4. Prayer

وَعَنْ عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا قَامَ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ وَفِي رِوَايَةً: كَانَ إِذَا افْتَتَحَ الصَّلَاةَ كَبَّرَ ثُمَّ قَالَ: «وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِي فَطَرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ إِنَّ صَلَاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَبِذَلِكَ أَمَرْتُ وَأَنَا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ الْمَلِكُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ أَنْتَ رَبِّي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي وَاعْتَرَفْتُ بِذَنْبِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي ذُنُوبِي جَمِيعًا إِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ وَاهْدِنِي لِأَحْسَنِ الْأَخْلَاقِ لَا يَهْدِي لِأَحْسَنِهَا إِلَّا أَنْتَ وَاصْرِفْ عَنِّي سَيِّئَهَا لَا يَصْرِفُ عَنِّي سَيِّئَهَا إِلَّا أَنْتَ لَبَّيْكَ وَسَعْدَيْكَ وَالْخَيْرُ كُلُّهُ فِي يَدَيْكَ وَالشَّرُّ لَيْسَ إِلَيْكَ أَنَا بِكَ وَإِلَيْكَ تَبَارَكْتَ وَتَعَالَيْتَ أَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْكَ» وَإِذَا رَكَعَ قَالَ: «اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ رَكَعْتُ وَبِكَ آمَنْتُ وَلَكَ أَسْلَمْتُ خَشَعَ لَكَ سَمْعِي وبصري ومخي وعظمي وعصبي» فَإِذا رفع قَالَ: «اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ مِلْءَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وملء الأَرْض وملء مَا بَيْنَهُمَا وَمِلْءَ مَا شِئْتَ مِنْ شَيْءٍ بَعْدُ» وَإِذَا سَجَدَ قَالَ: «اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ سَجَدْتُ وَبِكَ آمَنْتُ وَلَكَ أَسْلَمْتُ سَجَدَ وَجْهِي لِلَّذِي خَلَقَهُ وَصُوَّرَهُ وَشَقَّ سَمْعَهُ وَبَصَرَهُ تَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ أَحْسَنُ الْخَالِقِينَ» ثُمَّ يَكُونُ مِنْ آخِرِ مَا يَقُولُ بَيْنَ التَّشَهُّدِ وَالتَّسْلِيمِ: «اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي مَا قَدَّمْتُ وَمَا أَخَّرْتُ وَمَا أَسْرَرْتُ وَمَا أَعْلَنْتُ وَمَا أَسْرَفْتُ وَمَا أَنْتَ أَعْلَمُ بِهِ مِنِّي أَنْتَ الْمُقَدِّمُ وَأَنْتَ الْمُؤَخِّرُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ» . رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ لِلشَّافِعِيِّ: «وَالشَّرُّ لَيْسَ إِلَيْكَ وَالْمَهْدِيُّ مَنْ هَدَيْتَ أَنَا بِكَ وَإِلَيْك لَا مَنْجَى مِنْكَ وَلَا مَلْجَأَ إِلَّا إِلَيْكَ تَبَارَكْتَ»

‘Ali said that when the Prophet stood up for prayer (a version saying, when he began the prayer) he said the takbir, then said, “I have turned my face as a hanif* towards Him who created the heavens and the earth, and I am not a polytheist. My prayer and my devotion, my life and my death belong to God the Lord of the universe, who has no partner. That is what I have been commanded, and I am a Muslim. O God, Thou art the King. There is no god but Thee. Thou art my Lord and I am Thy servant. I have wronged myself, but I acknowledge my sin, so forgive me all my sins, Thou who alone canst forgive sins; and guide me to the best qualities, Thou who alone canst guide to the best of them; and turn me from evil ones, Thou who alone canst turn from evil qualities. I come to serve and please Thee. All good is in Thy hands and evil does not pertain to Thee. I seek refuge in Thee and turn to Thee, who art blessed and exalted. I ask Thy forgiveness and turn to Thee in repentance.” When he bowed he said, “O God, to Thee I bow, in Thee I trust, and to Thee I submit myself. My hearing, my sight, my brain, my bone and my sinews humble themselves before Thee.” When he raised his head he said, “O God, to Thee belongs praise in the whole of the heavens and the earth and what is between them, and in whatever Thou createst afterwards.” When he prostrated himself he said, “O God, to Thee I prostrate myself, in Thee I trust, and to Thee I submit myself. My face has prostrated itself before Him who created it, fashioned it, and brought forth its hearing and seeing. Blessed is God, the best of creators.” Then at the end of what he said between uttering the tahiyat and the taslim was, “O God, forgive me my former and latter sins, my open and my secret sins, my sins of negligence, and what Thou knowest better than I. Thou art He who puts forward and puts back. There is no god but Thee.” * A believer in one God. Cf. Al-Qur’an; 3:95; 22:31; 98:5. Muslim transmitted it. A version by Shafi‘i has, “Evil does not pertain to Thee, and the one who is guided is he whom Thou guidest. I seek refuge in Thee and turn to Thee. There is no shelter from Thee and no place of refuge except by having recourse to Thee who art blessed.”

وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ: أَنَّ رَجُلًا جَاءَ فَدَخَلَ الصَّفَّ وَقد حفزه النَّفس فَقَالَ: الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ حَمْدًا كَثِيرًا طَيِّبًا مُبَارَكًا فِيهِ فَلَمَّا قَضَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ صَلَاتَهُ قَالَ: «أَيُّكُمُ الْمُتَكَلِّمُ بِالْكَلِمَاتِ؟» فَأَرَمَّ الْقَوْمُ. فَقَالَ: «أَيُّكُمُ الْمُتَكَلِّمُ بِالْكَلِمَاتِ؟» فَأَرَمَّ الْقَوْمُ. فَقَالَ: «أَيُّكُمُ الْمُتَكَلِّمُ بِهَا فَإِنَّهُ لَمْ يَقُلْ بَأْسًا» فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ: جِئْتُ وَقَدْ حَفَزَنِي النَّفْسُ فَقَلْتُهَا. فَقَالَ: «لَقَدْ رَأَيْتُ اثْنَيْ عَشَرَ مَلَكًا يَبْتَدِرُونَهَا أَيُّهُمْ يرفعها» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Anas said that a man came panting and entered the row of worshippers and said, “God is most great. Praise be to God, much, good and blessed.” When God’s Messenger finished his prayer he asked, “Which of you is the one who spoke the words?” but the people remained silent. He asked again, and when they still kept silence, he said, “Which of you said them? He said nothing wrong.” Then a man said, “I came and had difficulty in breathing, so I said them.” He replied, “I saw twelve angels racing one another to be the one to take them up to God.” Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذْ افْتَتَحَ الصَّلَاةَ قَالَ: «سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ وَلَا إِلَهَ غَيْرُكَ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ وَأَبُو دَاوُد وَرَوَاهُ ابْنُ مَاجَهْ عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ وَقَالَ التِّرْمِذِيُّ: هَذَا حَدِيثٌ لَا نَعْرِفُهُ إِلَّا مِنْ حَدِيثِ حَارِثَةَ وَقَدْ تُكُلِّمَ فِيهِ مِنْ قِبَلِ حفظه

‘A’isha said that when God’s Messenger began to pray he said, “Glory be to Thee, O God, and with praise of Thee do I begin my worship. Blessed is Thy name, exalted is Thy majesty, and there is no god but Thee.” Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it, and Ibn Majah transmitted it from Abu Sa'id. Tirmidhi said, “This is a tradition which I know only from Haritha, and critical remarks have been made about his memory.”

وَعَن جُبَير بن مطعم: أَنَّهُ رَأَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُصَلِّي صَلَاةً قَالَ: «اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ كَبِيرًا اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ كَبِيرًا اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ كَبِيرًا وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ كَثِيرًا وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ كَثِيرًا وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ كَثِيرًا وَسُبْحَان الله بكرَة وَأَصِيلا» ثَلَاثًا «أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ مِنْ نَفْخِهِ وَنَفْثَهِ وَهَمْزَهِ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ إِلَّا أَنَّهُ لَمْ يَذْكُرْ: «وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ كَثِيرًا» . وَذَكَرَ فِي آخِرِهِ: «مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ» وَقَالَ عُمَرُ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ: نَفْخُهُ الْكِبْرُ وَنَفْثُهُ الشِّعْرُ وهمزه الموتة

Jubair b. Mut'im said that he saw God’s Messenger observing a prayer in which he said, “God is altogether great; God is altogether great; God is altogether great. Praise be to God in abundance; praise be to God in abundance; praise be to God in abundance. Glory be to God in the morning and afternoon (saying it three times). I seek refuge in God from the accursed devil, from his puffing up (nafkh), his magic (nafth) 1, and his evil suggestion (hamz) 2.” 1. Literally ‘sputtering’, but used of working magic by sputtering on knots. Cf. Qur’an, 113:4. 2. For this meaning cf. Qur’an, 23:97. Abu Dawud transmitted it, as did Ibn Majah, but he did not mention, “Praise be to God in abundance,” and he mentioned at the end of it “from the accursed devil.” ‘Umar said that his nafkh is pride, his, nafth is poetry, and his hamz is madness.

