"O you who believe!Do not put (yourselves) forward before Allâh and His Messenger (SAW),and fear Allâh. Verily!Allâh is All-Hearing,All-Knowing."

[Surah al-Hujuraat 49:1].

Chapter 1: THE BEGINNING OF ADHAN
Book 004, Number 0735:
Ibn Umar reported: When the Muslims came to Medina,they gathered and sought to know the time of prayer but no one summoned them.One day they discussed the matter, and some of them said:
Use something like the bell of the Christians and some of them said:
Use horn like that of the Jews. Umar said:
Why may not a be appointed who should call (people) to prayer?
The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: O Bilal,get up and summon (the people) to prayer.
Book 004, Number 0736:
Anas reported: Bilal was commanded (by the Apostle of Allah) to repeat (the phrases of) Adhan twice and once in Iqama.
The narrator said: I made a mention of it before Ayyub who said: Except for saying: Qamat-is-Salat [the time for prayer has come].
Book 004, Number 0737:
Anas b. Malik reported: They (the Companions) discussed that they should know the timings of prayer by means of something recognized by all. Some of them said that fire should be lighted or a bell should be rung. But Bilal was ordered to repeat the phrases twice in Adhan, and once in Iqama.
Book 004, Number 0738:
This hadith is transmitted by Khalid Hadhdha with the same chain of transmitters (and the words are):When the majority of the people discussed they should know,like the hadith narrated by al-Thaqafi(mentioned above)except for the words:" They (the people) should kindle fire."
Book 004, Number 0739:
Anas reported: Bilal was commanded (by the Holy Prophet) to repeat the phrases twice in Adhan, and once in lqama.

Abu Mahdhura said that the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) taught him Adhan like this: Allah is the Greatest,Allah is the Greatest;I testify that there is no god but Allah,I testify that there is no god but Allah;I testify that Muhammad Is the Messenger of Allah,I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah,and it should be again repeated: I testify that there is no god but Allah, I testify that there is no god but Allah; I testify that Muhammad Is the Messenger of Allah, I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. Come to the prayer (twice). Come to the prayer (twice). Ishaq added: Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest; there Is no god but Allah.

Ibn Umar reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) had two Mu'adhdhins, Bilal and 'Abdullah b.Umm Maktum,who (latter) was blind.

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of 'A'isha by another chain of transmitters.

A'isha reported: Ibn Umm Maktum used to pronounce Adhan at the behest of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) (despite the fact) that he was blind.

A hadith like this has been transmitted by Hisham.

Anas b. Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) used to attack the enemy when it was dawn.He would listen to the Adhan; so if he heard an Adhan,he stopped,otherwise made an attack. Once on hearing a man say: Allah is the Greatest,Allah is the Greatest, the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) remarked: He is following al-Fitra (al-Islam).Then hearing him say: I testify that there is no god but Allah. there is no god but Allah, the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: You have come out of the Fire (of Hell). They looked at him and found that he was a goatherd.

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported:

'Abdullah b. Amr b. al-As reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: When you hear the Mu'adhdhin,repeat what he says,then invoke a blessing on me,for everyone who invokes a blessing on me will receive ten blessings from Allah; then beg from Allah al-Wasila for me, which is a rank in Paradise fitting for only one of Allah's servants, and I hope that I may be that one. If anyone who asks that I be given the Wasila, he will be assured of my intercession.

'Umar b. al-Khattab reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: When the Mu'adhdhin says: Allah is the Greatest,Allah is the Greatest,and one of you should make this response:

Allah is the Greatest,Allah is the Greatest; (and when the Mu'adhdhin) says:

I testify that there is no god but Allah,one should respond: I testify that there is no god but Allah,and when he says:

I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah,one should make a response:

I testify that Muhammad is Allah's Messenger. When he (the Mu'adhdhin) says:

Come to prayer, one should make a response: There is no might and no power except with Allah.

When he (the Mu'adhdhin) says: Come to salvation,one should respond:

There is no might and no power except with Allah,and when he (the Mu'adhdhin) says:

Allah is the Greatest,Allah is the Greatest,then make a response:

Allah is the Greatest,Allah is the Greatest. When he (the Mu'adhdhin) says:

There is no god but Allah, and he who makes a response from the heart:

There is no god but Allah, he will enter Paradise.

Sa'd b. Abu Waqqas reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said:

If anyone says on hearing the Mu'adhdhin: I testify that there is no god but Allah alone.Who has no partner, and that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger,(and that) I am satisfied with Allah as my Lord,with Muhammad as Messenger.and with Islam as din (code of life),his sins would be forgiven.In the narration transmitted by Ibn Rumh the words are:"

He who said on hearing the Mu'adhdhin and verity I testify." ' Qutaiba has not mentioned his words:" And I."

Yahya narrated it on the authority of his uncle that he had been sitting in the company of Mu'awiya b. Abu Sufyan when the Mu'adhdhin called (Muslims) to prayer.

Mu'awiya said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) saying The Mu'adhdhins will have the longest necks on the Day of Resurrection.

Abu Sufyan reported it on the authority of Jabir that he had heard the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) say: When Satan hears the call to prayer, he runs away to a distance like that of Rauha. Sulaimin said:

I asked him about Rauha. He replied: It is at a distance of thirty-six miles from Medina.

Abu Mu'awiya narrated it on the authority of A'mash with the same chain of transmitters.

AbuHuraira reported the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) as saying:

When Satan hears the call to prayer,he turns back and breaks the wind so as not to bear the call being made, but when the call is finished he turns round and distracts (the minds of those who pray), and when he bears the Iqama he again runs away so as not to hear its voice and when it subsides,he comes back and distracts (the minds of those who stand for prayer).

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said:

When the Mu'adhdhin calls to prayer,Satan runs back vehemently.

Suhail reported that his father sent him to Banu Haritha along with a boy or a man. Someone called him by his name from an enclosure. He (thenarrator) said: The person with me looked towards the enclosure, but saw nothing. I made a mention of that to my father. He said: If I knew that you would meet such a situation I would have never sent you (there), but (bear in wind) whenever you hear such a call (from the evil spirits) pronounce the Adhan. for I have heard Abu Huraira say that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upbn him) said: Whenever Adhan is proclaimed,Satan runs back vehemently.

Abu Huraira reported: The Apostle (may peace be upon him) said When the call to prayer is made, Satan runs back and breaks wind so as not to hear the call being made, and when the call is finished. he turns round. When Iqama is proclaimed he turns his back, and when it is finished he turns round to distract a man, saying: Re- member such and such; remember such and such, referring to something the man did not have in his mind, with the result that he does not know how much he has prayed.

A hadith like it has been narrated by Abu Huraira but for these words:"

He (the man saying the prayer) does not know how much he has prayed.

Salim narrated it on the authority of his father who reported: I saw the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) raising his hands apposite the shoulders at the time of beginning the prayer and before bowing down and after coming back to the position after bowing. but he did not raise them between two prostrations.

Ibn Umar reported that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him),when he stood up for prayer,used to raise his hands apposite the shoulders and then recited takbir (Allah-o-Akbar),and when he was about to bow he again did like it and when he raised himself from the ruku' (bowing posture) he again did like it,but he did not do it at the time of raising his head from prostration.

This hadith has been transmitted with the same chain of transmitters by al.Zuhri as narrated by Ibn Juraij (who) said. When the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) stood up for prayer,he raised hands (to the height) apposite the shoulders and then recited takbir.

Abu Qilaba reported that he saw Malik b.Huwairith raising his hands at the beginning of prayer and raising his hands before kneeling down,and raising his hands after lifting his head from the state of kneeling,and he narrated that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) used to do like this.

Malik b. Huwairith reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) raised his hands apposite his ears at the time of reciting the takbir (i. e. at the time of beginning the prayer) and then again raised his hands apposite the ears at the time of bowing and when he lifted his head after bowing he said: Allah listened to him who praised Him,and did like it (raised his hands up to the ears).

This hadith has been transmitted by Qatada with the same chain of trans. mitters that he saw the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) doing like this (i. e. raising his hands) till they were apposite the lobes of cars.

Abu Salama reported: Abu Huraira led prayer for them and recited takbir when he bent and raised himself (in ruku' and sujud) and after completing (the prayer) he said: By Allah I say prayer which has the best resemblance with the prayer of the Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him) amongst you.

Abu Huraira reported: When the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) got up for prayer,he would say the takbir (Allah-o-Akbar) when standing,then say the takbir when bowing. then say:"

Allah listened to him who praised him,"when coming to the erect position after bowing,then say while standing:" To Thee,our Lord, be the praise", then recite the takbir when getting down for prostration,then say the takbir on raising his head, then say the takbir on prostrating himself,then say the takbir on raising his head. He would do that throughout the whole prayer till he would complete it,and he would say the takbir when he would get up at the end of two rak'as after adopting the sitting posture.Abu Huraira said: My prayer has the best resemblance amongst you with the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him).

Ibn al-Harith reported: He had heard Abu Huraira say: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) recited takbir on standing for prayer,and the rest of the hadith is like that transmitted by Ibn Juraij (recorded above), but he did not mention Abu Huraira as saying:" My prayer has the best resemblance amongst you with the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him)."

Abu Salama b. 'Abd al-Rahman reported..When Marwan appointed Abu Huraira as his deputy in Medina,he recited takbir whenever he got up for obligatory prayer,and the rest of the hadith is the same as transmitted by Ibn Juraij (but with the addition of these words): On completing the prayer with salutation,and he turned to the people in the mosque and said....

Abu Salama reported that Abu Huraira recited takbir in prayer on all occasions of rising and kneeling.

We said: O Abu Huraira, what is this takbir? He said: Verily it is the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him).

Suhail reported on the authority of his father that Abu Huraira used to recite takbir on all occasions of rising and bending (in prayer) and narrated that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) used to do like that.

Mutarrif reported: I and 'Imran b. Husain said prayer behind 'Ali b. Abu, Talib.He recited takbir when he prostrated,and he recited takbir when he raised his head and he recited takbir while rising up (from the sitting position at the end of two rak'ahs).When we had finished our prayer,'Imran caught hold of my hand and said: He (Hadrat Ali) has led prayer like Muhammad (may peace be upon him) or he said: He in fact recalled to my mind the prayer of Muhammad (may peace be upon him.)

'Ubada b. as-Samit reported from the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him ):

Ubada b. as-Samit reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: He who does not recite Umm al-Qur'an is not credited with having observed the prayer.

Mahmud b. al-Rabi', on whose face the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) squirted water from the well, reported on the authority of 'Ubada b. as- Samit that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: He who does not recite Umm al-Qur'an is not credited with having observed prayer.

This hadith has also been transmitted by Ma'mar from al-Zuhri with the same chain of transmitters with the addition of these words:" and something more".

