Muwatta Malik: Chapter 9

Yahya related to me from Malik from Da'ud ibn al-Husayn from al-
Araj from Abu Hurayra that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him
and grant him peace, joined dhuhr and asr on his journey to Tabuk.

Yahya related to me from Malik from Abu'z-Zubayr al-Makki from
Abu't-Tufayl Amir ibn Wathila that Muadh ibn Jabal told him that they
went out with the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant
him peace, in the year of Tabuk, and the Messenger of Allah, may Allah
bless him and grant him peace, joined dhuhr with asr and maghrib with
isha. Muadh said, "One day he delayed the prayer, and then came out
and prayed dhuhr and asr together. Then he said, 'Tomorrow you will
come, insha' llah, to the spring of Tabuk. But you will not get there
until well into the morning. No one who arrives should touch any of
its water until I come.' We came to it and two men had got to it
before us and the spring was dripping with a little water. The
Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, asked
them, 'Have you touched any of its water?' They said, 'Yes.' The
Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, reviled
them and said what Allah wished him to say. Then they took water with
their hands from the spring little by little until it had been
collected in something. Then the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless
him and grant him peace, washed his face and hands in it. Then he put
it back into the spring and the spring flowed with an abundance of
water and the people drew water from it. The Messenger of Allah, may
Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'If you live long enough,
Muadh, you will soon see this place filled with gardens.' "

3 Yahya related to me from Malik from Nafi that Abdullah ibn Umar
said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him
peace, used to join maghrib and isha together when it was urgent to
travel."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Abu'z Zubayr al-Makki from Said ibn Jubayr that Abdullah ibn Abbas said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, prayed dhuhr and asr together and maghrib and isha together, and not out of fear nor because of travelling."

(with regards to above) Malik said, "I believe that was during rain."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Nafi that Abdullah ibn Umar
used to join the prayer along with the amirs if they joined maghrib
and isha in the rain.

Yahya related to me from Malik from Ibn Shihab that he had asked
Salim ibn Abdullah, "Can you join dhuhr and asr when travelling?" He
said, "Yes, there is no harm in that. Haven't you seen the people pray
on Arafa?"

Yahya related to me from Malik that he had heard that AIi ibn
Husain used to say, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and
grant him peace, would join dhuhr and asr if he wished to travel the
same day, and he would join maghrib and isha if he wished to travel
the same night."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Ibn Shihab from a man of the
family of Khalid ibn Asid that he said to Abdullah ibn Umar, "Abu Abd
ar-Rahman, we find the fear prayer and the prayer when settled
mentioned in the Qur'an, but we do not find any mention of the
travelling prayer in it." Ibn Umar said, "Son of my brother! Allah
the Mighty and Majestic sent us Muhammad, may Allah bless him and
grant him peace, and we know nothing. We only do as we saw him doing."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Salih ibn Kaysan from Urwa
ibn az-Zubayr that A'isha, the wife of the Prophet, may Allah bless
him and grant him peace, said, "The prayer was prescribed as two
rakas, both when settled and when travelling. Then the travelling
prayer was kept as it was, and an increase was made in the prayer when
settled. "

Yahya related to me from Malik from Yahya ibn Said that he said
to Salim ibn Abdullah, "What is the latest you have seen your father
delay maghrib while on a journey?" and Salim replied, "One time the
sun set when we were at Dhat al-Jaysh and he prayed maghrib at al-
Aqiq."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Nafi that Abdullah ibn Umar,
shortened the prayer when he left for hajj or umra at Dhu'l Hulayfa.

Yahya related to me from Malik from Ibn Shihab from Salim ibn
Abdullah that his father rode to Rim and shortened the prayer on the
journey.

Malik said, "That was about four mail-stages."
(approximately forty-eight miles).

Yahya related to me from Malik from Nafi from Salim ibn Abdullah
that Abdullah ibn Umar rode to Dhat an-Nusub and shortened the prayer
on the journey.

