Prayer

Abu Huraira said that when God’s Messenger had finished a prayer in which he had recited aloud, he asked, “Did any of you recite along with me just now?” When a man replied that he had, he said, “I am wondering what is the matter with me that I should be contended with regarding the Qur’an.” He said that when the people heard that from God’s Messenger they ceased reciting along with him the passages which he recited aloud in the prayers. Malik, Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, and Nasa'i transmitted it, and Ibn Majah transmitted something similar.

Ibn ‘Umar and al-Bayadi reported God’s Messenger as saying, “He who prays holds intimate converse with his Lord, so he must consider how he does so, and none of you must recite the Qur’an more loudly than others. Ahmad transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The <i>imam</i> is appointed only to be followed, so when he says the <i>takbir</i>, say it also; and when he recites, listen silently.” Abu Dawud, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. Abu Aufa told of a man who came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said, “I am unable to learn any of the Qur’an, so teach me something which will suffice me.” He told him to say, “Glory be to God; Praise be to God; There is no god but God; God is most great; There is no might and no power except in God.” He said, “Messenger of God, this is for God; but what is there for me?” He told him to say, “O God, have mercy on me, heal me, guide me, and provide for me.” He said that the man clenched his hands, whereupon God’s Messenger said, “This man has filled his hands with good.” Abu Dawud transmitted it, and Nasa’i’s transmission finished with “except in God.”

Ibn ‘Abbas said that when the Prophet (ﷺ) recited, “Glorify the name of your most high Lord,” (Al-Quran; 87) he said, “Glory be to my Lord most high.” Ahmad and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying:

When one of you recites, "By the fig and the olive”1 and comes to "Is not God the best of judges?”2 he should say, "Certainly, and I am one of those who testify to that.” When one recites, "I swear by the day of resurrection”3 and comes to "Is not that One able to raise the dead to life?’4 he should say, "Certainly.” And when one recites, "By those that are sent”5 and comes to "Then in what message after that will they believe?”6 he should say, "We believe in God.” 1. Al-Qur’an; 95 2. Verse 8 3. Al-Qur’an; 75 4. Verse 40. 5. Al-Qur’an; 77 6. Verse 50. Abu Dawud transmitted it, and Tirmidhi transmitted up to "and I am one of those who testify to that.”

Jabir said that God’s Messenger came out to his companions and recited to them <i>Sura ar-Rahman</i>1 from beginning to end, but they remained silent. He then said:

I have recited it to the jinn on the night they came to me, 2 and they responded better than you. As often as I came to the words, "Then which of the favours of your Lord do you deny?” they replied, "We deny none of Your favours, O our Lord. To You be the praise.” 1. Al-Qur’an; 55. 2. When the Prophet (ﷺ) was returning to Mecca after being rejected by the people of at-Ta’if. Tirmidhi transmitted it and said this is a <i>gharib tradition</i>.

Mu'adh b. ‘Abdallah. al-Juhani said that a man of Juhaina told him he had heard God’s Messenger reciting "When the earth is shaken”(Al-Qur’an; 99) in both <i>rak'as</i> of the morning prayer, but did not know whether he had forgotten, or whether he recited it on purpose. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

‘Urwa said that Abu Bakr as-Siddlq prayed the Morning Prayer and recited <i>Sura al-Baqara</i> (Al-Qur’an; 2) in both the <i>rak'as</i>. Malik transmitted it.

Al-Farafisa b. 'Umair al-Hanafi said that he learned <i>Sura Yusuf</i> (Al-Qur’an; 12) simply from the recitation of it by ‘Uthman b. ‘Affan in the morning prayer, owing to the great number of times he repeated it. Malik transmitted it.

‘Amir b. Rabi'a said that they prayed the morning prayer behind ‘Umar b. al-Khattab and that he recited slowly in both <i>rak'as</i> <i>Sura Yusuf</i> and <i>Sura al-Hajj</i> (Al-Qur’an; 22). When someone remarked that he must have begun the prayer at break of day he replied that that was so. Malik transmitted it.

‘Amr b. Shu'aib on his father’s authority quoted his grandfather as saying, “There is no short or long <i>sura</i> in <i>al-Mufassal</i>* which I have not heard God’s Messenger reciting when he led the people in the prescribed prayer.” * A name applied to the latter part of the Qur’an because there are many divisions, but opinions differ about where it begins. Lane mentions the different views in his Lexicon, pp 2407 f., saying the most correct opinion is that it begins with <i>sura</i> 49. Malik transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Utba b. Mas'ud said that God’s Messenger recited at the sunset prayer <i>H.M. ad-Dukhan</i> (Al-Qur’an; 44). Nasa’i transmitted it in <i>mursal</i> form.

Anas reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Perform the bowing and the prostration properly, for I swear by God that I can see you behind me." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Al-Bara,’ said that the bowing observed by the Prophet, his prostration, his sitting between the two <i>sajdas</i>, and when he raised his head after bowing, but not the standing [during recitation of the Qur’an] and the sitting [when saying the <i>shahada</i>, were nearly equal. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Anas said:

When the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “God listens to him who praises Him,” he stood so long that we thought he had omitted something; then he would prostrate himself and sit between the <i>sajdas</i> so long that we thought he had omitted something. Muslim transmitted it.

‘A’isha told how the Prophet (ﷺ) often said while bowing and prostrating himself, “Glory be to You, O God, our Lord, and praise be to You. O God, forgive me," thus complying with the [command in] the Qur’an (Al-Qur’an; 110-3). (Bukhari and Muslim.)

She told how the Prophet (ﷺ) used to say when bowing and prostrating himself, “All-Glorious, All-Holy, Lord of the angels and the spirit." Muslim transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s Messenger as saying, “I have been prohibited to recite the Qur’an when bowing or prostrating myself; so when bowing magnify the Lord, and when prostrating yourselves be earnest in supplication, for it is fitting that your supplications should be answered.’’ Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying:

When the imam says, “God listens to him who praises Him," say, “O God, our Lord, to You be the praise for if what anyone says synchronises with what the angels say, he will be forgiven his past sins. (Bukhari and Muslim.)