Abu Huraira reported: The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) said:

It was said to Abu Huraira: At times we are behind the Imam.He said: Recite it inwardly,for he had heard the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) declare that Allah the Exalted had said:

I have divided the prayer into two halves between Me and My servant,and My servant will receive what he asks.When the servant says: Praise be to Allah,the Lord of the universe,Allah the Most High says:

My servant has praised Me.And when he (the servant) says: The Most Compassionate,the Merciful,Allah the Most High says: My servant has lauded Me. And when he (the servant) says: Master of the Day of judgment, He remarks: My servant has glorified Me. and sometimes He would say: My servant entrusted (his affairs) to Me. And when he (the worshipper) says: Thee do we worship and of Thee do we ask help, He (Allah) says: This is between Me and My servant, and My servant will receive what he asks for. Then, when he (the worshipper) says: Guide us to the straight path, the path of those to whom Thou hast been Gracious not of those who have incurred Thy displeasure, nor of those who have gone astray, He (Allah) says: This is for My servant, and My servant will receive what he asks for. Sufyan said: 'Ala b. 'Abd al-Rahman b. Ya'qub narrated it to me when I went to him and he was confined to his home on account of illness, and I asked him about it.

It is naratted on the authority of Abu Huraira that he had heard the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) say: He who observed prayer but he did not recite the Umm al-Qur'an in it,and the rest of the hadith is the same as transmitted by Sufyan,and in this hadith the words are:" Allah the Most High said: the prayer is divided into two halves between Me and My servant. The half of it is for Me and the half of it is for My servant."

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: He who said his prayer, but did not recite the opening chapter of al-Kitab, his prayer is incomplete. He repeated it thrice.

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: One is not credited with having observed the prayer without the recitation (of al-Fatiha). So said Abu Huraira: (The prayer in which) the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) recited in a loud voice,we also recited that loudly for you (and the prayer in which) he recited inwardly we also recited inwardly for you (to give you a practical example of the prayer of the Holy Prophet).

'Ata' narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira who said that one should recite (al-Fatiha) in every (rak'ah of) prayer.What we heard (i. e. recitation) from the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him), we made you listen to that.And that which he (recited) inwardly,we (recited) inwardly for you.A person said to him: If I add nothing to the (recitation) of the Umm al Qur'an (Surat al-Fatiha),would it make the prayer incomplete?

He (AbuHuraira) said: If you add to that (if you recite some of verses of the Qur'an along with Surat at-Fatiha) that is better for you. But if you are contented with it (Surat al-Fatiha) only, it is sufficient for you.

'Ata' reported it on the authority of Abu Huraira who said: Recitation (of Surat al-Fatiha) in every (rak'ah) of prayer in essential. (The recitation) that we listened to from the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) we made you listen to it. And that which he recited inwardly to us, we recited it inwardly for you.And he who recites Umm al-Qur'an, it is enough for him (to complete the prayer),and he who adds to it (recites some other verses of the Holy Qur'an along with Surat al-Fatiha), it is preferable for him.

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) entered the mosque and a person also entered therein and offered prayer, and then came and paid salutation to the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him). The Mes- senger of Allah (may peace be upon him) returned his salutation and said:

Go back and pray,for you have not offered the prayer. He again prayed as he had prayed before,and came to the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon. him) and saluted him.

The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) returned the salutation and said: Go back and say prayer, for you have not offered the prayer. This (act of repeating the prayer) was done three times.

Upon this the person said: By Him Who hast sent you with Truth,whatever better I can do than this, please teach me. He (the Holy Prophet) said: When you get up to pray,recite takbir,and then recite whatever you conveniently can from the Qur'an,then bow down and remain quietly in that position,then raise your-self and stand erect; then prostrate yourself and remain quietly in that attitude; then raise yourself and sit quietly; and do that throughout all your prayers.

Abu Huraira reported: A person entered the mosque and said prayer while the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) was sitting in a nook (of the mosque), and the rest of the hadith is the same as mentioned above, but with this addition:" When you get up to pray,perform the ablution completely, and then turn towards the Qibla and recite takbir (Allah o Akbar =Allah is the Most Great)."

lmrin b. Husain reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace beupon him) led us In Zuhr or 'Asr prayer (noon or the afternoon prayer). (On concluding it) he said: Who recited behind me (the verses): Sabbih Isma Rabbik al-a'la (Glorify the name of thy Lord,the Most High)?

There upon a person said: It was I, but I intended nothing but goodness.I felt that some one of you was disputing with me in it (or he was taking out from my tongue what I was reciting), said the Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him).

'Imran b. Husain reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) observed the Zuhr prayer and a person recited Sabbih Isma Rabbik al-a'la (Glorify the name of thy Lord, the Most High) behind him.

When he (the Holy Prophet) concluded the prayer he said: Who amongst you recited (the above-mentioned verse) or who amongst you was the reciter? A person said: It was I. Upon this he (the Holy Prophet) observed: I thought as if someone amongst you was disputing with me (in what I was reciting).

This hadith has been narrated by Qatada with the same chain of transmitters that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) observed Zuhr prayer and said: I felt that someone amongst you was disputing with me (in what I was reciting).

Anas reported: I observed prayer along with the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) and with Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman (may Allah be pleased with all of them), but I never heard any one of them reciting Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim loudly.

Shu'ba reported it with the same chain of transmitters. with she addition of these words:" I said to Qatada:

Did you hear it from

It is reported on the authority of Abu Talha that he had heard Anas b.Malik narrating this.

Anas reported: One day the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) was sitting amongst us that he dozed off. He then raised his head smilingly. We said: What makes you smile. Messenger of Allah?

He said: A Sura has just been revealed to me,and then recited: In the name of Allah,the Compassionate,the Merciful.Verily We have given thee Kauthar (fount of abundance).

Therefore turn to thy Lord for prayer and offer sacrifice,and surely thy enemy is cut off (from the good).

Then he (the Holy Prophet) said: Do you know what Kauthar is?

We said: Allah and His Messenger know best.

The Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him) said:

It (Kauthar) is a canal which my Lord,the Exalted and Glorious has promised me,and there is an abundance of good in it. It is a cistern and my people would come to it on the Day of Resurrection,and tumblers there would be equal to the number of stars.A servant would be turned away from (among the people gathered there). Upon this I would say: My Lord,he is one of my people, and He (the Lord) would say:

You do not know that he innovated new things (in Islam) after you. Ibn Hujr made this addition in the hadith:" He (the Holy Prophet) was sitting amongst us in the mosque,and He (Allah) said: (You don't know) what he innovated after you"

Mukhtar b. Fulful reported that he had heard Anas b.Malik say that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) dozed off,and the rest of the hadith is the same as transmitted by Mus-hir except for the words that he (the Holy Prophet) said: It (Kauthar) is a canal which my Lord the Exalted and the Glorious has promised me in Paradise.There is a tank over it,but he made no mention of the tumblers like the number of the stars.

Wa'il b. Hujr reported: He saw the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) raising his hands at the time of beginning the prayer and reciting takbir,and according to Hammam (the narrator),the hands were lifted opposite to ears. He (the Holy Prophet) then wrapped his hands in his cloth and placed his right hand over his left hand.And when he was about to bow down,he brought out his hands from the cloth,and then lifted them, and then recited takbir and bowed down,and when (he came back to the erect position) he recited:"

Allah listened to him who praised Him." And when prostrates. he prostrated between the two palms.

'Abdullah (b. Mas'ud) said: While observing prayer behind the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) we used to recite: Peace be upon Allah,peace be upon so and so.One day the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said to us: Verily Allah is Himself Peace.When any one of you sits during the prayer.he should say: All services rendered by words,by acts of worship,and all good things are due to Allah.Peace be upon you,0 Prophet,and Allah's mercy and blessings.Peace be upon us and upon Allah's upright servants,for when he says this it reaches every upright servant in heaven and earth (and say further):

I testify that there is no god but Allah and I testify that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.Then he may choose any supplication which pleases him and offer it.

Shu'ba has narrated this on the authority of Mansur with the same chain of transmitters,but he made no mention of this:" Then he may choose any supplication which pleases him."

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Mansur with the same chain of transmitters and he made a mention of this:" Then he may choose any supplication which pleases him or which he likes."

Abdullah b. Mas'ud reported: We were sitting with the Apostle (may peace be upon him) in prayer,and the rest of the hadith is the same as narrated by Mansur He (also said): After (reciting tashahud) he may choose any prayer.

Ibn Mas'ud is reported to have said: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) taught me tashahhud taking my hand within his palms,in the same way as he taught me a Sura of the Qur'an,and he narrated it as narrated above.

Ibn 'Abbas reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) used to teach us tashahbud just as he used to teach us a Sura of the Qur'an, and he would say: All services rendered by.,words, acts of worship. and all good thirgs are due to Allah. Peace be upon you,0 Prophet. and Allah's mercy and blessings. Peace be upon us and upon Allah's upright servants. I testify that there is no god but Allah, and I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. In the narration of Ibn Rumb (the words are):" As he would teach us the Qur'an."

Tawus narrated it on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas that he said: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) used to teach us tashahhud as he would teach us a Sura of the Qur'an.

Hattan b. 'Abdullah al-Raqiishi reported:

I observed prayer with Abu Musu al-Ash'ari and when he was in the qa'dah,one among the people said:

The prayer has been made obligatory along with piety and Zakat.

He (the narrator) said: When Abu Musa had finished the prayer after salutation he tuined (towards the people) and said: Who amongst you said such and such a thing?

A hush fell on the people. He again said..Who amongst you has said such and such a thing?

A hush fell on the people. He (Abu Musa) said: Hattan,It is perhaps you that have uttered it.

He (Hattan) said No. I have not uttered it.I was afraid that you might be annoyed with me on account of this. A person amongst the people said:

It was I who said it, and In this I intended nothing but good.

Abu Musa said: Don't you know what you have to recite in your prayers?

Verily the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) addressed us and explained to us all Its aspects and taught us how to observe prayer (properly).

He (the Holy Prophet) said: When you pray make your rows straight and let anyone amongst you act as your Imim. Recite the takbir when he recites it and when be recites:

Not of those with whom Thou art angry. nor of those who go astray,say: Amin. Allah would respond you. And when he (the Imim) recites the takbir,you may also recite the takbir,for the Imam bows before you and raises himself before you.

Then the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said:

The one is equivalent to the other.And when he says: Allah listens to him who praises Him,you should say:

0 Allah, our. Lord, to Thee be the praise,for Allah, the Exalted and Glorious,has vouchsafed (us) through the tongue of His Apostle (may peace be upon him) that Allah listens to him who praises Him. And when he (the Imim) recites the takbir and prostrates, you should also recite the takbir and prostrate, for the Imim prostrates before you and raises himself before you. The Messenger' of Allah (may peace be upon him) said:

The one is equi- valent to the other. And when he (the Imim) sits for Qa'da (for tashahhud) the first words of every one amongst you should be:

All services rendered by words,acts of worship and all good things are due to Allah.Peace be upon you,0 Apostle, and Allah's mercy and blessings.Peace be upon us and upon the upright servants of Allah. I testify that there is no god but Allah, and I testify that Mubammad is His servant and His Messenger.

