It was narrated that 'Abdullah said:
"When the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) passed away, the Ansar said: 'Let there be an Amir from among us and an Amir from among you.' Then 'Umar came to them and said: 'Do you not know that the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) commanded Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer? Who mong you could accept to put himself ah…
It was narrated that Abu Aliyah Al-Barra said:
"Ziyad delayed the prayer, then Ibn Samit came to me and I gave him a chair and he sat on it. I told him what Ziyad had done and he bit his lip (in disapproval), and he struck me on the thigh and said: 'I asked Abu Dharr the same question you asked me, and he struck me on the thigh as I struck you o…
It was narrated that 'Abdullih said:
"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'You may live to meet people who will be offering the prayer outside its (prayer) time. If you meet them, then offer the prayer on time, then pray with them and make that a voluntary prayer."'
It was narrated that Abu Masud said:
"The Messenger of Allah(ﷺ)said: 'Let the one who has most knowledge of the Book of Allah lead the people in prayer. If they are equal in terms of knowledge of the Qur'h, let the one who emigrated first (lead them). If they are equal in terms of emigration, let the one who has more knowledge of the S…
It was narrated that Malik bin Al-Huwairith said:
"I came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) with a cousin of mine" - once he said, "with a friend of mine" - and he said: 'When you travel, call the Adhan and Iqamah, and let the older of you lead the prayer.'"
It was narrated from Abu Sa'eed that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"when there are three people let one of them lead the prayer, and the one who is most entitled to lead the prayer is the one who has most knowledge of the Qur'an."
It was narrated that Abu Masud said:
"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'A man should not be led in prayer in his place of authority, and no one should sit in his place of honor except with his permission."'
It was narrated from Sahl bin Sa'd that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) heard that there was a dispute among Banu 'Amr bin 'Awf, so he went to them with some other people to reconcile between them. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was delayed there, and the time for Zuhr came. Bilal came to Abu Bakr and said to him:
"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) has been delayed (there) and the time for prayer has come, will you lead the people in prayer?" Abu Bakr said: 'Yes, if you wish.' Bilal said the Iqamah and Abu Bakr went forward and said the Takbir for the people. Then the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) came, passing through the…
It was narrated that Anas said:
"In the last prayer that the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) prayed with the people, he prayed wrapped up in a single garment, behind Abu Bakr."
It was narrated from Aisha that Abu Bakr led the people in prayer and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)was in the row.
It was narrated that Malik bin Al-Huwairith said:
"I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: 'When any one of you visits some people,he should not lead them in prayer."'
It was narrated from Mahmiid bin Ar-Rabi' that 'Itbk bin Milk used to lead his people in prayer, and he was blind. He said to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ):
"Sometimes it is dark or rainy or there is a flood, and I am a blind man; 0 Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), (come and) pray in a place in my house that I may take as a prayer-place." He said: "Where would you like me to pray for you?" He showed him a place in his house, and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayed…
'Amr bin Salamah Al-Jarmi said:
"Riders used to pass by us and we would leam the Qur'an from them. My father came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and he said: 'Let the one of you who knows most Qur'an leads the prayer.' My father came and said that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had said: 'Let the one of you who knows most Quran lead you in prayer…
It was narrated from Abdullah bin Abi Qatadah that his father said:
"The messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'When the call to prayer is given, do not stand up until you see me.'"
It was narrated that Anas said:
"The Iqamah for prayer was said, and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was conversing privately with a man, and did not commence the prayer until the people slept."
It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said:
"The Iqamah for prayer was said and the people stood in rows, and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came out. Then when he stood in the place where he prayed, he remembered that he had not performed Ghusl. He said to the people: 'Stay where you are.' Then he went back to his house, then he came out with hi…
Sahl bin Sa'd said:
"There was some fighting among Banu 'Amr bin 'Awf, and news of that reached the Prophet (ﷺ). He prayed Zuhr, then he went to them to reconcile between them. Then he said to Bilal: 'O Bilal, if the time for Asr comes and I have not come back, then tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer.' When the…
It was narrated from Anas that the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) fell from a horse onto his right side.They came to visit him and the time for prayer came. When the prayer was over he said:
"The Imam is appointed to be followed. When he bows, then bow, when he stands up, then stand up, when he prostrates, then prostrate, and when he says Sami' Alldhu liman hamidah (Allah hears the one who praises Him), then say, Rabbanri lakal-hamd (Our Lord, to You be the praise)."
It was narrated from Abu Sa'eed that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saw that his companions tended to stand in the rear, so he said:
"Come forward and follow me, and let those who are behind you follow your lead. If people continue to lag behind, Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, will put them back."
(Another chain) from Abu Nadrah (from Abu Sa'eed) with similar narration.
It was narrated from Aisha may Allah be pleased with her, that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) told Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer. She said:
"The Prophet was in front of Abu Bakr and he prayed sitting down, and Abu Bakr was leading the people in prayer, and the people were behind Abu Bakr."
It was narrated that Jabir said:
"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) led us in Zuhr prayer and Abu Bakr was behind him. When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said the Takbir, Abu Bakr said the Takbir so that the people could hear."
It was narrated that Al-Aswad and 'Alqamah said:
"We entered upon 'Abdullah at midday and he said: 'There will be rulers who would be distracted from praying on time, so pray on time.' Then he stood up and prayed between him and I, and said: 'This is what I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) do."'