Malik said, "There are four mail-stages
between Dhat an-Nusub and Madina."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Nafi from Ibn Umar that he
used to travel to Khaybar and he would shorten the prayer.

Yahya related to me from Malik from Ibn Shihab from Salim ibn
Abdullah that Abdullah ibn Umar used to shorten the prayer when he
travelled for a whole day.

Yahya related to me from Malik from Nafi that he used to travel
one mail-stage with Ibn Umar, and he would not shorten the prayer.

Yahya related to me from Malik that he had heard that Abdullah
ibn Abbas used to shorten the prayer when he travelled a distance
equivalent to that between Makka and Ta'if, and that between Makka and
Usfan and that between Makka and Jedda.

Malik said, "That is
four mail-stages, and to me that is the most preferable distance for
shortening the prayer."

Malik said, "Someone who intends to
travel does not shorten the prayer until he has left the houses of the
village. And he does not do it in full until he comes to the first
houses of the village, or is nearby."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Ibn Shihab from Salim ibn
Abdullah that Abdullah ibn Umar used to say, "I pray the prayerof a
traveller as long as I am undecided whether to remain somewhere or
not, even if I am detained for twelve nights."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Nafi that Ibn Umar stayed in
Makka for ten nights, shortening the prayer, except when he prayed it
behind an imam, in which case he followed the imam's prayer.

Yahya related to me from Malik from Ata al-Khurasani that he
heard Said ibn al Musayyab say, "A traveller who has decided to remain
somewhere for four nights does the prayer in full."

Malik
said, "That is what I prefer most out of what I have heard."

Malik when asked about the prayer of a prisoner, said, "It is the same
as the prayer of a person who remains in one place, except if he is
travelling."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Ibn Shihab from Salim ibn Abdullah from his father that Umar ibn al-Khattab, when he went to Makka, used to lead them in prayer and do two rakas and then say, "People of Makka,complete the prayer, we are a group travelling."

Yahya related the same as that to me from Malik from Zayd ibn Aslam from his father from Umar ibn al-Khattab.

Yahya related to me from Malik from Nafi that Abdullah ibn Umar
used to pray four rakas behind the imam at Mina, and when he prayed by
himself he would pray two rakas.

Yahya related to me from Malik from Ibn Shihab that Safwan said,
"Abdullah ibn Umar used to come and visit Abdullah ibn Safwan and he
would pray two rakas with us, and when he went away we would stand and
complete the prayer."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Nafi that Abdullah ibn Umar
never used to pray anything with the fard prayer, either before it or
after it, while travelling, except in the depths of the night. He
would pray on the ground or on his mount, whichever way it was facing.

Yahya related to me from Malik that he had heard that al-Qasim
ibn Muhammad and Urwa ibn az-Zubayr and Abu Bakr ibn Abd ar Rahman
used to pray nawafil when travelling.

Yahya said that Malik
was asked about voluntary prayers when travelling and he said, "There
is no harm in them, either at night or during the day. I have heard
that some of the people of knowledge used to do that."

Yahya related to me that Malik said, "I have heard from Nafi that
Abdullah ibn Umar used to see his son, Ubaydullah ibn Abdullah, doing
voluntary prayers on a journey,and he would not disapprove of it."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Amr ibn Yahya al-Mazini from
Abu'l-Hubab Said ibn Yasar that Abdullah ibn Umar said, "I saw the
Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, praying
on a donkey while heading towards Khaybar."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Abdullah ibn Dinar from
Abdullah ibn Umar that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and
grant him peace, used to pray on his mount while travelling, whichever
way it was facing. Abdullah ibn Dinar said, "Abdullah ibn Umar would
also do that."

Yahya related to me from Malik that Yahya ibn Said said, "I saw
Anas ibn Malik on a journey praying on a donkey facing away from the
qibla. He did the raka and the sajda by motioning with his head,
without putting his face on anything."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Musa ibn Maysara from Abu
Murra, the mawla of Aqil ibn Abi Talib, that Umm Hani bint Abi Talib
told him that in the year of the conquest the Messenger of Allah, may
Allah bless him and grant him peace, prayed eight rakas, covering
himself with one garment.

