Establishing the Prayer and the Sunnah Regarding Them

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to pray until his feet became swollen. It was said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, Allah has forgiven you your past and future sins.’ He said: ‘Should I not be a thankful slave?’”

It was narrated that Jabir bin ‘Abdullah said:

“The Prophet (ﷺ) was asked: ‘Which prayer is best?’ He said: ‘That with the longer Qunut.’”

It was narrated from Kathir bin Murrah that Abu Fatimah told him:

“I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! Tell me of a deed that I can adhere to and act upon.’ He said: “You should prostrate, for you will not prostrate to Allah but He will raise you in status one degree thereby and erase from you one sin.”

Ma’dan bin Abu Talhah Al-Ya’muri said:

“I met Thawban and said to him: ‘Tell me a Hadith that Allah may benefit me thereby.’ But he remained silent. Then I said the same and he remained silent. That happened three times. Then he said to me: ‘You should prostrate to Allah; for I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: “No one prostrates to Allah but Allah will raise him one degree in status thereby and will erase one of his sins.” Ma’dan said: “Then I met Abu Darda’ and asked him the same question, and he gave a similar answer.”

It was narrated from ‘Ubadah bin Samit that he heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say:

“No one prostrates to Allah but Allah will record one Hasanah (good reward) for him, and will erase thereby one bad deed and raise him in status one degree. So prostrate a great deal.”

It was narrated that Anas bin Hakim Dabbi said:

“Abu Hurairah said to me: ‘When you go to your country, tell them that I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: “The first thing for which the Muslim will be brought to account on the Day of Resurrection will be the prescribed prayers. If they are complete, all well and good, otherwise it will be said: ‘Look and see whether he has any voluntary prayers.’ If he has any voluntary prayers, his prescribed prayers will be completed from his voluntary prayers. Then the same will be done with regard to all his obligatory deeds.”

It was narrated from Tamim Dari that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“The first thing for which a person will be brought to account on the Day of Resurrection will be his prayer. If it is complete, then the voluntary (prayers) will also be recorded for him (as an increase). If it is not complete then Allah will say to His angels: ‘Look and see whether you find any voluntary prayers for My slave, and take them to make up what is lacking from his obligatory prayers.’ Then all his deeds will be reckoned in like manner.”

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

“Is anyone of you incapable, when he prays, of stepping forwards or backwards, or to his right or left?” meaning in order to offer a voluntary prayer.

It was narrated from Al-Mughirah bin Shu’bah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

“The Imam should not pray in the place where he offered the obligatory prayer, until he moves aside.” Another chain from Mughirah, from the Prophet (ﷺ) with similar wording.

It was narrated that ‘Abdur-Rahman bin Shibl said:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade three things: Pecking like a crow, spreading (the forearms) like a beast of prey, and a man having a place in the mosque in which he usually offers the prayer, like a camel has a place to which it usually goes.”

It was narrated from Yazid bin Abu ‘Ubaid that Salamah bin Al-Akwa’ used to offer the Duha prayer, and he would come to the pillar that was near the Mushaf. I said to him:

“Why do you not pray over there?” And I pointed to some corner of the mosque. He said: “I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) seeking out this place.”

It was narrated that ‘Abdullah bin Sa’ib said:

“I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) praying on the Day of the Conquest, and he put his shoes on his left.”

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Keep your shoes on your feet. If you take them off then place them between your two feet; do not place them to your right, or to the right of your companions, or behind you, for they may annoy whoever is behind you.’”

Muhammad bin ‘Amr bin ‘Ata’ said:

“I heard Abu Humaid As-Sa’idi say: ‘When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stood up for prayer, he would face the prayer direction, raise his hands, and say: “Allahu Akbar (Allah is Most Great).”

It was narrated that Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri said:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to start his prayer by saying: ‘Subhanaka Allahumma wa bi hamdika, wa tabarakas-muka, wa ta’ala jadduka, wa la ilaha ghairuka (Glory and praise be to You, O Allah, blessed be Your Name and exalted be Your majesty, none has the right to be worshipped but you).”

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said:

“When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said the Takbir (Allah Akbar), he would remain silent between the Takbir and the recitation. I said: ‘May my father and mother be ransomed for you! I noticed that you are silent between the Takbir and the recitation; please tell me what you say then.’ He said: ‘I say: ‘Allahumma ba’id baini wa baina khatayaya kama ba’adta bainal-mashriqi wal-maghrib; Allahumma naqqini min khatayay kath-thawbil abyad minad- danas; Allahummaghsilni min khatayaya bil-ma’i waththalji wal-barad (O Allah, distance me from my sins as You have distanced the east from the west; O Allah purify me of my sins as a white garment is purified of dirt; O Allah, cleanse me of my sins with water and snow and hail).”

It was narrated from ‘Aishah that when the Prophet (ﷺ) started Salat he would say:

“Subhanak Allahumma wa bi hamdika, wa tabarakas- muka wa ta’ala jadduka, wa la ilaha ghayruk (Glory and praise is to You, O Allah, blessed is Your Name and exalted is Your majesty, none has the right to be worshipped but You).”

It was narrated from Ibn Jubair bin Mut’im that his father said:

“I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) when he started the prayer. He said: ‘Allahu Akbaru kabiran, Allahu Akbaru kabiran (Allah is the Most Great indeed),’ three times; ‘Al-hamdu Lillahi kathiran, al-hamdu Lillahi kathiran (Much praise is to Allah),’ three times; ‘Subhan Allahi bukratan wa asilan (Glory is to Allah morning and evening),’ three times; ‘Allahumma inni a’udhu bika minash-Shaitanir-rajim, min hamzihi wa nafkhihi wa nafthihi (O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the accursed Satan, from his madness, his poetry, and his pride).”

It was narrated from Ibn Mas’ud that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“Allahumma inni a’udhu bika minash-Shaitanir-rajim, wa hamzihi wa nafkhihi wa nafthihi (O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the accursed Satan, from his madness, his pride, and his poetry).”

It was narrated from Qabisah bin Hulb that his father said:

“The Prophet (ﷺ) used to lead us in prayer, and he would take hold of his left hand with his right.”