Qatida has narrated a badith like this with another chain of transmitters In the badith transmitted by Jarir on the authority of Sulaiman,Qatida's further words are:

When (the Qur'in) is recited (in prayer), you should observe silence,and (the following words are) not found in the hadith narrated by anyone except by Abu Kamil who heard it from Abu 'Awina (and the words are): Verily Allah vouchsafed through the tongue of the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) this: Allah listens to him who praises Him. Abu Ishaq (a student of Imam Muslim) said:

Abu Bakr the son of Abu Nadr's sister has (critically) discussed this hadith. Imam Muslim said:

Whom can you find a more authentic transmitter of badith than Sulaiman?

Abu Bakr said to him (Imam Muslim): What about the hadith narrated by Abd Huraira, i. e. the hadith that when the Qur'in is recited (in pray er) observe silence?

He (Abu Bakr again) said: Then,why. have you not included it (in your compilation)?

He (Imam Muslim) said: I have not included in this every hadith which I deem authentic;

I have recorded only such ahadith on which there is an agreement (amongst the Muhaddithin apart from their being authentic).

This hadith has been transmitted by Qatida with the same chain of transmitters (and the words are):"

Allah,the Exalted and the Glorious, commanded it through the tongue of His Apostle (may peace be upon-him): Allah listens to him who praises Him."

Abdullah b. Zaid-he who was shown the call (for prayer in a dream) narrated it on the authority of Mas'ad al-Ansiri who said: We were sitting in the company of Sa'id b. Ubida when the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) came to us.Bashir b. S'ad said: Allah has commanded us to bless you. Messenger of Allah! But how should we bless you?

He (the narrator) said: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) kept quiet (and we were so much perturbed over his silence) that we wished we had not asked him.The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) then said: (For blessing me) say:" 0 Allah,bless Muhammad and the members of his household as Thou didst bless the mernbers of Ibrahim's household. Grant favours to Muhammad and the members of his household as Thou didst grant favours to the members of the household of Ibrahim in the world. Thou art indeed Praiseworthy and Glorious" ; and salutation as you know.

Ibn Abi Laila reported: Ka'b b.'Ujra met me and said:

Should I not offer you a present (and added): The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) came to us and we said: We have learnt how to invoke peace upon you; (kindly tell us) how we should bless you. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Say:" O Allah:bless Muhammad and his family as Thou didst bless the family of Ibrahim. Verily Thou art Praiseworthy and Glorious, O Allah."

A hadith like this has been narrated by Mis'ar on the authority of al-Hakam,but in the hadith transmitted by Mis'ar these words are not found:" Should I not offer you a present?"

A hadith like this has been narrated by al-Hakam except that he said:"Bless Muhammad (may peace be upon him)" and he did not say:" O Allah I

Abu Humaid as-Sa'idi reported: They (the Companions of the Holy Prophet) said:

Apostle of Allah, how should we bless you? He (the Holy Prophet) observed: Say:"

O Allah! bless Muhammad,his wives and his offspring as Thou didst bless Ibrahim,and grant favours to Muhammad, and his wives and his offspring as Thou didst grant favours to the family of Ibrahim;

Thou art Praiseworthy and Glorious."

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: He who blesses me once,Allah would bless him ten times.

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: When the Imam says:"

Allah listens to him who praises Him." you should say:"O Allah,our Lord for Thee is the praise." for if what anyone says synchronises with what the angels say,his past sins will be forgiven.

A hadith like this is narrated by Abd Huraira by another chain of transmitters.

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said:

SayAmin when the Imam says Amin,for it anyone's utterance of Amin synchronises with that of the angels,he will be forgiven his past sins.

Abu Huraira said: I heard from the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) the hadith like one transmitted by Malik,but he made no mention of the words of Shibab.

Abu Huraira reported:

The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said:

Abu Harare reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said:

'A hadith like this is transmitted by Ma'mar from Hammam b. Munabbih on the authority of Abu Huraira who reported it from the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him).

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said:

When the reciter (Imam) utters:" Not of those on whom (is Thine) wrath and not the erring ones," and (the person) behind him utters Amin and his utterance synchronises with that of the dwellers of heavens,all his previous sins would be pardoned.

Anas b. Malik reported: The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) fell down from a horse and his right side was grazed.We went to him to inquire after his health when the time of prayer came.He led us in prayer in a sitting posture and we said prayer behind him sitting,and when he finished the prayer hesaid:

The Imam is appointed only to be followed; so when he recites takbir,you should also recite that;when he prostrates,you should also prostrate;when he rises up,you should also rise up, and when he said" God listens to him who praises Him,"you should say:" Our Lord,to Thee be the praise,"and when he prays sitting,all of you should pray sitting.

Anas b. Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) fell down from a horse and he was grazed and he led the prayer for us sitting,and the rest of the hadith is the same.

Anas b. Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) fell down from a horse and his right side was grazed,and the rest of the hadith is the same with the addition of these words:"

When he (the Imam) says prayer standing,you should also do so."

Anas reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) rode a horse and fell down from it and his right side was grazed, and the rest of the hadith is the same, and (these words) are found in it:"

When he (the Imam) says prayer in an erect posture,you should also say it in an erect posture."

Anas b. Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) fell down from his horse and his right side was grazed, and the rest of the hadith is the same. In this hadith there are no additions (of words) as transmitted by Yunus and Malik.

'A'isha reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) fell ill and some of his Companions came to inquire after his health. The Messenger of Allah (may peace he upon him) said prayer sitting, while (his Companions) said it (behind him) standing.He (the Holy Prophet) directed them by his gesture to sit down, and they sat down (in prayer). After finishing the (prayer) lie (the Holy Prophet) said: The Imam is appointed so that be should be followed,so bow down when lie bows down, and rise rip when he rises up and say (prayer) sitting when he (the Imam) says (it) sitting.

This hadith is narrated with the same chain of transmitters by Hisham b.'Urwa.

Jabir reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) was ill and we said prayer behind him and he was sitting. And Abu Bakr was making audible to the people his takbir. As he paid his attention towards us he saw us standing and (directed us to sit down) with a gesture. So we sat down and said our prayer with his prayer in a sitting posture. After uttering salutation he said: You were at this time about to do an act like that of the Persians and the Romans.They stand before their kings while they sit,so don't do that; follow your Imams. If they say prayer standing,you should also do so, and if they say prayer sitting,you should also say prayer sitting.

Jabir said: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) led the prayer and Abu Bakr was behind him. When the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) recited the takbir,Abu Bakr also recited (it) in order to make it audible to us.And the rest of the hadith is like one transmitted by Laith.

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: The Imam is appointed, so that he should be followed, so don't be at variance with him. Recite takbir when he recites it; bow down when he bows down and when he says:" Allah listens to him who praises Him," say:"

O Allah, our Lord,to Thee be the Praise."And when he (the Imam) prostrates,you should also prostrate,and when he says prayer sitting, you should all observe prayer sitting.

A hadith like this has been transmitted by Hammam b.Munabbih from the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) on the authority of Abu Huraira.

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) while teaching us (the principles of faith), said: Do not try to go ahead of the Imam,recite takbir when he recites it.and when he says:"

Nor of those who err,"you should say Amin, bow down when lie bows down, nd when he says:"

Allah listens to him who praises Him," say:" O Allah,our Lord,to Thee be the praise".

Abu Huraira reported from the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) (a hadith) like it,except the words:" Nor of those who err, say Amin" and added:" And don't rise up ahead of him."

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said:

Verily the Imam is a shield, say prayer sitting when he says prayer sitting. And when he says:" Allah listens to him who praises Him," say:" O Allah, our Lord,to Thee be the praise."and when the utterance of the people of the earth synchronises with that of the beings of heaven (angels), all the previous sins would be pardoned.

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) saying:

The Imamis appointed to be followed.So recite takbir when he recites it,and bow down when he bows down and when he utters:"Allah listens to him who praises Him," say" O Allah,our Lordfor Thee be the praise." And when he prays, tanding,you should pray standing.And when he prays sitting, all of you should pray sitting.

Ubaidullah b. Abdullah reported: I visited 'A'isha and asked her to tell about the illness of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him). She agreed and said:

The Apostle (may peace be upon him) was seriously ill and he asked whether the people had prayed.We said: No,they are waiting for you,Messenger of Allah. He (the Holy Prophet) said:

Put some water in the tub for me.We did accordingly and he (the Holy Prophet) took a bath;and,when he was about to move with difficulty, he fainted. When he came round, he again said: Have the people said prayer?

We said: No,they are waiting for you,Messenger of Allah. He (the Holy Prophet) again said:

Put some water for me in the tub.We did accordingly and he took a bag,but when he was about to move with difficultyhe fainted. When he came round, he asked whether the people had prayed. We said:

No,they are waiting for you,Messenger of Allah.He said:

Put some water for me in the tub.We did accordingly and he took a bath and he was about to move with difficulty when he fainted. When he came roundhe said: Have the people saidprayer?

We said: No, they are waiting for you, Messenger of Allah. She ('A'isha) said:

The people were staying in the mosque and waiting for the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) to lead the last (night) prayer.She ('A'isha) said:

The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) sent (instructions) to Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer. When the messenger came,he told him (Abd Bakr): The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) has ordered you to lead the people in prayer. Abu Bakr who was a man of very tenderly feelings asked Umar to lead the prayer. 'Umar said:

You are more entitled to that. Abu Bakr led the prayers during those days. Afterwards the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) felt some relief and he went out supported by two men,one of them was al-'Abbas, to the noon prayer.Abu Bakr was leading the people in prayer.When Abu Bakr saw him.he began to withdraw, but the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) told him not to withdraw.He told his two (companions) to seat him down beside him (Abu Bakr).They seated him by the side of Abu Bakr.Abu Bakr said the prayer standing while following the prayer of the Apostle (way peace be upon him) and the people Bald prayer (standing) while following the prayer of Abu Bakr.The Apostle (may peace be upon him) was seated. Ubaidullah said: I visited 'Abdullah b.'Abbas, and said:

Should I submit to you what 'A'isha had told about the illness of the Apostle (may peace be upon him)?

He said: Go ahead. I submitted to him what had been transmitted by her ('A'isha).He objected to none of it, only asking whether she had named to him the man who accompanied al-'Abbas. I said:

No.He said: It was 'Ali.

