4. Prayer

وَعَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ قَالَ: قُلْتُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَيُّ مَسْجِدٍ وُضِعَ فِي الْأَرْضِ أَوَّلُ؟ قَالَ: «الْمَسْجِدُ الْحَرَامُ» قَالَ: قُلْتُ: ثُمَّ أَيْ؟ قَالَ: «ثُمَّ الْمَسْجِدُ الْأَقْصَى» . قُلْتُ: كَمْ بَيْنَهُمَا؟ قَالَ: «أَرْبَعُونَ عَامًا ثُمَّ الْأَرْضُ لَكَ مَسْجِدٌ فَحَيْثُمَا أَدْرَكَتْكَ الصَّلَاةُ فصل»

Abu Dharr said that he asked God’s Messenger which mosque was set up first in the earth and was told that it was the sacred mosque. He asked which came next and was told that it was the Aqsa mosque. He asked how long a space of time separated their building and the Prophet told him it was forty years, adding, “Then the earth is a mosque for you, so pray wherever you are at the time of prayer.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

عَن عمر بن أبي سَلمَة قَالَ: رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُصَلِّي فِي ثَوْبٍ وَاحِدٍ مُشْتَمِلًا بِهِ فِي بَيْتِ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ وَاضِعًا طَرَفَيْهِ عَلَى عَاتِقيهِ

“Umar b. Abu Salama said that he saw God’s Messenger praying in Umm Salama’s house girded with a single garment, placing its two ends over his shoulders.* * This is explained as meaning that the ends were each over a shoulder and under the other armpit and tied over the chest. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسلم: «لَا يصلين أحدكُم فِي الثَّوْب الْوَاحِد لَيْسَ على عَاتِقيهِ مِنْهُ شَيْء»

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “None of you must pray in a single garment of which no part comes over his shoulders.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْهُ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «مَنْ صَلَّى فِي ثَوْبٍ وَاحِدٍ فليخالف بَين طَرفَيْهِ» . رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

He said that he heard God’s Messenger say, “If anyone prays in a single garment he should cross the two ends.” Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: صَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي خَمِيصَةٍ لَهَا أَعْلَامٌ فَنَظَرَ إِلَى أَعْلَامِهَا نَظْرَةً فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَ قَالَ: «اذْهَبُوا بِخَمِيصَتِي هَذِهِ إِلَى أَبِي جَهْمٍ وَأَتُوْنِي بِأَنْبِجَانِيَّةِ أَبِي جهم فَإِنَّهَا ألهتني آنِفا عَن صَلَاتي» وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ لِلْبُخَارِيِّ قَالَ: " كُنْتُ أَنْظُرُ إِلَى علمهَا وَأَنا فِي الصَّلَاة فَأَخَاف أَن يفتنني

‘A’isha said that God’s Messenger prayed in a woollen garment of hers with markings, and he gave a look at the markings. When he had finished he said, “Take this woollen garment of mine to Abu Jahm and bring me Abu Jahm’s Anbijani* garment, for it has distracted me just now from my prayer.” * A type of garment from the Syrian town of Manbij. The word in the text is anbijaniya. Manbijaniya is perhaps more common. See Lane, Lexicon, p. 2755 Pt. III (Bukhari and Muslim.) In a version by Bukhari he said, “I was looking at its markings while I was engaged in prayer, and I am afraid lest it may beguile me.”

وَعَن أنس قَالَ: كَانَ قِرَامٌ لِعَائِشَةَ سَتَرَتْ بِهِ جَانِبَ بَيْتِهَا فَقَالَ لَهَا النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «أَمِيطِي عَنَّا قِرَامَكِ هَذَا فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَزَالُ تَصَاوِيرُهُ تَعْرِضُ لِي فِي صَلَاتِي» . رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

Anas said that ‘A’isha had a figured curtain with which she secluded the side of her house, but the Prophet said to her, “Remove this figured curtain of yours from us, for its pictures keep interfering with my prayer.” Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عُقْبَةَ بْنِ عَامِرٍ قَالَ: أُهْدِيَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَرُّوجَ حَرِيرٍ فَلَبِسَهُ ثُمَّ صَلَّى فِيهِ ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ فَنَزَعَهُ نَزْعًا شَدِيدًا كَالْكَارِهِ لَهُ ثمَّ قَالَ: " لَا يَنْبَغِي هَذَا لِلْمُتقين

‘Uqba b. ‘Amir said that God’s Messenger was presented with a silk gown which he put on and wore while praying. Then when he withdrew he pulled it off vigorously as though he disapproved of it, saying, “This is not fitting for the pious.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

