The Book of Forgetfulness (In Prayer)

Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) used to teach us the Tashahhud just as he used to teach us a Sūrah from the Qur’an. He used to say: "All blessed greetings and good prayers are due to Allah; peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings; peace be upon us and upon the righteous slaves of Allah. I bear witness that none has the right to be worshiped but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger)." In another narration by Ibn Rumh: “As he used to teach us the Qur’an.”

Hittān ibn' Abdullāh ar-Raqāshi reported: I observed prayer with Abu Mūsa al-Ash'ari, and when he was in the tashahhud, someone among the people said: "The prayer has been made obligatory along with benevolence and Zakah." When Abu Mūsa finished the prayer and made taslīm, he turned to the people and said: "Who amongst you said such and such thing?" A hush fell on the people. He again said: "Who amongst you has said such and such thing?" A hush fell on the people. He said, "O Hittān, perhaps you have uttered it." Hittān said: "No, I have not uttered it. I feared you might be annoyed with me because of this." A person amongst the people said: "It was I who said it, and I intended nothing but good with it." Abu Mūsa said: "Do you not know what you have to say in your prayers? Verily, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) addressed us, explaining to us our Sunnah and teaching us our prayer, and said: 'When you pray, straighten your rows and let one of you lead in prayer, and when he says takbīr, say takbīr; when he recites {Not of those who incurred Your Wrath, or of those who went astray} [Surat al-Fātihah: 7], say 'amen'; and Allah will respond to you. And when he says takbīr, you also say takbīr, for the Imām bows and rises before you.' Then, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'This is equivalent to that. And when he says, 'Sami'a Allāhu liman hamidah' (Allah hears he who praises Him), you should say: 'Allahumma rabbanā laka al-hamd' (O Allah, our Lord, praise be to You), and Allah will hear you, for Allah Almighty said through the tongue of His Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him): Allah hears he who praises Him. And when he says takbīr and prostrates, you should also say takbīr and prostrate, for the Imām prostrates before you and rises before you.' Then, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'This is equivalent to that. And when he sits for tashahhud, the first words of everyone amongst you should be: 'Attaḥiyyāt at-ṭayyibāt aṣ-ṣalawātu lillāhi, assalāmu 'alayka 'ayyuh an-nabiyyu wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuh, assalāmu' alayna wa 'alā 'ibadillāhi aṣ-ṣāliḥīn. Ash'hadu an lā 'ilāha illā Allah wa ash'hadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasūluh.' (All greetings, good things, and prayers are due to Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and Allah's mercy and blessings. Peace be upon us and the righteous servants of Allah. I testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger)."

Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) used to teach us the Tashahhud just as he used to teach us a Sūrah from the Qur’an. He used to say: "All blessed greetings and good prayers are due to Allah; peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings; peace be upon us and upon the righteous slaves of Allah. I bear witness that none has the right to be worshiped but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger)." In another narration by Ibn Rumh: “As he used to teach us the Qur’an.”

‘Abdullāh ibn Mas‘ūd (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Allah has angels traveling around on earth conveying to me the greetings of my Ummah.”

‘Abdur-Rahmān ibn Abi Layla reported: I came across Ka‘b ibn ‘Ujrah who said: Shall I offer you a present? The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) came out to us, and we said: O Messenger of Allah, we have learned how to greet you, but how should we invoke the blessings of Allah upon you? He said: "Say: Allāhumma salli ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala āli Muhammad kama sallayta ‘ala āli Ibrāhīm innaka hamīdun majīd. Allāhumma bārik' ala Muhammad wa' ala āli Muhammad kama bārakta' ala āli Ibrāhīm innaka hamīdun majīd (O Allah, bestow Your grace upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad just as You bestowed Your grace upon the family of Abraham. Verily, You are Praiseworthy, All-Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad just as You blessed the family of Abraham. Verily, You are Praiseworthy, All-Glorious)."

