Sunan Ibn Majah: Chapter 5

“I heard Abu Humaid As-Sa’idi say:
‘When the Messenger of Allah (PbUH) stood up for prayer, he would
face
the prayer direction, raise his hands, and say: “Allahu Akbar
(Allah
is Most Great).”

“The Messenger of
Allah
(PbUH) used to start his prayer by saying: ‘Subhanaka Allahumma
wa
bi hamdika, wa tabarakas-muka, wa ta’ala jadduka, wa la ilaha
ghairuka (Glory and praise be to You, O Allah, blessed be Your Name
and exalted be Your majesty, none has the right to be worshipped but
you).”

“When the Messenger of Allah
(PbUH)
said the Takbir (Allah Akbar), he would remain silent between
the
Takbir and the recitation. I said: ‘May my father and mother be
ransomed for you! I noticed that you are silent between the Takbir
and
the recitation; please tell me what you say then.’ He said: ‘I
say:
‘Allahumma ba’id baini wa baina khatayaya kama ba’adta
bainal-mashriqi
wal-maghrib; Allahumma naqqini min khatayay
kath-thawbil abyad minad-
danas; Allahummaghsilni min khatayaya
bil-ma’i waththalji wal-barad (O
Allah, distance me from my sins as
You have distanced the east from
the west; O Allah purify me of my
sins as a white garment is purified
of dirt; O Allah, cleanse me of
my sins with water and snow and
hail).”

“Subhanak Allahumma wa bi hamdika, wa tabarakas-
muka wa
ta’ala jadduka, wa la ilaha ghayruk (Glory and praise is to
You, O
Allah, blessed is Your Name and exalted is Your majesty, none
has the
right to be worshipped but You).”

“I
saw
the Messenger of Allah (PbUH) when he started the prayer. He said:
‘Allahu Akbaru kabiran, Allahu Akbaru kabiran (Allah is the Most
Great
indeed),’ three times; ‘Al-hamdu Lillahi kathiran, al-hamdu
Lillahi
kathiran (Much praise is to Allah),’ three times; ‘Subhan
Allahi
bukratan wa asilan (Glory is to Allah morning and evening),’
three
times; ‘Allahumma inni a’udhu bika minash-Shaitanir-rajim,
min hamzihi
wa nafkhihi wa nafthihi (O Allah, I seek refuge in You
from the
accursed Satan, from his madness, his poetry, and his
pride).”

“Allahumma
inni a’udhu bika minash-Shaitanir-rajim, wa hamzihi wa
nafkhihi wa
mafthihi (O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the accursed
Satan, from
his madness, his pride, and his poetry).”

“The
Prophet
(PbUH) used to lead us in prayer, and he would take hold of his
left
hand with his right.”

“I saw the Prophet (PbUH)
performing prayer, and he took hold of his left hand with his right.”

“The Prophet (PbUH)
passed by me, and I was putting my left hand on my right. He took
hold
of my right hand and put it on my left.”

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH), Abu
Bakr, ‘Umar and ‘Uthman used to start their recitation with “All
praises and thanks are to Allah, the Lord of all that exists.
(Al-
hamdu Lillahi Rabbil-‘Alamin).’” [1:2]

“The Messenger of Allah
(PbUH),
Abu Bakr and ‘Umar used to start their recitation with ‘All the
praises and thanks are to Allah, the Lord of all that exists
(Al-hamdu
Lillahi Rabbil-‘Alamin).” [1:2]

2]

“I
have rarely seen a man for whom innovation in Islam was harder to
bear
than him. He heard me reciting: ‘In the Name of Allah, the
Most
Gracious, the Most Merciful’ Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim [1:1]
and he
said: ‘O my son, beware of innovation, for I prayed with the
Messenger
of Allah (PbUH), and with Abu Bakr, and with ‘Umar, and
with ‘Uthman,
and I never heard any of them saying this. When you
(begin to) recite,
say: ‘All the praises and thanks are to Allah,
the Lord of all that
exists.’ (Al-hamdu Lillahi Rabbil-‘Alamin).’”
[1:2]

“And tall date palms, with ranged clusters” [50:10] in
the
Subh.

“I performed prayer with
the
Prophet (PbUH) when he was reciting in the Fajr, and it is as if I
can
hear him reciting: ‘So verily, I swear by the planets that recede.
And by the planets that move swiftly and hide themselves.’”[81:15-16]

It was
narrated from Abu Barzah that the Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
used to
recite between sixty and one hundred (Verses) in Fajr prayer.

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
used
to lead us in prayer, and he would lengthen the first Rak’ah of
the
Zuhr and shorten the second Rak’ah, and he would do likewise in
the
Subh.”

“The Messenger of
Allah
(PbUH) recited Al-Mu’minun [Al-Mu’minun 23] in the Subh prayer,
and when he came to the mention of ‘Eisa, he was overcome with a
cough, so he bowed in Ruku’.”

“For the Subh prayer on
Fridays,
the Messenger of Allah (PbUH) used to recite ‘Alif-Lam-Mim.
The
revelation...’ [32:1] and ‘Has there not been over man...’”
[76:1]

“For the
Fajr prayer on Fridays, the Messenger of Allah (PbUH) used to recite
‘Alif-Lam-Mim. The revelation...’ [32:1] and ‘Has there not
been over
man...’” [76:1]

1] and ‘Has there not been over man...”
[76:1]

1] and “Has there not been over man..”
[76:1]

“I asked Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri
about
the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (PbUH). He said: ‘There is
nothing good in that for you.’* I said: ‘Explain it, may Allah
have
mercy on you.’ He said: ‘The Iqamah would be given for the
Zuhr prayer
for the Messenger of Allah (PbUH), then one of us would go
out to Al-
Baqi’, relieve himself, then come back and perform
ablution, and he
would find the Messenger of Allah (PbUH) still in the
first Rak’ah of
Zuhr.’”

“I said to Khabbab: ‘How did
you
recognize that the Messenger of Allah (PbUH) was reciting in the
Zuhr
and the ‘Asr?’ He said: ‘From the movement of his beard.’”

“I have never seen anyone
whose
prayer more closely resembles that of the Messenger of Allah
(PbUH)
than so-and-so. He used to lengthen the first two Rak’ah of the
Zuhr and shorten the last two Rak’ah, and he used to shorten the
‘Asr.”

“Thirty of the
Companions of the Messenger of Allah (PbUH) who had been at Badr came
together and said: ‘Come, let us estimate the length of the
recitation
of the Messenger of Allah (PbUH) for the prayer in which
Qur’an is not
recited out aloud.’ No two men among them
disagreed, and they
estimated the length of his recitation in the
first Rak’ah of the Zuhr
to be thirty Verses and in the second
Rak’ah to be half of that. They
estimated his recitation in ‘Asr
to be half of the last two Rak’ah of
Zuhr.”

“The
Messenger of Allah (PbUH) used to recite when leading us in the
first
two Rak’ah of the Zuhr prayer, and sometimes he would recite
such
that we could hear the Verse.”

“The Messenger of Allah
(PbUH) used to lead us for the Zuhr, and we would hear him reciting a
Verse after the Verses from Surat Luqman (31) and Adh-Dhariyat (51).”

“(She was) Lubabah”
that she heard the Messenger of Allah (PbUH) reciting ‘By the winds
sent forth one after another...’[Al-Mursalat (77)] in the Maghrib.

“I heard the Prophet (PbUH) reciting At-Tur (52) in the Maghrib.”
In a different narration, Jubair said: “And when I heard him
recite:
‘Were they created by nothing? Or were they themselves the
creators?’
up to: ‘Then let their listener produce some manifest
proof’,[52:35-38] it was as if my heart were about to take flight.”

“The Prophet (PbUH) used to
recite
in the Maghrib: ‘Say: O you disbelievers!’[Al-Kafirun (109)]
and
‘Say: He is Allah, (the) One.’”[Al-Ikhlas (112)]

“I heard him reciting
‘By
the fig, and the olive’.”[Al-Tin (95)]

“I
have never heard any man with a better voice or who recites better
than him.”

“Recite ‘By the sun and its brightness,’[Al-Shams
(91)]
‘Glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most High,’ [Al-A’la
(87)] ‘By the
night as it envelops,’ [Al-Lail (92)] or, ‘Read!
In the Name of your
Lord Who has created.’” [Al-‘Alaq (96)]

“There
is no prayer for the one who does not recite Fatihatil-Kitab in
it.”

“The
Messenger of Allah (PbUH) said: ‘Whoever performs a prayer in which
he
does not recite Ummul Qur’an (the Mother of the Qur’an, i.e.,
Al-
Fatihah), it is deficient; not complete.’” I said: ‘O Abu
Hurairah,
sometimes I am behind the Imam. He pressed my forearm and
said: ‘O
Persian! Recite it to yourself.’”

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
said: ‘There is no prayer for the one who does not recite in every
Rak’ah: Al-Hamd (Al-Fatihah) and a Surah whether in an obligatory
prayer or another.’”

“I heard the Messenger of Allah (PbUH) say: ‘Every prayer in which the Ummul-Kitab (the Mother of the Book) is not recited is deficient.’”

“Every prayer
in
which Fatihatil-Kitab (the Opening of the Book) is not recited, it
is
deficient, it is deficient.”

“Should I
recite when the Imam is reciting?” He said: “A man asked the
Prophet
(PbUH) whether there was recitation in every prayer. The
Messenger of
Allah (PbUH) said: ‘Yes.’ A man among the people
said: ‘It has become
obligatory.’”

“We used to recite the
Opening of the Book and a Surah behind the Imam in the first two
Rak’ah of the Zuhr and the ‘Asr, and in the last wo Rak’ah (we
would
recite) the Opening of the Book.”

“There are two pauses
in
which I memorized from the Messenger of Allah (PbUH), but ‘Imran bin
Husain denied that. We wrote to Ubayy bin Ka’b in Al-Madinah, and
he
wrote that Samurah had indeed memorized them.”

“I memorized two pauses in the prayer, a pause before
reciting and a pause when bowing. ‘Imran bin Husain denied that, so
they wrote to Al-Madinah, to Ubayy bin Ka’b, and he said that
Samurah
was speaking the truth.”

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
said: ‘The Imam has been appointed to be followed, so when he says
Allahu Akbar, then say Allahu Akbar, when he recites, then listen
attentively; when he says: Not (the way) of those who earned Your
anger, nor of those who went astray,[1:7] then say Amin; when he bows
then bow; when he says Sami’ Allahu liman hamidah (Allah hears
those
who praise Him), then say Allahumma Rabbana wa lakal-hamd (O
Allah,
our Lord, to You is the praise);” when he prostrates then
prostrate;
and if he prays sitting down then all of you pray sitting
down.’”

“The Messenger of
Allah
(PbUH) said: ‘When the Imam recites, then listen attentively, and
if
he is sitting (in the prayer) then the first remembrance that
anyone
of you recites should be the Tashahhud.’”

“I heard Abu Hurairah say:
‘The
Prophet (PbUH) led his Companions in a prayer; we think it was the
Subh. He said: “Did anyone among you recite?” A man said: “I
did.” He
said: “I was saying to myself, what is wrong with me
that someone is
fighting to wrest the Qur’an from me?”

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
led
us in prayer,” and he mentioned a similar report, and added to it,
and he said: “And after that they were quiet in the prayers in
which
the Imam recites aloud.”

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH) said:
‘Whoever has an Imam, the recitation of the Imam is his
recitation.’”

“When the recite says Amin, then say Amin, for the angels say
Amin,
and if a person’s Amin coincides with the Amin of the angels,
his
previous sins will be forgiven.”

The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
said:
“When the recite says Amin, then say Amin, for if a person’s
Amin
coincides with the Amin of the angels, his previous sins will be
forgiven.”

“The people stopped saying
Amin,
but when the Messenger of Allah (PbUH) said ‘Not (the way) of
those
who earned Your Anger, nor of those who went astray’[1:7] he
would
say Amin, until the people in the first row could hear it, and
the
mosque would shake with it.

“I heard the Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
saying ‘Amin’ after he said, ‘nor of those who went
astray.’[1:7]

“I
performed prayer with the Prophet (PbUH) and when he said: ‘Nor of
those who went astray’,[1:7] he said Amin and we heard that from
him.”

“The Jews
do
not envy you for anything more than they envy you for the Salam and
(saying) ‘Amin’.”

“The Jews do not envy you for anything more than they envy you
for
the Salam and (saying) Amin, so say Amin a great deal.”

“I saw the Messenger of Allah
(PbUH)
raising his hands until they were parallel to his shoulders when
he
started the prayer, and when he bowed in Ruku’, and when he raised
his head from Ruku’, but he did not raise them between the two
prostrations.”

It was
narrated that Malik bin Huwairith said that when the Messenger
of
Allah (PbUH) said Allahu Akbar, he would raise his hands until they
were close to his ears; when he bowed in Ruku’ he did likewise, and
when he raised his head from Ruku’ he did likewise.

“I saw the Messenger of Allah
(PbUH) raising his hands during prayer until they were parallel with
his shoulders when he started to pray, when he bowed and when he
prostrated.”

“The Messenger of Allah
(PbUH) used to raise his hands at every Takbir (saying Allahu Akbar)
in
the obligatory prayer.”