Yahya related to me from Malik from Abu'n Nadr, the mawla of Umar
ibn Ubaydullah, that Abu Murra, the mawla of Aqil ibn Abi Talib, told
him that he had heard Umm Hani bint Abi Talib say, "I went to the
Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, in the
year of the conquest and found him doing ghusl while his daughter
Fatima, was screening him with a garment. I said to him, 'Peace be
upon you' and he said, 'Who is that?' I replied, 'Umm Hani bint Abi
Talib,' and he said, 'Welcome, Umm Hani!' When he had finished his
ghusl, he stood and prayed eight rakas, covering himself with one
garment, and then came away. I said, 'Messenger of Allah, the son of
my mother, AIi, says that he is determined to kill so-and-so, son of
Hubayra, a man I have placed under my protection.' The Messenger of
Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'We give
protection to whoever you have given protection to, Umm Hani.' "

Umm Hani related that this incident happened in the morning.

Yahya related to me from Malik from Ibn Shihab from Urwa ibn az-
Zubayr that A'isha, the wife of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and
grant him peace, said, "I never once saw the Messenger of Allah, may
Allah bless him and grant him peace, doing the voluntary prayer of
duha, but I myself do it. Sometimes the Messenger of Allah, may Allah
bless him and grant him peace, would refrain from a practice that he
loved to do, fearing that people would do the same and it would become
fard for them ."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Zayd ibn Aslam from A'isha
that she used to pray duha with eight rakas, and she would say, "I
would never stop doing them even if my parents were to be brought back
to life."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Ishaq ibn Abdullah ibn Abi
Talha from Anas ibn Malik that his grandmother, Mulayka, invited the
Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, for food
and he ate some of it. Then the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless
him and grant him peace, said, "Get up and I will lead you in prayer."

Anas said, "I stood up and took a woven mat belonging to us
that had become black through long use and sprinkled it with water,
and the Messengerof Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace,
stood on it. The orphan and I formed a row behind him, and the old
woman stood behind us. He prayed two rakas with us and then left."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Ibn Shihab that Ubaydullah
ibn Abdullah ibn Utba said, "I visited Umar ibn al-Khattab just before
noon and found him praying a voluntary prayer. So I stood behind him,
but he pulled me nearer and put me next to him, on his right hand
side, and then Yarfa came and I moved back and we formed a row behind
him."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Zayd ibn Aslam from Abd ar-
Rahman ibn Abi Said al-Khudri from his father that the Messenger of
Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Do not let
anyone pass in front of you when you are praying. Repel him as much as
you can, and, if he refuses, fight him, for he is only a shaytan."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Abu'n Nadr, the mawla of Umar
ibn Ubaydullah from Busr ibn Said that Zayd ibn Khalid al-Juhani sent
him to Abu Juhaym to ask him what he had heard from the Messenger of
Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, about passing in front
of someone praying. Abu Juhaym said, "The Messenger of Allah, may
Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'If the one who passes in
front of a man praying knew what he was bringing upon himself it would
be better for him to stop for forty than to pass in front of him.' "

Abu'n-Nadr said, "I do not know whether he said forty days or
months or years."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Zayd ibn Aslam from Ata ibn
Yasar that Kab al-Ahbar said, "If the person who passed in front of a
man praying knew what he was bringing on himself, it would be better
for him to sink into the ground than to pass in front of him."

Yahya related to me from Malik that he had heard that Abdullah
ibn Umar used to disapprove of passing in front of women while they
were praying.

Yahya related to me from Malik from Nafi that Abdullah ibn Umar
would neither pass in front of anyone, nor let anyone pass in front of
him.

