5. Establishing the Prayer and the Sunnah Regarding Them

It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbas said:

“I was with the Prophet (ﷺ), and a man came to him and said: ‘Last night while I was sleeping, I saw that I was praying towards the base of a tree. I recited (an Ayah of) prostration and prostrated, and the tree prostrated when I did, and I heard it saying: Allahummah-tut anni biha wizran, waktub li…

It was narrated from ‘Ali that whenever the Prophet (ﷺ) prostrated he would say:

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

It was narrated that Umm Darda’ said:

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

It was narrated that Abu Darda’ said:

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

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

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said:

“We prostrated with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) in “When the heaven is split asunder” and “Read! In the Name of your Lord.”

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Prophet (ﷺ) prostrated in “When the heaven is split asunder.” Abu Bakr bin Abu Shaibah said:

"This Hadith was narrated from Yahya bin Sa'eed; I did not hear it from anyone but him."

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that a man entered the mosque and performed prayer, and the Prophet (ﷺ) was in a corner of the mosque. The man came and greeted him, and he said:

“And also upon you. Go back and repeat your prayer, for you have not prayed.” So he went back and repeated his prayer, then he came and greeted the Prophet (ﷺ). He said: “And also upon you. Go back and repeat your prayer, for you have not prayed.” On the third occasion, the man said: “Teach me, O Me…

Muhammad bin ‘Amr bin ‘Ata’ said:

‘While he was among ten of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) including Abu Qatadah: “I heard Abu Humaid As-Sa’idi say: ‘I am the most knowledgeable of you concerning the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).’ They said: ‘Why? By Allah, you did not follow him more than we did, and you did …

It was narrated that ‘Amrah said:

“I asked ‘Aishah: ‘How did the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) perform prayer?’ She said: ‘When the Prophet (ﷺ) performed ablution, he would put his hand in the vessel and say Bismillah, and he would perform ablution properly. Then he would stand and face the Qiblah. He would say the Takbir raising his hands…

It was narrated that ‘Umar said:

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

‘Umar said:

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

It was narrated that Ya’la bin Umayyah said:

“I asked ‘Umar bin Khattab: ‘Allah says: “And when you travel in the land, there is no sin on you if you shorten the prayer if you fear that the disbelievers may put you in trial (attack you), verily, the disbelievers are ever to you open enemies,” but now there is security and people are safe.’ He…

It was narrated from Umayyah bin ‘Abdullah bin Khalid that he said to ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar:

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

It was narrated that Ibn ‘Umar said:

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

It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbas said:

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

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

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

It was narrated from ‘Isa bin Hafs bin ‘Asim bin ‘Umar bin Khattab that his father told him:

“We were with Ibn ‘Umar on a journey, and he led us in prayer. Then we finished with him and he finished turning around, and saw some people praying. He said: ‘What are these people doing?’ I said: ‘Glorifying Allah.’* He said: ‘If I wanted to glorify Allah (perform voluntary prayer) I would have co…

Usamah bin Zaid said:

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

It was narrated that ‘Abdur-Rahman bin Humaid Az-Zuhri said:

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

‘Ata’ narrated:

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

It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbas said:

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

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

Yahya bin Abu Ishaq narrated that Anas said:

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

It was narrated that Jabir bin ‘Abdullah said:

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

‘Abdullah bin Buraidah narrated that his father said:

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

It was narrated from Anas bin Malik that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:

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

It was narrated that Jabir bin ‘Abdullah said:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) delivered a sermon to us and said: ‘O people! Repent to Allah before you die. Hasten to do good deeds before you become preoccupied (because of sickness and old age). Uphold the relationship that exists between you and your Lord by remembering Him a great deal and by givi…

It was narrated that ‘Abdur-Rahman bin Ka’b bin Malik said:

“I used to guide my father after he lost his sight, and when I took him out for the Friday (prayer), when he heard the Adhan he would pray for forgiveness for Abu Umamah As’ad bin Zurarah, and supplicate for him. I heard that from him for a while, then I said to myself: ‘By Allah! What is this weakn…

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said:

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

It was narrated that Abu Lubabah bin ‘Abdul-Mundhir said:

“The Prophet (ﷺ) said: ‘Friday is the chief of days, the greatest day before Allah. It is greater before Allah then the Day of Adha and the Day of Fitr. It has five characteristics: On it Allah created Adam; on it Allah sent down Adam to this earth; on it there is a time during which a person does n…

It was narrated that Shaddad bin Aws said:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘The best of your days is Friday. On it Adam was created, on it the Trumpet will be blown, on it all creatures will swoon. So send a great deal of peace and blessings upon me on that day, for your peace and blessings will be presented to me.’ A man said: ‘O Messenge…

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

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

Aws bin Aws Ath-Thaqafi said:

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

It was narrated that Ibn ‘Umar said:

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

It was narrated from Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

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

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said:

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

It was narrated from Anas bin Malik that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:

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

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

“When Friday comes, angels stand at every door of the mosque and record the names of the people who come, in order of arrival. When the Imam comes out, they close their records and listen to the sermon. The first one who comes to the prayer is like one who sacrifices a camel; the one who comes after…

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

It was narrated that ‘Alqamah said:

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

It was narrated from ‘Abdullah bin Salam that he heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying on the pulpit one Friday:

“There is nothing wrong with anyone of you buying two garments for Friday (prayer), other than his daily work clothes.” (Another chain) from Yusuf bin Abdullah bin Salam that his father said: "The Prophet delivered a sermon to us" and he mentioned that.

It was narrated from ‘Aishah that the Prophet (ﷺ) delivered a sermon to the people one Friday, and he saw them wearing woollen clothes. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

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

It was narrated from Abu Dharr that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:

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

It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbas said:

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

It was narrated that Sahl bin Sa’d said:

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

Iyas bin Salamah bin Akwa’ narrated that his father said:

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

‘Abdur-Rahman bin Sa’d bin ‘Ammar bin Sad, the Mu’adh-dhin of the Prophet (ﷺ), said:

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

It was narrated that Anas said:

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