'A'isha reported: It was in the house ofMaimuna that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) first fell ill. He asked permission from his wives to stay in her ('A'isha's) house during his illness.They granted him permission. She ('A'isha) narrated: He (the Holy Prophet) went out (for prayer) with his hand over al-Fadl b. 'Abbas and on the other hand there was another person and (due to weakness) his feet dragged on the earth. 'Ubaidullah said: I narrated this hadith to the son of 'Abbas ('Abdullah b. 'Abbas) and he said:

Do you know who the man was whose name 'A'isha did not mention? It was 'Ali.

'A'isha,the wife of the Apostle (may peace be upon him), said:

When the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) fell ill and his illness became serious,he asked permission from his wives to stay in my house during his illness.They gave him permission to do so.

He stepped out (of'A'isha's apartment for prayer) supported by two persons.(He was so much weak) that his feet dragged on the ground and he was being supported by 'Abbas b.Abd al-Muttalib and another person. 'Ubaidullah said: I informed 'Abdullah (b. 'Abbas) about that which 'A'isha had said. 'Abdullah b.'Abbas said: Do you know the man whose name 'A'isha did not mention? He said: No. Ibn 'Abbas said: It was 'Ali.

'A'isha,the wife of the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him), said:

I tried to dissuade the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) from it (i. e. from appointing Abu Bakr as the Imam.) and my insistence upon it was not due to the fact that I entertained any apprehension in my mind that the people would not love the man who would occupy his (Prophet's) place (i. e. who would be appointed as his caliph) and I feared that the people would be superstitious about one who would occupy his place.

I, therefore, desired that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) should leave Abu Bakr aside in this matter.

'A'isha reported: When the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) came to my house, he said:

Ask Abu Bakr to lead people in prayer.'A'isha narrated:

I said, Messenger of Allah, Abu Bakr is a man of tenderly feelings; as he recites the Qur'an, he cannot help shedding tears: so better command anyone else to lead the prayer.By Allah,there is nothing disturbing in it for me but the idea that the people may not takeevil omen with regard to one who is the first to occupy the place of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him). I tried to dissuade him (the Holy Prophet) twice or thrice (from appointing my father as an Imam in prayer), but he ordered Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer and said: You women are like those (who had) surrounded Yusuf.

'A'isha reported: When the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) was confined to bed,Bilal came to him to summon him to prayer.He (the Holy Prophet) said:

Ask Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer.She ('A'isha) reported: I said: Messenger of Allah,Abu! Bakr is a tenderhearted man,go when ]be would stand at your place (he would be so overwhelmed by feelings) that he would not be able to make the people hear anything (his recitation would not be audible to the followers in prayer).You should better order Umar (to lead the prayer). He (the Holy Prophet) said: Ask Abu Bakr to lead people in- prayer. She ('A'isha) said: I asked Hafsa to (convey) my impression to him (the Holy Prophet) that Abu Bakr was a tenderhearted man, so when he would stand at his place, he would not be able to make the people bear anything. He better order Umar. Hafsa conveyed this (message of Hadrat 'A'isha) to him (the Holy Prophet). The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: (You are behaving) as if you are the females who had gathered arm) in a standing posture and the people were following the prayer of Abu Bakr.

A'mash reported: When the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) suffered from illness of which he died, and in the hadith transmitted by Ibn Mus-hir, the words are: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) was brought till he was seated by his (Abu Bakr's) side and the Apostle (may peace be upon him) led the people in prayer and Abu Bakr was making takbir audible to them, and in the hadith transmitted by 'Isa the (words are):" The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) sat and led the people in prayer and Abu Bakr was by his side and he was making (takbir) audible to the people."

'A'isha reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) ordered Abu Bakr that he should lead people in prayer during his illness, and he led them In prayer. 'Urwa said:

The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) felt relief and went (to the mosque) and Abd Bakr was leading the people in prayer.When Abel Bakr saw him he began to withdraw,but the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) signed him to remain where he was.The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) sat opposite to Abu Bakr by his side.Abu Bakr said prayer following the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him), and the people said prayer following the prayer of Abu Bakr.

Anas b. Malik reported, Abu Bakr led them in prayer due to the illness of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) of which be died.It was a Monday and they stood in rows for prayer. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) drew aside the curtain of ('A'isha's) apartment and looked at us while he was standing, and his (Prophet's) face was (as bright) as the paper of the Holy Book. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) felt happy and smiled. And we were confounded with joy while in prayer due to the arrival (among our midst) of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him), Abu Bakr stepped back upon his heels to say prayer in a row perceiving that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) had come out for prayer. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) with the help of his hand signed to them to complete their prayer. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) went back (to his apartment) and drew the curtain. He (the narrator) said: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) breathed his last on that very day.

Anas reported: The last glance that I have had of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) (before his death) was that when he on Monday drew the curtain aside. The hadith transmitted by Salih is perfect and complete.

This hadith is narrated on the authority of Anas b.Malik by another chain of transmitters.

Anas reported: The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) did not come to us for three days. When the prayer was about to start. Abu Bakr stepped forward (to lead the prayer), and the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) lifted the curtain. When the face of the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) became visible to us, we (found) that no sight was more endearing to us than the face of the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) as it appeared to us. The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) with the gesture of his hand directed Abu Bakr to step forward (and lead the prayer). The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) then drew the curtain, and we could not see him till he died.

Abu Musa reported: When the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) became ill and illness became serious he ordered Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer.Upon this 'A'isha said:

Messenger of Allah, Abd Bakr is a man of tenderly feelings:

when he would stand in your place (he would be so much overwhelmed -by grief that) he would not be able to lead the people in prayer. He (the Holy Prophet) said: You order Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer, and added: You are like the female companions of Yusuf. So Abu Bakr led the prayer (during this period of illness) in the life of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him).

Sahl b. Sa'd al-Sa'idi reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) went to the tribe of Bani Amr b.Auf in order to bring reconciliation amongst (its members), and It was a time of prayer.

The Mu'adhdhin came to Abu Bakr and said:

Would you lead the prayer in case I recite takbir (tahrima,with which the prayer begins)?

He (Abu Bakr) said: Yes. He (the narrator) said: He (Abu Bakr) started (leading) the prayer.The people were engaged in observing prayer when the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) happened to come there and made his way (through the people) till he stood in a row.The people began to clap (their hands), but Abu Bakr paid no heed (to it) in prayer. When the people clapped more vigorously,he (Abu Bakr) then paid heed and saw the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) there. (He was about to withdraw when) the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) signed to him to keep standing at his place. Abu Bakr lifted his hands and praised Allah for what the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) had commanded him and then Abu Bakr withdrew himself till he stood in the midst of the row and the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) stepped forward and led the prayer. When (the prayer) was over, he (the Holy Prophet) said: 0 Abu Bakr, what prevented you from standing (at that place) as I ordered you to do? Abu Bakr said: It does not become the son of Abu Quhafa to lead prayer before the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him). The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said (to the people) around him:

What is it that I saw you clapping so vigorously? (Behold) when anything happens in prayer, say:

This hadith is transmitted by Sahl b. Sa'd in the same way as narrated by Malik,with the exception of these words:" Abu Bakr lifted his hands and praised Allah and retraced his (steps) till he stood in a row."

Sahl b. Sa'd al-Sa'idi reported: The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) went to Bani Amr b.'Auf in order to bring about reconciliation amongst them. The rest of the hadith is the same but with (the addition of these words):" The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) came and made his way through the rows till he came to the first row and Abu Bakr retraced his steps."

Mughira b. Shu'ba reported that he participated In the expedition of Tabuk along with the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him). The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) went out to answer the call of nature before the morning prayer. and I carried along with him a jar (full of water). When the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) came back to me (after relieving himself). I began to pour water upon his hands out of the jar and he washed his hands three times, then washed his face three times. He then tried to tuck up the sleeves of his cloak upon his forearms but since the sleeves were tight he inserted his hands in the cloak and then brought out his forearms up to the elbow below the cloak, and then wiped over his shoes and then moved on. Mughira said: I also moved along with him till he came to the people and (he found) that they had been saying their prayer under the Imamah of 'Abd al-Rahman b. 'Auf. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) could get one rak ah out of two and said (this) last rak'ah along with the people. When Abd al-Rahman b. 'Auf pronounced the salutation, the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) got up to complete the prayer. This made the Muslims terrified and most of them began to recite the glory of the Lord. When the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) finished his prayer, he turned towards them and then said: You did well, or said with a sense of joy: You did the right thing that you said prayer at the appointed hour.

This hadith is narrated by Hamza b. Mughira by another chain of trans- mitters (but with the addition of these words): I made up my mind to hold Abd al-Rahman b.'Auf back,but the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: Leave him."

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: Glorification of Allah is for men and clapping of hands is meant for women (if something happens in prayer). Harmala added in his narration that Ibn Shihab told him: I saw some of the scholars glorifying Allah and making a gesture.

This hadith is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira by another chain of transmitters.

This hadith is transmitted by Muhammad b. Rafi', Abu'I-Razzaq.Ma'mar,Hammam on the authority of Abu Huraira with the addition of (the word)" prayer".

Abu Huraira reported: one day the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) led the prayer. Then turning (towards his Companions) he said: 0 you, the man,why don't you say your prayer well?

Does the observer of prayer not see how he is performing the prayer for he performs it for himself?

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said:

Do you find me seeing towards the Qibla only?

Anas b. Malik reported. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said:

Perform bowing and prostration well. By Allah. I see you even if you are behind me, or he said'.

Anas reported: The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) said:

Complete the bowing and prostration well.By Allah,1 see you behind my back as to how you bow and prostrate or when you bow and prostrate.

Anas reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) one day led us in the prayer. and when he completed the Prayer he turned his face towards us and said: 0 People,I am your Imam,so do not precede me in bowing and prostration and in standing and turning (faces, i. e. In pronouncing salutation), for I see you in front of me and behind me,and then said: By Him in Whose hand Is the life of Muhammad,if you could see what I see,you would have laughed little and wept much more. They said: What did you see,Messenger of Allah? He replied: (I saw) Paradise and Hell.

This hadith is narrated by Anas with another chain of transmitters, and in the hadith transmitted by Jarir there is no mention of" turning (faces)".

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said:

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said:

This hadith has been narrated by Abu Huraira by another chain of transmitters except for the words narrated by Rabi' b. Muslim:" Allah may make his face like the face of an ass."

Jabir b. Samura reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: The people who lift their eyes towards the sky in Prayer should avoid it or they would lose their eyesight.

Abu Huraira reported: People should avoid lifting their eyes towards the sky while supplicating in prayer, otherwise their eyes would be snatched away.

Jabir b. Samura reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) came to us and said:

How is it that I see you lifting your hands like the tails of headstrong horses?

Be calm in prayer. He (the narrator) said: He then again came to us and saw us (sitting) in circles; he said: How is it that I see you in separate groups?