“I heard him when he was among ten of the
Companions
of the Messenger of Allah (PbUH), one of whom was Abu
Qatadah bin
Rib’i, saying: ‘I am the most knowledgeable of you
about the Messenger
of Allah (PbUH). When he stood up for prayer, he
stood up straight and
raised his hands until they were parallel to
his shoulders, then he
said: Allahu Akbar. When he wanted to bow in
Ruku’, he raised his
hands until they were parallel to his
shoulders. When he said Sami’
Allahu liman hamidah (Allah hears
those who praise Him), he raised his
hands and stood up straight.
When he stood up after two Rak’ah, he
said Allahu Akbar and raised
his hands until they were parallel to his
shoulders, as he did when
he started the prayer.’”

“Abu Humaid, Abu Usaid As-Sa’di, Sahl
bin Sa’d, and Muhammad bin Maslamah came together and spoke about
the
prayer of the Messenger of Allah (PbUH). Abu Humaid said: ‘I am
the
most knowledgeable of you about the prayer of the Messenger of
Allah
(PbUH). The Messenger of Allah (PbUH) stood up and said Allahu
Akbar,
and raised his hands, then he raised them when he said Allahu
Akbar
for Ruku’, then he stood up and raised his hands, and stood
straight
until every bone had returned to its place.’”

“When the Prophet (PbUH)
stood up to offer a prescribed prayer, he said Allahu Akbar and
raised
his hands until they were parallel to his shoulders. When he
wanted to
bow he did likewise; when he raised his head from bowing he
did
likewise; and when he stood up after the two prostrations he did
likewise.”*

It was
narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas that the Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
used to
raise his hands at every Takbir (saying Allahu Akbar).

It was
narrated from Anas that the Messenger of Allah (PbUH) used to
raise
his hands when he entered prayer, and when he bowed in Ruku’.”

“I said: ‘I will look at
the
Messenger of Allah (PbUH) and see how he performs the prayer.’ He
stood up and faced the Qiblah, and raised his hands until they were
parallel to his ears. When he bowed, he raised them likewise, and
when
he raised his head from Ruku’, he raised them likewise.”

“I saw
the Messenger of Allah (PbUH) doing that.” (One of the narrators)
said:
“Ibrahim bin Tahman (one of the narrators) raised his hands
to his
ears.”

“When the Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
bowed, he neither raised his head nor lowered it, rather (he did
something) between that.”

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
said: ‘No prayer is acceptable in which a man does not settle his
spine when bowing and when prostrating.’”

“We set out until we came to the
Messenger of
Allah (PbUH), and we gave him our oath of allegiance and
performed
prayer behind him. He glanced out of the corner of his eye
at a man
who was not settling his spine when he bowed and prostrated.
When the
Prophet (PbUH) finished the prayer, he said: ‘O Muslims, there
is no
prayer for the one who does not settle his spine when bowing and
prostrating.’”

“I heard Wabisah bin Ma’bad saying:
‘I
saw the Messenger of Allah (PbUH) performing prayer, and when he
bowed
he made his back so straight that if water were poured on it, it
would have stayed there.’”

“I bowed (in prayer)
beside
my father, and I put my hands between my knees. He struck my
hand and
said: ‘We used to do that, then we were commanded to put them
on
the knees.’”

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH) used
to
bow with his hands on his knees and his upper arms held away from
his
sides.”

“Sami’ Allahu liman hamidah (Allah hears those who praise
Him),” he said: “Rabbana wa lakal-hamd (O our Lord, to You is the
praise).”

“When the Imam says: ‘Sami’ Allahu liman hamidah (Allah hears
those who praise Him),’ say: ‘Rabbana wa lakal-hamd (O our Lord,
to
You is the praise).’”

“When the Imam says: ‘Sami’ Allahu liman
hamidah
(Allah hears those who praise Him),’ say: ‘Allahumma,
Rabbana wa
lakal-hamd (O Allah! O our Lord! To You is the praise).’”

“When the Messenger of Allah
(PbUH)
raised his head from Ruku’, he said: ‘Sami’ Allahu liman
hamidah, Allahumma, Rabbana lakal-hamd, mil’ as-samawati wa mil’
al-
ard wa mil’ ma shi’ta min shay’in ba’d (Allah hears those
who praise
Him. O Allah! O our Lord, to You is the praise as much as
fills the
heavens, as much as fills the earth and as much as You will
after
that).’”

“I heard Abu Juhaifah say: Good
fortune was mentioned in the presence of the Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
while he was performing prayer. A man said: ‘so-and-so’s fortune
is in
horses.’ Another man said: ‘So-and-so’s fortune is in
camels.’ Another
man said: ‘So-and-so’s fortune is in sheep.’
Another man said: ‘So-
and-so’s fortune is in slaves.’ While the
Messenger of Allah (PbUH) was
finishing his prayer, he raised his head
at the end of the last Rak’ah
and said: ‘Allahumma Rabbana
lakal-hamd mil’ as-samawati wa mil’ al-
ard wa mil’ ma shi’ta
min shai’in ba’du. Allahumma la mani’ lima
a’taita wa la
mu’ti lima mana’ta, wa la yanfa’u dhal-jaddi minkal-jadd
(Allah
hears those who praise Him. O Allah! O our Lord! To You is the
praise
as much as fills the heavens, as much as fills the earth and as
much
as You will after that. O Allah, there is none who can withhold
what
You give, and none who can give what You withhold, and the good
fortune of any fortunate person is to no avail against You).’ The
Messenger of Allah (PbUH) elongated the word Jadd (fortune) so that
they would know that it was not as they had said.”

It was
narrated from Maimunah that when the Prophet (PbUH) prostrated,
he
would hold his forearms away from his sides, such that if a lamb
wanted to pass under his arms, it would be able to do so.

“I was with my father on the plain in
Namirah,*
when some riders passed us and made their camels kneel down
at the
side of the road. My father said to me: ‘Stay with your
lambs until I
go to those people and see what they want.’ He said:
Then he (my
father) went out and I came, (i.e., I came near,) then
there was the
Messenger of Allah (PbUH), and the time for prayer came
so I prayed
with them, and I was looking at the whiteness of the
armpits of the
Messenger of Allah (PbUH) every time he prostrated.”

“I saw the Prophet (PbUH)
when
he prostrated and put his knees on the ground before his hands,
and
when he stood up after prostrating, he took his hands off the
ground
before his knees.”

“I have
been commanded to prostrate on seven bones.”

The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
said:
“I have been commanded to prostrate on seven, but not to tuck up
my
hair or my garment.”

“When a person prostrates, seven parts of his
body
prostrate with him: His face, his two hands, his two knees, and
his
two feet.”

“We
used to feel sorry for the Messenger of Allah (PbUH) because he
took
pains to keep his arms away from his sides when he prostrated.”

“When the following was revealed:
‘So
glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most Great’,[69:52] the
Messenger of Allah (PbUH) said to us: ‘Say this in your Ruku’.’
And
when the following was revealed: ‘Glorify the Name of your
Lord, the
Most High.’[87:1] the Messenger of Allah (PbUH) said to
us: ‘Say this
in your prostrations.’”

“Subhana Rabbiyal-‘Azim
(Glory is
to my Lord, the Most Great)” three times, and when he
prostrated he
said: “Subhana Rabbiyal-A’la (Glory is to my Lord the
Most High)”
three times.

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
often
used to say when bowing and prostrating: ‘Subhanak Allahumma wa
bi
hamdika, Allahummaghfir li (Glory if to You, O Allah, and praise; O
Allah forgive me),’ following the command given by the
Qur’an.”[Surat
An-Nasr (110)]

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
said: ‘When anyone of you bows, let him say in his bowing: “Subhana
Rabbiyal-‘Azim (Glory is to my Lord, the Most Great)” three
times; if
he does that his bowing will be complete. And when anyone
of you
prostrates, let him say in his prostration, ‘Subhana
Rabbiyal-A’la
(Glory if to my Lord, the Most High)” three times;
if he does that,
his prostration will be complete, and that is the
minimum.’”

The Messenger of Allah (PbUH) said:
“When
anyone of you prostrates let him be balanced in prostration, and
not
spread his arms as a dog does.”

“Be
balanced in prostration; none of you should prostrate with his arms
spread out like a dog.”

“When the Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
raised his head from bowing, he would not prostrate until he had
stood
up straight. When he prostrated, he would raise his head and
not
prostrate again until he had sat up straight. And he used to
spread
out his left leg.”

The Messenger of Allah (PbUH) said to
me:
“Do not squat between the two prostrations.”

“The Prophet (PbUH) said: ‘O ‘Ali, do
not squat like a dog.’”

“The Prophet (PbUH) said to me:
‘When you raise your head from prostration, do not squat like a
dog. Put your buttocks between your feet and let the tops of your
feet touch the ground.”

“Rabbighfir li, Rabbighfir li (O Lord
forgive
me, O Lord forgive me).”

“When praying at night
(Qiyamul-Lail), the Messenger of Allah (PbUH) used to say between the
two prostrations: ‘Rabbighfir li warhamni wajburni warzuqni
warfa’ni
(O Lord, forgive me, have mercy on me, improve my
situation, grant me
provision and raise me in status).’”

“When we performed
prayer with the Prophet (PbUH) we said: ‘Peace be upon Allah from
His
slaves, peace be upon Jibra’il and Mika’il and so-and-so and
so-and-
so.’ The Messenger of Allah (PbUH) heard us and said: ‘Do
not say peace
(Salam) be upon Allah, for He is As-Salam. When you sit
(during
prayer) say: At-Tahiyyatu lillahi was-salawatu wat-tayyibatu;
as-
salamu ‘alayka ayyuhan-Nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu;
as-
salamu ‘alayna wa ‘ala ‘ibadillahis-salihin (All
compliments, prayers
and good words are due to Allah; peace be upon
you, O Prophet, and the
mercy of Allah and His blessings; peace be
upon us and upon the
righteous slaves of Allah).” For is you say
that it will reach every
righteous slave in the heavens and on earth.
(Then say:) “Ashhadu an
la ilaha illallah wa ashhadu anna
Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa Rasuluhu (I
bear witness that none has the
right to be worshipped but Allah, and I
bear witness that Muhammad is
His slave and Messenger).”

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
used
to teach us the Tashah-hud as he used to teach us a Surah of the
Qur’an. He used to say: ‘At-Tahiyyatul-Mubarakatus
salawatut-tayyibatu
lillah; As-salamu ‘alayka ayyuhan-Nabiyyu wa
rahmatullahi wa
barakatuhu; as-salamu ‘alayna wa ‘ala
‘ibadillahis-salihin. Ashhadu an
la ilaha illallah wa ashhadu anna
Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa Rasuluhu (All
blessed compliments and good
prayers are due to Allah; peace be upon
you, O Prophet, and the mercy
of Allah and His blessings; peace be
upon us and upon the righteous
slaves of Allah. I bear witness that
none has the right to be
worshipped but Allah and I bear witness that
Muhammad is His slave
and Messenger).’”

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
addressed us and explained the Sunnah for us, and he taught us our
prayer. He said: ‘When you perform prayer, and you are sitting, let
the first thing you say be: At-Tahiyyatut-tayyibatus-salawatu lillah;
as-salamu ‘alayka ayyuhan-Nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu;
as-salamu ‘alayna wa ‘ala ‘ibadillahis-salihin. Ashhadu an la
ilaha illallah wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa Rasuluhu (All
compliments, good words and prayers are due to Allah; peace be upon
you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings; peace be
upon us and upon the righteous slaves of Allah. I bear witness that
none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and I bear witness that
Muhammad is His slave and Messenger). Seven phrases which are the
greeting of the prayer.’”

“The Messenger of
Allah
(PbUH) used to teach us the Tashah-hud as he used to teach us a
Surah
from the Qur’an: ‘Bismillahi wa Billahi; at-tahiyyatu lillahi
was-salawatu wat-tayyibatu lillahi lillahi; as-salamu ‘alayka
ayyuhan-
Nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu; as-salamu ‘alayna wa
‘ala
‘ibadillahis-salihin. Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah wa
ashhadu anna
Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasuluhu. As’alu
Allahal-jannah, wa a’udhu
billahi minannar (In the name of Allah
and by the grace of Allah. All
compliments are due to Allah and all
prayers and good words are gue to
Allah. Peace be upon you, O
Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His
blessings; peace be upon us
and upon the righteous slaves of Allah. I
bear witness that none has
the right to be worshipped but Allah and I
bear witness that Muhammad
is His slave and Messenger. I ask Allah for
Paradise and I seek
refuge with Allah from the Fire).’”

“We said: ‘O Messenger
of Allah! We know what it means to send greetings upon you, but what
does it mean to send peace and blessings upon you?’ He said: ‘Say:
“Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammadin ‘abdika wa Rasulika kama
salayta ‘ala Ibrahima, wa barik ‘ala Muhammad (wa ‘ala ali
Muhammadin) kama barakta ‘ala Ibrahima [O Allah, send Your grace,
honor and mercy upon Muhammad, Your slave and Messenger, as You sent
Your (grace, honour and mercy) upon Ibrahim, and send Your blessings
upon Muhammad (and the family of Muhammad) as You sent Your blessings
upon Ibrahim].”