‘Abdur-Rahmān ibn Abi Layla reported: I came across Ka‘b ibn ‘Ujrah who said: Shall I offer you a present? The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) came out to us, and we said: O Messenger of Allah, we have learned how to greet you, but how should we invoke the blessings of Allah upon you? He said: "Say: Allāhumma salli ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala āli Muhammad kama sallayta ‘ala āli Ibrāhīm innaka hamīdun majīd. Allāhumma bārik' ala Muhammad wa' ala āli Muhammad kama bārakta' ala āli Ibrāhīm innaka hamīdun majīd (O Allah, bestow Your grace upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad just as You bestowed Your grace upon the family of Abraham. Verily, You are Praiseworthy, All-Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad just as You blessed the family of Abraham. Verily, You are Praiseworthy, All-Glorious)."

‘Abdur-Rahmān ibn Abi Layla reported: I came across Ka‘b ibn ‘Ujrah who said: Shall I offer you a present? The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) came out to us, and we said: O Messenger of Allah, we have learned how to greet you, but how should we invoke the blessings of Allah upon you? He said: "Say: Allāhumma salli ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala āli Muhammad kama sallayta ‘ala āli Ibrāhīm innaka hamīdun majīd. Allāhumma bārik' ala Muhammad wa' ala āli Muhammad kama bārakta' ala āli Ibrāhīm innaka hamīdun majīd (O Allah, bestow Your grace upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad just as You bestowed Your grace upon the family of Abraham. Verily, You are Praiseworthy, All-Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad just as You blessed the family of Abraham. Verily, You are Praiseworthy, All-Glorious)."

‘Abdur-Rahmān ibn Abi Layla reported: I came across Ka‘b ibn ‘Ujrah who said: Shall I offer you a present? The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) came out to us, and we said: O Messenger of Allah, we have learned how to greet you, but how should we invoke the blessings of Allah upon you? He said: "Say: Allāhumma salli ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala āli Muhammad kama sallayta ‘ala āli Ibrāhīm innaka hamīdun majīd. Allāhumma bārik' ala Muhammad wa' ala āli Muhammad kama bārakta' ala āli Ibrāhīm innaka hamīdun majīd (O Allah, bestow Your grace upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad just as You bestowed Your grace upon the family of Abraham. Verily, You are Praiseworthy, All-Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad just as You blessed the family of Abraham. Verily, You are Praiseworthy, All-Glorious)."

‘Abdur-Rahmān ibn Abi Layla reported: I came across Ka‘b ibn ‘Ujrah who said: Shall I offer you a present? The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) came out to us, and we said: O Messenger of Allah, we have learned how to greet you, but how should we invoke the blessings of Allah upon you? He said: "Say: Allāhumma salli ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala āli Muhammad kama sallayta ‘ala āli Ibrāhīm innaka hamīdun majīd. Allāhumma bārik' ala Muhammad wa' ala āli Muhammad kama bārakta' ala āli Ibrāhīm innaka hamīdun majīd (O Allah, bestow Your grace upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad just as You bestowed Your grace upon the family of Abraham. Verily, You are Praiseworthy, All-Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad just as You blessed the family of Abraham. Verily, You are Praiseworthy, All-Glorious)."

‘Abdur-Rahmān ibn Abi Layla reported: I came across Ka‘b ibn ‘Ujrah who said: Shall I offer you a present? The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) came out to us, and we said: O Messenger of Allah, we have learned how to greet you, but how should we invoke the blessings of Allah upon you? He said: "Say: Allāhumma salli ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala āli Muhammad kama sallayta ‘ala āli Ibrāhīm innaka hamīdun majīd. Allāhumma bārik' ala Muhammad wa' ala āli Muhammad kama bārakta' ala āli Ibrāhīm innaka hamīdun majīd (O Allah, bestow Your grace upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad just as You bestowed Your grace upon the family of Abraham. Verily, You are Praiseworthy, All-Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad just as You blessed the family of Abraham. Verily, You are Praiseworthy, All-Glorious)."

‘Abdur-Rahmān ibn Abi Layla reported: I came across Ka‘b ibn ‘Ujrah who said: Shall I offer you a present? The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) came out to us, and we said: O Messenger of Allah, we have learned how to greet you, but how should we invoke the blessings of Allah upon you? He said: "Say: Allāhumma salli ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala āli Muhammad kama sallayta ‘ala āli Ibrāhīm innaka hamīdun majīd. Allāhumma bārik' ala Muhammad wa' ala āli Muhammad kama bārakta' ala āli Ibrāhīm innaka hamīdun majīd (O Allah, bestow Your grace upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad just as You bestowed Your grace upon the family of Abraham. Verily, You are Praiseworthy, All-Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad just as You blessed the family of Abraham. Verily, You are Praiseworthy, All-Glorious)."