وَعَن سَمُرَة بن جُنْدُب: أَنَّهُ حَفِظَ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ سَكْتَتَيْنِ: سَكْتَةً إِذَا كَبَّرَ وَسَكْتَةً إِذَا فَرَغَ مِنْ قِرَاءَةِ (غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالّين) فَصَدَّقَهُ أُبَيُّ بْنُ كَعْبٍ. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وروى التِّرْمِذِيّ وَابْن مَاجَه والدارمي نَحوه

Samura b. Jundub said that he remembered from God's Messenger two periods of silence, one when he said the takbir, and one when he finished reciting, “Not of those with whom Thou art angry, nor of those who go astray,”* and Ubayy b, Ka‘b corroborated him. *Al-Qur’an, 1:7 Abu Dawud transmitted it, and Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted something similar.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا نَهَضَ مِنَ الرَّكْعَة الثَّانِيَة استفتح الْقِرَاءَة ب «الْحَمد لله رب الْعَالمين» وَلَمْ يَسْكُتْ. هَكَذَا فِي صَحِيحِ مُسْلِمٍ. وَذَكَرَهُ الْحُمَيْدِيُّ فِي أَفْرَادِهِ وَكَذَا صَاحِبُ الْجَامِعِ عَنْ مُسلم وَحده

Abu Huraira said that when God's Messenger got up after the second rak'a he began the recitation with, “Praise be to God, the Lord of the universe,” without observing a period of silence. It is given thus in Muslim’s Sahih. Al-Humaidi mentioned it among those given by Muslim but not by Bukhari, as did the author of al-Jami' (Ibn Al-Athir) from Muslim alone.

عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ: كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا اسْتَفْتَحَ الصَّلَاةَ كَبَّرَ ثُمَّ قَالَ: «إِنَّ صَلَاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَبِذَلِكَ أَمَرْتُ وَأَنَا مِنَ الْمُسلمين اللَّهُمَّ اهدني لِأَحْسَنِ الْأَعْمَالِ وَأَحْسَنِ الْأَخْلَاقِ لَا يَهْدِي لِأَحْسَنِهَا إِلَّا أَنْتَ وَقِنِي سَيِّئَ الْأَعْمَالِ وَسَيِّئَ الْأَخْلَاقِ لَا يَقِي سَيِّئَهَا إِلَّا أَنْتَ» . رَوَاهُ النَّسَائِيُّ

Jabir said that when the Prophet began prayer he said the takbir, then said, “My prayer and my devotion, my life and my death belong to God, the Lord of the universe, who has no partner. I have been so commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims. O God, guide me to the best deeds and the best qualities, Thou who alone canst guide to the best of them; and guard me from evil deeds and evil qualities, Thou who alone canst guard from their evil ones.” Nasa’i transmitted it.

وَعَن مُحَمَّد بن مسلمة قَالَ: إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ إِذَا قَامَ يُصَلِّي تَطَوُّعًا قَالَ: «اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِي فَطَرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْض حَنِيفا مُسلما وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ» . وَذَكَرَ الْحَدِيثَ مِثْلَ حَدِيثِ جَابِرٍ إِلَّا أَنَّهُ قَالَ: «وَأَنَا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ» . ثُمَّ قَالَ: «اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ الْمَلِكُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ وَبِحَمْدِكَ» ثُمَّ يَقْرَأُ. رَوَاهُ النَّسَائِيّ

Muhammad b. Maslama said that when God’s Messenger stood up to observe voluntary prayers he said, “God is most great. I have turned my face as a hanif towards Him who created the heavens and the earth, and I am not a polytheist.” And he mentioned the tradition like that of Jabir, except that he said, “l am of the Muslims.” Then he said, “O God, Thou art the King. There is no god but Thee. Glory be to Thee, and with praise of Thee . Nasa’i transmitted it.