“I heard Ibn Abi Laila say: ‘Ka’b
bin
‘Ujrah met me and said: “Shall I not give you a gift? The
Messenger of Allah (PbUH) came out to us and we said: ‘We know what
it
means to send greetings on you, but what does it mean to send
peace
and blessings upon you?’ He said: ‘Say: Allahumma salli
‘ala
Muhammadin wa ‘ala ali Muhammadin, kama sallayta ‘ala
Ibrahima, innaka
Hamidun Majid; Allahumma barik ‘ala Muhammadin wa
‘ala ali Ibrahima,
innaka Hamidun Majid (O Allah, send your grace,
honour and mercy upon
Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as
You sent Your grace,
honour and mercy upon Ibrahim, You are indeed
Praiseworthy, Most
Glorious. O Allah, send Your blessings upon
Muhammad and the family of
Muhammad, as You sent Your blessings upon
Ibrahim, You are indeed
Praiseworthy, Most Glorious).’”

“O Messenger
of
Allah! We have been commanded to send peace and blessings upon you.
How should we send peace and blessings upon you?” He said: “Say:
Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammadin wa azwajihi wa dhurriyatihi, kama
sallayta ‘ala Ibrahim; wa barik ‘ala Muhammadin wa azwajihi wa
dhurriyatihi kama barakta ‘ala ali Ibrahim fil-‘alamin, innaka
Hamidum
Majid (O Allah, send Your grace, honour and mercy upon
Muhammad and
his wives and offspring, as You sent Your grace, honour
and mercy upon
Ibrahim. O Allah, send Your blessings upon Muhammad
and his wives and
offspring, as You sent Your blessings upon the
family of Ibrahim among
the nations, You are indeed Praiseworthy,
Most Glorious).”

“When you
send
peace and blessings upon the Messenger of Allah (PbUH), then do it
well, for you do not know, that may be shown to him.” They said to
him: “Teach us.” He said: “Say: ‘Allahumma aj’al salataka
wa rahmataka
wa barakatika ‘ala sayyidil-mursalin wa
imamil-muttaqin wa khatamin-
nabiyyin, Muhammad ‘abdika wa Rasulika
imamil-khayri (wa qa’idil-
khair), wa Rasulir-Rahmah.
Allahummab’athhu maqaman mahmudan
yaghbituhu bihil-awwaluna
wal-akhirun. Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammadin
wa ‘ala ali
Muhammadin kama sallayta ‘ala Ibrahim wa ‘ala ali Ibrahim;
Allahumma barik ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala ali Muhammadin kama
barakta
‘ala Muhammadin kama barakta ‘ala Ibrahim wa ‘ala ali
Ibrahim, innaka
Hamidum Majid (O Allah, send Your grace, honour,
mercy and blessings
upon the leader of the Messengers, the imam of
the pious and the seal
of the Prophets, Muhammad, Your slave and
Messenger, the Imam of the
good (and the leader) of the good, and the
Messenger of mercy. O
Allah, raise him to a station of praise and
glory that will be the
envy of the first and the last. O Allah, send
Your grace, honour and
mercy upon Muhammad and upon the family of
Muhammad, as You sent Your
grace, honour and mercy upon Ibrahim, You
are indeed Praiseworthy,
Most Glorious. O Allah, send blessings upon
Muhammad and upon the
family of Muhammad as You sent blessings upon
Ibrahim and the family
of Ibrahim, You are Praiseworthy, Most
Glorious).’”

“I heard ‘Abdullah
bin ‘Amir bin Rabi’ah narrating from his father that the Prophet
(PbUH)
said: “There is no Muslim who sends peace and blessings upon
me, but
the angels will send peace and blessings upon him as long as
he sends
peace and blessings upon me. So let a person do a little of
that or a
lot.”

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
said: ‘Whoever forgets to send peace and blessings upon me, then he
has missed the road to Paradise.’”

“I heard Abu Hurairah say that the
Messenger of Allah (PbUH) said: ‘When anyone of you finishes the
last
Tashah-hud, let him seek refuge with Allah from four things:
From the
torment of Hell, from the torment of the grave, from the
trials of
life and death, and from the Fitnah (tribulation) of
Masihud-Dajjal.’

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
said
to a man: ‘What do you say during your Salat?’ He said: ‘The
Tashah-hud, then I ask Allah for Paradise, and I seek refuge with Him
from Hell, but I do not understand what you and Mu’adh murmur
(during
Salat). He said: ‘Our murmuring revolves around the same
things.’”

“I
saw the Prophet (PbUH) putting his right hand on his right thigh
during prayer, and pointing with his finger.”

“I saw the Prophet (PbUH)
making a circle with his thumb and middle finger, and raising the one
next to it (the index finger), supplicating with it during the
Tashah-hud.”

It was
narrated from Ibn ‘Umar that the Prophet (PbUH) used to sit
during
prayer, putting his hands on his knees and raising his right
finger
which was next to his thumb, supplicating with it, and with his
left
hand (spread out) on his knee.

“As-salamu ‘alaikum wa rahmatullah
(Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah).”

It was
narrated from ‘Amir bin Sa’d, from his father, that the
Messenger
of Allah (PbUH) used to say the Salam to his right and to his
left.

“The Messenger of Allah
(PbUH) used to say the Salam to his right and to his left, until the
whiteness of his cheek could be seen (saying): ‘As-salamu ‘alaikum
wa
rahmatullah, as-salamu ‘alaikum wa rahmatullah.’”

“Ali led us in prayer on the day
of
(the battle of) the Camel, in a way that reminded us of the prayer
of
the Messenger of Allah (PbUH). Either we had forgotten it or we had
abandoned it. He said the Salam to his right and to his left.”

‘Abdul-Muhaimin bin ‘Abbas bin Sahl bin Sa’d As-Sa’idi
narrated from
his father, from his grandfather, that the Messenger of
Allah (PbUH)
said one Taslim to the front.

It was
narrated from Hisham bin ‘Urwah, from his father, from
‘Aishah,
that the Messenger of Allah (saW) used to say one Salam, to
the
front.

“I saw the Messenger of
Allah (PbUH) performing the prayer, and he said one Salam.”

“When
the Imam says the Salam, then respond to him.”

“The Messenger of Allah
(PbUH) commanded us to greet our Imam with Salam, and to greet one
another with Salam.”

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
said: ‘No
person should lead others in prayer, then supplicate only
for himself
and not for them. If he does that, he has betrayed them.’”

“When the Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
said the Salam, he would sit only for as long as it took to say:
‘Allahumma Antas-Salam wa minkas-salam. Tabarakta ya Dhal-jalali
wal-
ikram. (O Allah, You are As-Salam, From You is all peace, blessed
are
You O Possessor of majesty and honour).’”

‘Allahumma
inni
as’aluka ‘ilman nafi’an, wa rizqan tayyiban, wa ‘amalan
mutaqabbalan (O Allah, I ask You for beneficial knowledge, goodly
provision and acceptable deeds).’”

“The Messenger of Allah
(PbUH) said: ‘There are two characteristics which no Muslim man
acquires but he will enter Paradise. They are easy but those who do
them are few. At the end of every prayer he should glorify Allah (by
saying Subhan Allah) ten times, extol Him (by saying Allahu Akbar)
ten
times, and praise Him (by saying Al-Hamdu Lillah) ten times.’ I
saw
the Messenger of Allah (PbUH) counting them on his hand. ‘That
is one
hundred and fifty (after all the prayers of the day) on the
tongue,
and one thousand and five hundred on the Scale. And when he
goes to
his bed, let him glorify Allah and praise Him and extol Him
one
hundred times. That will be one hundred on the tongue and one
thousand
on the Scale. Who among you does two thousand and five
hundred evil
actions in one day?’ They said: ‘Who would not be
keen to do that?’ He
said: ‘But the Shaitan comes to anyone of
you while he is performing
prayer and says: ‘Remember such and
such, remember such and such,”
until the person becomes distracted
and does not understand (what he
is saying). And he comes to him when
he is in his bed, and makes him
sleepy such that he sleeps.’”

“It was said to the Prophet
(PbUH) and
perhaps (one of the narrators) Sufyan said: I said: O
Messenger of
Allah! Those who have property and wealth have surpassed
us in
reward. They say the same as we do, and they spend but we do not
spend.’ He said to me: ‘Shall I not tell you something which, if
you
do it, you will catch up with those who have surpassed you and
you
will excel over those who come after you? Praise Allah (by saying
Al-
Hamdu Lillah) after every prayer, and glorify Him (by saying
Subhan-
Allah) and extol Him (by saying Allahu Akbar), thirty-three,
thirty-
three, and thirty-four times.’” Sufyan said: “I do not
know which of
them was to be recited thirty-four times.”

“Allahumma Antas-Salam wa minkas-salam tabarakta wa Dhal-jalali
wal-
ikram” (O Allah, You are As-Salam and from You is all peace,
Blessed
are You O Possessor of majesty and honour).”

“The
Prophet
(PbUH) led us (in prayer), and he used to depart from both
sides.
(i.e. from either side).”

“ ‘Abdullah (bin Mas’ud) said: ‘None
of you should apportion within himself a part (of his prayer)
thinking
that it is a right of Allah upon him that he must only turn
to his
right to leave after finishing the prayer. I saw the Messenger
of
Allah (PbUH) and most of the time he turned to his left.’”

“I saw the Prophet (PbUH) departing to his right
and
to his left when he finished the prayer.”

“When the Messenger of Allah
(PbUH)
said the Salam, the women would stand up when he finished his
Taslim,
and he would stay where he was for a little while before
standing up.
(i.e. to depart).”

“If food is served and the Iqamah for prayer is given, then
start
with the food.”

“The Messenger of
Allah (PbUH) said: ‘If food is served and the Iqamah for prayer is
given, then start with the food.”
He said: "Ibn 'Umar ate dinner one night while he could hear the Iqamah."

“If
food is ready and the Iqamah is being given, then start with the
food.”

“I went out on a rainy night
(for
congregational prayer), and when I came back I asked for the door
to
be opened. My father said: ‘Who is this?’ I said: ‘Abu Malih.’
He
said: ‘We were with the Messenger of Allah (PbUH) at Hudaybiyah
and it
rained a little, such that the soles of our sandals did not
get wet.
The announcer of the Messenger of Allah (PbUH) called out:
‘Perform
your prayer at your camps.’”

“On rainy nights or on cold
windy
nights, the Messenger of Allah (PbUH) would summon his announcer
to
call out: ‘Perform your prayer at your camps.’”

“Perform your prayer at your camps.”

“Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Ashhadu an la
ilaha
illallah, Ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasulullah (Allah is the Most
Great,
Allah is Most Great, I bear witness that none has the right to
be
worshipped but Allah, I bear witness that Muhammad is the
Messenger of
Allah).” Then he (Ibn ‘Abbas) said: “Proclaim to
the people that they
should pray in their houses.” The people said
to him: “What is this
that you have done?” He said: “One who is
better than me did that. Are
you telling me that I should bring the
people out of their houses and
make them come to me wading through
the mud up to their knees?”

“We used
to
perform prayer while the beasts were passing in front of us. That
was
mentioned to the Messenger of Allah (PbUH) and he said: ‘If
something like the hand of a saddle* is placed in front of anyone of
you, it will not matter whoever passes in front of him.”

“A small spear (Harbah) would be
brought out to the Prophet (PbUH) when he was travelling; he would
plant it (in the ground) to perform prayer while facing it.”

“The Messenger of Allah had a reed
mat that he would spread out during the day, and make into a
compartment at night, towards which he would perform prayer.”

“When
anyone of you performs prayer, let him put something in front of him.
If he cannot find anything then let him put a stick. If he cannot
find
one, then let him draw a line. Then it will not matter if
anything
passes in front of him.”

“They sent me to Zaid bin Khalid to ask him
about
passing in front of one who is performing prayer. He told me
that the
Prophet (PbUH) said: ‘Waiting for forty is better than passing
in
front of one who is performing prayer.’”

“What did you hear from the
Prophet
(PbUH) about a man when he is performing prayer?” He said: “I
heard the Prophet (PbUH) saying: ‘If anyone of you knew (how great
is
the sin involved) when he passed in front of his brother who is
performing prayer, then waiting for forty’,” (one of the
narrators)
said: “I do not know if he meant forty years, forty
months, or forty
days, ‘would be better for him than that.”

“The Prophet (PbUH) said: ‘If
anyone of you knew (how great is the sin involved) in passing in
front
of his brother while he is performing prayer, waiting for one
hundred
years would be better for him than one step that he takes.’”

“The Prophet (PbUH) was
performing
prayer at ‘Arafat, and Fadl and I came riding a female
donkey. We
passed in front of part of the row, then we dismounted and
left the
donkey, and we came and joined the row.”

“The Prophet (PbUH) was
performing
prayer in the house of Umm Salamah, and ‘Abdullah or ‘Umar
bin
Abu Salamah passed in front of him; he gestured his hand, and he
went
back. Then Zainab bint Umm Salamah passed in front of him, and he
gestured his hand, but she kept going. When the Messenger of Allah
(PbUH) finished his prayer, he said: ‘These (women) are more
stubborn.’”

“The
prayer
is severed by a black dog and a woman who has reached the age
of
menstruation.”