‘Abdur-Rahmān ibn Abi Layla reported: I came across Ka‘b ibn ‘Ujrah who said: Shall I offer you a present? The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) came out to us, and we said: O Messenger of Allah, we have learned how to greet you, but how should we invoke the blessings of Allah upon you? He said: "Say: Allāhumma salli ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala āli Muhammad kama sallayta ‘ala āli Ibrāhīm innaka hamīdun majīd. Allāhumma bārik' ala Muhammad wa' ala āli Muhammad kama bārakta' ala āli Ibrāhīm innaka hamīdun majīd (O Allah, bestow Your grace upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad just as You bestowed Your grace upon the family of Abraham. Verily, You are Praiseworthy, All-Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad just as You blessed the family of Abraham. Verily, You are Praiseworthy, All-Glorious)."

Ibn Mas‘ūd (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) taught me the Tashahhud, with my hand between his two hands, as he would teach me a Surah from the Qur’an: "At-tahiyyātu lillāhi was-salawātu wat-tayyibātu as-Salāmu ‘alayka ayyuha an-nabiyyu wa rahmatullāhi wa barakātuh, as-salāmu ‘alayna wa ‘ala ‘ibādillāhi as-sālihīn, ash-hadu alla ilāha illallāh wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasūluh (Greetings, prayers, and good things are due to Allah. May the peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you, O Prophet. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous slaves of Allah. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger)." Another wording reads: "Verily, Allah is the Giver of Peace, so when any of you sits in prayer, let him say: 'At-tahiyyātu lillāhi was-salawātu wat-tayyibātu as-salāmu ‘alayka ayyuha an-nabiyyu wa rahmatullāhi wa barakātuh, as-salāmu ‘alayna wa ‘ala ‘ibādillāhi as-sālihīn (Greetings, prayers, and good things are due to Allah. May the peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you, O Prophet. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous slaves of Allah).' If you say this, it will benefit every righteous slave of Allah in heaven and on earth. (Then, say:) 'Ash-hadu alla ilāha illallāh wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasūluh (I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger).' Then, let him choose whatever supplication he would like."

Mu‘ādh ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) took his hand and said: "O Mu‘ādh, by Allah, I do love you," and he added: "I advise you, O Mu‘ādh, never fail to say after each prayer: Allāhumma a‘inni ‘ala dhikrika wa shukrika wa husni ‘ibādatik (O Allah, help me remember You, thank You, and excellently worship You)."

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) entered the mosque, and then a man came in and prayed. He greeted the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), who responded and said: "Go back and pray, for you have not prayed." He went back and prayed as he had prayed, then, he came to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and greeted him. He said: "Go back and pray, for you have not prayed," three times. So, he said: By the One Who sent you with the truth, I cannot do better than that. So teach me. He said: "When you stand to pray, say Takbīr (Allāhu Akbar), then recite whatever you can of the Qur’an; then bow until you are at ease in bowing; then rise until you are standing up straight; then prostrate until you are at ease in prostration; and then sit up until you are at ease in sitting. Do that throughout your prayer."

Sa‘d (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I used to see the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) making Taslīm (salutation of peace ending the prayer) to his right and to his left, until I could see the whiteness of his cheek.

Sa‘d (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I used to see the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) making Taslīm (salutation of peace ending the prayer) to his right and to his left, until I could see the whiteness of his cheek.

Sa‘d (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I used to see the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) making Taslīm (salutation of peace ending the prayer) to his right and to his left, until I could see the whiteness of his cheek.

Al-Barā' ibn ‘Āzib (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I watched the prayer of Muhammad (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and found his standing, his bowing, standing after bowing, prostration, sitting between the two prostrations, prostration, and sitting between Taslīm and going away, nearly equal to one another.' Another narration reads: ''Except the standing and the sitting, (other postures) were nearly equal.”

