5. Establishing the Prayer and the Sunnah Regarding Them

It was narrated from Ibn ‘Umar that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to deliver two sermons, and he would sit briefly between the two. (One of the narrators) Bishr added:

“While he was standing.”

It was narrated from Ja’far bin ‘Amr bin Huraith that his father said:

“I saw the Prophet (ﷺ) delivering the sermon on the pulpit, wearing a black turban.”

It was narrated that Simak bin Harb said:

“I heard Jabir bin Samurah say: ‘The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to deliver the sermon standing, but he used to sit down briefly, then stand up.’”

It was narrated that Jabir bin Samurah said:

“The Prophet (ﷺ) used to deliver the sermon standing, then he would sit down, then he would stand up and recite some Verses and remember Allah. His sermon was moderate, and his prayer was moderate (i.e., neither too long nor too short).”

‘Abdur-Rahman bin Sa’d bin ‘Ammar bin Sa’d narrated that his father told him, from his father, from his grandfather, that when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) delivered a speech on the battlefield he would do so leaning on a bow, and when he delivered a sermon on Friday, he would do so leaning on his staff.

‘Alqamah narrated that ‘Abdullah was asked whether the Prophet (ﷺ) used to deliver the sermon standing or sitting. He said:

“Have you not read the Verse: ‘...and leave you (Muhammad) standing (while delivering the Friday sermon?”

It was narrated from Jabir that whenever the Prophet (ﷺ) ascended the pulpit he would greet (the people with Salam).

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

“If you say to your companions: ‘Be quiet’ on a Friday while the Imam is delivering the sermon, you have engaged in Laghw (idle talk or behaviour).”

‘Ata’ bin Yasar narrated from Ubayy bin Ka’b:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) recited Tabarak one Friday, while he was standing and reminding us of the Days of Allah (i.e., preaching to us). Abu Darda’ or Abu Dharr raised an eyebrow at me and said: ‘When was this Surah revealed? For I have not heard it before now.’ He (Ubayy) gestured to him that …

It was narrated that Jabir bin ‘Abdullah said:

“Sulaik Ghatafani entered the mosque when the Prophet (ﷺ) was delivering the sermon. He said: ‘Have you prayed?’ He said: ‘No.’ He said: ‘Then perform two Rak’ah.’”

It was narrated that Abu Sa’eed said:

“A man entered the mosque when the Prophet (ﷺ) was delivering the sermon. He said: ‘Have you prayed?’ He said: ‘No.’ He said: ‘Then pray two Rak’ah.’”

It was narrated that Jabir said:

“Sulaik Al-Ghatafani came while the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was delivering the sermon. The Prophet (ﷺ) said to him: ‘Did you perform two Rak’ah before you came?’ He said: ‘No.’ He said: ‘Then perform two Rak’ah, but make them brief.’”

It was narrated from Jabir bin ‘Abdullah that a man entered the mosque one Friday when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was delivering the sermon. He started stepping over the people’s shoulders, and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

‘Sit down, for you have annoyed (people) and you are late.’”

It was narrated from Sahl bin Mu’adh bin Anas that his father said:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Whoever steps over the people’s necks on Friday has built a bridge to Hell.’”

It was narrated from Anas bin Malik that the people used to speak to the Prophet (ﷺ) about their needs when he came down from the pulpit on Friday.

It was narrated that ‘Ubaidullah bin Abu Rafi’ said:

“Marwan appointed Abu Hurairah in charge of Al-Madinah, and set out for Makkah. Abu Hurairah led us in prayer on Friday, and he recited Surat Al-Jumu’ah in the first Rak’ah, and in the second, ‘When the hypocrites come to you,” ‘Ubaidullah said: “I caught up with Abu Hurairah when he finished and s…

It was narrated that ‘Ubaidullah bin ‘Abdullah said:

“Dahhak bin Qais wrote to Nu’man bin Bashir, saying: ‘Tell us what the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to recite on Friday along with Surah Al-Jumu’ah.’ He said: ‘He used to recite: “Has there come to you the narration of the overwhelming (i.e., the Day of Resurrection)?’”

It was narrated from Abu ‘Inabah Al-Khawlani that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to recite “Glorify the Name of your Lord the Most High” and “Has there come to you the narration of the overwhelming (i.e., the Day of Resurrection)? on Friday.

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

“Whoever catches one Rak’ah of Friday, let him add another Rak’ah to it.”

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Whoever catches one Rak’ah of prayer, he has caught it.’”

It was narrated that Ibn ‘Umar said:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Whoever catches one Rak’ah of Friday prayer or other than it, then he has caught the prayer.’”

It was narrated that Ibn ‘Umar said:

“The people of Quba’ used to pray with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on Fridays.”

It was narrated that Abu Ja’d Ad-Damri who was a Companion said that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“Whoever abandons Friday (prayer) three times, neglecting it, a seal will be placed over his heart.”

It was narrated that Jabir bin ‘Abdullah said:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Whoever abandons Friday (prayer) three times, for no necessary reason, Allah will place a seal over his heart.’”

