The wife of the Messenger, Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), says: The prayer that was initially made obligatory upon the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) was two rak'ahs each, except for Maghrib, which was three rak'ahs. Then Allah Almighty completed the prayers of Dhuhr, Asr, and Isha to four rak'ahs each in residence, and the initially prescribed (two rak'ahs) were fixed for travel.

(Second chain of narration) She says: In Makkah, the prayers were made obligatory as two rak‘ahs each. When the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, came to Madinah, two more rak‘ahs were added to each prayer, except for the Maghrib prayer, because it is the witr of the day, and except for the Fajr prayer, because its recitation is lengthy. Sayyidah Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, further says: When the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was on a journey, he would perform the earlier (shortened) prayer.

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) says: Allah Almighty, through the tongue of His Prophet, made four rak‘ahs obligatory for the prayer at home, two rak‘ahs for the prayer during travel, and one rak‘ah for the prayer in fear.

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) says: O people! Allah Almighty has made four rak‘ahs obligatory for prayer during residence and two rak‘ahs for prayer during travel, upon the tongue of your Prophet.

Sayyiduna Umar bin Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) says: The two rak‘ahs of travel prayer, the two rak‘ahs of Eid al-Adha prayer, the two rak‘ahs of Eid al-Fitr prayer, and the two rak‘ahs of Jumu‘ah prayer are complete prayers upon the tongue of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him); there is no deficiency in them.

Ya’la bin Umayyah (may Allah be pleased with him) says: I asked Sayyiduna ‘Umar bin Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) that Allah Almighty has said that if you fear that the disbelievers may put you in trial, then there is no sin upon you in shortening the prayer, whereas now people are in peace? Sayyiduna ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) replied to me saying: That which amazed you, also amazed me, but when I asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: This is a charity (and concession) which Allah has given to you, so accept His concession.

Abu Hanzalah says: I asked Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) about the prayer during travel, so he said: The prayer during travel is two rak'ahs. I said: But now we are in safety? He said: This is the Sunnah of the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).

A man from the family of Khalid bin Asid says: I said to Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), "We find mention of the prayer of fear and presence in the Noble Qur'an, but we do not find any mention of the prayer of travel?" Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Indeed, Allah Almighty sent Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and we knew nothing. Now we will do only what we saw him (peace and blessings be upon him) doing.

(Second chain) Umayyah bin Abdullah says: We asked Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with him): We find the prayers of fear and presence in the Qur'an, but we do not find any mention of the traveler's prayer? Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Allah Almighty sent His Prophet when we were the most stern among all people, so now we will do exactly as the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) did.

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) says: When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was on a journey, he would perform two rak‘ahs of prayer, and when he was residing, he would perform four rak‘ahs. Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Whoever performs four rak‘ahs during travel is like the one who performs two rak‘ahs during residence. Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) further said: Only once was the prayer shortened to (one rak‘ah), (and that was in such a way that) the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) performed two rak‘ahs and the people performed one rak‘ah each.