Thawbān (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: When the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) finished his prayer, he would seek Allah’s forgiveness three times and say: "Allahumma anta as-salām wa minka as-salām, tabārakta yadha al-jalāl wa al-ikrām (O Allah, You are As-Salām (peace, perfection), and as-salām comes from You. Blessed are You, O Possessor of Glory and Honor)". Al-Walīd said: I said to Al-Awzā‘i: "How is the seeking of forgiveness?" He said: "You say: Astaghfirullāh, astaghfirullāh (I seek forgiveness from Allah, I seek forgiveness from Allah)."

Thawbān (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: When the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) finished his prayer, he would seek Allah’s forgiveness three times and say: "Allahumma anta as-salām wa minka as-salām, tabārakta yadha al-jalāl wa al-ikrām (O Allah, You are As-Salām (peace, perfection), and as-salām comes from You. Blessed are You, O Possessor of Glory and Honor)". Al-Walīd said: I said to Al-Awzā‘i: "How is the seeking of forgiveness?" He said: "You say: Astaghfirullāh, astaghfirullāh (I seek forgiveness from Allah, I seek forgiveness from Allah)."

Abu az-Zubayr reported: Ibn az-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with him) used to say after every prayer after making taslīm: “Lā ilāha illa Allah wahdahu lā sharīka lahu, lahu al-mulk wa lahu al-hamd wa huwa ‘ala kolli shay‘in qadīr; lā hawla wa lā quwwata illa billāh, lā ilāha illa Allah, wa lā na‘budu illa iyyāh, lahu an-ni‘mah wa al-fadl, wa lahu ath-thanā’ al-hasan; lā ilāha illa Allah, mukhlisīn lahu ad-dīn wa law kariha al-kāfirūn (There is no god but Allah, alone, with no partner. To Him belongs the dominion, and praise is due to Him, and He has power over all things. There is no power or strength except through Allah. There is no god but Allah, and we worship none but Him. To Him belongs the blessing, to Him belongs the grace, and to Him belongs all excellent praise. There is no god but Allah; we are sincerely devoted to Him, even if the disbelievers may dislike it)." And he said: "The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to celebrate Allah’s oneness with these words after every prayer."

Abu az-Zubayr reported: Ibn az-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with him) used to say after every prayer after making taslīm: “Lā ilāha illa Allah wahdahu lā sharīka lahu, lahu al-mulk wa lahu al-hamd wa huwa ‘ala kolli shay‘in qadīr; lā hawla wa lā quwwata illa billāh, lā ilāha illa Allah, wa lā na‘budu illa iyyāh, lahu an-ni‘mah wa al-fadl, wa lahu ath-thanā’ al-hasan; lā ilāha illa Allah, mukhlisīn lahu ad-dīn wa law kariha al-kāfirūn (There is no god but Allah, alone, with no partner. To Him belongs the dominion, and praise is due to Him, and He has power over all things. There is no power or strength except through Allah. There is no god but Allah, and we worship none but Him. To Him belongs the blessing, to Him belongs the grace, and to Him belongs all excellent praise. There is no god but Allah; we are sincerely devoted to Him, even if the disbelievers may dislike it)." And he said: "The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to celebrate Allah’s oneness with these words after every prayer."

Warrād, the scribe of Al-Mughīrah ibn Shu‘bah, related: Al-Mughīrah ibn Shu‘bah dictated to me in a letter to Mu‘āwiyah: The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) used to say after every obligatory prayer: "Lā ilāh illa Allah, wahdahu lā sharīka lah, lahu al-mulku wa lahu al-hamdu wa huwa ‘ala koll shay’in qadīr, allahumma lā māni‘a lima a‘tayt wa lā mu‘tiya lima mana‘ta wa la banfa‘u dha al-jaddi minka al-jadd" (There is no god but Allah, alone, with no partner with Him. To Him belongs the dominion and to Him praise is due, and He is Able to do all things. O Allah, none can withhold what You give and none can give what You withhold, and riches cannot avail a wealthy person against You).