He (the narrator) said: He again came to us and said:

Why don't you draw yourselves up in rows as angels do in the presence of their Lord?

We said: Messenger of Allah,bow do the angels draw themselves up in rows in the presence of their Lord?

He (the Holy Prophet) said: They make the first rows complete and keep close together in the row.

This hadith has been narrated by A'mash with the same chain of transmitters.

Jabir b. Samura reported: When we said prayer with the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him), we pronounced: Peace be upon you and Mercy of Allah,peace be upon you and Mercy of Allah,and made gesture with the hand on both the sides.Upon this the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him said: What do you point out with your hands as if they are the tails of headstrong horses?

Jabir b. Samura reported: We said our prayer with the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) and, while pronouncing salutations,we made gestures with our hands (indicating)"Peace be upon you,peace be upon you." The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) looked towards us and said:

Why is it that you make gestures with your hands like the tails of headstrong horses?

Abu Mas'ud reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace he upon him) used to touch our shoulders in prayer and say: Keep straight, don't be irregular, for there would be dissension in your hearts.Let those of you who are sedate and prudent be near me,then those who are next to them,then those who are next to them.

Abu Mas'ud said: Now-a-days there is much dissension amongst you.

This hadith is narrated by Ibn Uyaina with the same chain of transmitters.

Abdullah b. Mas'ud reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said:

Let those who are sedate and prudent be near me,then those who are next to them (saying it tliree tinies),and beware of the tumult of the markets.

Anas b. Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said:

Anas b. Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said:

Hammam b. Munabbih reported: This is what was transmitted to us by Abu Huraira from the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) and, while making a mention of a few ahadith, said: (The Messengerof Allah directed us thus):

Nu'man b. Bashir reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) say:

Nu'man b. Bashir reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace-be upon him) used to straighten our rows as it lie were straightening an arrow with their help until be saw that we had learnt it from him. One day he came out,stood up (for prayer) and was about to say: Allah is the Greatest,when he saw a man,whose chest was bulging out from the row,so he said: Servants of Allah,you hint straighten your rows or Allah would create dissension amongst you.

Abu 'Awana reported this hadith with the same chain of transmitters.

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said:

If the people were to know what excellence is there in the Adhan and in the first row,and they could not (get these opportunities) except by drawing lots,they would have definitely done that.And if they were to know what excellence lies in joining the prayer in the first takbir (prayer),they would have vied with one another. And if they were to know what excellence lies in the night prayer and morning prayer,they would have definitely come even if crawling (on their knees).

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) saw (a tendency ) among his Companions to go to the back, so he said to them: Come forward and follow my lead,and let those who come after you follow your lead. People will continue to keep back till Allah will put them at the back.

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) saw people at the end of the mosque, and then the (above-mentioned hadith) was narrated.

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said:

 If you were to know,or if they were to know,what (excellence) lies in the first rows,there would have been drawing of lots (for filling them) ; and Ibn Harb said: For (occupying) the first row there would have been drawing of lots.

Abu Huraira said: The best rows for men are the first rows,and the worst ones the last ones,and the best rows for women are the last ones and the worst ones for them are the first ones.

This hadith is narrated by Suhail with the same chain of transmitters.

Sahl b. Sa'd reported: I saw men having tied (the ends) of their lower garments around their necks,like children,due to shortage of cloth and offering their prayers behind the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him). One of the proclaimers said: O womenfolk, do not lift your heads till men raise (them).

Salim narrated it from his father ('Abdullah b. Umar) that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: When women ask permission for going to the mosque,do not prevent them.

Abdullah b. Umar reported: I heard Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) say:

Don't prevent your women from going to the mosque when they seek your permission. Bilal b.'Abdullah said: By Allah,we shall certainly prevent them.On this'Abdullah b.Umar turned towards him and reprimanded him to harshly as I had never heard him do before.He ('Abdullah b. Umar) said: I am narrating to you that which comes from the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) and you (have the audicity) to say: By Allah, we shall certainly prevent them.

Ibn 'Umar reported: 'The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: Do not prevent the maid-servants of Allah from going to the mosque.

lbn Umar reported: I heard the Messeinger of Allah (may peace be upon him) say: When your women seek your permission for going to the mosque, you grant them (permission).

Ibn 'Umar reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: Do not prevent women from going to the mosque at night. A boy said to 'Abdullah b. Umar: We would never let them go out, that they may not be caught in evil. He (the narrator) said: Ibn Umar reprimanded him and said.. I am saying that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said this, but you say: We would not allow!

A hadith like this has been narrated by A'mash with the same chain of transmitters.

Ibn 'Umar reported: Grant permission to women for going to the mosque in the night. His son who was called Waqid said: Then they would make mischief. He (the narrator) said: He thumped his (son's) chest and said:

Ibn Umar reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: Do not deprive women of their share of the mosques,when they seek permission from you. Bilal said: By Allah,we would certainly prevent them. 'Abdullah said: I say that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said it and you say: We would certainly prevent them!

Zainab Thaqafiya reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: When any one of you (women) participates in the 'Isha' prayer, she should not perfume herself that night.

Zainab, the wife of Abdullah (b. 'Umar), reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said to us: When any one of you comes to the mosque,she should not apply perfume.

Abu Huraira said: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: Whoever (woman) fumigates herself with perfume should not join us in the 'Isha' prayer.

'Amra, daughter of Abd al-Rahmin, reported: I heard 'A'isha, the wife of the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him). say: If the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) had seen what new things the women have introduced (in their way of life) he would have definitely prevented them from going to the mosque, as the women of BaniIsra'il were prevented.

This hadith has been narrated by Yahya b. Sa'id with the same chain of transmitters.

Ibn 'Abbas reported: The word of (Allah) Great and Glorious: 'And utter not thy prayer loudly, nor be low in it" (xvii. 110) was revealed as the Messenger of Allah (may peace beupon him) was hiding himself in Mecca. When he led his Companions in prayer he raised his voice (while reciting the) Qur'an. And when the polytheists heard that, they reviled the Qur'an and Him Who revealed it and him who brought it. Upon this Allah, the Exalted, said to His Apostle (may peace be upon him): Utter not thy prayer so loudly that the polytheists may hear thy recitation and (recite it) not so low that it may be inaudible to your Companions. Make them hear the Qur'an, but do not recite it loudly and seek a (middle) way between these. Recite between loud and low tone.

'A'isha reported that so far as these words of (Allah) Glorious and High are concerned:" And utter not thy prayer loudly, not be low in it" (xvii. 110) relate to supplication (du'a').

A hadith like this has been narrated by Hisham with the same chain of transmitters.

Ibn 'Abbas reported with regard to the words of Allah, Great and Glorious:" Move not thy tongue therewith" (Ixxv. 16) that when Gabriel brought revelation to him (the Holy Prophet) he moved his tongue and lips (with a view to committing it to memory instantly). This was something hard for him and it was visible (from his face). Then Allah, the Exalted. revealed this a" Move not thy tongue therewith to make haste (in memorising it). Surely on us rests the collecting of it and the reciting of it" (ixxv. 16), i. e. Verily it rests with Us that We would preserve it in your heart and (enable you) to recite i We recite it, follow its recital. He said: Listen to it, and be silent and then it rests with Us that you recite it. So when Gabriel came to the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him), he listened to him attentively, and when Gabriel went away, the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) recited as he (Gabriel) had recited it.

Ibn 'Abbas reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) neither recited the Qur'an to the Jinn nor did he see them. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) went out with some of his Companions with the intention of going to the bazaar of 'Ukaz And there had been (at that time) obstructions between satans and the news from the Heaven, and there were flung flames upon them. So satan went back to their people and they said: What has happened to you? They said: There have been created obstructions between us and the news from the Heaven. And there have been flung upon us flames. They said: It cannot happen but for some (important) event. So traverse the eastern parts of the earth and the western parts and find out why is it that there have been created obstructions between us and the news from the Heaven. So they went forth and traversed the easts of the earth and its wests. Some of them proceeded towards Tihama and that is a nakhl towards the bazaar of 'Ukaz and he (the Holy Prophet) was leading his Companions in the morning prayer. So when they heard the Qur'an. they listened to it attentively and said: It is this which has caused obstruction between us and news from the Heaven. They went back to their people and said: O our people, we have heard a strange Qur'an which directs us to the right path; so we affirm our faith in it and we would never associate anyone with our Lord. And Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, revealed to His Apostle Muhammad (may peace be upon him):" It has been revealed to me that a party of Jinn listened to it" (Qur'an, lxxii. 1).

Dawud reported from 'Amir who said: I asked 'Alqama if Ibn Mas'ud was present with the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) on the night of the Jinn (the night when the Holy Prophet met them). He (Ibn Mas'uad) said: No, but we were in the company of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) one night and we missed him. We searched for him in the valleys and the hills and said. He has either been taken away (by jinn) or has been secretly killed. He (the narrator) said. We spent the worst night which people could ever spend. When it was dawn we saw him coming from the side of Hiri'. He (the narrator) reported. We said: Messenger of Allah, we missed you and searched for you, but we could not find you and we spent the worst night which people could ever spend. He (the Holy Prophet) said: There came to me an inviter on behalf of the Jinn and I went along with him and recited to them the Qur'an. He (the narrator) said: He then went along with us and showed us their traces and traces of their embers. They (the Jinn) asked him (the Holy Prophet) about their provision and he said: Every bone on which the name of Allah is recited is your provision. The time it will fall in your hand it would be covered with flesh, and the dung of (the camels) is fodder for your animals. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: Don't perform istinja with these (things) for these are the food of your brothers (Jinn).

This hadith has been reported by Dawud with the same chain of transmitters up to the word (s):" The traces of their embers." Sha'bi said: They (the Jinn) asked about their provision, and they were the Jinn of al-jazira, up to the end of the hadith, and the words of Sha'bi have been directly transmitted from the hadith of Abdullah.

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of 'Abdullah from the Apostle (may peace be upon him) up to the words:" The traces of the embers," but he made no mention of what followed afterward.

Abdullah (b. Mas'ud) said: I was not with the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) but I wish I were with him.

Ma'n reported.. I heard it from my father who said: I asked Masruq who informed the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) about the night when they heard the Qur'an. He said: Your father, Ibn Mas'ud, narrated it to me that a tree informed him about that.

Abu Qatada reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) led us in prayer and recited in the first two rak'ahs of the noon and afternoon prayers Surat al-Fitiha and two (other) surahs. And he would sometimes recite loud enough for us the verses. He would prolong the first rak'ah more than the second. And he acted similarly in the morning prayer.

Abu Qatada reported it on the authority of his father: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) would recite in the first two rak'ahs of the noon and afternoon prayers the opening chapter of the Book and another surah. He would sometimes recite loud enough to make audible to us the verse and would recite in the last two rak'ahs Surat al-Faitiha (only).