Yahya related to me from Malik from Ibn Shihab from Ubaydullah
ibn Abdullah ibn Utba ibn Masud that Abdullah ibn Abbas said, "I
approached, riding on a donkey, while the Messenger of Allah, may
Allah bless him and grant him peace, was leading the people in prayer
at Mina, and I was, at that time, nearing puberty. I passed in front
of part of the row, dismounted, sent the donkey off to graze, and then
joined the row, and no one rebuked me for doing so."

Yahya related to me from Malik that he had heard that Said ibn
Abi Waqqas used to pass in front of some of the rows while the prayer
was in progress.

Malik said, "I consider that it is
permissible to do that if the iqama for the prayer has been said and
the imam has said the initial takbir and a man cannot find any way
into the mosque except by going between the rows."

Yahya related to me from Malik that he had heard that Ali ibn Abi Talib said, "Things that pass in front of a man praying do not break his prayer."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Ibn Shihab from Salim ibn Abdullah that Abdullah ibn Umar used to say, "Things that pass in front of a man praying do not break his prayer."

Yahya related to me from Malik that he had heard that Abdullah ibn Umar would use the animal he was riding as a sutra when he prayed.

Yahya related to me from Malik from Hisham ibn Urwa that his father used to pray in the desert without a sutra.

Yahya related to me from Malik that Abu Jafar al-Qari said, "I
saw Abdullah ibn Umar quickly brush away the small stones from the
place where he was going to put his forehead as he was going down into
sajda."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Yahya ibn Said that he had
heard that Abu Dharr used to say, "Brush away the small stones with
one sweep, but if you leave them it is better than a red camel."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Nafi that Umar ibn al-Khattab
used to order the rows to be straightened, and when they had come to
him and told him that the rows were straight he would say the takbir.

Yahya related to me from Malik from his paternal uncle, Abu
Suhayl ibn Malik, that his father said, "I was with Uthman ibn Affan
when the iqama was said for the prayer and I was talking to him about
being assigned a definite allowance by him. I continued talking to him
while he was levelling some small stones with his sandals, and then
some men that he had entrusted to straighten the rows came and told
him that the rows were straight. He said to me, 'Line up in the row,'
and then he said the takbir."

'As long as you do
not feel ashamed, do whatever you wish', the placing of one hand on
the other in prayer (one places the right hand on the left), being
quick to break the fast, and delaying the meal before dawn."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Abu Hazim ibn Dinar that Sahl
ibn Sad said, "People used to be ordered to place their right hands on
their left forearms in the prayer."

Abu Hazim added, "I know
for sure that Sahl traces that back to the Prophet, may Allah bless
him and grant him peace."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Nafi that Abdullah ibn Umar
did not say qunut in any of the prayers.

Yahya related to me from Malik from Hisham ibn Urwa from his
father that Abdullah ibn al-Arqam used to lead his companions in
prayer. The time for prayer came one day and he went to relieve
himself. When he returned, he said, "I heard the Messenger of Allah,
may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, 'If you wish to
defecate, you should do so before the prayer.' "

Yahya related to me from Malik from Zayd ibn Aslam that Umar ibn
al-Khattab said, "You should not pray while you are holding your
bowels."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Abu'z Zinad from al-Araj from Abu Hurayra that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "The angels ask for blessings on each one of you as long as he is in the place where he has prayed and has not discharged anything. They say, 'Allah, forgive him. Allah have mercy on him.' "

Malik said, "I do not consider that his words, 'has not discharged anything' refer to anything other than the discharges that break wudu."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Abu'z Zinad from al-Araj from
Abu Hurayra that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant
him peace, said, "You are in prayer as long as the prayer detains you
and there is nothing that prevents you from returning to your family
except the prayer."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Sumayy, the mawla of Abu
Bakr, that Abu Bakr ibn Abd ar-Rahman used to say, "Someone who goes
to the mosque in the morning or the afternoon with no intention of
going anywhere else, either to learn good or teach it, is like someone
who does jihad in the way of Allah and returns with booty."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Nuaym ibn Abdullah al-Mujmir
that he heard Abu Hurayra say, "If any one of you prays and then sits
down in the spot where he has prayed, the angels ask blessings on him
saying, 'Allah, forgive him. Allah, have mercy on him.' And if he
moves from the spot where he has prayed and sits elsewhere in the
mosque waiting for the prayer, he remains in prayer until he prays."

the complete and correct performance of wudu in adverse
conditions, a great number of steps towards the mosque,and waiting
after one prayer for the next prayer. That is the firm hold, that is
the firm hold, that is the firm hold."