عَنْ عُبَادَةَ بْنِ الصَّامِتِ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَا صَلَاةَ لمن لم يقْرَأ بِفَاتِحَة الْكتاب» وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ لِمُسْلِمٍ: «لِمَنْ لَمْ يَقْرَأْ بِأُمِّ الْقُرْآن فَصَاعِدا»

‘Ubada b. as-Samit reported God’s Messenger as saying, “He who does not recite Fatihat al-Kitab* is not credited with having observed prayer.” *The first sura. (Bukhari and Muslim.) A version by Muslim has “He who does not recite Umm al-Qur’an (the first sura and something more.”

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ صَلَّى صَلَاةً لَمْ يَقْرَأْ فِيهَا بِأُمِّ الْقُرْآنِ فَهِيَ خِدَاجٌ ثَلَاثًا غَيْرُ تَمَامٍ» فَقِيلَ لِأَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ: إِنَّا نَكُون وَرَاء الإِمَام فَقَالَ اقْرَأْ بِهَا فِي نَفْسِكَ فَإِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى قَسَمْتُ الصَّلَاةَ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ عَبْدِي نِصْفَيْنِ وَلِعَبْدِي مَا سَأَلَ فَإِذَا قَالَ الْعَبْدُ (الْحَمد لله رب الْعَالمين) قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى حَمِدَنِي عَبْدِي وَإِذَا قَالَ (الرَّحْمَن الرَّحِيم) قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى أَثْنَى عَلَيَّ عَبْدِي وَإِذَا قَالَ (مَالك يَوْم الدّين) قَالَ مجدني عَبدِي وَقَالَ مرّة فوض إِلَيّ عَبدِي فَإِذا قَالَ (إياك نعْبد وَإِيَّاك نستعين) قَالَ هَذَا بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ عَبْدِي وَلِعَبْدِي مَا سَأَلَ فَإِذَا قَالَ (اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالّين) قَالَ هَذَا لِعَبْدِي وَلِعَبْدِي مَا سَأَلَ» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone observes a prayer in which he does not recite Umm al-Qur’an, it is deficient (he said this three times) and incomplete.” When someone asked Abu Huraira if he were led by an imam, he told him to recite it inwardly, for he had heard God’s Messenger declare that God most high 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 God the Lord of the universe,” God most high says, “My servant has praised me.” When he says, “The Compassionate the Merciful,” God most high says, “My servant has lauded me.” When he says, “Possessor of the day of judgment,” He says, “My servant has glorified me.” When he says, “Thee do we worship and of Thee do we ask help,” He says, “This is between me and my servant, and my servant will receive what he asks.” Then when he says, “Guide us in the straight path, the path of those to whom Thou art generous, not of those with whom Thou art angry nor of those who go astray,” He says. “This is for my servant, and my servant will receive what he asks.” Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ: أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَأَبا بكر وَعمر رَضِي الله عَنْهُمَا كَانُوا يَفْتَتِحُونَ الصَّلَاةَ بِ «الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالمين» ) رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Anas said that the Prophet, Abu Bakr and ‘Umar used to begin the prayer with, “Praise be to God the Lord of the universe.” Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: " إِذَا أَمَّنَ الْإِمَامُ فَأَمِّنُوا فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ وَافَقَ تَأْمِينُهُ تَأْمِينَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تقدم من ذَنبه) وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ قَالَ: " إِذَا قَالَ الْإِمَامُ: (غَيْرِ المغضوب عَلَيْهِم وَلَا الضَّالّين) فَقُولُوا: آمِينَ فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ وَافَقَ قَوْلُهُ قَوْلَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ ". هَذَا لَفْظُ الْبُخَارِيِّ وَلِمُسْلِمٍ نَحْوُهُ وَفِي أُخْرَى لِلْبُخَارِيِّ قَالَ: «إِذَا أَمَّنَ الْقَارِئُ فَأَمِّنُوا فَإِنَّ الْمَلَائِكَةَ تُؤَمِّنُ فَمَنْ وَافَقَ تَأْمِينُهُ تَأْمِينَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ غفر لَهُ مَا تقدم من ذَنبه»

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Say Amen when the imam says it, for if anyone’s utterance of Amen synchronises with that of the angels, he will be forgiven his past sins. ’ (Bukhari and Muslim.) In a version he said, “When the imam says, ‘Not of those with whom Thou art angry nor of those who go astray’, say Amen, for if anyone’s words synchronise with those of the angels he will be forgiven his past sins.” This is Bukhari’s wording, and Muslim has something similar. In another version by Bukhari he said, “Say Amen when the reciter (i.e. the imam) says it, for the angels do so, and if anyone’s utterance of Amen synchronises with that of the angels, he will be forgiven his past sins.”

وَعَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى الْأَشْعَرِيِّ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: " إِذَا صَلَّيْتُمْ فَأَقِيمُوا صُفُوفَكُمْ ثُمَّ لِيَؤُمَّكُمْ أَحَدُكُمْ فَإِذَا كَبَّرَ فكبروا وَإِذ قَالَ (غير المغضوب عَلَيْهِم وَلَا الضَّالّين) فَقُولُوا آمِينَ يُجِبْكُمُ اللَّهُ فَإِذَا كَبَّرَ وَرَكَعَ فَكَبِّرُوا وَارْكَعُوا فَإِنَّ الْإِمَامَ يَرْكَعُ قَبْلَكُمْ وَيَرْفَعُ قبلكُمْ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «فَتِلْكَ بِتِلْكَ» قَالَ: «وَإِذَا قَالَ سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ فَقُولُوا اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ يسمع الله لكم» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ لَهُ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ وَقَتَادَةَ: «وَإِذا قَرَأَ فأنصتوا»

When you pray make your rows straight and let one of your number act as your imam. If you say the takbir when he says it and say Amen when he says “Not of those with whom Thou art angry nor of those who go astray”, God will accept your prayer. When he says the takbir and bows, say it and bow, for the imam bows before you and raises himself before you. Then God’s Messenger said, “The one is equivalent to the other.”* And he said: If you say, “O God our Lord, to Thee be the praise,” when he says, “God listens to him who praises him,” God will listen to you. * Although the imam begins and ends his bowing before you do, your bow lasts the same length of time as his. Muslim transmitted it. In a version by him from Abu Huraira and Qatada the words occur, “And when he recites listen silently.”

وَعَنْ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ قَالَ: كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يقْرَأ فِي الظُّهْرِ فِي الْأُولَيَيْنِ بِأُمِّ الْكِتَابِ وَسُورَتَيْنِ وَفِي الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ الْأُخْرَيَيْنِ بِأُمِّ الْكِتَابِ وَيُسْمِعُنَا الْآيَةَ أَحْيَانًا وَيطول فِي الرَّكْعَة الأولى مَا لَا يطول فِي الرَّكْعَةِ الثَّانِيَةِ وَهَكَذَا فِي الْعَصْرِ وَهَكَذَا فِي الصُّبْح

Abu Qatada said that in the first two rak'as of the noon prayer the Prophet used to recite Umm al-Kitab and two suras, and in the last two rak'as Umm al-Kitab, and he would sometimes recite loud enough for them to hear the verse. He would prolong the first rak'a more than the second; and he acted similarly in the afternoon and the Morning Prayer. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ قَالَ: كُنَّا نَحْزُرُ قِيَامَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي الظُّهْرِ وَالْعَصْرِ فَحَزَرْنَا قِيَامَهُ فِي الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ الْأُولَيَيْنِ مِنَ الظُّهْرِ قَدْرَ قِرَاءَةِ (الم تَنْزِيلُ) السَّجْدَةِ - وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ: فِي كُلِّ رَكْعَةٍ قَدْرَ ثَلَاثِينَ آيَةً - وَحَزَرْنَا قِيَامَهُ فِي الْأُخْرَيَيْنِ قَدْرَ النّصْف من ذَلِك وحزرنا قِيَامَهُ فِي الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ الْأُولَيَيْنِ مِنَ الْعَصْرِ عَلَى قَدْرِ قِيَامِهِ فِي الْأُخْرَيَيْنِ مِنَ الظُّهْرِ وَفِي الْأُخْرَيَيْنِ مِنَ الْعَصْرِ عَلَى النِّصْفِ مِنْ ذَلِكَ. رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri said, “We used to estimate how long God’s Messenger stood at the noon and the afternoon prayer, and we estimated that he stood in the first two rak'as as long as it takes to recite A.L.M. Tanzil, i.e. as-Sajda* (A version has, “In every rak'a as long as it takes to recite thirty verses.” We estimated that he stood half that time in the last two rak'as; that he stood in the first two of the afternoon prayer as long as he did in the last two at noon; and in the last two of the afternoon prayer about half that time.” * Al-Qur'an; 32. This sura has thirty verses. Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ سَمُرَةَ قَالَ: كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقْرَأُ فِي الظُّهْرِ ب (اللَّيْل إِذا يغشى) وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ بِ (سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الْأَعْلَى) وَفِي الْعَصْرِ نَحْوَ ذَلِكَ وَفِي الصُّبْحِ أَطْوَلَ من ذَلِك. رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Jabir b. Samura said that the Prophet used to recite at the noon prayer, “By the night when it covers over”1 (a version says, “Glorify the name of thy most high Lord”, 2 at the afternoon prayer a similar amount, and at the Morning Prayer a longer passage than that. 1. Al-Qur'an; 92. 2. Al-Qur’an; 87. Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ جُبَيْرِ بْنِ مُطْعِمٍ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقْرَأُ فِي الْمَغْرِبِ بِ «الطُّورِ»