“The
prayer
is severed by a woman, a dog and a donkey.”

“The prayer is severed by a woman, a dog and a donkey.”

“The prayer is severed by a woman, a donkey, and a
black dog, if there is not something like the handle of a saddle in
front of a man.” I (‘Abdullah) said: “What is wrong with a
black dog
and not a red one?” He (Abu Dharr) said: ‘I asked the
Messenger of
Allah (PbUH) the same question, and he said: “The black
dog is a
Shaitan (satan).”

‘Mention was made in the
presence of Ibn ‘Abbas about what severs the prayer. They mentioned
a
dog, a donkey and a woman. He said: ‘What do you say about kids
(young
goats)? The Messenger of Allah (PbUH) was performing prayer one
day,
when a kid came and wanted to pass in front of him. The
Messenger of
Allah (PbUH) preceded it toward the Qiblah. (to tighten
the space and
prevent it from passing in front of him).’”

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH) said: ‘When anyone of you performs
prayer, let him pray facing towards a Sutrah, and let him get close
to
it, and not let anyone pass in front of him. If someone comes and
wants to pass in front of him, let him fight him, for he is a Shaitan
(satan).’”

“When anyone of you is performing prayer, he should not
let anyone pass in front of him. If he insists then let him fight
him,
for he has a Qarin (devil-companion) with him.”

“The Prophet (PbUH) used to pray at
night,
and I was laying between him and the prayer direction, as a
(body for
a) funeral horizontally.’”

It was
narrated from Zainab bint Umm Salamah that her mother said
that her
bed was in front of the place where the Messenger of Allah
(PbUH)
prostrated.

“The Prophet (PbUH)
used to
perform prayer when I was opposite to him, and his garment
would
sometimes touch me when he prostrated.”

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
forbade performing prayer behind one who is engaged in conversation
or
one who is sleeping.”

“The Prophet (PbUH) used to
teach
us not to bow or prostrate before the Imam; when he says the
Takbir
then say the Takbir, and when he prostrates, you should
prostrate.”

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
said: ‘Does not the one who raises his head before the Imam fear
that
Allah may turn his head into the head of a donkey?’”

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
said: ‘I
have gained weight, so when I bow, then bow, and when I stand
up,
then stand up, and when I prostrate, then prostrate. I should
never
find anyone preceding me in bowing or prostration.’”

“The Messenger of
Allah (PbUH) said: ‘Do not bow or prostrate before me. No matter how
far ahead of you I bow, you will catch up with me when I stand up,
and
no matter how far ahead of you I prostrate, you will catch up
with me
when I raise my head. I have become bulky.’”

“It is impolite for a man to wipe his forehead a great deal
before
he finishes prayer.”

“Do
not crack your fingers during the prayer.”

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
forbade a man to cover his mouth during the prayer.”

It was
narrated from Ka’b bin ‘Ujrah that the Messenger of Allah
(PbUH)
saw a man who had interlocked his fingers during the prayer, so
the
Messenger of Allah (PbUH) separated his fingers.

“When anyone of you yawns, let him put his hand over his mouth
and
not make a sound, because Satan laughs at him.”

“Spitting, blowing one’s
nose, menstruating and drowsiness during the prayer are from Satan.”

“The Messenger of Allah
9saw) said: ‘There are three whose prayer are not accepted: A man
who
leads people while they do not like him; a man who does not come
to
prayer until its end – meaning after its time has expired –
and one
who enslaves a freed person.’”

“There are three whose prayer do not rise more than a hand span
above their heads: A man who leads people (in prayer) when they do
not
like him; a woman who has spent the night with her husband angry
with
her; and two brothers who have severed contact with one
another.”

“The Messenger of
Allah
(PbUH) said: ‘Two or more people are a congregation.’”

“I stayed overnight with my
maternal aunt Maimunah, and the Prophet (PbUH) got up during the night
to perform prayer. So I got up and stood on his left. He took me by
the hand and made me stand on his right.”

“I heard Jabir bin ‘Abdullah say: ‘The Messenger of
Allah
(PbUH) was performing Maghrib, and I came and stood on his left,
but
he made me stand on his right.’”

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH) led a
woman
of his household and myself in prayer. I stood to his right and
the
woman stood behind us.”

“The Messenger of
Allah
(PbUH) used to gently pat our shoulders (to make sure the row was
straight) at the time of prayer, saying: ‘Keep (the rows) straight,
do
not differ from one another lest your hearts should suffer from
discord. Let those who are forbearing and wise stand closest to me,
then those who are next to them, then those who are next to them.’”

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH) liked
the
Muhajirun and Ansar to stand closest to him, so that they could
learn
from him.”

“Come
forward and follow me, and let those who are behind you follow
your
lead. If people continue to lag behind, Allah will put them
back.”

“I came to the Prophet
(PbUH) with a friend of mine, and when we wanted to leave, he said to
us: ‘When the time for prayer comes, say the Adhan and Iqamah, then
let the older of you lead the prayer.’”

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH) said: ‘The people
should be lead by the one who is most well-Versed in recitation of
the
Book of Allah. If they are equal in recitation, then they should
be
led by the one who emigrated first. If they are equal in
emigration,
then they should be led by the eldest. A man should not
be led among
his family or in his place of authority; no one should
be sat in his
place of honour in his house without permission, or
without his
permission.’”

“Sahl bin Sa’d As-Sa’idi used to give preference to
the
young to lead his people in prayer. It was said to him: “Do you do
that, when you have such seniority (in Islam)?” He said: “I heard
the
Messenger of Allah (PbUH) say: ‘The Imam is responsible. If he
does
well, then he will have the reward and so will they, but if he
does
badly, then that will be counted against him but not against
them.’”

“I
heard the Prophet (PbUH) say: ‘A time will come when the people will
stand for a long time and will not be able to find any Imam to lead
them in prayer.”

“You
are
the most deserving of that, you were the Companion of the
Messenger of
Allah (PbUH).” But he refused and said: “I heard the
Messenger of Allah
(PbUH) say: ‘Whoever leads the people and gets it
right, the prayer
will be for him and for them, but if he falls
short, then that will be
counted against him but not against them.”

“A man came to the Prophet
(PbUH)
and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! I stay behind and do not
perform
the morning prayer (in congregation) because of so-and-so, for
he
makes it too long for us.’ I never saw the Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
preaching with such anger as he did that day. He said; ‘O people!
There are among you those who repel others. Whoever among you leads
others in prayer, let him keep it short, for among them are those who
are weak and elderly, and those who have pressing needs.’”

“The Messenger of Allah
(PbUH)
used to make his prayer brief but perfect.”

“Mu’adh bin Jabal Al-Ansari led his
companions in the ‘Isha’ prayer and he made it long. A man among
us
went away and prayed by himself. Mu’adh was told about that and
he
said: ‘He is a hypocrite.’ When the man heard about that, he
went to
the Messenger of Allah (PbUH) and told him what Mu’adh had
said to him.
The Prophet (PbUH) said: ‘Do you want to be a cause of
Fitnah (trial,
tribulation), O Mu’adh? When you lead the people in
prayer, recite “By
the sun and its brightness,”[Ash-Shams 91] and
“Glorify the Name of
your Lord the Most High,” [Al-A’la 87] and
“By the night as it
envelopes,” [Al-Lail 92] and “Recite in the
Name of your
Lord.’”[Al-‘Alaq]

“I
heard
‘Uthman bin Abul-‘As say: “The last thing that the Prophet
(PbUH)
enjoined on me when he appointed me governor of Ta’if was
that he
said: “O ‘Uthman! Be tolerable in prayer and estimate the
people based
upon the weakest among them, for among them are the
elderly, the
young, the sick, those who live far from the mosque, and
those who
have pressing needs.”

“When you lead people,
keep
it short for them.”

“The Messenger of Allah
(PbUH)
said: ‘I start prayer and I want to make it long, but then I
hear
an infant crying, so I make my prayer short, because I know the
distress caused to the mother by his crying.’”

“The Messenger of
Allah (PbUH) said: ‘I hear an infant crying so I make the prayer
short.’”

“The
Messenger of Allah (PbUH) said: ‘I get up to perform prayer and I
intend to make it long, but then I hear an infant crying, so I make
it
short, because I do not like to cause distress to his mother.’”

“The Messenger of
Allah (PbUH) said: ‘Will you not form your rows as the angels form
their rows before their Lord?’ We said: ‘How do the angels form
their rows before their Lord?’ He said: ‘They complete the first
row and they stand close of one another in the line (leaving no gaps
between one another).’”

“The Messenger of Allah
(PbUH)
said: ‘Make your rows straight, for straightening the rows is
part
of completing the prayer.’”

“The
Messenger
of Allah (PbUH) used to straighten the rows until he made
them like a
spear or an arrow-shaft. Once he saw a man’s chest
(sticking out)
so the Messenger of Allah (PbUH) said: ‘Make your rows
straight or
Allah will create division among you.’”

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
said:
‘Allah and His angels send blessings upon those who complete the
rows, and whoever fills a gap, Allah will raise him one degree in
status thereby.’”

It was
narrated from ‘Irbad bin Sariyah that the Messenger of Allah
(PbUH)
used to ask for forgiveness for the first row three times and
for the
second row twice.

“I heard the Messenger of Allah (PbUH) say:
‘Allah
and the angels send blessings upon the first row.’”

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
said: ‘If they knew what (goodness) there is in the first row, they
would cast lots for it.’”

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH) said: ‘Allah and the angels
send blessings upon the first row.’”

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
said: ‘The best rows for women are the back rows, and the worst are
the front rows, and the best rows for men are the front rows, and the
worst are the back rows.’”

“The Messenger of
Allah
(PbUH) said: ‘The best rows for men are the front rows and the
worst
rows are the back rows, and the best rows for women are the back
rows
and the worst are the front rows.’”

“We
were
forbidden to form a row between two pillars at the time of the
Messenger of Allah (PbUH), and we would be repelled from them
forcefully.”

“We set out
until we
came to the Prophet (PbUH). We gave him our oath of
allegiance and
performed prayer behind him. Then we offered another
prayer behind
him. He finished the prayer and saw a man on his own,
praying behind
the row.” He said: “The Prophet of Allah (PbUH)
stood beside him and
when he finished he said: ‘Repeat your prayer;
there is no prayer for
the one who is behind the row.’”

“Ziyad bin Abu-Ja’d took me
by the hand and made me stand near an old man at Raqqah, whose name
was Wabisah bin Ma’bad. He said: ‘A man performed prayer behind
the
row on his own, and the Prophet (PbUH) commanded him to repeat the
prayer.’”

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
said:
‘Allah and His angels send blessings upon the right side of the
rows.’”

“When we performed prayer behind the
Messenger of Allah (PbUH) (One of the narrators) Mis’ar said: ‘One
of
the things we liked, or one of the things I liked’ ‘was to
stand to
his right.’”

“It was said to the Prophet
(PbUH):
‘The left side of the mosque has been abandoned. The Prophet
(PbUH)
said: “Whoever frequents the left side of the mosque, two Kifl*
of
reward will be recorded for him.”

“When the Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
finished Tawaf around the House (the Ka’bah), he came to Maqam of
Ibrahim (the Station of Ibrahim). ‘Umar said: ‘O Messenger of
Allah,
this is the Station of our father Ibrahim about which Allah
said: “And
take you (people) the Maqan of Ibrahim as a place of
prayer.’” [2:125]

“I said: ‘O
Messenger of Allah (PbUH), why do you not take the Maqam of Ibrahim as
a place of prayer?’ Then the following was revealed: ‘And take
you
(people) the Maqam of Ibrahim as a place of prayer.’” [2:125]

“We prayed with the Messenger of
Allah
(PbUH) facing towards Baitul-Maqdis (Jerusalem) for eighteen
months,
then the Qiblah was changed to the Ka’bah two months after the
Prophet (PbUH) entered Al-Madinah. When the Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
prayed towards Baitul-Maqdis, he would often lift his face towards
the
heavens, and Allah knew what was in the heart of His Prophet and
how
he longed to face the Ka’bah (during prayer). Jibril appeared
(in the
sky), and the Messenger of Allah (PbUH) started watching him
as he was
descending between the heavens and the earth, waiting to
see what he
would bring. Then Allah revealed the words: ‘Verily, We
have seen the
turning of your face towards the heaven. Surely, We
shall turn you to
a Qiblah that shall please you, so turn your face
in the direction of
Al-Masjid Al-Haram (at Makkah). And wherever you
people are, turn your
faces (during prayer) in that direction.’
[2:144] Then someone came to
us and said: ‘The Qiblah has been
changed to the Ka’bah.’ We had
performed two Rak’ah facing
towards Jerusalem. And we were bowing. So
we turned around, and we
continued our prayer. The Messenger of Allah
(PbUH) said: ‘O Jibril!
What about our prayer facing towards Baitul-
Maqdis?’ Then Allah
revealed the words: “And Allah would never make
your faith to be
lost.” [2:143]

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
said: ‘What is between the east and the west is the Qiblah (prayer
direction).’”*

“When anyone of you enters the mosque, let him not sit down
until
he performs two Rak’ah.”

“When
one of
you enters the mosque, let him perform two Rak’ah before he
sits
down.”

