Abdullah bin Harith says: Sayyiduna Muawiyah bin Abi Sufyan (may Allah be pleased with him) led the Asr prayer and sent (a man) to the wife of the Messenger, Sayyida Maymunah (may Allah be pleased with her), and then sent another man after him. Maymunah (may Allah be pleased with her) said that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was preparing an army, and he did not have mounts, but in the meantime, mounts from charity were brought to him. He began distributing them among the companions, and they detained him until the time for Asr came, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) used to pray two or more rak‘ahs, as many as Allah willed, before Asr (but on that day he could not perform those rak‘ahs). Therefore, when he returned after praying Asr, he performed that earlier prayer. The real matter was that when he (peace and blessings be upon him) performed a prayer or did any act, he liked to be consistent in it.