The Book of Prayers
كتاب الصلاة
Read the English translation first, with the original Arabic directly underneath.
Hadith
Al-Bara' b. 'Azib reported:
I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) reciting in the night prayer:" By the Fig and the Olive," and I have never heard anyone with a sweeter voice than he.
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ نُمَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا مِسْعَرٌ، عَنْ عَدِيِّ بْنِ ثَابِتٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ الْبَرَاءَ بْنَ عَازِبٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَرَأَ فِي الْعِشَاءِ بِالتِّينِ وَالزَّيْتُونِ . فَمَا سَمِعْتُ أَحَدًا أَحْسَنَ صَوْتًا مِنْهُ .
Jabir reported that Mu'adh b. Jabal used to pray with the Messenger (ﷺ), then came and led his people in prayer. One night he said the night prayer with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He then came to his people and led them in prayer beginning with Surat al-Baqara. A man turned aside, pronounced the taslim (salutation for concluding the prayer), then prayed alone and departed. The people said to him:
Have you become a hypocrite, so and so? He said: I swear by Allah that I have not, but I will certainly go to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and will inform (him) about this. He then came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said: Messenger of Allah, we look after camels used for watering and work by day. Mu'adh said the night prayer with you. He then came and began with Surat al-Baqara. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) then turned to Mu'adh and said: Are you there to (put the people) to trial? Recite such and recite such (and such a surah). It is transmitted on the authority of Jabir, as told by Sufyan, that he (the Prophet) had said: "By the sun and its morning brightness" (Surah xci), "By brightness" (Surah xciii), "By the night when it spreads" (Surah xcii), and "Glorify the name of your most high Lord" (Surah lxxxii).
حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبَّادٍ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ كَانَ مُعَاذٌ يُصَلِّي مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ثُمَّ يَأْتِي فَيَؤُمُّ قَوْمَهُ فَصَلَّى لَيْلَةً مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم الْعِشَاءَ ثُمَّ أَتَى قَوْمَهُ فَأَمَّهُمْ فَافْتَتَحَ بِسُورَةِ الْبَقَرَةِ فَانْحَرَفَ رَجُلٌ فَسَلَّمَ ثُمَّ صَلَّى وَحْدَهُ وَانْصَرَفَ فَقَالُوا لَهُ أَنَافَقْتَ يَا فُلاَنُ قَالَ لاَ وَاللَّهِ وَلآتِيَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلأُخْبِرَنَّهُ . فَأَتَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّا أَصْحَابُ نَوَاضِحَ نَعْمَلُ بِالنَّهَارِ وَإِنَّ مُعَاذًا صَلَّى مَعَكَ الْعِشَاءَ ثُمَّ أَتَى فَافْتَتَحَ بِسُورَةِ الْبَقَرَةِ . فَأَقْبَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى مُعَاذٍ فَقَالَ " يَا مُعَاذُ أَفَتَّانٌ أَنْتَ اقْرَأْ بِكَذَا وَاقْرَأْ بِكَذَا " . قَالَ سُفْيَانُ فَقُلْتُ لِعَمْرٍو إِنَّ أَبَا الزُّبَيْرِ حَدَّثَنَا عَنْ جَابِرٍ أَنَّهُ قَالَ " اقْرَأْ وَالشَّمْسِ وَضُحَاهَا . وَالضُّحَى . وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَى . وَسَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الأَعْلَى " . فَقَالَ عَمْرٌو نَحْوَ هَذَا .
Jabir b. Abdullah reported:
Mu'adh said the night prayer with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He then came to the mosque of his people and led them in prayer.
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، وَأَبُو الرَّبِيعِ الزَّهْرَانِيُّ، قَالَ أَبُو الرَّبِيعِ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادٌ، حَدَّثَنَا أَيُّوبُ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ دِينَارٍ، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ كَانَ مُعَاذٌ يُصَلِّي مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم الْعِشَاءَ ثُمَّ يَأْتِي مَسْجِدَ قَوْمِهِ فَيُصَلِّي بِهِمْ .