“O people, you
eat
two plants that I find are nothing but obnoxious; this garlic and
this
onion. At the time of the Messenger of Allah (PbUH), if a foul
odour
was detected from a man, I would see him seized by the arm and
taken
out to Al-Baqi’. Whoever must eat them, let him cook them to
death.”

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
said: ‘Whoever eats from this plant; garlic, let him not annoy us
with
it in this mosque of ours.’”

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
said:
‘Whoever eats anything from this plant, let him not come to the
mosque.’”

“The Messenger of
Allah
(PbUH) came to the mosque at Quba’ and performed prayer there.
Some
men of the Ansar came and greeted him. I asked Suhaib, who was
with
him: ‘How did the Messenger of Allah (PbUH) respond to them?’ He
said: ‘He gestured with his hand.’”

“The Prophet (PbUH) sent me on an
errand,
then I caught up with him while he was performing prayer, and
I
greeted him. He gestured to me, then when he finished, he called me
and said: ‘You greeted me before, but I was performing prayer.’”

“We would greet others during
the
prayer, and it was said to us: ‘During the prayer one is
preoccupied.’”

“We were with the Messenger of Allah (PbUH) on a journey, and
the
sky was overcast so it was difficult for us to determine the
Qiblah.
So we performed prayer, and we marked the location.* Later,
when the
sun reappeared, we realized that we had prayed facing a
direction
other than the Qiblah. We mentioned that to the Prophet
(PbUH), then
the Words were revealed: ‘So wherever you turn there is
the Face of
Allah.’” [2:115]

“The
Prophet
(PbUH) said: ‘When you perform prayer, do not spit in front of
you
or to your right, but spit to your left or beneath your feet.’”

“What is wrong with one of you that he
stands
facing Him (meaning his Lord) and spits in front of Him? Would
anyone
like to be faced by someone who spits in his face? If anyone of
you
needs to spit, then let him spit to his left, or let him do like
this
in his garment.”

“O Shabath! Do not spit in front of you, for
the Messenger of Allah (PbUH) used to forbid that, and he said: ‘When
a
man stands up to perform prayer, Allah turns His Face towards him
until he turns away or he commits an evil Hadath.’”*

It was
narrated from Anas bin Malik that the Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
spat
on his garment while he was performing prayer, then he rubbed it.

The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
said:
“Whoever smoothes the pebbles, then he has engaged in Laghw.”*

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
said,
concerning smoothing the pebbles during prayer: ‘If you must do
that, then do it only once.’”

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
said:
‘When anyone of you gets up to perform prayer, then indeed mercy
is
facing him, so he should not smooth the pebbles.’”

“The Messenger of Allah
(PbUH)
used to perform prayer on a Khumrah.”

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
performed prayer on a reed mat.”

“When Ibn ‘Abbas was in
Basrah, he performed prayer on his rug, then he told his companions
that the Messenger of Allah (PbUH) used to perform prayer on his rug.”

“The Prophet
(PbUH) came to us and led us in prayer in the mosque of Banu
‘Abdul-
Ashhal, and I saw him putting his hands on his garment when
he
prostrated.”

It was
narrated from ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abdur-Rahman bin Thabit bin
Samit,
from his father, from his grandfather, that the Messenger of
Allah
(PbUH) performed prayer among Banu ‘Abdul-Ashhal, wearing a cloak
in
which he was wrapped and putting his hands on it to protect them
from
the cold of the pebbles.

“We used to perform prayer
with
the Prophet (PbUH) when it was very hot. When one of us could not
place his forehead firmly on the ground, he would spread his garment
and prostrates on it.”

“The Tasbih (saying Subhan-Allah) is for men and clapping is for
women.”

“The Tasbih is for men and clapping is for women.”

“Ibn ‘Umar said: ‘The
Messenger of Allah (PbUH) granted a concession for the women to slap,
and for the men to say the Tasbih.”

“My grandfather, Aws, used to
perform prayer, and sometimes he would make a gesture while praying,
and I would give him his sandals. He said: ‘I saw the Messenger of
Allah (PbUH) performing prayer in his sandals.’”

“I saw the Messenger of Allah (PbUH) performing
prayer both barefoot, and while wearing sandals.”

“We saw the Messenger of Allah
(PbUH) performing prayer wearing sandals and leather slippers.”

The Prophet (PbUH) said: “I was
commanded not to tuck up my hair or my garment.”*

“We were ordered to not (tuck up
our) hair (nor garment) and not to repeat ablution for what we
stepped
on.”

“I heard Abu Sa’d, a man from the people of
Madinah,
say: ‘I saw Abu Rafi’, the freed slave of the Messenger
of Allah
(PbUH), when he saw Hasan bin ‘Ali performing prayer, with
his hair
braided. He undid it, or told him not to do that, and said:
“The
Messenger of Allah (PbUH) forbade a man from performing prayer
with his
hair braided.”

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
said:
‘Do not lift your gave to the heavens lest your sight be
snatched
away,” meaning during prayer.

“The Messenger of Allah
(PbUH)
led his Companions in prayer one day. When he had finished
prayer he
turned to face the people and said: ‘What is wrong with some
people
that they lift their gaze to the heavens?’ He spoke severely
concerning that: ‘They should certainly abstain from that or Allah
will snatch away their sight.’”

“Let
those who lift their gaze to the heavens desist, or their sight
will
not come back.”

“A woman used to perform prayer
behind the Prophet (PbUH), and she was one of the most beautiful of
people. Some of the people used to go into the first row so that they
would not see her, and some of them used to lag behind so that they
would be in the last row, and when they bowed, they would do like
this
so that they could see her from beneath their armpits. Then
Allah
revealed: “And indeed, We know the first generations of you
who had
passed away, and indeed, We know the present generations of
you
(mankind), and also those who will some afterwards.” [15:24]
concerning her matter.

“A man came to the Prophet
(PbUH)
and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! One of us performs prayer in a
single garment.’ The Prophet (PbUH) said: ‘Does everyone have two
garments?’”

Abu
Sa’eed Al-Khudri narrated that he entered upon the Messenger of
Allah (PbUH) when he was performing prayer in a single garment,
wrapping himself in it.

“I saw the Messenger
of
Allah (PbUH) performing prayer in a single garment, wrapping himself
in it and throwing the ends over his shoulders.”

“I
saw the Messenger of Allah (PbUH) performing prayer at Bi’r ‘Ulya,
in a garment.”

“I saw the Prophet (PbUH)
performing the Zuhr and the ‘Asr in a single garment, wrapping it
around his chest.”

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
said: ‘When a son of Adam recites a Sajdah* and prostrates, Satan
withdraws weeping, saying: ‘Woe is me! The son of Adam was
commanded
to prostrate and he prostrated, and Paradise will be his; I
was
commanded to prostrate and I refused, so I am doomed to Hell.’”

“I was with the Prophet (PbUH),
and
a man came to him and said: ‘Last night while I was sleeping, I
saw
that I was praying towards the base of a tree. I recited (an Ayah
of)
prostration and prostrated, and the tree prostrated when I did,
and I
heard it saying: Allahummah-tut anni biha wizran, waktub li biha
ajran, waj’al-ha li ‘indaka dhukhran (O Allah, reduce my burden
of sin
thereby, reward me for it and store it for me with You).’
Ibn ‘Abbas
said: “I saw the Prophet (PbUH) recite (an Ayah of)
prostration and
then prostrate, and I heard him saying in his
prostration something
like that which the man had told him the tree
said.”

“Allahumma laka sajadtu, wa bika amantu, wa laka
aslamtu, Anta rabbi, sajada wajhi lilladhi shaqqa sam’ahu wa
basarahu,
tabarak Allah ahsanul-khaliqin (O Allah, to You I have
prostrated, and
in You I have believed, and to You I have submitted.
You are my Lord;
my face has prostrated to the One Who gave it
hearing and sight.
Blessed is Allah the best of Creators).”*

“Abu Darda’ told me that he did
eleven prostrations* with the Prophet (PbUH), including An-Najm.”

“I performed eleven
prostrations
with the Prophet (PbUH) of which there were none in the
Mufassal.
Al-A’raf, Ar-Ra’d, An-Nahl, Bani Isra’il, Maryam, Al-Hajj,
the
prostration in Al-Furqan, Surat An-Naml (mentioning) Sulaiman,
As-
Sajdah, Sad, and the Ha-Mim Surah.”

It was
narrated from ‘Amr bin ‘As that the Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
taught him fifteen prostrations in the Qur’an, including three in
the
Mufassal and two in Al-Hajj.

“We prostrated with the
Messenger
of Allah (PbUH) in “When the heaven is split asunder” [84:1]
and
“Read! In the Name of your Lord.” [96:1]

1]

“And also upon
you. Go back
and repeat your prayer, for you have not prayed.” So
he went back and
repeated his prayer, then he came and greeted the
Prophet (PbUH). He
said: “And also upon you. Go back and repeat your
prayer, for you have
not prayed.” On the third occasion, the man
said: “Teach me, O
Messenger of Allah!” He said: “When you
stand up to offer the prayer,
perform ablution properly, then stand
to face the prayer direction and
say Allahu Akbar. Then recite
whatever you can of Qur’an, and then bow
until you can feel at ease
bowing. Then stand up until you feel at
ease standing, then prostrate
until you feel at ease prostrating. Then
raise your head until you
are sitting up straight. Do that throughout
your prayer.”

‘While he was among ten of the
Companions of the Messenger of Allah (PbUH) including Abu Qatadah: “I
heard Abu Humaid As-Sa’idi say: ‘I am the most knowledgeable of
you
concerning the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (PbUH).’ They
said:
‘Why? By Allah, you did not follow him more than we did, and
you did
not accompany him for longer.’ He said: ‘Yes I am.’
They said: ‘Show
us.’ He said: ‘When the Messenger of Allah
(PbUH) stood up for prayer,
he would say the Takbir, then he would
raise his hands parallel to his
shoulders, and every part of his body
would settle in place. Then he
would recite, then he would raise his
hands parallel to his shoulders
and bow, placing his palms on his
knees and supporting his weight on
them. He neither lowered his head,
nor raised it up, it was evenly
balanced (between either extreme).
Then he would say: “Sami’ Allahu
liman hamidah (Allah hears those
who praise Him); and he would raise
his hands parallel with his
shoulders, until every bone returned to
its place. Then he would
prostrate himself on the ground, keeping his
arms away from his
sides. Then he would raise his head and tuck his
left foot under him
and sit on it, and he would spread his toes when
he prostrated.* Then
he would prostrate, then say the Takbir and sit
on his left foot,
until every bone returned to its place. Then he
would stand up and do
the same in the next Rak’ah. Then when he stood
up after two
Rak’ah, he would raise his hands level with his shoulders
as he did
at the beginning of the prayer. Then he would offer the rest
of his
prayer in like manner until, when he did the prostration after
the
Taslim comes, he would push one of his feet back and sit and his
weight on his left side, Mutawarrikan.’** They said: ‘You have
spoken
the truth; this is how the Messenger of Allah (PbUH) used to
perform
the prayer.’”***

“I asked ‘Aishah: ‘How did the
Messenger of Allah (PbUH) perform prayer?’ She said: ‘When the
Prophet
(PbUH) performed ablution, he would put his hand in the vessel
and say
Bismillah, and he would perform ablution properly. Then he
would stand
and face the Qiblah. He would say the Takbir raising his
hands
parallel to his shoulders. Then he would bow, putting his hands
on his
knees and keeping his arms away from his sides. Then he would
raise
his head and straighten his back, and he would stand a little
longer
than your standing. Then he would prostrate, pointing his
hands
towards the Qiblah, keeping his arms away (from his sides) as
much as
possible, according to what I have seen. Then he would raise
his head
and sit on his left foot with his right foot held upright,
and he
disliked leaning towards his left side.’”

“The prayer while traveling is two
Rak’ah, and Friday is two Rak’ah, and ‘Eid is two Rak’ah.
They are
complete and are not shortened, as told by Muhammad (PbUH).”

“The prayer when traveling is two Rak’ah, and Friday is
two
Rak’ah, and Al-Fitr and Al-Adha are two Rak’ah, complete, not
shortened, as told by Muhammad (PbUH).”

“I asked ‘Umar bin
Khattab: ‘Allah says: “And when you travel in the land, there is
no
sin on you if you shorten the prayer if you fear that the
disbelievers
may put you in trial (attack you), verily, the
disbelievers are ever
to you open enemies,” [4:101] but now there
is security and people are
safe.’ He said: ‘I found it strange
just as you do, so I asked the
Messenger of Allah (PbUH) about that,
and he said: “It is charity that
Allah has bestowed upon you, so
accept His charity.”

“We find (mention of) the prayer of the
resident
and the prayer in a state of fear in the Qur’an, but we do
not find
any mention of the prayer of the traveler. ‘Abdullah said
to him:
“Allah sent Muhammad (PbUH) to us, and we did not know
anything, rather
we do what we saw Muhammad (PbUH) doing.”

“When the Messenger of Allah
(PbUH)
went out from this city (Al-Madinah) he did not perform more
than two
Rak’ah for prayer until he returned.”

“Allah enjoined the prayer upon
the tongue of your Prophet (PbUH): Four Rak’ah while a resident and
two
Rak’ah when traveling.”