عَن سَلمَة بن الْأَكْوَع قَالَ: قُلْتُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي رَجُلٌ أَصِيدُ أَفَأُصَلِّي فِي الْقَمِيصِ الْوَاحِدِ؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ وَازْرُرْهُ وَلَوْ بِشَوْكَةٍ ". رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَرَوَى النَّسَائِيّ نَحوه

Salama b. al-Akwa‘said that he told God’s Messenger he was a man who went out hunting, and asked whether he might pray in a single shirt. He replied, “Yes, but fasten it, even if it should be with a thorn.” Abu Dawud transmitted it and Nasa’i transmitted something similar.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: بَيْنَمَا رَجُلٌ يُصَلِّي مسبلا إِزَارِهِ قَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «اذْهَبْ فَتَوَضَّأ» فَذهب وَتَوَضَّأ ثُمَّ جَاءَ فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا لَكَ أَمَرْتَهُ أَنْ يَتَوَضَّأَ؟ قَالَ: «إِنَّهُ كَانَ يُصَلِّي وَهُوَ مُسْبِلٌ إِزَارَهُ وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى لَا يَقْبَلُ صَلَاةَ رَجُلٍ مُسْبِلٍ إِزَارَهُ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

Abu Huraira said that while a man was praying letting his lower garment trail, God’s Messenger said to him, “Go and perform ablution.” After he had gone to perform ablution and returned a man asked God’s Messenger why he had ordered him to perform ablution, and he said “He was praying with his lower garment trailing, and God does not accept the prayer of a man who lets his lower garment trail.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَا تُقْبَلُ صَلَاةُ حَائِضٍ إِلَّا بِخِمَارٍ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد وَالتِّرْمِذِيّ

‘A’isha reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The prayer of a woman who has reached puberty is not accepted unless she is wearing a veil.”* * A veil (khimar) covering the head and the breasts. Cf. Al-Quran; 24:31. Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ أَنَّهَا سَأَلَتْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: أَتُصَلِّي الْمَرْأَةُ فِي درع وخمار لَيْسَ عَلَيْهَا إِزَارٌ؟ قَالَ: «إِذَا كَانَ الدِّرْعُ سَابِغًا يُغَطِّي ظُهُورَ قَدَمَيْهَا» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَذَكَرَ جمَاعَة وَقَفُوهُ على أم سَلمَة

Umm Salama said that she asked God's Messenger whether a woman might pray in a shift and veil without wearing a lower garment. He replied, “If the shift is ample and covers the surface of her feet.” Abu Dawud transmitted it and he mentioned a number who did not trace it beyond Umm Salama.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: نَهَى عَنِ السَّدْلِ فِي الصَّلَاةِ وَأَنْ يُغَطِّيَ الرَّجُلُ فَاهُ. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَالتِّرْمِذِيُّ

Abu Huraira said that God’s Messenger forbade trailing garments during prayer and that a man should cover his mouth. Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi transmitted it.

وَعَنْ شَدَّادِ بْنِ أَوْسٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «خَالِفُوا الْيَهُودَ فَإِنَّهُمْ لَا يُصَلُّونَ فِي نِعَالِهِمْ وَلَا خِفَافِهِمْ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

Shaddad b. Aus reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Act differently from the Jews, for they do not pray in their sandals or their shoes.”* * Khuff (pl. khifaf), an article of footwear which came up above the ankle. Traditions tell that the Prophet allowed pilgrims to wear the khuff only when unable to procure sandals, but said they must be cut to come below the ankle. Cf. Bukhari, Hajj, 21, 23; Libas, 8, 4, 15, 73. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَن أبي سعيد الْخُدْرِيّ قَالَ: بَيْنَمَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُصَلِّي بِأَصْحَابِهِ إِذْ خلع نَعْلَيْه فَوَضَعَهُمَا عَنْ يَسَارِهِ فَلَمَّا رَأَى ذَلِكَ الْقَوْمُ أَلْقَوْا نِعَالَهُمْ فَلَمَّا قَضَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ صَلَاتَهُ قَالَ: «مَا حَمَلَكُمْ على إلقائكم نعالكم؟» قَالُوا: رَأَيْنَاك ألقيت نعليك فَأَلْقَيْنَا نِعَالَنَا. فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِنْ جِبْرِيلَ أَتَانِي فَأَخْبَرَنِي أَنَّ فيهمَا قذرا إِذا جَاءَ أحدكُم إِلَى الْمَسْجِدَ فَلْيَنْظُرْ فَإِنْ رَأَى فِي نَعْلَيْهِ قَذَرًا أَو أَذَى فَلْيَمْسَحْهُ وَلِيُصَلِّ فِيهِمَا» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَالدَّارِمِيُّ