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported: We used to estimate how long Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) stood in the noon and afternoon prayers, and we estimated hat he stood in the first two rak'ahs of the noon prayer as long as it takes to recite Alif Lam Mim, Tanzil, i. e. as-Sajda. We estimated that he stood half that time in the last two rak'ahs; that he stood in the first two of the afternoon as long as he did in the last two at noon; and in the last two of the afternoon prayer about half that time.

Abu Bakr in his narration has made no mention of Alif Lam Mim, Tanzil, but said: As long as it takes to recite thirty verses.

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported: The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) used to recite in every rak'ah of the first two rak'ahs of the noon prayer about thirty verses and in the last two about fifteen verses or half (of the first rak'ah) and in every rak'ah of the 'Asr prayer of the first two rak'ahs about fifteen verses and in the last two verses half (of the first ones).

Jabir b. Samura reported: The people of Kufa complained to Umar b. Khattab about Sa'id and they made a mention of his prayer. 'Umar sent for him. He came to him. He ('Umar) totd him that the people had found fault with his prayer. He said: I lead them in prayer in accorance with the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him). I make no decrease in it. I make them stand for a longer time in the first two (rak'ahs) and shorten it in the last two. Upon this 'Umar remarked: This is what I deemed of thee, O Abu Ishaq

This hadith his been narrated by 'Abu al-Malik with the same chain of transmitters.

Jabir b. Samura reported: 'Umar said to Sa'd: They complain against you in every matter, even in prayer. He (Sa'd) said: I prolong (standing) in the first two (rak'ahs) and shorten it in the last two, and I make no negligence in following the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him). He ('Umar) remarked: This is what is expected of you, or, that is what I deemed of you.

This hadith is narrated by Jabir b. Samura but with the addition of these words:" (Sa'd said): These bedouins presume to teach me prayer."

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported: The noon prayer would start and one would go to al-Baqi' and after having relieved himself he would perform ablution and then come, while the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) would be in the first rak'ah, because he would prolong it so much.

Qaz'a reported: I came to Abu Sa'id al-Khudri and he was surrounded by people. When the people departed from him I said: I am not going to ask you what these people have been asking you. I want to ask you about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him). He (Abu Sa'id) said: There is no good for you in this. He (Qaz'a), however, repeated (his demand). He then said: The noon prayer would start and one of us would go to Baqi' and, having relieved himself, would come to his home, then perform ablution and go to the mosque, and (he would find) The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) in the first rak'ah.

Abdullah b. Sa'id reported: The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) led us in the morning prayer in Mecca and began Sarat al-Mu'minin (xxiii ) but when he came to the mention of Moses and Aaron (verse. 45) or to the mention of Jesus (verse 50), a cough got the better of him, and he bowed. 'Abdullah b. Sa'ib was present there, and in the hadith narrated by Abd al-Razzaq (the words are): He cut short (the recitation) and bowed.

'Amr b. Huwairith reported: I heard the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) recite in the morning prayer" Wa'l-lail-i-idhd 'As'asa" (ixxxi. 17).

Qutba b. Malik reported: I said prayer and the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) led it and he recited" Qaf. (I.). By the Glorious Qur'an," till he recited" and the tall palm trees" (l. 10). I wanted to repeat it but I could not follow its significance.

Qutba b. Malik reported that he had heard the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) reciting in the morning prayer this:" And the tall palm trees having flower spikes piled one above another" (l. 10).

Ziyad b. 'Ilaqa reported it on the authority of his uncle that he said the morning prayer with the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) and he recited in the first rak'ah:" And the tall palm trees having flower spikes piled one above another (l. 10) or perhaps Sarah Qaf.

Jabir b. Samura reported: The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) used to recite in the morning prayer" Qaf. By the Glorious Quran." and his prayer afterward shortened.

Simak asked Jabir b. Samura about the prayer of the Apostle (may peace be upon him). He said: He (the Holy Prophet) shortened the prayer and he did not pray like these people then, and he informed me that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) used to recite" Qaf. By the (Glorious) Qur'an," and a passage of similar length.

Jabir b. Samura reported: The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) used to recite in the noon prayer:" By the night when it envelopes" (xcii.), and in the afternoon like this, but he prolonged the morning prayer as compared to that (noon and afternoon prayers).

Jabir b. Samura reported: The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) used to recite in the noon prayer:" Glorify the name of thy Most High Lord in the morning prayer longer than this" (lxxxvii.)

Abu Barza reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) used to recite in the morning prayer from sixty to one hundred verses.

Abu Barza Aslami reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) used to recite from sixty to one hundred verses in the morning prayer.

Ibn Abbas reported: Umm al-Fadl daughter of al-Harith heard him reciting:" By those sent forth to spread goodness" (lxxvii.). (Upon this) she remarked: O my son, you reminded me by the recitation of this surah (the fact) that it was the last surah that I heard from the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) and he recited it in the evening prayer.

This hadith has been narrated by Zuhri with the same chain of transmitters but with this addition:" And he did not lead the player after this till his death."

Jubair b. Mut'im reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) reciting Surat al-Tur (Mountain) (lii) in the evening prayer.

This hadith has been narrated by Zuhri with the same chain of transmitters.

'Adi reported: I heard al-Bara' narrating it from the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) that while in a journey he said the night prayer and recited in one of the two rak'ahs:" By the Fig and the Olive" (Su'rah xcv.).

Al-Bara' b. 'Azib reported that he said prayer with the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) and he recited:" By the Fig and the Olive."

Al-Bara' b. 'Azib reported: I heard the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) reciting in the night prayer:" By the Fig and the Olive," and I have never heard anyone with a sweeter voice than he.

Jabir reported that Mu'adh b. jabal used to pray with the Apostle (may peace be upon him), then came and led his people in prayer. One night he said the night prayer with the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him). He then came to his people and led them in prayer beginning with Surat al-Baqara. A man turned aside, pronounced the taslim (salutation for concluding the prayer), then prayed alone and departed. The people said to him: Have you become a hypocrite, so and so? He said: I swear by Allah that I have not, but I will certainly go to Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) and will inform (him) about this. He then came to the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) and said: Messenger of Allah, we look after camels used for watering and work by day. Mu'idh said the night prayer with you. He then came and began with Surat al-Baqara. Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) then turned to Mu'adh and said: Are you there to (put the people) to trial? Recite such and recite such (and such a surah). It is transmitted on the authority of Jabir, as told by Sufyan, that he (the Holy Prophet) had said:" By the Sun and its morning brightness" (Sarah xci.)," By brightness" (Surah xciii)" By the night when it spreads" (Surah xcii.), and" Glorify the name of thy most high Lord" (Surah lxxxii.).

Jabir reported: 'Mu'adh b jabal al-Ansari led his companions in the night prayer and prolonged it for them. A person amongst us said prayer (after having separated himself from the congregation). Mu'adh was informed of this, and he remarked that he wasa hypocrite. When it (the remark) was conveyed to the man, he went to the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) and informed him of what Mu'adh had said. Upon this the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) said to him: Mu'adh, do you want to become a person putting (people) to trial? When you lead people in prayer, recite:" By the Sun and its morning brightness" (Surah xci.)," Glorify the name of thy most high Lord" (Surah lxxxvi.) and" Read in the name of Lord" (Surah xcvi.), and" By the night when it spreads" (Surah xcii.).

Jabir b. 'Abdullah reported: Mu'adh b. Jabal said the night prayer with the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) and then returned to his people and then led them in this prayer.

Jabir b. Abdullah reported: Mu'adh said the night prayer with the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him). He then came to the mosque of his people and led them in prayer.

Abu Mas'ud al-Ainsari reported: A person came to the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) and said: I keep away from the morning prayer on account of such and such (a man), because; he keeps us so long.

I never saw God's Messenger (may peace be upon him) more angry when giving an exhortation than he was that day. He said: 0 people,some of you are scaring people away.So whoever of you leads the people in prayer he must be brief,for behind him are the weak,the aged,and the people who have (argent) business to attend.

This hadith like one narrated by Hashalm has been narrated from Isma'il with the same chain of transmitters.

Abu Huraira reported: The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: When any one of you leads the people in prayer,he should be brief for among them are the young and the aged,the weak and the sick. But when one of you prays by himself, he may (prolong) as he likes.

Hammam b. Munabbih reported: This is what Abu Huraira transmitted to us from Muhammad the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him), and he narrated (some) ahadith out of (these narrations and one of them is this): The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: When any one of you stands to lead people In prayer, he should shorten it, for amongst them are the aged, and amongst them are the weak, but when he prays by himself, he may prolong his prayer as he likes.

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: When any one of you leads people in prayer,he must shorten it for among them are the weak,the infirm and those who have business to attend.

Abu Bakr b. 'Abd al-Rahman reported that he had heard Abu Huraira say that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said like it, but he substituted" the aged" for 'the infirm".

Uthman b. Abu'l-'As at-Thaqafi reported: The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) said to him: Lead your people in prayer. I said: Messenger of Allah. I perceive something (disturbing) in my soul. He (the Holy Prophet) asked me to draw near him and making me sit down in front of him he placed his hand on my breast between my nipples. and then, telling me to turn round, he placed it on my back between my shoulders. He then said: Act as an Imam for your people. He who acts as Imam of the people, he must be brief, for among them are the aged, among them are the sick, among them are the weak, and among them are the people who have business to attend. But when any of you prays alone, he may pray as he likes.

Uthman b. Abu'l-'As reported: The last thing which the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) instructed me was: When you lead the people in prayer,be brief.

Anas reported: The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) used to be brief and perfect in prayer.

Anas reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) was among those whose prayers was brief and perfect.

Anas reported: I never prayed behind an Imam who was more brief and more perfect in prayer than the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him).

Anas reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) would listen to the crying of a lad in the company of his mother, in prayer, and he would recite a short surah or a small surah.

Anas b. Malik reported the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) having said: When I begin the prayer I Intend to make it long, but I hear a boy cry. ing; I then shorten it because of his mother's feelings.

Al-Bara' b. 'Azib reported: I noticed the prayer of Muhammad (may peace be upon him) and saw his Qiyam (standing), his bowing, and then going back to the standing posture after bowing, his prostration, his sitting between the two prostrations, and his prostration and sitting between salutation and going away, all these were nearly equal to one another.