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “What if one of you were to take a flock of sheep and look for grass for them one or two miles away, but he cannot find any at that distance, so he goes further away? Then (the time for) Friday comes but he does not attend it, then (another) Friday comes but he does …

It was narrated from Samurah bin Jundab that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“Whoever abandons Friday deliberately, let him give a Dinar in charity, and if he cannot afford that, then (let him give) half a Dinar.”

It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbas said:

“The Prophet (ﷺ) used to perform four Rak’ah before Friday (prayer), and he did not separate any of them.”

It was narrated that when ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar had prayed Friday, he went and prayed two Rak’ah in his house. Then he said:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to do that.”

It was narrated from Salim, from his father, that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to pray two Rak’ah after Jumu’ah.

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘If you pray after Friday, then pray four (Rak’ah).’”

It was narrated from ‘Amr bin Shu’aib, from his father, from his grandfather, that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade sitting in circles in the mosque on Fridays before the prayer.

It was narrated from ‘Amr bin Shu’aib, from his father, that his grandfather said:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade Ihtiba’ (sitting with one's thighs gathered up against the stomach while wrapping one's arm or garment around them) on Fridays, meaning, when the Imam is delivering the sermon.”

It was narrated that Sa’ib bin Yazid said:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had only one Mu’adh-dhin. When he came out he would give the Adhan and when he came down (from the pulpit) he would give the Iqamah. Abu Bakr and ‘Umar did likewise, but when ‘Uthman (became caliph) the numbers of people had increased, he added the third call from atop a …

It was narrated from ‘Adi bin Thabit that his father said:

“When the Prophet (ﷺ) stood on the pulpit, his Companions would turn to face him.”

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘On Friday there is a time when no Muslim man happens to stand in prayer at that time, asking Allah for good things, but He will give that to him.” And he gestured with his hand to indicate how short that time is.

Kathir bin ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr bin ‘Awf Al-Muzani narrated from his father, that his grandfather said:

“I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: ‘On Friday there is a time of the day during which no person asks Allah for something but He will give him what he asks for.’” It was said: ‘When is that time?’ He said: ‘When the Iqamah for prayer (is called), until the prayer ends.’”

It was narrated that ‘Abdullah bin Salam said:

“I said, when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was sitting: ‘We find in the Book of Allah that on Friday there is an hour when no believing slave performs prayer and asks Allah for anything at that time, but Allah will fulfill his need.’” ‘Abdullah said: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) pointed to me, saying: …

It was narrated that ‘Aishah said:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Whoever persists in performing twelve Rak’ah from the Sunnah, a house will be built for him in Paradise: four before the Zuhr, two Rak’ah after Zuhr, two Rak’ah after Maghrib, two Rak’ah after the ‘Isha’ and two Rak’ah before Fajr.’”

It was narrated from Umm Habibah bint Abi Sufyan that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“Whoever performs twelve Rak’ah (of Sunnah) during the day and night, a house will be built for him in Paradise.”

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Whoever performs twelve Rak’ah (of Sunnah) each day, a house will be built for him in Paradise: two Rak’ah before Fajr, two Rak’ah before the Zuhr, two Rak’ah after the Zuhr, two Rak’ah, I think he said, before ‘Asr, two Rak’ah after Maghrib, and I think he said tw…

It was narrated from Ibn ‘Umar that when the dawn illuminated, the Prophet (ﷺ) would pray two Rak’ah.

It was narrated that Ibn ‘Umar said:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to pray two Rak’ah before the morning (prayer), as if the Adhan were in his ears. (i.e., he would pray them briefly).

It was narrated from Hafsah bint ‘Umar that when the call for the Subh prayer was given, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would pray two short Rak’ah before going to the prayer.

It was narrated that ‘Aishah said:

“When he performed ablution the Prophet (ﷺ) would pray two (short) Rak’ah and then go out for the prayer.”

It was narrated that ‘Ali said:

“The Prophet (ﷺ) used to perform two Rak’ah at the time of the Iqamah.”

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that in the two Rak’ah before the Fajr, the Prophet (ﷺ) used to recite:

“Say: ‘O you disbelievers!”

It was narrated that Ibn ‘Umar said:

“I watched the Prophet (ﷺ) for a month, and in the two Rak’ah before Fajr he used to recite: “Say: O you disbelievers!” and “Say: Allah is One.” [Al- Ikhlas (112)]

It was narrated that ‘Aishah said:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to perform two Rak’ah before Fajr, and he used to say: ‘The best two Surah to recite in the two Rak’ah of Fajr are: “Say: Allah is One” and “Say: O you disbelievers.”

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

“Once the Iqamah has been called, there should be no prayer but the obligatory one.” Another chain with similar wording.

It was narrated from ‘Abdullah bin Sarjis that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saw a man performing the two Rak’ah before the morning prayer while he himself was performing prayer. When he had finished praying he said to him:

“Which of your two prayers did you intend to be counted (i.e., accepted)?”