While God’s Messenger was leading his companions in prayer he took off his sandals and laid them at his left side; so when the people saw that, they removed their sandals. When he had finished his prayer he asked, "What made you remove your sandals? They replied, “We saw you remove yours, so we removed ours.” God’s Messenger then said, “Gabriel came to me and informed me that there was filth on them. When any of you comes to the mosque he should examine, and if he sees filth on his sandals he should wipe it off and pray in them.” Abu Dawud and Darimi transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِذَا صَلَّى أَحَدُكُمْ فَلَا يَضَعْ نَعْلَيْهِ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ وَلَا عَنْ يَسَارِهِ فَتَكُونَ عَنْ يَمِينِ غَيْرِهِ إِلَّا أَنْ لَا يَكُونَ عَنْ يسَاره أحد وليضعهما بَيْنَ رِجْلَيْهِ» . وَفَّى رِوَايَةٍ: «أَوْ لِيُصَلِّ فِيهِمَا» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَرَوَى ابْنُ مَاجَهْ مَعْنَاهُ

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “When any of you prays he should not place his sandals at his right or at his left so as to be at the right of someone else, unless no one is at his left, but should place them between his feet.” A version has, “or pray with them on.” Abu Dawud transmitted it and Ibn Majah transmitted something to the same effect.

عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ قَالَ: دَخَلْتُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَرَأَيْتُهُ يُصَلِّي عَلَى حَصِيرٍ يَسْجُدُ عَلَيْهِ. قَالَ: وَرَأَيْتُهُ يُصَلِّي فِي ثَوْبٍ وَاحِدٍ مُتَوَشِّحًا بِهِ. رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri said, “I visited the Prophet and saw him praying on a reed mat on which he was prostrating himself.” He said, “And I saw him praying in a single garment with part over his shoulder.” Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ شُعَيْبٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ جَدِّهِ قَالَ: رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُصَلِّي حافيا ومتنعلا. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

‘Amr b. Shu'aib, on his father's authority, said that his grandfather declared he had seen God’s Messenger praying both barefoot and wearing sandals. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْمُنْكَدِرِ قَالَ: صَلَّى جَابِرٌ فِي إِزَارٍ قَدْ عَقَدَهُ مِنْ قِبَلِ قَفَاهُ وثيابه مَوْضُوعَة على المشجب قَالَ لَهُ قَائِلٌ تُصَلِّي فِي إِزَارٍ وَاحِدٍ فَقَالَ إِنَّمَا صَنَعْتُ ذَلِكَ لِيَرَانِيَ أَحْمَقُ مِثْلُكَ وَأَيُّنَا كَانَ لَهُ ثَوْبَانِ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ. رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

Muhammad b. al-Munkadir said that Jabir led them in prayer in lower garment which he had tied at the nape of his neck, his clothes being placed on the clothes-stand. Someone said to him, “You are praying in a single garment.” He replied, “I did that only that a fool like you might see me. Which of us had two garments in the time of God’s Messenger?” Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أُبَيِّ بْنِ كَعْبٍ قَالَ: الصَّلَاةُ فِي الثَّوْبِ الْوَاحِدِ سُنَّةٌ كُنَّا نَفْعَلُهُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَلَا يُعَابُ عَلَيْنَا. فَقَالَ ابْنُ مَسْعُودٍ: إِنَّمَا كَانَ ذَاكَ إِذْ كَانَ فِي الثِّيَاب قلَّة فَأَما إِذْ وَسَّعَ اللَّهُ فَالصَّلَاةُ فِي الثَّوْبَيْنِ أَزْكَى. رَوَاهُ أَحْمد

Ubayy b. Ka'b said, “Prayer in a single garment was a practice we followed along with God’s Messenger, and no blame was cast on us.” Ibn Mas'ud said, “That was only when clothing was scarce, but when God enlarged our circumstances prayer in two garments became purer.” Ahmad transmitted it.

عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ: كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَغْدُو إِلَى الْمُصَلَّى وَالْعَنَزَةُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ تُحْمَلُ وَتُنْصَبُ بِالْمُصَلَّى بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ فَيصَلي إِلَيْهَا. رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

Ibn ‘Umar said that the Prophet would go out in the morning* to the place of prayer with a staff in front of him which was carried and set up in front of him in the place of prayer, and he would pray in its direction. * i.e. on the day of the 'Id. Bukhari transmitted it.