Jubair b. Mut'im said that he heard God’s Messenger reciting al-Tur* at the sunset prayer. * Al-Qur’an; 52 (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ أُمِّ الْفَضْلِ بِنْتِ الْحَارِثِ قَالَتْ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسلم يقْرَأ فِي الْمغرب ب (المرسلات عرفا)

Umm al-Fadl daughter of al-Harith said that she heard God’s Messenger reciting al-Mursalat* at the sunset prayer. * Al-Qur'an; 77. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ: كَانَ مُعَاذُ يُصَلِّي مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ثُمَّ يَأْتِي فَيَؤُمُّ قَوْمَهُ فَصَلَّى لَيْلَةً مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الْعِشَاءَ ثُمَّ أَتَى قَوْمَهُ فَأَمَّهُمْ فَافْتَتَحَ بِسُورَةِ الْبَقَرَةِ فَانْحَرَفَ رَجُلٌ فَسَلَّمَ ثُمَّ صَلَّى وَحْدَهُ وَانْصَرَفَ فَقَالُوا لَهُ أَنَافَقَتْ يَا فُلَانُ قَالَ لَا وَاللَّهِ وَلَآتِيَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فلأخبرنه فَأَتَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّا أَصْحَابُ نَوَاضِحَ نَعْمَلُ بِالنَّهَارِ وَإِنَّ مُعَاذًا صَلَّى مَعَكَ الْعِشَاءَ ثُمَّ أَتَى قَوْمَهُ فَافْتَتَحَ بِسُورَةِ الْبَقَرَةِ فَأَقْبَلَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَلَى مُعَاذٍ فَقَالَ: " يَا مُعَاذُ أَفَتَّانٌ؟ أَنْتَ اقْرَأ: (الشَّمْس وَضُحَاهَا " (وَالضُّحَى) (وَاللَّيْل إِذا يغشى) و (وَسبح اسْم رَبك الْأَعْلَى)

Jabir said that Mu'adh b. Jabal used to pray along with the Prophet, then come and lead his people in prayer. One night he prayed the evening prayer along with the Prophet, then came to his people and led them in prayer, beginning with Sura al-Baqara1. A man turned aside, pronounced the taslim, then prayed alone and departed. The people said to him, “Have you become a hypocrite, so and so?” He replied, I swear by God that I have not, but I shall certainly go to God’s Messenger and tell him.” So he went to him and said, “Messenger of God, we look after camels used for watering and work by day. After having prayed the evening prayer with you, Mu'adh came and began with Sura al-Baqara.” God’s Messenger then approached Mu'adh and said, “Are you a troubler, Mu’adh? Recite, ‘By the sun and its morning brightness,’2 ‘By the morning brightness,’3 ‘By the night when it covers over,’4 and ‘Glorify the name of thy most high Lord’.”5 1. Al-Qur’an; 2 the longest sura in the Qur’an. 2. Al-Qur’an; 91 3. Al-Qur'an; 93. 4. Al-Qur'an; 92. 5. Al-Qur’an; 87. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَن الْبَراء قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يقْرَأ فِي الْعشَاء: (والتين وَالزَّيْتُون) وَمَا سَمِعت أحدا أحسن صَوتا مِنْهُ

Al-Bara’ said that he heard the Prophet recite at the evening prayer, “By the fig and the olive”* and that he had never heard anyone with a more beautiful voice. *Al-Qur’an; 95. (Bukhari and Muslim.)