It was
narrated from Mujahid, Sa’eed bin Jubair, ‘Ata’ bin Abi Rabah
and Tawus that Ibn ‘Abbas told them that the Messenger of Allah
(PbUH)
used to combine the Maghrib and ‘Isha’ when traveling,
although there
was nothing to make him hurry and no enemy pursuing
him, and he was
not afraid of anything.

It was
narrated from Mu’adh bin Jabal that the Prophet (PbUH) combined
the
Zuhr and ‘Asr, and the Maghrib and ‘Isha’ when traveling during
the campaign of Tabuk.

“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 (PbUH) 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 (PbUH)) you have a good example to follow.’” [33:21]

“I asked Tawus about performing voluntary
prayer
while traveling. Al-Hasan bin Muslim bin Yannaq was sitting
with him
and he said: ‘Tawus told me that he heard Ibn ‘Abbas say:
“The
Messenger of Allah (PbUH) enjoined prayer while a resident and
prayer
when one is traveling. We used to pray when we were residents
both
before and after (the obligatory prayer), and we used to pray
both
before and after (the obligatory prayer) when we were
traveling.’”

“I asked
Sa’ib bin Yazid: ‘What have you heard about staying in Makkah?’
He
said: ‘I heard ‘Ala’ bin Hadrami say: “The Prophet (PbUH)
said: ‘Three
(days) for the Muhajir after departing (from Mina).’”*

“Jabir bin ‘Abdullah, who was among the people with
me,
told me that the Prophet (PbUH) arrived in Makkah in the morning of
the fourth day of Dhul-Hijjah.”

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
stayed for nineteen days in which he shortened his prayer to two
Rak’ah. So, whenever we stayed for nineteen days we would shorten
our
prayer to two Rak’ah, but if we stayed more than that we would
pray
four Rak’ah.”

It was
narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas that the Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
stayed
in Makkah for fifteen nights during the year of the Conquest,
(during
which time) he shortened his prayer.

“We went out with the
Messenger of Allah (PbUH) from Al-Madinah to Makkah, during which time
we shortened our prayer to two Rak’ah, until we came back.” I
asked:
“How long did he stay in Makkah?” He said: “Ten (days).”

“The Messenger of
Allah
(PbUH) said: ‘Between a person and Kufr (disbelief) is abandoning
the prayer.’”

“The
Messenger
of Allah (PbUH) said: ‘The covenant that distinguishes
between us and
them is prayer; so whoever leaves it, he has committed
Kufr.’”

“There is
nothing standing between a person and Shirk (polytheism)
except
leaving the prayer, so if he leaves it he has committed Shirk.”

“The Messenger of
Allah
(PbUH) delivered a sermon to us and said: ‘O people! Repent to
Allah
before you die. Hasten to do good deeds before you become
preoccupied
(because of sickness and old age). Uphold the relationship
that
exists between you and your Lord by remembering Him a great deal
and
by giving a great deal of charity in secret and openly. (Then) you
will be granted provision and Divine support, and your condition will
improve. Know that Allah has enjoined Friday upon you in this place
of
mine, on this day, in this month, in this year, until the Day of
Resurrection. Whoever abandons it, whether during my lifetime or
after
I am gone, whether he has a just or an unjust ruler, whether he
takes
it lightly or denies (that it is obligatory), may Allah cause
him to
lose all sense of tranquility and contentment, and may He not
bless
him in his affairs. Indeed, his prayer will not be valid, his
Zakat
will not be valid, his Hajj will not be valid, his fasting will
not be
valid, and his righteous deeds will not be accepted, until he
repents.
Whoever repents, Allah will accept his repentance. No woman
should be
appointed as Imam over a man, no Bedouin should be
appointed as Imam
over a Muhajir, no immoral person should be
appointed as Imam over a
(true) believer, unless that is forced upon
him and he fears his sword
or whip.’”

“I used
to
guide my father after he lost his sight, and when I took him out
for
the Friday (prayer), when he heard the Adhan he would pray for
forgiveness for Abu Umamah As’ad bin Zurarah, and supplicate for
him.
I heard that from him for a while, then I said to myself: ‘By
Allah!
What is this weakness? Every time he heard the Adhan for
Friday
(prayer) I hear him praying for forgiveness for Abu Umamah and
supplicate for him, and I do not ask him about why he does that.’
Then
I took him out for Friday (prayer), as I used to take him out,
and
when he heard the Adhan he prayed for forgiveness as he used to
do. I
said to him: ‘O my father! I see you supplicating for As’ad
bin
Zurarah every time you hear the call for Friday; why is that?’
He
saud: ‘O my son, he was the first one who led us for the Friday
prayer
before the Messenger of Allah (PbUH) came from Makkah, in Naqi’
Al-
Khadamat (a place near Al-Madinah), in the plain of Harrah Banu
Bayadah.’ I asked: ‘How many of you were there at that time?’
He said:
‘Forty men.’”

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
said: ‘Allah led those who came before us astray from Friday.
Saturday
was for the Jews and Sunday was for the Christians. And they
will lag
behind us until the Day of Resurrection. We are the last of
the people
of this world but we will be the first to be judged among
all of
creation.’”

“The
Prophet
(PbUH) said: ‘Friday is the chief of days, the greatest day
before
Allah. It is greater before Allah then the Day of Adha and the
Day of
Fitr. It has five characteristics: On it Allah created Adam; on
it
Allah sent down Adam to this earth; on it there is a time during
which a person does not ask Allah for anything but He will give it to
him, so long as he does not ask for anything that is forbidden; on it
the Hour will begin. There is no angel who is close to Allah, no
heaven, no earth, no wind, no mountain, and no sea that does not fear
Friday.’”

“The Messenger of Allah
(PbUH)
said: ‘The best of your days is Friday. On it Adam was created,
on
it the Trumpet will be blown, on it all creatures will swoon. So
send
a great deal of peace and blessings upon me on that day, for your
peace and blessings will be presented to me.’ A man said: ‘O
Messenger
of Allah, how will our peace and blessings be shown to you
when you
will have disintegrated?’ He said: ‘Allah has forbidden
the earth to
consume the bodies of the Prophets.’”

“From one Friday to the next is an expiation for whatever was
committed in between, so long as one does not commit any major sin.”

“I heard the Prophet (PbUH) say:
‘Whoever
takes a bath on Friday, and bathes completely, and goes
early,
arriving early,* and walks and does not ride (to the mosque),
and
sits close to the Imam and listens to him, and does not engage in
idle talk; for every step he takes he will have the reward of one
year, the reward of a year’s fasting and praying (at night).”

“I heard the Prophet (PbUH) say
from
the pulpit: ‘Whoever comes to Friday, let him take a bath.’”

“Bath on Fridays is obligatory for every male who has
reached the age of puberty.”

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
said: ‘Whoever performs ablution and performs ablution well, then
comes to Friday (prayer) and sits near (the Imam), and keeps quiet
and
listens, he will be forgiven for what was between that and the
previous Friday (of sins), and three days more. And whoever touches
the pebbles then he has engaged in Laghw (idle talk or behaviour).”

“Whoever
performs ablution on Friday, it is well and good for him, and
he has
done what is obligatory for him. But whoever takes a bath, bath
is
better.”

“When Friday comes, angels stand at every door of the mosque and
record the names of the people who come, in order of arrival. When
the
Imam comes out, they close their records and listen to the
sermon. The
first one who comes to the prayer is like one who
sacrifices a camel;
the one who comes after him is like one who
sacrifices a cow; the one
who comes after him is like one who
sacrifices a ram,” (and so on)
until he made mention of a hen and
an egg. Sahl added in his Hadith:
“And whoever comes after that
comes only to do his duty with regard to
the prayer.”

It was
narrated from Samurah bin Jundab that the Messenger of Allah
(PbUH)
described the likeness of Friday, saying that those who come
earliest
are like the one who sacrifices a camel, then like one who
sacrifices
a cow, then like one who sacrifices a sheep, until he made
mention of
a chicken.

“I went out with ‘Abdullah to
Friday (prayer), and he found three men who arrived before him. He
said: ‘The fourth of four, and the fourth of four is not far away.
I
heard the Messenger of Allah (PbUH) say: “On the Day of
Resurrection
people will gather near Allah according to how early
they came to
Friday (prayer), the first, second, and third.’”
Then he said: ‘The
fourth of four, and the fourth of four is not
far away.’”

“There is nothing
wrong with anyone of you buying two garments for Friday (prayer),
other than his daily work clothes.”

“There is nothing wrong
with any one
of you, if he can afford it, buying two garments for
Friday, other
than his daily work clothes.”

“Whoever
takes
a bath on a Friday and does it well, and purifies himself and
does it
well, and puts on his best clothes, and puts on whatever Allah
decrees for him of the perfume of his family, then comes to the
mosque
and does not engage in idle talk or separate (pushing between)
two
people; he will be forgiven for (his sins) between that day and
the
previous Friday.”

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
said: ‘This day is an ‘Eid (festival) which Allah has ordained
for the
Muslims. Whoever comes to Friday (prayer), let him take a
bath and if
he has perfume then let him put some on. And upon you (I
urge to use)
is the tooth stick.”

“We did not take a Qailulah nor
eat Ghada’ until after Friday (prayer).”*

“We used to
perform Friday (prayer) with the Prophet (PbUH), then we would return,
and we would not see any shadow from the walls in which we could seek
shade.”

“My father told me, narrating from his
father,
from his grandfather, that during the time of the Messenger
of Allah
(PbUH), he used to call the Adhan on Fridays when the shadow
was like a
sandal strap.”

“We used to perform the Friday
(prayer),
then we would return for a nap (Qailulah).”

“While he was standing.”

“I saw the Prophet (PbUH) delivering the sermon on the pulpit,
wearing a black turban.”

“I heard Jabir bin Samurah
say:
‘The Messenger of Allah (PbUH) used to deliver the sermon
standing,
but he used to sit down briefly, then stand up.’”

“The Prophet (PbUH) used
to
deliver the sermon standing, then he would sit down, then he would
stand up and recite some Verses and remember Allah. His sermon was
moderate (i.e., neither too long nor too short).”

‘Abdur-Rahman bin Sa’d bin ‘Ammar bin Sa’d narrated that his
father
told him, from his father, from his grandfather, that when the
Messenger of Allah (PbUH) delivered a speech on the battlefield he
would do so leaning on a bow, and when he delivered a sermon on
Friday, he would do so leaning on his staff.

“Have you not
read
the Verse: ‘...and leave you (Muhammad) standing (while
delivering
the Friday sermon?” [62:11]

It was
narrated from Jabir that whenever the Prophet (PbUH) ascended
the
pulpit he would greet (the people with Salam).

“If
you say
to your companions: ‘Be quiet’ on a Friday while the Imam is
delivering the sermon, you have engaged in Laghw (idle talk or
behaviour).”

“The Messenger of Allah
(PbUH) recited Tabarak [Al-Mulk (67)] one Friday, while he was
standing
and reminding us of the Days of Allah (i.e., preaching to
us). Abu
Darda’ or Abu Dharr raised an eyebrow at me and said:
‘When was this
Surah revealed? For I have not heard it before now.’
He (Ubayy)
gestured to him that he should remain silent. When they
finished, he
said: ‘I asked you when this Surah was revealed and
you did not answer
me.” Ubayy said: ‘You have gained nothing from
your prayer today
except the idle talk that you engaged in.’ He
went to the Prophet
(PbUH) and told him about that, and what Ubayy had
said to him. The
Messenger of Allah (PbUH) said: ‘Ubayy spoke the
truth.’”

“Sulaik Ghatafani
entered
the mosque when the Prophet (PbUH) was delivering the sermon.
He said:
‘Have you prayed?’ He said: ‘No.’ He said: ‘Then perform
two
Rak’ah.’”

“A man entered the mosque when
the
Prophet (PbUH) was delivering the sermon. He said: ‘Have you
prayed?’ He said: ‘No.’ He said: ‘Then pray two Rak’ah.’”

“Sulaik Al-Ghatafani came while the
Messenger of Allah (PbUH) was delivering the sermon. The Prophet (PbUH)
said to him: ‘Did you perform two Rak’ah before you came?’ He
said:
‘No.’ He said: ‘Then perform two Rak’ah, but make them
brief.’”

‘Sit down, for you have annoyed
(people) and
you are late.’”

“The
Messenger of Allah (PbUH) said: ‘Whoever steps over the people’s
necks on Friday has built a bridge to Hell.’”

It was
narrated from Anas bin Malik that the people used to speak to
the
Prophet (PbUH) about their needs when he came down from the pulpit
on
Friday.

“Marwan
appointed
Abu Hurairah in charge of Al-Madinah, and set out for
Makkah. Abu
Hurairah led us in prayer on Friday, and he recited Surat
Al-Jumu’ah
in the first Rak’ah, and in the second, ‘When the
hypocrites come
to you,” [Al-Munafiqun (63)] ‘Ubaidullah said: “I
caught up
with Abu Hurairah when he finished and said to him: ‘You
recited
two Surah that ‘Ali used to recite in Kufah.’ Abu Hurairah
said:
‘I heard the Messenger of Allah (PbUH) reciting them.’”