Jabir reported:
'Mu'adh b. Jabal al-Ansari led his companions in the night prayer and prolonged it for them. A person amongst us said prayer (after having separated himself from the congregation). Mu'adh was informed of this, and he remarked that he was a hypocrite. When it (the remark) was conveyed to the man, he went to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and informed him of what Mu'adh had said. Upon this the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to him: Mu'adh, do you want to become a person putting (people) to trial? When you lead people in prayer, recite:" By the Sun and its morning brightness" (Surat ash-Shams)," Glorify the name of your most high Lord" (Surat al-A`la) and" Read in the name of Lord" (Surat al-`Alaq), and" By the night when it spreads" (Surat al-Lail).
أَتُرِيدُ أَنْ تَكُونَ فَتَّانًا يَا مُعَاذُ إِذَا أَمَمْتَ النَّاسَ فَاقْرَأْ بِالشَّمْسِ وَضُحَاهَا . وَسَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الأَعْلَى . وَاقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ . وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَى
Jabir b. 'Abdullah reported:
Mu'adh b. Jabal said the night prayer with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and then returned to his people and then led them in this prayer.
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، أَخْبَرَنَا هُشَيْمٌ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ دِينَارٍ، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، أَنَّ مُعَاذَ بْنَ جَبَلٍ، كَانَ يُصَلِّي مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم الْعِشَاءَ الآخِرَةَ ثُمَّ يَرْجِعُ إِلَى قَوْمِهِ فَيُصَلِّي بِهِمْ تِلْكَ الصَّلاَةَ .
Abu Mas'ud al-Ainsari reported:
A person came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said: I keep away from the morning prayer on account of such and such (a man), because; he keeps us so long. I never saw God's Messenger (ﷺ) more angry when giving an exhortation than he was that day. He said: 0 people, some of you are scaring people away. So whoever of you leads the people in prayer he must be brief, for behind him are the weak, the aged, and the people who have (argent) business to attend.
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّ مِنْكُمْ مُنَفِّرِينَ فَأَيُّكُمْ أَمَّ النَّاسَ فَلْيُوجِزْ فَإِنَّ مِنْ وَرَائِهِ الْكَبِيرَ وَالضَّعِيفَ وَذَا الْحَاجَةِ
This hadith like one narrated by Hashalm has been narrated from Isma'il with the same chain of transmitters.
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا هُشَيْمٌ، وَوَكِيعٌ، ح قَالَ وَحَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ نُمَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي ح، وَحَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، كُلُّهُمْ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، فِي هَذَا الإِسْنَادِ بِمِثْلِ حَدِيثِ هُشَيْمٍ .
Abu Huraira reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: When any one of you leads the people in prayer, he should be brief for among them are the young and the aged, the weak and the sick. But when one of you prays by himself, he may (prolong) as he likes.
إِذَا أَمَّ أَحَدُكُمُ النَّاسَ فَلْيُخَفِّفْ فَإِنَّ فِيهِمُ الصَّغِيرَ وَالْكَبِيرَ وَالضَّعِيفَ وَالْمَرِيضَ فَإِذَا صَلَّى وَحْدَهُ فَلْيُصَلِّ كَيْفَ شَاءَ
Hammam b. Munabbih reported:
This is what Abu Huraira transmitted to us from Muhammad the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and he narrated (some) ahadith out of (these narrations and one of them is this): The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: When any one of you stands to lead people In prayer, he should shorten it, for amongst them are the aged, and amongst them are the weak, but when he prays by himself, he may prolong his prayer as he likes.
إِذَا مَا قَامَ أَحَدُكُمْ لِلنَّاسِ فَلْيُخَفِّفِ الصَّلاَةَ فَإِنَّ فِيهِمُ الْكَبِيرَ وَفِيهِمُ الضَّعِيفَ وَإِذَا قَامَ وَحْدَهُ فَلْيُطِلْ صَلاَتَهُ مَا شَاءَ
Abu Huraira reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: When any one of you leads people in prayer, he must shorten it for among them are the weak, the infirm and those who have business to attend.
إِذَا صَلَّى أَحَدُكُمْ لِلنَّاسِ فَلْيُخَفِّفْ فَإِنَّ فِي النَّاسِ الضَّعِيفَ وَالسَّقِيمَ وَذَا الْحَاجَةِ
Abu Bakr b. 'Abd al-Rahman reported that he had heard Abu Huraira say that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said like it, but he substituted" the aged" for 'the infirm".
وَحَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ بْنُ شُعَيْبِ بْنِ اللَّيْثِ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي، حَدَّثَنِي اللَّيْثُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، حَدَّثَنِي يُونُسُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم . بِمِثْلِهِ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ - بَدَلَ السَّقِيمِ - الْكَبِيرَ .