Warrād, the scribe of Al-Mughīrah ibn Shu‘bah, related: Al-Mughīrah ibn Shu‘bah dictated to me in a letter to Mu‘āwiyah: The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) used to say after every obligatory prayer: "Lā ilāh illa Allah, wahdahu lā sharīka lah, lahu al-mulku wa lahu al-hamdu wa huwa ‘ala koll shay’in qadīr, allahumma lā māni‘a lima a‘tayt wa lā mu‘tiya lima mana‘ta wa la banfa‘u dha al-jaddi minka al-jadd" (There is no god but Allah, alone, with no partner with Him. To Him belongs the dominion and to Him praise is due, and He is Able to do all things. O Allah, none can withhold what You give and none can give what You withhold, and riches cannot avail a wealthy person against You).

Warrād, the scribe of Al-Mughīrah ibn Shu‘bah, related: Al-Mughīrah ibn Shu‘bah dictated to me in a letter to Mu‘āwiyah: The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) used to say after every obligatory prayer: "Lā ilāh illa Allah, wahdahu lā sharīka lah, lahu al-mulku wa lahu al-hamdu wa huwa ‘ala koll shay’in qadīr, allahumma lā māni‘a lima a‘tayt wa lā mu‘tiya lima mana‘ta wa la banfa‘u dha al-jaddi minka al-jadd" (There is no god but Allah, alone, with no partner with Him. To Him belongs the dominion and to Him praise is due, and He is Able to do all things. O Allah, none can withhold what You give and none can give what You withhold, and riches cannot avail a wealthy person against You).

Ka‘b ibn ‘Ujrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "There are certain things, the sayer of which – or the performer of which – after every prescribed prayer will never be disappointed: Tasbīh (saying 'Subhānallāh') thirty-three times, Tahmīd (saying 'Al-hamdulillāh') thirty-three times, and Takbīr (saying 'Allāhu Akbar') thirty-four times."

Juwayriyah, Mother of the Believers, (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) went out from her house in the early morning when he prayed the Morning prayer, while she was in her prayer place. Then he returned after offering the Forenoon prayer while she was still sitting. He said: "Are you still in the state I left you in?" She said: Yes. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "I said four words three times after I had left you; if they were to be weighed against what you have been saying since morning, they would outweigh them: Subhānallāh wa bihamdih, ‘adada khalqih, wa rida nafsih, a zinata ‘arshih, wa midāda kalimātih (Glory be to Allah and all praise is due to Him by the number of His creation, by His own pleasure, by the weight of His Throne, and by the ink of His words.)."

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) used to observe I‘tikāf during the ten middle days of Ramadan. One year, while he was in I‘tikāf on the night of the twenty-first on the morning of which he would come out of I‘tikāf, he said: "Whoever was in I‘tikāf with me should stay in I‘tikāf the last ten; for I was informed of that night, but I was then made to forget it. I saw myself prostrating in water and mud in its morning. So, seek it in the last ten, and seek it in each of the odd [nights]." That night, it rained, and [the roof of] the mosque dribbled as it was made of leaf stalks of date-palms. I saw with my own eyes the signs of water and mud on the forehead of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) in the morning of the twenty-first (night).

Jābir ibn Samurah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (ﷺ), when he performed the Fajr prayer, would remain seated in his prayer place until the sun rose brightly. He said: He would not leave the spot where he prayed Fajr or the Morning prayer until the sun had risen. When the sun rose, he would stand up. During that time, the people would talk about matters from the pre-Islamic days of ignorance; they would laugh and he would smile.

‘Uqbah ibn al-Hārith (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I offered the ‘Asr prayer behind the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) in Madīnah. When he finished the prayer with Taslīm, he got up hurriedly and went out by crossing the rows of people to one of his wives' rooms. The people were astonished at his speed. The Prophet came back and saw the people surprised at his haste and said to them: "I remembered a gold nugget in my house which I didn't want to distract me, so I ordered it to be distributed (in charity). In another version: "I left a piece of gold in my house from the charity which I did not want to let it remain with us overnight."

Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb came cursing the disbelievers of Quraysh after the sun had set on the Day of the Trench, and he said: "O Messenger of Allah, I could not offer the ‘Asr prayer till the sun had set." The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "By Allah! I have not yet prayed it either." So we went to But-hān, and he performed ablution and so did we, and then he offered the ‘Asr prayer after the sun had set and then followed it with the Maghrib prayer.