Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat)

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When Allah created Adam (peace be upon him), He said to him: 'Go and greet those – a group of angels who were sitting – and listen to what they are going to say in response to your greeting as that will be your greeting and the greeting of your offspring.' He (Adam) said: 'As-Salāmu ‘alaykum (peace be upon you).' They replied: 'As-Salāmu ‘alayk wa rahmatullāh (Peace and mercy of Allah be upon you),' thus adding 'wa-rahmatullāh (and mercy of Allah)' in their response to his greeting."

Wā’il ibn Hujr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I prayed with the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), and he used to make Taslīm (salutation of peace ending the prayer) to his right saying: "May Allah's peace, mercy, and blessings be upon you," and to his left saying: "May Allah's peace and mercy be upon you."

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) led us in one of the two afternoon prayers." Ibn Sirīn said: "Abu Hurayrah mentioned it by name but I forgot it." Abu Hurayrah added: "He (the Prophet) prayed two Rak‘ahs and then finished the prayer with Taslīm. Then, he went toward a piece of wood laying across the mosque and leaned upon it in such a way as if he was angry. He placed his right hand over the left and interlaced his fingers. The people who were in a haste left the mosque through its gates, saying: 'The prayer has been shortened.' Abu Bakr and ‘Umar, who were present at that time, did not dare to talk to the Prophet. Also among them was a long−handed man called Dhu al-Yadayn who asked the Prophet: 'O Messenger of Allah, have you forgotten or has the prayer been shortened?' He replied: 'I have not forgotten, nor has it been shortened," then he said: 'Is what Dhu al-Yadayn has said true?' They (the people) answered in the affirmative. So he moved forward and prayed what he missed, then finished the prayer. Then he made Takbīr and prostrated as he normally did or longer. Then he raised his head and made Takbīr. He made Takbīr again and prostrated as he normally did or longer. Then he raised his head and made Takbīr." When people asked Ibn Sirīn if the Prophet offered Taslīm, he said: "I was informed that ‘Imrān ibn Husayn said that he offered Taslīm."

‘Abdullāh (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) offered the prayer. Ibrahīm, a sub-narrator, said: "I do not know whether he prayed more or less than usual." When he finished the prayer, he was asked: "O Messenger of Allah, has there been any change to the prayer?" He said: "What is it?" The people said: "You have prayed such-and-such." Thereupon, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) bent his legs, faced the Qiblah, performed two prostrations, and then made Taslīm. When he turned his face to us, he said: "If there was any change to the prayer, I would surely inform you; but I am a human being like you and liable to forget like you. So if I do forget, remind me, and if anyone of you is doubtful about his prayer, he should follow what he thinks to be correct and complete his prayer accordingly, make Taslīm, and then offer two prostrations."

Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When anyone of you is in doubt about his prayer, not knowing how much he prayed, three or four, let him dispel the doubt and build upon what he is certain about, then perform two prostrations before making Taslīm. If he has prayed five, they will make his prayer even-numbered, and if he has prayed exactly four, they will be humiliation for the devil."

Ziyād ibn ‘Alāqah reported: Al-Mughīrah ibn Shu‘bah led us in prayer, and he stood up directly after offering the second Rak‘ah (without sitting for Tashahhud), so we said: "Glory be to Allah" whereupon he said: "Glory be to Allah" and continued with the prayer. When he completed his prayer and ended it with Taslīm, he made two prostrations of forgetfulness. When he left the prayer, he said: "I saw the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) do as I did."

Thawbān (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "For each forgetfulness (in prayer) there are two prostrations after making Taslīm."

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "He who performs ablution properly and then comes to the Friday prayer and listens to it attentively and keeps silent, his sins between that Friday and the following Friday will be forgiven, with the addition of three more days; but he who touches a pebble has engaged in idle activity."

Abu al-Ja‘d ad-Damri (may Allah be pleased with him), who had a companionship with the Prophet, reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever abandons three Fridays out of negligence, Allah seals his heart."

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to recite two Sūrahs to read in the Fajr prayer on Friday: Sūrat As-Sajdah and Sūrat al-Insān.

Abu Hāzim ibn Dinār reported: Some men came to Sahl ibn Sa'd as-Sā‘idi. They were wondering what kind of wood the Pulpit was made of. So, they asked him about it, and he said: "By Allah, I know what it is made of. I saw it the first day it was set up, and the first day the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) sat on it. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) sent to so-and-so - a woman from the Ansār whose name was mentioned by Sahl - telling her: 'Tell your carpenter slave to make for me some pieces of wood that I can sit on when I speak to the people.' So, she told him, and he made it from Tamarisk wood from Al-Ghābah (a place near Madīnah). Then, he brought it, and it was sent to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), who commanded that it be set up here. Then, I saw the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) pray on it and say the takbīr while he was on it, and then he bowed while he was on it, and then he came down backwards and prostrated at the base of the Pulpit; and then he went back. When he finished, he turned to the people and said: 'O people, I only did this so that you can follow my example and learn my prayer.'"