“Dahhak bin Qais
wrote to Nu’man bin Bashir, saying: ‘Tell us what the Messenger
of
Allah (PbUH) used to recite on Friday along with Surah Al-Jumu’ah.’
He
said: ‘He used to recite: “Has there come to you the narration
of the
overwhelming (i.e., the Day of Resurrection)?’”
[Al-Ghashiyah (88)]

It was
narrated from Abu ‘Inabah Al-Khawlani that the Prophet (PbUH)
used
to recite “Glorify the Name of your Lord the Most High” and “Has
there come to you the narration of the overwhelming (i.e., the Day of
Resurrection)? [Al-A’la (87) and Al-Ghashiyah (88)] on Friday.

“Whoever
catches one Rak’ah of Friday, let him add another Rak’ah to
it.”

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
said: ‘Whoever catches one Rak’ah of prayer, he has caught it.’”

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
said:
‘Whoever catches one Rak’ah of Friday prayer or other than it,
then he has caught the prayer.’”

“The people of Quba’ used to
pray
with the Messenger of Allah (PbUH) on Fridays.”

“Whoever abandons Friday (prayer) three times,
neglecting it, a seal will be placed over his heart.”

“The Messenger of
Allah
(PbUH) said: ‘Whoever abandons Friday (prayer) three times, for
no
necessary reason, Allah will place a seal over his heart.’”

The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
said:
“What if one of you were to take a flock of sheep and look for
grass for them one or two miles away, but he cannot find any at that
distance, so he goes further away? Then (the time for) Friday comes
but he does not attend it, then (another) Friday comes but he does
not
attend it, and (another) Friday comes but he does not attend it,
until
Allah places a seal on his heart.”

“Whoever abandons Friday deliberately, let him give a Dinar in
charity, and if he cannot afford that, then (let him give) half a
Dinar.”

“The Prophet (PbUH) used to
perform
four Rak’ah before Friday (prayer), and he did not separate
any of
them.”

“The Messenger
of Allah (PbUH) used to do that.”

It was
narrated from Salim, from his father, that the Prophet (PbUH)
used to
pray two Rak’ah after Jumu’ah.

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
said: ‘If you pray after Friday, then pray four (Rak’ah).’”

It was
narrated from ‘Amr bin Shu’aib, from his father, from his
grandfather, that the Messenger of Allah (PbUH) forbade sitting in
circles in the mosque on Fridays before the prayer.

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH) forbade Ihtiba’
on
Fridays, meaning, when the Imam is delivering the sermon.”

“The Messenger of Allah
(PbUH)
had only one Mu’adh-dhin. When he came out he would give the
Adhan
and when he came down (from the pulpit) he would give the
Iqamah. Abu
Bakr and ‘Umar did likewise, but when ‘Uthman (became
caliph) the
numbers of people had increased, he added the third call
from atop a
house in the marketplace that was called Zawra’. When he
came out
(the Mu’adh-dhin) would call the Adhan, and when he came down
from
the pulpit, he would call the Iqamah.

“When the
Prophet (PbUH) stood on the pulpit, his Companions would turn to face
him.”

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
said: ‘On Friday there is a time when no Muslim man happens to
stand
in prayer at that time, asking Allah for good things, but He
will give
that to him.” And he gestured with his hand to indicate
how short that
time is.

“I heard the Messenger of Allah
(PbUH) say: ‘On Friday there is a time of the day during which no
person asks Allah for something but He will give him what he asks
for.’” It was said: ‘When is that time?’ He said: ‘When the
Iqamah for
prayer (is called), until the prayer ends.’”

“I said, when the
Messenger of Allah (PbUH) was sitting: ‘We find in the Book of Allah
that on Friday there is an hour when no believing slave performs
prayer and asks Allah for anything at that time, but Allah will
fulfill his need.’” ‘Abdullah said: “The Messenger of Allah
(PbUH)
pointed to me, saying: ‘Or some part of an hour.’ I said:
‘you are
right, or some part of an hour.’ I said: ‘What time is
that?’ He said:
‘It is the last hours of the day.’ I said: ‘It
is not the time of the
prayer?’ He said: ‘Yes (it is so), when a
believing slave performs
prayer and then sits with nothing but he
prayer keeping him, he is
still in a state of prayer.’”

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
said:
‘Whoever persists in performing twelve Rak’ah from the Sunnah, a
house will be built for him in Paradise: four before the Zuhr, two
Rak’ah after Zuhr, two Rak’ah after Maghrib, two Rak’ah after
the
‘Isha’ and two Rak’ah before Fajr.’”

“Whoever performs twelve Rak’ah (of Sunnah) during the day
and night, a house will be built for him in Paradise.”

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
said: ‘Whoever performs twelve Rak’ah (of Sunnah) each day, a
house
will be built for him in Paradise: two Rak’ah before Fajr,
two Rak’ah
before the Zuhr, two Rak’ah after the Zuhr, two
Rak’ah, I think he
said, before ‘Asr, two Rak’ah after Maghrib,
and I think he said two
Rak’ah after the ‘Isha’.’”

It was
narrated from Ibn ‘Umar that when the dawn illuminated, the
Prophet
(PbUH) would pray two Rak’ah.

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
used
to pray two Rak’ah before the morning (prayer), as if the Adhan
were in his ears. (i.e., he would pray them briefly).

It was
narrated from Hafsah bint ‘Umar that when the call for the
Subh
prayer was given, the Messenger of Allah (PbUH) would pray two
short
Rak’ah before going to the prayer.

“When he performed ablution the
Prophet (PbUH) would pray two (short) Rak’ah and then go out for the
prayer.”

“The Prophet (PbUH) used to perform
two
Rak’ah at the time of the Iqamah.”

“Say: ‘O you disbelievers!”
[Al-Kafirun (109)] and “Say: Allah is One.” [Al-Ikhlas (112)]

“I watched the Prophet (PbUH) for
a
month, and in the two Rak’ah before Fajr he used to recite: “Say:
O
you disbelievers!” [Al-Kafirun (109)] and “Say: Allah is One.”
[Al-
Ikhlas (112)]

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH) used
to
perform two Rak’ah before Fajr, and he used to say: ‘The best two
Surah to recite in the two Rak’ah of Fajr are: “Say: Allah is
One”
[Al-Ikhlas (112)] and “Say: O you disbelievers.”
[Al-Kafirun (109)]

“Once the Iqamah has been called, there should be no prayer but
the
obligatory one.”

“Which of your two prayers did you intend to be
counted (i.e., accepted)?”

“The
Prophet
(PbUH) passed by a man who was praying when the Iqamah for Subh
prayer
had been called, and he said something to him, I do not know
what he
said. When he finished, we surrounded the man and asked him:
‘What
did the Messenger of Allah (PbUH) say to you?’ He said: ‘He said
to me: “Soon one of you will pray Fajr with four Rak’ah.’”

“The Prophet (PbUH) saw a man
praying two Rak’ah after the Subh prayer and said, ‘Is the Subh
prayer
to be offered twice?’ The man said to him: ‘I did not pray
the two
Rak’ah before it, so I prayed them (now).’ The Messenger
of Allah
(PbUH) remained silent.”

It was
narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Prophet (PbUH) slept and
missed
the two Rak’ah before Fajr, so he made them up after the sun
had
risen.

“My father sent word
to
‘Aishah, asking which prayer the Prophet (PbUH) most liked to
perform regularly. She said: ‘He used to perform four Rak’ah
before
the Zuhr, in which he would stand for a long time and bow and
prostrate perfectly.’”

It was
narrated from Abu Ayyub that the Prophet (PbUH) used to perform
four
Rak’ah before the Zuhr when the sun had passed its zenith, and he
did not separate them with a Taslim. He said, “The gates of heaven
are
opened when the sun passes its zenith.”

“If the Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
missed the four Rak’ah before the Zuhr, he would perform them after
the two Rak’ah which come after the Zuhr.”

“Mu’awiyah sent word
to Umm Salamah, and I went with his envoy who put the question to Umm
Salamah. She said: ‘While the Messenger of Allah (PbUH) was
performing
ablution for the Zuhr in my house and he had sent a Sa’i,*
the
Muhajirun gathered around him in large numbers, and he was busy
dealing withthem. When a knock on the door came, he went out and
performed the Zuhr, then he sat and distributed what had been brought
to him.’ She said: ‘He continued doing that until the ‘Asr.
Then he
came into my house and performed two Rak’ah. Then he said:
“The matter
of the Sa’i kept me from praying them after Zuhr, so
I prayed them
after ‘Asr.”

“Whoever
prays four Rak’ah before the Zuhr and four afterwards, Allah
will
forbid him to the Fire.”

“We asked ‘Ali
about the voluntary (prayer) of Allah’s Messenger (PbUH) during the
day. He said: ‘You will not be able.’ We said: ‘Inform us of
it, we will do what we can of it?’ So he said: ‘When he prayed
the Fajr he would delay praying any more. When the sun appeared over
there (west) – like it appears here, meaning in the direction of
the east, about the amount for the ‘Asr prayer from there, meaning
in the direction of the west, meaning before the Maghrib – he would
stand and perform two Rak’ah* then he would delay praying until the
sun appeared over there (west), meaning in the direction of the east,
about the amount of the Zuhr prayer from there, then he would stand
and perform four. And, four before the Zuhr when the sun passed the
zenith, and two Rak’ah after it, and, four before the ‘Asr,
separating between every two Rak’ah with Taslim** upon the angels
that are close (to Allah), the Prophets, and those who follow them
among the Muslims and the believers.’”
'Ali said: "That is sixteen Rak'ah of voluntary prayer which Allah's Messenger (PbUH) performed during the day. And there are very few who offer them regularly."

“The Prophet of
Allah
(PbUH) said: ‘Between every two Adhans there is a prayer.’ He
said
it three times, and on the third time he said, ‘For those who
wish.’”*

“I heard Anas bin Malik say: ‘The
Mu
’adh-dhin would call the Adhan during the time of the Messenger
of
Allah (PbUH), and one would think that it was the Iqamah because
there
were so many people who stood and performed the two Rak’ah
before the
Maghrib.”

“The Prophet (PbUH) used to pray
the
Maghrib, then he would come back to my house and pray two Rak’ah.”

“We came to the Messenger
of
Allah (PbUH) with Banu ‘Abdul-Ashhal, and he led us in praying the
Maghrib in our mosque. Then he said: ‘Pray these two Rak’ah in
your
houses.’”

“Say: O you
disbelievers!” [Al-Kafirun (109)] and “Say: He is Allah the One.”
[Al-
Ikhlas (112)]

“Whoever
prays six Rak’ah after the Maghrib and does not say anything
bad in
between them, will have a reward equal to the worship of twelve
years.”

“The
Prophet
(PbUH) came out to us and said: ‘Allah has increased a prayer
for
you which is better for you than red camels. (It is) Witr, which
Allah has enjoined on you between the ‘Isha’ prayer and the onset
of
dawn.’”

“Witr is not definite (obligatory) nor is it
like your prescribed prayers. But the Messenger of Allah (PbUH) prayed
Witr, then he said: ‘O people of the Qur’an! Perform Witr, for
Allah
is Witr* and He loves the odd (numbered).’”

“Allah is Witr and He loves the odd (numbered), so perform Witr,
O
people of the Qur’an.” A Bedouin said: ‘What is the Messenger
of
Allah (PbUH) saying?’ He said: ‘That is not for you or your
companions.’”

“The Messenger of Allah
(PbUH)
used to perform Witr and recite: ‘Glorify the Name of your Lord
the
Most High.’, [Al-A’la (87)] ‘Say: O you disbelievers!”
[Al-Kafirun
(109)] and ‘Say: Allah is One.”. [Al-Ikhlas (112)]

“Glorify the Name of your Lord the
Most
High,” [Al-A’la (87)] “Say: O you disbelievers!” [Al-Kafirun
(109)] and ‘Say: Allah is One.”. [Al-Ikhlas (112)]

“We asked ‘Aishah
what the Messenger of Allah (PbUH) used to recite in Witr. She said:
‘He used to recite: “Glorify the Name of your Lord the Most
High,”
[Al-A’la (87)] in the first Rak’ah, ‘Say: “O
disbelievers!’” [Al-
Kafirun (109)] in the second Rak’ah, and
‘Say: Allah is One’ in the
third and the Mu’awwidhatain
(Chapter 113, 114).’”

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
used
to pray (voluntary prayers) at night two by two, and he would
pray
one Rak’ah of Witr.”

“The Messenger of Allah
(PbUH) said: ‘Night prayers are to be offered two by two, and Witr
is
one Rak’ah.’ I said: ‘What do you think if I become drowsy
and I want
to sleep?’ He said: ‘Put “what do you think” up
there with that star?
(i.e., don’t think about it at all).’ I
raised my head and saw As-
Simak.* He repeated that the Messenger of
Allah (PbUH) said, ‘Night
prayers are to be offered two by two, and
Witr is one Rak’ah, before
dawn.’”

“How should I perform Witr?” He said: “Pray
Witr with one Rak’ah.” He said: “I am afraid that the people
will say
that I am cutting the prayer short.” He said: “The
Sunnah of Allah and
His Messenger.” Meaning “This is the Sunnah
of Allah and His
Messenger.”

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH) used
to
say Taslim after every two Rak’ah, and he would perform Witr with
one Rak’ah.”