Yahya related to me from Malik that he had heard that Said ibn
al-Musayyab said, "It is said that no-one except a hypocrite leaves
the mosque after the call to prayer, except for someone who intends to
return."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Amir ibn Abdullah ibn az-
Zubayr from Amr ibn Sulaymaz-Zuraqi from Abu Qatadaal-Ansari that the
Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said,
"When you enter the mosque, you should pray two rakas before you sit
down."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Abu'nNadr, the mawla of Umar
ibn Ubaydullah, that Abu Salama ibn Abd ar-Rahman asked him, "Didn't I
see your master sit down before praying after he had entered the
mosque?"

Abu'n-Nadr said, "By that he meant Umar ibn
Ubaydullah, and he was finding fault with him for sitting down before
praying after he had come into the mosque."

Yahya said that
Malik said, "It is good to do that but not obligatory."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Nafi that Abdullah ibn Umar
used to place his palms flat on the surface where he put his forehead.
Nafi said, "I have seen him take his hands out from under his burnus
on a very cold day and place them on the ground."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Nafi that Abdullah ibn Umar
used to say, "When one of you puts his forehead on the ground he
should put his palms on the place where he puts his forehead. Then,
when he rises, he should raise them, for the hands prostrate just as
the face prostrates."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Abu Hazim Salama ibn Dinar
from Sahl ibn Said as-Saidi that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah
bless him and grant him peace, went to the tribe of Bani Amr ibn Awf
to settle their disputes .The time for the prayer came and the
muadhdhin came to Abu Bakr as-Siddiq and said, "Could you lead the
people in prayer and I will say the iqama?" He said, "Yes," and Abu
Bakr prayed. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him
peace, came back while the people were praying, and approached and
joined the row. People clapped, but Abu Bakr did not turn round. The
people increased their clapping, and Abu Bakr turned round and saw the
Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and the
Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, indicated
to him to stay in his place. Abu Bakr raised his hands and praised
Allah that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him
peace, had told him to do that. Then he drew back until he was in the
row, and the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him
peace, stepped forward and led the prayer. When he had finished he
said, "Abu Bakr, what stopped you from staying put like I told you?"
Abu Bakr said, "It is not for Ibn Abi Quhafa to pray in front of the
Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace."

The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said,
"Why did I see you all clapping so much? If something happens to you
in the prayer you should say 'Subhana-llah' (Glory be to Allah), and
when you say 'Subhana-llah' you will be heard. Clapping is only for
women."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Nafi that Ibn Umar would
never turn around when praying.

Yahya related to me from Malik that Abu Jafar al-Qari said, "I
was praying, and Abdullah ibn Umar was behind me and I was not aware
of it. Then I turned round and he prodded me (in disapproval)."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Ibn Shihab that Abu Umama ibn
Sahl ibn Hunayf said, "Zayd ibn Thabit entered the mosque and found
the people in ruku, so he went into ruku and then moved slowly forward
until he reached the row."

Yahya related to me from Malik that he had heard that Abdullah
ibn Masud used to move forward while in ruku.

Yahya related to me from Malik from Abdullah ibn Abi Bakr ibn
Hazim from his father that Amr ibn Sulaym az-Zuraqi said, "Abu Humayd
as-Saidi told me that they asked the Messenger of Allah, may Allah
bless him and grant him peace, how they were to ask for blessings upon
him and he replied that they should say, 'O Allah, bless Muhammad and
his wives and his descendants asYou blessed the family of Ibrahim, and
give baraka to Muhammad and his wives and his descendants as You gave
baraka to the family of Ibrahim. You are worthy of Praise and
Glorious.'"

