn (Fajr) prayer, as it is never permissible to increase them under any circumstances.

272 - Issue: He said: "And shortening [the prayer] and breaking the fast is more pleasing to Abu 'Abd Allah, may God have mercy upon him."

As for shortening, it is better than completing it according to the opinion of the majority of scholars, and a group of them disliked completing it. Ahmad said: "It does not please me." Ibn 'Abbas said to the one who told him: "I used to complete the prayer and my companion would shorten it": "It was you who were shortening, and your companion who was completing." Ibn 'Umar was harsh toward those who completed the prayer; it is narrated that a man asked him about the prayer of the traveler, and he said: "Two rak'ahs; whoever opposes the Sunnah has disbelieved." Bishr ibn Harb said: "I asked Ibn 'Umar: 'How is the traveler's prayer, O Abu 'Abd al-Rahman?' He said: 'Are you going to follow the Sunnah of your Prophet, peace and blessings of God be upon him, so I can inform you? Or will you not follow the Sunnah of your Prophet, so I will not inform you?' We said: 'The best thing to follow is the Sunnah of our Prophet, O Abu 'Abd al-Rahman.' He said: 'The Messenger of God, peace and blessings of God be upon him, when he left Madinah, would not increase [the prayer] beyond two rak'ahs.'"