Buraidah bin Sufyin bin Farwah Al-Aslami narrated that a slave of his grandfather who was called Mas'Od said:
"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and Abu Bakr passed by me and Abu Bakr said to me: '0 Mas'ud, go to Abu Tamim' - meaning the man from whom he had been freed - 'and tell him to give us a camel so that we could ride, and let him send us some food and a guide to show us the way.' So I went to my former mas…
It was narrated from Anas bin Malik, that his grandmother Mulaikah invited the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) to come and eat some food that she had prepared for him. Then he said:
"Get up and I will lead you in prayer." Anas said: "So I got up and brought a reed mat of ours that had turned black from long use, and spreaded some water on it. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stood and the orphan and I stood in a row behind him, and the old woman stood behind us, and he led us in pray…
It was narrated that Anas said:
"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) entered upon us and the only people present were myself, my mother, the orphan and Umm Harh, my maternal aunt. He said: 'Stand up and I will lead you in prayer.' It was not the time for a (prescribed) prayer. And he led us in prayer."
It was narrated from Anas that he and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and his mother, and his maternal aunt (were together). The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayed, and he told Anas to stand on his right and his mother and maternal aunt behind them.
It was narrated that Ibn 'Abbas said:
"I prayed beside the Prophet (ﷺ) and Ayesha was behind us praying with us, and I was beside the Prophet (ﷺ) praying with him."
It was narrated that Anas said:
"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) led me and a woman from my family in prayer. He made me to stand on his right and the woman to stand behind us."
It was narrated that Ibn Abbas said:
"I stayed overnight with my maternal aunt Maimunah, and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) got up to pray at night. I stood on his left, so he did this to me: He took me by the head and made me stand on his right."
It was narrated that Abu Mas'ud Al-Ansiri said:
"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to gently pat our shoulders (to make sure the row was straight) at the time of prayer, and he-would say:'Keep (the rows) straight; do not differ from one another lest your hearts would be afflicted with discord. Let those who are mature and wise stand closest to me, …
It was narrated that Qais bin 'Ubad said:
"While I was in the Masjid in the first row, a man pulled me from behind and moved me aside, and took my place. By Allah, I could not focus on my prayer, then when he left I saw that it was Ubayy bin Ka'b. He said: '0 boy, may Allah protect you from harm. This is what the Prophet instructed us to do…
Abu Salamah bin 'Abdur Rahman narrated that he heard Abu Hurairah say:
"The Iqamah for prayer was said, and we stood up and the rows were straightened, before the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came out to us. Then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came to us and stood in the place where he prayed, before he said the Takbir he paused and said to us: 'Stay where you are.' So we stayed…
It was narrated that An-Numan bin Bashir said:
"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to straighten the rows like shaft of an arrow is straightened before the head is attached to it. He saw a man whose chest was sticking out from the row. I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: 'Make your rows straight or Allah will cause your faces to be deformed."
It was narrated that Al-Bara bin Azib said:
"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to go between the rows from one side to another, patting our shoulders and chests and saying: 'Do not make your rows ragged or your hearts will be filled with enmity toward one another.' And he used to say: 'Allah and His angels send Salah upon the front rows."'
It was narrated that Abu Mas'ad Al-Ansari said:
"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to gently pat our shoulders (to make sure the row was straight) at the time of prayer, and he would say: 'Keep (the rows) straight; do not differ from one another lest your hearts should suffer from discord. Let those who are mature and wise stand closest to me, then those who are next to them, then those who are next to them."'
It was narrated from Anas that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to say:
"Make your rows straight, make your rows straight, make your rows straight. By the One in Whose Hand is my soul! I can see you behind me as I can see you in front of me."
It was narrated that Anas said:
"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)turned to face us when he stood up to pray, before he said the Takbir and said: 'Make your rows straight and come close to one another, for I can see you behind my back."'
Anas narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"Make your rows solid and close together, and keep your necks in line. By the One in Whose Hand is the soul of Muhammad! I can see the shaitan entering through the gaps in the rows as if they are small sheep."
It was narrated that Jabir bin Samurah said:
"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came out to us and said:'Will you not form rows as the angels form rows before their Lord? They said: 'How do the angels form rows before their lord? He said: 'They complete the first row and fill the gaps in the rows."'
It was narrated from Al'Irbad bin Sariyah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to send Salah on the first row three times and on the second row once.
It was narrated from Anas that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
"Complete the first row, then the one behind it, and if any row is to be left incomplete let it be the last row."
It was narrated from 'Abdullih bin 'Umar that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)said:
"Whoever completes a row, may Allah be generous to him, and whoever cuts a row, may Allah cut him off."
It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said:
"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'The best rows for men are the front rows and the worst are the last, and the best rows for women are the back rows and the worst are those in the front."'
It was narrated that 'Abdul Hamid bin Mahmud said:
"We were with Anas and we prayed with one of the Amirs. They pushed us until we stood and prayed between two rows, and Anas started moving backward and said: 'We used to avoid this at the time of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)."
It was narrated that Al Bara said:
"When we prayed behind the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) I liked to be to his right."
It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Prophet (ﷺ)said:
"When any one of you leads the people in prayer, let him make it short, for among them are the sick, the weak and the elderly. And when any one of you prays by himself, let him make it as long as he wishes."
It was narrated from Anas that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to make his prayer very brief but still complete when leading people.
It was narrated from 'Abdullah bin Abi Qatadah, from his father that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"I stand in prayer, then I hear a child crying, so I make my prayer brief, because I do not want to cause hardship for his mother."
It was narrated that 'Abdullah bin 'Umar said:
"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to enjoin upon us to make the prayer short, but he would lead us in prayer and recite As-Saffat."