Uthman b. Abu'l-'As at-Thaqafi reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to him: Lead your people in prayer. I said: Messenger of Allah. I perceive something (disturbing) in my soul. He (the Prophet) asked me to draw near him and making me sit down in front of him he placed his hand on my breast between my nipples. and then, telling me to turn round, he placed it on my back between my shoulders. He then said: Act as an Imam for your people. He who acts as Imam of the people, he must be brief, for among them are the aged, among them are the sick, among them are the weak, and among them are the people who have business to attend. But when any of you prays alone, he may pray as he likes.
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ نُمَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عُثْمَانَ، حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ طَلْحَةَ، حَدَّثَنِي عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي الْعَاصِ الثَّقَفِيُّ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ لَهُ " أُمَّ قَوْمَكَ " . قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي أَجِدُ فِي نَفْسِي شَيْئًا . قَالَ " ادْنُهْ " . فَجَلَّسَنِي بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ ثُمَّ وَضَعَ كَفَّهُ فِي صَدْرِي بَيْنَ ثَدْيَىَّ ثُمَّ قَالَ " تَحَوَّلْ " . فَوَضَعَهَا فِي ظَهْرِي بَيْنَ كَتِفَىَّ ثُمَّ قَالَ " أُمَّ قَوْمَكَ فَمَنْ أَمَّ قَوْمًا فَلْيُخَفِّفْ فَإِنَّ فِيهِمُ الْكَبِيرَ وَإِنَّ فِيهِمُ الْمَرِيضَ وَإِنَّ فِيهِمُ الضَّعِيفَ وَإِنَّ فِيهِمْ ذَا الْحَاجَةِ وَإِذَا صَلَّى أَحَدُكُمْ وَحْدَهُ فَلْيُصَلِّ كَيْفَ شَاءَ " .
Uthman b. Abu'l-'As reported:
The last thing which the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) instructed me was: When you lead the people in prayer, be brief.
إِذَا أَمَمْتَ قَوْمًا فَأَخِفَّ بِهِمُ الصَّلاَةَ
Anas reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to be brief and perfect in prayer.
وَحَدَّثَنَا خَلَفُ بْنُ هِشَامٍ، وَأَبُو الرَّبِيعِ الزَّهْرَانِيُّ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ بْنِ صُهَيْبٍ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يُوجِزُ فِي الصَّلاَةِ وَيُتِمُّ .
Anas reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was among those whose prayers was brief and perfect.
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، وَقُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، قَالَ يَحْيَى أَخْبَرَنَا وَقَالَ، قُتَيْبَةُ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ مِنْ أَخَفِّ النَّاسِ صَلاَةً فِي تَمَامٍ .
Anas reported:
I never prayed behind an Imam who was more brief and more perfect in prayer than the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).
وَحَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، وَيَحْيَى بْنُ أَيُّوبَ، وَقُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، وَعَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ، قَالَ يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى أَخْبَرَنَا وَقَالَ الآخَرُونَ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، - يَعْنُونَ ابْنَ جَعْفَرٍ - عَنْ شَرِيكِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي نَمِرٍ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ مَا صَلَّيْتُ وَرَاءَ إِمَامٍ قَطُّ أَخَفَّ صَلاَةً وَلاَ أَتَمَّ صَلاَةً مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم .
Anas reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would listen to the crying of a lad in the company of his mother, in prayer, and he would recite a short surah or a small surah.
وَحَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، أَخْبَرَنَا جَعْفَرُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، عَنْ ثَابِتٍ الْبُنَانِيِّ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ أَنَسٌ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَسْمَعُ بُكَاءَ الصَّبِيِّ مَعَ أُمِّهِ وَهُوَ فِي الصَّلاَةِ فَيَقْرَأُ بِالسُّورَةِ الْخَفِيفَةِ أَوْ بِالسُّورَةِ الْقَصِيرَةِ .
Anas b. Malik reported the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) having said:
When I begin the prayer I Intend to make it long, but I hear a boy cry. ing; I then shorten it because of his mother's feelings.