Allahumma salli ala Muhammad wa azwajihi wa alihi
kama sallaita ala ali Ibrahim, wa barakaala Muhammad wa azwajihi wa
alihi kama baraktaalaali Ibrahim, innaka Hamidu'm - Majid.

Yahya related to me from Malik from Nuaym ibn Abdullah al-
Mujmirthat Muhammad ibn Abdullah ibn Zayd told him that Abu Masud al
Ansari said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant
him peace, came to us at the gathering of Sad ibn Ubada. Bashir ibn
Sad said to him, 'Allah has ordered us to ask for blessings on you,
Messenger of Allah. How should we do it?' The Messenger of Allah, may
Allah bless him and grant him peace, remained silent until we wished
we had not asked him. Then he told us to say, 'O Allah, bless Muhammad
and the family of Muhammad as You blessed Ibrahim, and give baraka to
Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You gave baraka to the family
of Ibrahim. In all the worlds You are worthy of Praise and Glorious,'
and then give the taslim as you have learnt."

Allahumma salli
ala Muhammad wa ali Muhammad kama sallaita Ibrahim, wa baraka ala
Muhammad wa ali Muhammad kama baraktaala ali Ibrahim. Fi'l alamin,
innaka Hamidu'm - Majid.

Yahya related to me from Malik that Abdullah ibn Dinar said, "I
saw Abdullah ibn Umar stop by the grave of the Prophet, may Allah
bless him and grant him peace, and ask for blessings on the Prophet,
may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and on Abu Bakr and Umar."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Nafi from Ibn Umar that the
Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to
pray two rakas before dhuhr and two rakas after it, two rakas after
maghrib, in his house, and two rakas after isha. He did not pray after
jumua until he had left, and then he prayed two rakas.

Yahya related to me from Malik from Abu'z Zinad from al-Araj from
Abu Hurayra that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant
him peace, said, "Do you see the direction I am facing here? By Allah,
neither your concentration nor your ruku is hidden from me. I can see
you behind my back."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Nafi from Abdullah ibn Umar
that when the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him
peace, used to go to Quba (to pray), he would walk as well as ride.

Yahya related to me from Malik from Yahya ibn Said from an-Numan
ibn Murra that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant
him peace, said,"What about drunkenness, stealing and adultery? "That
was before anything had been revealed about them. They said, "Allah
and His Messenger know best." He said, "They are excesses and in them
is a punishment. And the worst of thieves is the one who steals his
prayer." They said, "How does he steal his prayer, Messenger of
Allah?" He replied, "He does not do ruku or sajda properly."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Hisham ibn Urwa from his
father that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him
peace, said, "Do some of the prayers in your houses."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Nafi that Abdullah ibn Umar
used to say, "When a sick man is unable to prostrate he should motion
with his head, and not raise anything to his forehead."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Rabia ibn Abi Abd ar-Rahman
that if Abdullah ibn Umar arrived at the mosque and the people had
already prayed, he would begin with the obligatory prayer and not pray
anything before it.

Yahya related to me from Malik from Nafi that Abdullah ibn Umar
passed by a man who was praying and said, "Peace be upon you," and the
man replied to him. Abdullah ibn Umar returned to him and said, "When
someone says, 'Peace be upon you' to you while you are praying do not
reply, but give a signal with your hand."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Nafi that Abdullah ibn Umar
used to say, "Someone who only remembers that he has forgotten a
prayer when he is praying the next prayer behind an imam, should pray
the prayer he has forgotten after the imam has said the taslim, and
then pray the other one again."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Yahya ibn Said from Muhammad
ibn Yahya ibn Habban that his paternal uncle Wasi ibn Habban said, "I
was praying, and Abdullah ibn Umar was resting his back on the wall of
the qibla. When I had finished the prayer I turned towards him on my
left hand side. Abdullah ibn Umar said, 'What stopped you from turning
away to your right?' I replied, 'I saw you and turned towards you.'
Abdullah said, 'You have spoken correctly. People say that you should
turn away to your right, but when you pray, you can turn whichever way
you wish. If you like, to your right, and if you like, to your left.'
"