Hakam reported: There dominated in Kufa a man whose name was men- tioned as Zaman b. al-Ash'ath, who ordered Abu 'Ubaidah b. 'Abdullah to lead people in prayer and he accordingly used to lead them. Whenever he raised his head after bowing, he stood up equal to the time that I can recite (this supplication): O Allah! our Lord! unto Thee be the praise which would fill the heavens and the earth, and that which will please Thee besides them I Worthy art Thou of all praise and glory. None can prevent that which Thou bestowest, and none can bestow that whichthou preventest. And the greatness of the great will not avail him against Thee. Hakam (the narrator) said: I made a mention of that to Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Laila who reported: I heard al-Bara' b. 'Azib say that the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) and his bowing, and when he lifted his head from bowing, and his prostration, and between the two prostrations (all these acts) were nearly proportionate. I made a mention of that to 'Ar b. Murrah and he said: I saw Ibn Abi Laili (saying the prayer), but his prayer was not like this.

Hakam reported: When Matar b. Najiya dominated Kufa he ordered Abu Ubaida to lead people in prayer, and the rest of the hadith is the same.

Thabit reported it on the authority of Anas: While leading you in prayer I do not shorten anything in the prayer. I pray as I saw the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) leading us. He (Thabit) said: Anas used to do that which I do not see you doing; when he lifted his head from bowing he stood up (so long) that one would say: He has forgotten (to baw down in prostration). And when he lifted his head from prostration, he stayed in that position, till someone would say: He has forgotten (to bow down in prostration for the second sajda).

Thabit reported it on the authority of Anas: I have never said such a light and perfect prayer as I said behind the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him). The prayer of the Messenger. of Allah (may peace be upon him) was well balanced. And so too was the prayer of Abu Bakr well balanced. When it was the time of 'Umar b. al-Khattab he prolonged the morning prayer. When the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: Allah listened to him who praised Him, he stood erect till we said: He has forgotten. He then prostrated and sat between two prostration till we said: He has forgotten.

Al-Bara' (b. 'Azib), and he was no liar (but a truthful Companion of the Holy Prophet), reported: They used to say prayer behind the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him). I never saw anyone bending his back at the time when he (the Holy Prophet) raised his head, till the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) placed his forehead on the ground. They then fell in prostration after him.

Al-Bara' reported, and he was no liar: When the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: Allah listened to him who praised Him, none of us bent his back till he (the Holy Prophet) prostrated; we then, afterwards, went down in prostration.

Al-Bara' reported: They (the Companions) said prayer with the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him), and they bowed when he (the Holy Prophet) bowed. and when he raised his head after bowing, he pronounced:" Allah listened to him who praised Him," and we kept standing till we saw him placing his face on the ground and then we followed him.

Al-Bara' reported: When we were (in prayer) with the Messenger of Allah Allah (may peace be upon him) none of us benfft his back till we saw he prostrated. Zuhair and others reported:" till we saw him prostrating".

'Amr b. Huraith reported: I said the dawn prayer behind the Apostle of (may peace be upon him) and heard him reciting: 'Nay. I call to witness the stars, running their courses and setting" (al-Qur'an, lxxxi. 15-16) and Done of us bent his back till he completed prostration.

('Abdullah b ) Ibn Abi Aufa reported: When the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) raised his back from the rukd' he pronounced: Allah listened to him who praised Him. O Allah! our Lord! unto Thee be praise that would fill the heavens and the earth and fill that which will please Thee besides them.

'Abdullah b. Aufa reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) used to recite this supplication: O Allah! our Lord, unto Thee be praise that would fill the heavens and the earth and fill that which will please Thee besides them.

Abdullah b. Abu Aufa reported that the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) used to recite (this supplication): O Allah! our Lord, unto Thee be praise that would fill the heavens and the eartest, and riches cannot avail a wealthy person against Thee.

Ibn Abbas reported: When the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) raised his head after bowing, he said: Allah! our Lord, to Thee be the praise that would fill the heavens and the earth and that which is between them, and that which will please Thee besides (them). Worthy art Thou of all praise and glory. No one can withhold what Thou givest, or give what Thou withholdest. And the greatness O! the great availeth not against Thee.

Ibn Abbas reported from the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) the words:" And that would fill that which will please Thee besides (them)!" and he did not mention the subsequent (portion of supplication).

Ibn 'Abbas reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) drew aside the curtain (of his apartment) and (he saw) people in rows (saying prayer) behind Aba Bakr. And he said: Nothing remains of the glad tidings of apostlehood, except good visions which a Muslim sees or someone is made to see for him. And see that I have been forbidden to recite the Qur'an in the state of bowing and prostration. So far as Ruk'u is concerned, extol in it the Great and Glorious Lord, and while prostrating yourselves be earnest in supplication, for it is fitting that your supplications should be answered.

'Abdullah b. 'Abbas reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) drew aside the curtain and his head was bandaged on account of illness in which he died. He said: O Allah, have I not delivered (Thy Message)? (He repeated it) three times. Nothing has been left out of the glad tidings of apostlebood, but good vision. which a pious servant (of Allah) sees or someone else is made to see for him. He then narrated like the hadith transmitted by Sufyan.

'Ali b. Abi Talib reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) forbade me to recite (the Qur'an) in a state of bowing and prostration.

'Ali b. Abi Talib reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) forbade to recite the Qur'an, while I am in the state of bowing and prostration.

'Ali b. Abi Talib reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) forbade me from the recitation (of the Qur'an) in bowing and prostration and I do not say that he forbade you.

'Ali reported: My loved one (the Holy Prophet) forbade me that I should recite (the Qur'an) in a state of bowing and prostration.

This hadith has been narrated by some other narrators, Ibn 'Abbas and others, and they all reported that 'Ali said: The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) forbade me to recite the Qur'an while I am in a state of bowing and prostration, and in their narration (there is a mention of) forbiddance from that (recital) in the state of prostration as it has been transmitted by Zuhri, Zaid b. Aslam, al-Wahid b. Kathir, and Dawud b. Qais.

This hadith is transmitted on the authority of 'Ali, but he made no mention of" while in prostration".

Ibn 'Abbas reported: I was forbidden to recite (the Qur'an) while I was bowing, and there is no mention of 'Ali in the chain of transmitters.

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: The nearest a servant comes to his Lord is when he is prostrating himself, so make supplication (in this state).

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) used to say while prostrating himself: O Lord, forgive me all my sins, small and great, first and last, open and secret.

'A'isha reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him') often said while bowing and prostrating himself:" Glory be to Thee, O Allah, our Lord, and praise be to Thee, O Allah, forgive me," thus complying with the (command in) the Qur'an.

'A'isha reported that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) before his death recited often: Hallowed be Thou, and with Thy praise, I seek forgiveness from Thee and return to Thee. She reported: I said: Messenger of Allah, what are these words that I find you reciting? He said: There has been made a sign for me in my Ummah; when I saw that, I uttered them (these words of glorification for Allah), and the sign is:" When Allah's help and victory..... to the end of the surah.

'A'isha reported: Never did I, see the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) after the revelation (of these verses):" When Allah's help and victory came." observin- his prayer without making (this supplication) or he said in it (supplication): Hallowed be Thee, my Lord, and with Thy praise, O Allah, forgive me.

'A'isha reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) recited often these words: Hallowed be Allah and with His praise, I seek the forgiveness of Allah and return to Him. She said: I asked: Messenger of Allah, I see that you often repeat the saying" subhan allahi bihamdihi astag firullahi watubuilaih" whereupon he said: My Lord informed me that I would soon see a sign in my Ummah, so when I see it I often recite (these) words: Hallowed be Allah and with His Praise, I seek forgiveness of Allah and return to Him. Indeed I saw it (when this verse) was revealed:" When Allah's help and victory came, it marked the victory of Mecca, and you see people entering into Allah's religion in troops, celebrate the praise of Thy Lord and ask His forgiveness. Surely He is ever returning to Mercy."

Ibn Juraij reported: I asked 'Ata': What do you recite when you are in a state of bowing (in prayer)? He said:" Hallowed be Thou, and with Thy praise, there is no god but Thou." Son of Abd Mulaika narrated to me on the anthority of 'A'isha (who reported): I missed one night the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) (from his bed). I thought that he might have gone to one of his other wives. I searched for him and then came back and (found him) in a state of bowing, or prostration, saying: Hallowed be Thou and with Thy praise; there is no god but Thou. I said: With my father mayest thou be ransomed and with my mother. I was thinking of (another) affair, whereas you are (occupied) in another one.

'A'isha reported: One night I missed Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) from the bed, and when I sought him my hand touched the soles of his feet while he was in the state of prostration; they (feet) were raised and he was saying:" O Allah, I seek refuge in Thy pleasure from Thy anger, and in Thy forgiveness from Thy punishment, and I seek refuge in Thee from Thee (Thy anger). I cannot reckon Thy praise. Thou art as Thou hast lauded Thyself."

'A'isha reported that the Messenger of Allah (way peace he upon him) used to pronounce while bowing and prostrating himself: All Glorious, All Holy, Lord of the Angels and the Spirit.

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of 'A'isha by another chain of transmitters.

Ma'dan b. Talha reported: I met Thauban, the freed slave. of Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him), and asked him to tell me about an act for which, if I do it, Allah will admit me to Paradise, or I asked about the act which was loved most by Allah. He gave no reply. I again asked and he gave no reply. I asked him for the third time, and he said: I asked Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) about that and he said: Make frequent prostrations before Allah, for you will not make one prostration without raising you a degree because of it, and removing a sin from you, because of it. Ma'dan said that then lie met Abu al-Darda' and when he asked him, he received a reply similar to that given by Thauban.

Rabi'a b. Ka'b said: I was with Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) one night. and I brought him water and what he required. He said to me: Ask (anything you like). I said: I ask your company in Paradise. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Or anything else besides it. I said: That is all (what I require). He said: Then help me to achieve this for you by deyoting yourself often to prostration.

Ibn 'Abbas reported: The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) had been commanded that he should prostrate on the seven (bones) and he was forbidden to fold back the hair and clothing. And in the narration transmitted by Abu Rabi' (the words are):" on the seven bones and I was forbidden to fold back the hair and clothing". According to Abu'l-Rabi' (the seven bones are): The hands, the knees, and the (extremities) of the feet and the forehead.

Ibn 'Abbas reported from the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him): I was commanded to prostrate myself on seven bones and not to fold back clothing or hair.

Ibn 'Abbas reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) had been commanded to prostrate on seven (bones) and forbidden to fold back hair and clothing.

Ibn Abbas reported that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: I have been commanded to prostrate myself on seven bones:" forehead," and then pointed with his hand towards his nose, hands, feet, and the extremities of the feet; and we were forbidden to fold back clothing and hair.

Ibn Abbas reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: I was commanded to prostrate myself on the seven (bones) and forbidden to fold back hair and clothing. (The seven bones are): forehead, nose, bands, knees and feet.

Abdullah b. Abbas reported that he saw 'Abdullah b. al-Harith observing the prayer and (his hair) was plaited behind his head. He ('Abdullah b. 'Abbas) stood up and unfolded them. While going back (from the prayer) he met Ibn 'Abbas and said to him: Why is it that you touched my head? He (Ibn 'Abbas) replied: (The man who observes prayer with plaited hair) is like one who prays with his hands tied behind.