إِنِّي لأَدْخُلُ الصَّلاَةَ أُرِيدُ إِطَالَتَهَا فَأَسْمَعُ بُكَاءَ الصَّبِيِّ فَأُخَفِّفُ مِنْ شِدَّةِ وَجْدِ أُمِّهِ بِهِ
Al-Bara' b. 'Azib reported:
I noticed the prayer of Muhammad (ﷺ) and saw his Qiyam (standing), his bowing, and then going back to the standing posture after bowing, his prostration, his sitting between the two prostrations, and his prostration and sitting between salutation and going away, all these were nearly equal to one another.
وَحَدَّثَنَا حَامِدُ بْنُ عُمَرَ الْبَكْرَاوِيُّ، وَأَبُو كَامِلٍ فُضَيْلُ بْنُ حُسَيْنٍ الْجَحْدَرِيُّ كِلاَهُمَا عَنْ أَبِي عَوَانَةَ، - قَالَ حَامِدٌ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، - عَنْ هِلاَلِ بْنِ أَبِي حُمَيْدٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي لَيْلَى، عَنِ الْبَرَاءِ بْنِ عَازِبٍ، قَالَ رَمَقْتُ الصَّلاَةَ مَعَ مُحَمَّدٍ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَوَجَدْتُ قِيَامَهُ فَرَكْعَتَهُ فَاعْتِدَالَهُ بَعْدَ رُكُوعِهِ فَسَجْدَتَهُ فَجَلْسَتَهُ بَيْنَ السَّجْدَتَيْنِ فَسَجْدَتَهُ فَجَلْسَتَهُ مَا بَيْنَ التَّسْلِيمِ وَالاِنْصِرَافِ قَرِيبًا مِنَ السَّوَاءِ .
Hakam reported:
There dominated in Kufa a man whose name was men- tioned as Zaman b. al-Ash'ath, who ordered Abu 'Ubaidah b. 'Abdullah to lead people in prayer and he accordingly used to lead them. Whenever he raised his head after bowing, he stood up equal to the time that I can recite (this supplication): O Allah! our Lord! unto You be the praise which would fill the heavens and the earth, and that which will please You besides them I Worthy are You of all praise and glory. None can prevent that which You bestowest, and none can bestow that whichthou preventest. And the greatness of the great will not avail him against You. Hakam (the narrator) said: I made a mention of that to Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Laila who reported: I heard al-Bara' b. 'Azib say that the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and his bowing, and when he lifted his head from bowing, and his prostration, and between the two prostrations (all these acts) were nearly proportionate. I made a mention of that to 'Ar b. Murrah and he said: I saw Ibn Abi Laili (saying the prayer), but his prayer was not like this.
وَحَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُعَاذٍ الْعَنْبَرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنِ الْحَكَمِ، قَالَ غَلَبَ عَلَى الْكُوفَةِ رَجُلٌ - قَدْ سَمَّاهُ - زَمَنَ ابْنِ الأَشْعَثِ فَأَمَرَ أَبَا عُبَيْدَةَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ بِالنَّاسِ فَكَانَ يُصَلِّي فَإِذَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ الرُّكُوعِ قَامَ قَدْرَ مَا أَقُولُ اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ مِلْءَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَمِلْءَ الأَرْضِ وَمِلْءَ مَا شِئْتَ مِنْ شَىْءٍ بَعْدُ أَهْلَ الثَّنَاءِ وَالْمَجْدِ لاَ مَانِعَ لِمَا أَعْطَيْتَ وَلاَ مُعْطِيَ لِمَا مَنَعْتَ وَلاَ يَنْفَعُ ذَا الْجَدِّ مِنْكَ الْجَدُّ . قَالَ الْحَكَمُ فَذَكَرْتُ ذَلِكَ لِعَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي لَيْلَى فَقَالَ سَمِعْتُ الْبَرَاءَ بْنَ عَازِبٍ يَقُولُ كَانَتْ صَلاَةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَرُكُوعُهُ وَإِذَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ الرُّكُوعِ وَسُجُودُهُ وَمَا بَيْنَ السَّجْدَتَيْنِ قَرِيبًا مِنَ السَّوَاءِ . قَالَ شُعْبَةُ فَذَكَرْتُهُ لِعَمْرِو بْنِ مُرَّةَ فَقَالَ قَدْ رَأَيْتُ ابْنَ أَبِي لَيْلَى فَلَمْ تَكُنْ صَلاَتُهُ هَكَذَا .