What is the ruling on actions regarding which there is disagreement, such as the opening supplication (Du'a al-Istiftah), wiping the ears, and rinsing the mouth (madmadah) when prayer time or ablution time is limited? Is the one who performs them sinful in order to avoid disagreement? And does the ruling include the limitation of the time of choice and the expansiveness of the time of necessity?

It is forbidden to delay a prayer until its time has expired, or until there is not enough time left to perform it completely. One who delays it such that there is not enough time left for the entire prayer commits a sin. It is permissible to limit oneself to the obligatory acts in wudu’ (ablution) for someone who is pressed for time, so that no part of the prayer falls outside its prescribed time. There is a difference of opinion regarding performing the sunnah (definition) acts if that would lead to a part of the prayer falling outside its time.

If the preferred time has passed, and one prays during the time of necessity, then one should perform both the obligatory and sunnah acts, as long as there is enough time for that. As for limiting oneself to the obligatory acts in wudu’ and prayer, this varies according to the different schools of thought.