It was
narrated from ‘Isa bin Hafs bin ‘Asim bin ‘Umar bin Khattab
that his father told him:
“We were with Ibn ‘Umar on a journey,
and he led us in prayer. Then we finished with him and he finished
turning around, and saw some people praying. He said: ‘What are
these people doing?’ I said: ‘Glorifying Allah.’* He said: ‘If
I wanted to glorify Allah (perform voluntary prayer) I would have
completed my prayer. O son of my brother! I accompanied the Messenger
of Allah (ﷺ) and he never prayed more than two Rak’ah when he was
traveling, until Allah took his soul. Then I accompanied Abu Bakr and
he never prayed more than two Rak’ah (when he was traveling), until
Allah took his soul. Then I accompanied ‘Umar and he never prayed
more than two Rak’ah, until Allah took his soul. Then I accompanied
‘Uthman and he never prayed more than two Rak’ah, until Allah
took his soul. Allah says: ‘Indeed in the Messnger of Allah
(Muhammad (ﷺ)) you have a good example to follow.’” [33:21]