“My grandfather, the
Messenger of Allah (PbUH), taught me some words to say in Qunut of
Witr: Allahumma ‘afini fiman ‘afait, wa tawallani fiman
tawallait,
wahdini fiman hadait, wa qini sharra ma qadait, wa barik
li fima
a’tait. Innaka taqdi wa la yuqda ‘alaik, innahu la
yudhillu man
walait. Subhanaka rabbana tabarakta wa ta’alait (O
Allah, pardon me
along with those whom You have pardoned, be an ally
to me along with
those whom You are an ally to, guide me along with
those whom You have
guided, protect me from the evil that You have
decreed, and bless for
me that which You have bestowed. For verily
You decree and none can
decree over You. He whom You support can
never be humiliated. Glory is
to You, our Lord, You are Blessed and
Exalted).”

“Allahumma inni a’udhu bika biridaka min
sakhatika, wa a’udhu bimu’afatika min ‘uqubatika, wa a’udhu
bika
minka, la uhsi thana’an ‘alaika, Anta kama athnaita ‘ala
nafsika (O
Allah, I seek refuge in Your pleasure from Your wrath, and
I seek
refuge in Your forgiveness from your punishment, and I seek
refuge in
You from You. I cannot enumerate Your praise, You are as
You have
praised Yourself).”

It was
narrated from Anas bin Malik that the Prophet (PbUH) did not
raise his
hands in any of his supplications except when praying for
rain
(Istisqa’), when he raised his hands so high that the whiteness
of
his armpits could be seen.

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
said: ‘When you call upon Allah, then do so with the palms of your
hands (upwards). Do not do so with the back of your hands (upwards).
And when you finish, then wipe your face with them.’”

It was
narrated from Ubayy bin Ka’b that the Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
used
to pray Witr and he would recite Qunut before Ruku’.

He was asked about Qunut in
the
Subh prayer, and he said: “We used to recite Qunut before Ruku’
and afterwards.”

“I asked Anas bin Malik about
Qunut,
and he said: ‘The Messenger of Allah (PbUH) recited Qunut after
Ruku’.’”

“I asked ‘Aishah about the Witr of
the
Messenger of Allah (PbUH). She said: ‘He prayed Witr at every part
of the night, at the beginning, in the middle and at the end, when he
died (he would perform it) just before dawn.’”

“At every part of the night the
Messenger of Allah (PbUH) prayed Witr, at the beginning and in the
middle, and finally his Witr was just before dawn.”

“Whoever
among you fears that he will not wake up at the end of the
night, let
him pray Witr at the beginning of the night, then go to
sleep.
Whoever hopes that he will wake up at the end of the night, let
him
pray Witr at the end of the night, for recitation (of the Qur’an)
at the end of the night is attended (by the angels), and that is
better.”

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
said: ‘Whoever sleeps and misses Witr, or forgets it, let him pray
it
when morning comes, or when he remembers.’”

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
said: ‘Pray Witr before morning comes.’”

“Witr is Haqq.* Whoever wishes let him pray Witr with five
(Rak’ah), and whoever wishes let him pray Witr with three (Rak’ah),
and whoever wishes let him pray Witr with one (Rak’ah).”

“I asked ‘Aishah: ‘O
Mother of the Believers! Tell me about the Witr of the Messenger of
Allah (PbUH).’ She said: ‘We used to keep his tooth stick and
water for
ablution ready for him. Allah would wake him as He willed
to during
the night, and he would use the tooth stick and perform
ablution, then
he would pray nine Rak’ah, during which he would not
sit until the
eighth Rak’ah. Then he would call upon his Lord and
remember Allah and
praise Him and supplicate to Him. Then he would
get up without saying
the Salam. Then he would stand up and pray the
ninth Rak’ah. Then he
would sit and remember Allah and praise Him,
and supplicate to his
Lord and send blessing upon His Prophet. Then
he would say Salam that
we could hear. Then he would pray two Rak’ah
after the Salam, while he
was sitting down. That was eleven Rak’ah.
When the Messenger of Allah
(PbUH) grew older and had gained weight,
he would pray Witr with seven
Rak’ah and then pray two more Rak’ah
after he had said the Salam.’”

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
used
to pray Witr with seven or five Rak’ah, and he would not say
Salam
or speak in between them.”

“The Messenger of
Allah
(PbUH) used to pray two Rak’ah while traveling, and he did not do
more than that. And he used to pray Tahajjud at night.” I asked:
“Did
he pray Witr?” He said: “Yes.”

“The Messenger of
Allah (PbUH) prescribed two Rak’ah of prayer when traveling; they
are
complete and are not shortened. And Witr when traveling is
Sunnah.”

It was
narrated from Umm Salamah that the Prophet (PbUH) used to pray
two
short Rak’ah after Witr, sitting down.

“Aishah narrated to me that
the
Messenger of Allah (PbUH) prayed Witr with one Rak’ah, then he
prayed two Rak’ah in which he recited while sitting, then when he
wanted to bow, he stood up and bowed.”

“I never used to see the Prophet
(PbUH) at the end of the night, except that he was sleeping near me.”

“When the Prophet (PbUH) prayed the
two (Sunnah) Rak’ah of Fajr, he would lie down on his right side.”

“When the Messenger of Allah
(saw
prayed the two (Sunnah) Rak’ah of Fajr, he would lie down.”

“I was with Ibn ‘Umar and
I lagged behind and prayed Witr. He said: ‘What kept you?’ I
said: ‘I
was praying Witr.’ He said: ‘Do you not have the best
of examples in
the Messenger of Allah (PbUH)?’ I said: ‘Of
course.’ He said: ‘The
Messenger of Allah (PbUH) used to pray Witr
while riding his camel.’”

It was
narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas that the Prophet (PbUH) used to pray
Witr
while riding his mount.

“The Messenger of
Allah
(PbUH) said to Abu Bakr: ‘When do you pray Witr?’ He said: ‘At
the beginning of the night, after ‘Isha’.’ He said: ‘And you,
O
‘Umar?’ He said: ‘At the end of the night.’ The Prophet
(PbUH) said:
‘As for you, O Abu Bakr, you have seized the
trustworthy handhold
(i.e., you want to be on the safe side), and as
for you, O ‘Umar, you
have seized strength (i.e., you are confident
that you have the
resolve to get up and pray Witr).’”

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
prayed, and he added or omitted something.” (One of the narrators)
Ibrahim said: “The confusion stems from me (i.e., he was not sure
which it was).” “It was said to him: ‘O Messenger of Allah! Has
something been added to the prayer?’ He said: ‘I am only human, I
forget just as you forget. If anyone forgets, let him perform two
prostrations when he is sitting (at the end).’ Then the Prophet
(PbUH)
turned and prostrated twice.”

“One of us prays
and
he does not know how many (Rak’ah) he has prayed.” He said: “The
Messenger of Allah (PbUH) said: ‘When anyone of you prays and does
not
know how many he has prayed, let him perform two prostrations
while he
is sitting.’”

“(Once) the Prophet (PbUH) prayed
Zuhr with five Rak’ah, and it was said to him: ‘Has something
been
added to the prayer?’ He said: ‘What is that?’ They told
him, and he
turned back towards the Qiblah and performed two
prostrations.”

“The Prophet (PbUH) offered prayer,
I
think it was the ‘Asr, and in the second Rak’ah he stood up
before
he sat. Before he said the Salam, he prostrated twice.”

It was
narrated from ‘Abdur-Rahman Al-A’raj that Ibn Buhainah told
him
that the Prophet (PbUH) stood up in the second Rak’ah of Zuhr and
forgot to sit. When he had finished his prayer, and before he said
the
Salam, he performed the two prostrations for forgetfulness (Sahw)
and
said the Salam.

“The Messenger of
Allah
(PbUH) said: ‘If anyone of you stands after two Rak’ah, if he has
not yet stood up fully, let him sit down again, but if he has stood
up
fully, then let him not sit down, and let him perform two
prostrations
for forgetfulness (Sahw).’”

“I heard the
Messenger of Allah (PbUH) say: ‘If anyone of you is uncertain as to
whether he has prayed one or two Rak’ah, let him assume it is one.
If
he is uncertain as to whether he has prayed two or three, let him
assume it is two. If he is uncertain as to whether he has prayed
three
or four, let him assume it is three. Then let him complete what
is
left of his prayer, so that the doubt will be about what is more.
Then
let him prostrate twice while he is sitting, before the Taslim
(saying
the Salam).’”

“The Messenger of
Allah
(PbUH) said: ‘If anyone of you is uncertain about his prayer, let
him put aside uncertainty and act upon that which is certain. When he
has made sure his prayer is complete, then let him prostrate twice.
Then if his prayer was complete, that (extra) Rak’ah will be
counted
as voluntary, and if his prayer was lacking, that Rak’ah
will complete
his prayer, and the two prostrations will rub the
Satan’s nose in the
dust.’”

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
offered prayer, and I am not sure whether he did something extra or
omitted something. He asked, and we told him, so he turnd to face the
Qiblah and prostrated twice, then he said the Salam. Then he turned
to face us and said: ‘If any new command has been revealed
concerning the prayer, I would certainly have told you. But I am only
human and I forget and you forget. If I forget, then remind me. And
if anyone of you is uncertain about the prayer, let him do what is
closest to what is correct, then complete the prayer, say the Salam
and prostrate twice.”

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
said:
‘If anyone of you is uncertain about his prayer, let him try to
do
what is correct then let him prostrate twice.’”

‘O Messenger of Allah, has the prayer been
shortened or did you forget?’ He said: ‘It has not been shortened
and
I did forget.’ He said: ‘But you prayed two Rak’ah.’ He
said: ‘Is what
Dhul-Yadain says true?’ They said: ‘Yes.’ So
he went forward and
performed two Rak’ah and said the Salam, then
he prostrated twice for
prostrations of forgetfulness.

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
led
us in one of the afternoon prayers, and he prayed two Rak’ah, then
he said the Salam. Then he stood up and went to a piece of wood in
the
mosque, and leaned against it. Those who were in a hurry left the
mosque, saying that the prayer had been shortened. Among the people
were Abu Bakr and ‘Umar, but they dared not say anything. Among the
people there was also a man with long hands who was called
Dhul-
Yadain. He said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, has the prayer been
shortened
or did you forget?’ He said: ‘It has not been shortened
and I did
forget.’ He said: ‘But you prayed two Rak’ah.’ He
said: ‘Is what Dhul-
Yadain says true?’ They said: ‘Yes.’ So
he went forward and performed
two Rak’ah and said the Salam, then
he prostrated twice, and then he
said the Salam again.”

“The Messenger of Allah
(PbUH) said the Salam after three Rak’ah for ‘Asr, then he stood
up and
went into the apartment. Khirbaq, a man with big hands, stood
up and
called out: ‘O Messenger of Allah! Has the prayer been
shortened?’ He
came out angrily, dragging his lower garment, and
asked about it, and
was told (what had happened). So he performed the
Rak’ah that he had
omitted, then he said the Salam, then he
prostrated twice and said the
Salam again.”

“The
Satan
comes to any one of you while he is praying and comes between
him and
his soul, until he does not know whether he as added something
or
omitted something. If that happens, then he should prostrate twice
before the Salam, then he should say the Salam.”

“The
Satan
comes between the son of Adam and his soul, and he does not know
how
many Rak’ah he has prayed. If a person notices that, then let him
prostrate twice before he says the Salam.”

It was
narrated from ‘Alqamah that Ibn Mas’ud prostrated twice for
the
prostrations of forgetfulness after the Salam, and he mentioned
that
the Prophet (PbUH) did that.”

“I heard the Messenger of Allah
(PbUH)
say: ‘For every mistake there are two prostrations, after saying
the Salam.’”

“The Prophet (PbUH) came out
to
pray and said the Takbir, then he gestured to them to wait. He went
and took a bath, and his head was dripping with water while he led
them in prayer. When he finished he said: ‘I came out to you in a
state of sexual impurity, and I forgot until I had started to pray.’”

“The Messenger of Allah (PbUH)
said:
‘Whoever vomits, has a nosebleed, belches, or emits prostatic
fluid, should stop praying; perform ablution, then resume his prayer,
and while he is in that state he should not speak.”

“When
anyone
of you performs prayer and commits Hadath, (passing wind) let
him
take hold of his nose, then leave.”

“I suffered from Nasur*
and
I asked the Prophet (PbUH) about prayer. He said: ‘Perform prayer
standing; if you cannot, then sitting; and if you cannot then while
lying on your side.’”

“I saw the Prophet (PbUH)
performing prayer while sitting on his right side when he was sick.”

‘By the One Who took his soul
(i.e., the soul of the Prophet (PbUH)), he did not die until he
offered
most of his prayers sitting down. And the dearest of the
actions to
him was the righteous action that the person does
regularly, even if
it were a little.”

“The Prophet (PbUH) used to recite
Qur’an sitting down, then when he wanted to bow he would stand up
for
as long as it takes a person to recite forty Verses.”

“I did not see the Messenger of
Allah
(PbUH) offer any of the night prayers in any way other than
standing,
until he became old. Then he started to pray sitting down
until, when
there were thirty or forty Verses left of his recitation,
he would
stand up and recite them, and prostrate.”