Yahya related to me from Malik from Hisham ibn Urwa from his
father that one of the muhajirun in whom he saw no harm asked Abdullah
ibn Amr ibn al-As, "Can I pray in a place where camels are watered?"
Abdullah replied, "No, but you can pray in a sheep-pen."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Ibn Shihab that Said ibn al-
Musayyab said, "Which prayer is it when you remain in the sitting
position in every raka?'' Said said, "It is maghrib when you miss one
raka, and that is the sunna in all the prayers."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Amir ibn Abdullah ibn az-
Zubayr from Amr ibn Sulaym az-Zuraqi from Abu Qutada al-Ansari that
the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used
to pray carrying Umama, who was the daughter of his daughter Zaynab by
Abu'l As ibn Rabia ibn Abd Shams. When he prostrated, he put her down,
and when he got up he carried her.

Yahya related to me from Abu'z-Zinad from al-Araj from Abu
Hurayra that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him
peace, said, "A group of angels in the night and a group of angels in
the day alternate with each other among you, and gather together at
the time of the asr and fajr prayers. Then those that have spent the
night among you ascend, and He asks them, and He knows best, 'How did
you leave my slaves?' and they say, 'When we left them they were
praying, and when we came to them they were praying.' "

Yahya related to me from Malik from Hisham ibn Urwa from his
father from A'isha, the wife of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and
grant him peace, that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and
grant him peace, said, "Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer."
A'isha said, "Messenger of Allah, when Abu Bakr stands in your place
his voice does not reach the ears of the people because of his
weeping, so tell Umar to lead the people in prayer." He said, "Tell
Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer." A'isha continued, "I told
Hafsa to tell him that when Abu Bakr stood in his place his voice did
not reach the ears of the people because of his weeping, and that he
should tell Umar to lead the people in prayer. Hafsa did so, and the
Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said,
'You are the companions of Yusuf! (referring to the women who cut
their hands when they saw the beauty of Yusuf). Tell Abu Bakr to lead
the people in prayer!' "

A'isha added that Hafsa said to her,
"I have never had anything good from you!"

Yahya related to me from Malik from Ibn Shihab from Ata ibn Yazid
al-Laythi that Ubaydullah ibn Adi ibnal-Khiyar said, "Once when the
Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was
sitting with some people, a man came to him and spoke secretly to him.
Nobody knew what he had said until the Messenger of Allah, may Allah
bless him and grant him peace, disclosed that he had asked for
permission to kill one of the hypocrites. When he disclosed this, the
Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said,
'Doesn't he testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad
is the Messenger of Allah?' The man replied, 'Of course, but he
hasn't really done so.' He said, 'Doesn't he do the prayer?' and the
man replied, 'Of course, but he doesn't really do the prayer.' He
said, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, 'Those are the ones
whom Allah has forbidden me (to kill).' "

Yahya related to me from Malik from Zayd ibn Aslam from Ata ibn
Yasar that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him
peace, said, "O Allah! Do not make my grave an idol that is
worshipped. The anger on those who took the graves of their Prophets
as places of prostration was terrible."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Ibn Shihab from Mahmud ibn
Rabi al-Ansari that Utban ibn Malik, who was a blind man, used to lead
his people in prayer, and he said to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah
bless him and grant him peace, "Sometimes it is dark and rainy and
there is a lot of water around outside, and I am a man who has lost
his sight. Messenger of Allah, pray in a certain place in my house so
that I can take it as a place to pray." The Messenger of Allah, may
Allah bless him and grant him peace, came to him and said, "Where
would you like me to pray?" He indicated a place to him and the
Messengerof Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, prayed
there.