Anas reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: Observe moderation in prostration, and let none of you stretch out his forearms (on the ground) like a dog.

This hadith has been narrated by Shu'ba with the same chain of transmitters. And in the hidith transmitted by Ibn Ja'far (the words are):" None of you should stretch out his forearms like the stretching out of a dog."

Al-Bira' (b. 'Azib) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said. When you prostrate yourself, place the palms of your hands on the ground and raise your elbows.

'Abdullah b. Malik ibn Bujainah reported: When the Prophet (may peace be upon him) prostrated, lie spread out his arms so that the whiteness of his armpits was visible.

This hadith has been narrated by Ja'far b. Rabi' with the same chain of transmitters. And in the narration transmitted by 'Amr b. al-Harith (the words are):" When the Messenger of Allah (rtiay peace be upon him) prostrated, he spread out his arms so that the whiteness of his armpits was visible." And in the narration transmitted by al-Laith (the words are:" When the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) prostrated. he spread his hands from the armpits so that I saw their whiteness."

Maimuna reported: When the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) prostrated himself, if a lamb wanted to pass between his arms, it could pass.

Maimuna, the wife of the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him), reported: When the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) prostrated himself, he spread his arms, i. e. he separated them so much that the whiteness of his armpits became visible from behind and when he sat (for Jalsa) he rested on his left thigh.

Maimuna daughter of Harith reported: When the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) prostrated, he kept his hands so much apart from each other that when it was seen from behind the armpits became visible. Waki' said: That is their whiteness.

'A'isha reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) used to begin prayer with takbir (saying Allih-o-Akbar) and the recitation:" Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Universe." When he bowed he neither kept his head up nor bent it down, but kept it between these extremes; when he raised his bead after bowing he did not prostrate himself till he had stood erect; when he raised his head after prostration he did not prostrate himself again till he satup.At the end of every two rak'ahs he recited the tahiyya; and he used to place his left foot flat (on the ground) and raise up the right; he prohibited the devil's way of sitting on the heels,and he forbade people to spread out their arms like a wild beast. And he used to finish the prayer with the taslim.

Musa b. Talha reported it on the authority of his father: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: When one of you places in front of him so me. thing such as the back of a saddle, he should pray without caring who passes on the other side of it.

Musa b. Talha reported on the authority of his father: We used to say prayer and the animals moved in front of us. We mentioned it to the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) and he said: If anything equal to the back of a saddle is in front of you, then what walks in front, no harm would come to him. Ibn Numair said: No harm would come whosoever walks in front.

'A'isha reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) was asked about sutra of a worshipper; he said: Equal to the back of the saddle.

'A'isha reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) was asked in the expedition of Tabuk about the sutra the worshipper; he said: Like the back of the saddle.

Ibn Umar reported: When the Messenger of Allah (may peace he upon him) went out on the 'Id day, he ordered to carry a spear-and it was fixed in front of him, and he said prayer towards its (direction), and the people were behind him. And he did it in the journey, and that is the reason why the Amirs carried it.

Ibn Umar reported: The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) set up (sutra), and Abu Bakr said: He implanted iron-tipped spear and said prayer towards its direction. Ibn Abu Shaiba made this addition to it:" Ubaidullah said that it was a spear."

Ibn 'Umar said: The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) used to place his camel (towards the Ka'ba) and said prayer in its direction.

Ibn 'Umar reported: The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) used to say prayer towards his camel. Ibn Numair said: The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) said prayer towards the camel.

Abu Juhaifa reported it on the authority of his father: I came to the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) in Mecca and he was (at that time) at al- Abtah in a red leather tent. And Bilal stepped out with ablution water for him. (And what was left out of that water) some of them got it (whereas others could not get it) and (those who got it) rubbed themselves with it. Then the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) stepped out with a red mantle on him and I was catching a glimpse of the whiteness of his shanks. The narrator said: He (the Holy Prophet) performed the ablution. and Bilal pronounced Adhan and I followed his mouth (as he turned) this side and that as he said on the right and the left:" Come to prayer, come to success." ' A spear was then fixed for him (on the ground). He stepped forward and said two rak'ahs of Zuhr, while there passed in front of him a donkey and a dog, and these were not checked. He then said two rak'ahs of the 'Asr prayer, and he then continued saying two rak'ahs till he came back to Medina.

Abu Juhaifa reported on the authority of his father: I saw the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) (in Mecca at al-Abtah) in a red leather tent. and I saw Bilal take the ablution water (left by Allah's Messenger), and I saw the people racing, with one another to get that ablution water. If anyone got some of it, he rubbed himself with it, and anyone who did not get any got some of the moisture from his companion's hand. I then saw Bilal take a staff and fix it in the ground, after which the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) came out quickly in a red mantle and led the people in two rak'ahs facing the staff, and I saw people and animals passing in front of the staff.

'Aun b. Abu Juhaifa narrated from the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) on the authority of his father a hadith like that of Sufyan, and 'Umar b. Abu Za'ida made this addition: Some of them tried to excel the others (in obtaining water), and in the hadith transmitted by Malik b. Mighwal (the words are): When it was noon, Bilal came out and summoned (people) to (noon) prayer.

Abu Juhaifa reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) went at noon towards al-Batha', he performed ablution, and said two rak'ahs of the Zuhr prayer and two of the 'Asr prayer, and there was a spear in front of him. Shu'ba said and Aun made this addition to it on the authority of his father Abu Juhaifa: And the woman and the donkey passed behind it.

Shu'ba narrated the same on the basis of two authorities and in the hadith transmitted by Hakam (the words are): The people began to get water that was left out of his (the Prophet's) ablution.

Ibn 'Abbas reported: I came riding on a she-ass, and I was on the threshold of maturity, and the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) was leading people in prayer at Mina. I passed in front of the row and got down, and sent the she-ass for grazing and joined the row, and nobody made any objection to it.

Abdullah b. Abbas reported that he came riding on a donkey, and the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) was leading the people in prayer at Mina on the occasion of the Farewell Pilgrimage and (the narrator) reported: The donkey passed in front of the row and then he got down from it And joined the row along with the people.

This hadith has been narrated by Ibn 'Uyaina on the authority of al-Zuhri with the same chain of transmitters and he reported: The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) was leading prayer at 'Arafa.

This hadith has been reported by Ma'mar on the authority of al-Zuhri with the came chain of transmitters, but here no mention has been made of Mina or 'Arafa, and he said: It was in the Farewell Pilgrimage or on the Day of Victory.

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: When any one of you prays he should not let anyone pass in front of him (if there is no sutra), and should try to turn him away as far as possible, but if he refuses to go, he should turn him away forcibly for he is a devil.

Abu Salih al-Samman reported: I narrate to you what I heard and saw from Abu Sa'id al-Khudri:

One day I was with Abu Sa'id and he was saying prayer on Friday turning to a thing which concealed him from the people when a young man from Banu Mu'ait came there and he tried to pass in front of him; he turned him back by striking his chest. He looked about but finding no other way to pass except in front of Abu Sa'id, made a second attempt. He (Abu Sa'id) turned him away by Striking his chest more vigorously than the first stroke. He stood up and had a scuffle with Abu Sa'id. Then the people gathered there He came out and went to Marwan and complained to him what had happened to him. Abu Sa'id too came to Marwan. Marwin said to him: What has happened to you and the son of your brother that he came to complain against you? Abu Sa'id said: I heard from the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) saying: When any one of you prays facing something which conceals him from people and anyone tries to pass in front of him, he should be turned away, but if he refuses, he should be forcibly restrained from it, for he is a devil.

'Abdullah b. 'Umar reported that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: When any one of you prays, he should not allow anyone to pass before him, and if he refuses, he should be then forcibly resisted, for there is a devil with him.

This hadith has been narrated by Ibn Umar by another chain of transmitters.

Busr b Sa'id reported that Zaid b Khalid al-Juhani sent him to Abu Juhaim in order to ask him what he had heard from the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) with regard to the passer in front of the worshipper. Abu Juhaim reported that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: If anyone who passes in front of a man who is praying knew the responsibility he incurs, he would stand still forty (years) rather than to pass in front of him Abu Nadr said: I do not know whether he said forty days or months or years.

This hadith has been narrated from Abu Juhaim Ansari by another chain of transmitters.

Sahl b. Sa'd al-Si'idi reported: Between the place of worship where the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) prayed and the wall, there was a gap through which a goat could pass.

Salama b. Akwa' reported: He sought the place (in the mosque) where the copies of the Qur'an were kept and glorified Allah there, and the narrator made a mention that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) sought that place and that was between the pulpit and the qibla-a place where a goat could pass.

Yazid reported: Salama sought to say prayer near the pillar which was by that place where copies of the Qur'an were kept. I said to him: Abu Muslim. I see you striving to offer your prayer by this pillar. He said: I saw the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) seeking to pray by its side.

Abu Dharr reported: The Messenger of 'Allah (may peace be upon him) said: When any one of you stands for prayer and there is a thing before him equal to the back of the saddle that covers him and in case there is not before him (a thing) equal to the back of the saddle, his prayer would be cut off by (passing of an) ass, woman, and black Dog. I said: O Abu Dharr, what feature is there in a black dog which distinguish it from the red dog and the yellow dog? He said: O, son of my brother, I asked the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) as you are asking me, and he said: The black dog is a devil.

This hadith has been transmitted by Humaid b. Hilal on the authority of Yunus.

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: A woman, an ass and a dog disrupt the prayer, but something like the back of a saddle guards against that.

'A'isha reported: The Prophet (may peace be upon him) used to pray at night while I lay interposed between him and the Qibla like a corpse on the (may peace be upon him) saying prayer while I lay on the bedstead interposing between him and the Qibla. When I felt the need, I did not like to wit to front (of the Holy Prophet) and perturb the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) and quietly moved out from under its (i. e. of the bedstead) legs.

Al-Aswad reported that 'A'isha said: You have made us equal to the dogs and the asses, whereas I lay on the bedstead and the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) came there and stood in the middle of the bedstead and said prayer. I did not like to take off the quilt from me (in that state), so I moved away quietly from the front legs of the bedstead and thus came out of the quilt.

'A'isha reported: I was sleeping in front of the Mcsseinger ef Allah (may peace be upon him) with my legs between him and the Qibla. When he prostrated himself he pinched me and I drew up my legs, and when be stood up, I stretched them out. She said: At that time there were no lamps in the houses.

Maimuna, the wife of the Apostle (may peace be upon him), reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said prayer and I (lay) opposite to him while I was in menses. Sometimes his clothes touched me when he prostrated.

'A'isha reported: The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) said prayer at night and I was by his side in a state of meanses and I had a sheet pulled over me a portion of which was on his side.