Yahya related to me from Malik from Ibn Shihab from Abbad ibn Tamim from his paternal uncle that he saw the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, lying down in the mosque with one foot on top of the other.

Yahya related to me from Malik from Ibn Shihab from Said ihn al-Musayyab that Umar ibn al Khattab and Uthman ibn Affan, may Allah be pleased with them, used to do the same.

Yahya related to me from Malik from Yahya ibn Said that Abdullah
ibn Masud said to a certain man, "You are in a time when men of
understanding (fuqaha) are many and Qur'an reciters are few, when the
limits of behaviour defined in the Qur'an are guarded and its letters
are lost, when few people ask and many give, when they make the prayer
long and the khutba short, and put their actions before their desires.
A time will come upon men when their fuqaha are few but their Qur'an
reciters are many, when the letters of the Qur'an are guarded
carefully but its limits are lost, when many ask but few give, when
they make the khutba long but the prayer short, and put their desires
before their actions."

Yahya related to me from Malik that Yahya ibn Said said, "I have
heard that the first of the actions of a slave to be considered on the
day of rising is the prayer. If it is accepted from him, the rest of
his actions will be considered, and if it is not accepted from him,
none of his actions will be considered."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Hisham ibn Urwa from his
father that A'isha, the wife of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and
grant him peace, said, "The actions which the Messenger of Allah, may
Allah bless him and grant him peace, loved most were those which were
done most constantly."

Yahya related to me from Malik that he had heard from Amir ibn
Sad ibn Abi Waqqas that his father said, "There were two brothers, one
of whom died forty nights before the other. The merit of the first was
being mentioned in the presence of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah
bless him and grant him peace, and he said, 'Wasn't the other one a
muslim?' They said, 'Of course, Messenger of Allah, and there was no
harm in him.' The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant
him peace, said, 'What will make you realise what his prayer has
brought him. The prayer is like a deep river of sweet water running by
your door into which you plunge five times a day. How much of your
dirtiness do you think that will leave? You do not realise what his
prayer has brought him.' "

Yahya related to me from Malik that he had heard that if some one
passed by Ata ibn Yasar in the mosque with something to trade, he
would call him and ask, "What is the matter with you? What do you
want?" If the man said that he wished to trade with him, he would say,
"You need the market of this world. This is the market of the next
world."

Yahya related to me from Malik that he had heard that Umar ibn
al-Khattab set aside an area near the mosque called al-Butayha and
said, "Whoever wishes to talk nonsense or recite poetry or raise his
voice should go to that area."

Yahya related to me from Malik from his paternal uncle Abu Suhayl
ibn Malik that his father heard Talha ibn Ubaydullah say, "Once one of
the people of Najd came to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him
and grant him peace. He had dishevelled hair and although his voice
could be heard we could not make out what he was saying until he drew
nearer and then we found he was asking about Islam. The Messenger of
Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said to him, 'There
are five prayers during the day and the night.' He said, 'Do I have to
do anything else besides that?' The Messenger of Allah, may Allah
bless him and grant him peace, added, 'And fasting the month of
Ramadan.' He said, 'Is there anything else I have to do?' He said,
'No, except what you do of your own accord.' The Messenger of Allah,
may Allah bless him and grant him peace, mentioned zakat. The man
said, 'Is there anything else that I have to do?' He said, 'No, except
what you do of your own accord.'

He continued, "The man went
away saying, 'By Allah, I won't do any more than this, nor will I do
any less.' The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him
peace, said, 'That man will be successful, if he is telling the
truth.'

Yahya related to me from Malik from Abu'z-Zinad from al-Araj from
Abu Hurayra that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant
him peace, said, "Shaytan ties three knots at the back of your head
when you sleep, and he seals the place of each knot with 'You have a
long night ahead, so sleep.' If you wake up and remember Allah, a knot
is untied. If you do wudu, a knot is untied. If you pray, a knot is
untied, and morning finds you lively and in good spirits, and if not,
morning finds you in bad spirits and lazy."