The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "He who observes optional prayer (Tarawih prayers) throughout Ramadan, out of sincerity of Faith and in the hope of earning reward will have his past sins pardoned."

[Al- Bukhari and Muslim].

"Should a menstruating woman make up the prayers when she becomes pure?" she said: "Are youa Haruri? We used to menstruate at the time of the Messenger of Allah then we would become pure. He told us to make up the fast, but he did not tell us to make up the prayers."

Allah's Messenger said: "Indeed for (the time of) Salat (there is a) beginning and an end. The beginning of the time for the Zuhr prayer is when the sun passes the zenith, and the end of its time is when the time for Asr enters. The beginning of the time for the Asr [prayer] is when its time enters, and the end of its time is when the sun yellows (turns pale). The beginning of the time of Maghrib is when the sun as set, and the end of its time is when the twilight has vanished (i.e., the horizon is invisible because of darkness). The beginning of the time for Isha, the later one, is when the horizon has vanished, and the end of its time is when the night is at its half. The beginning of the time for Fajr is when Fajr begins, and its end is when the sun rises."

"When we awoke, we went to Allah's Messenger to inform him of the dream. He said: 'Indeed this dream is true. So go to Bilal, for he has a better and louder voice than you. Convey to him what was said to you, so that he may call (to the prayer) with that.'" He said: "When Umar bin Al-Khattab heard Bilal calling for the prayer he went to Allah's Messenger, and he was dragging his Izar, (as he was hurrying) saying: 'O Allah's Messenger! By the One Who sent you with the truth! I dreamt the same as what he said.''' He said: "So Allah's Messenger said: 'To Allah is the praise, so that confirms it even more.'''

His father said: "Ali took me by the hand and said: 'Come with us to pay a visit to Al-Hasan.' So we found that Abu Musa was with him.' Ali - peace be upon him - said: 'O Abu Musa! Did you come to visit (the sick) or merely (stop by to) visit?' He said: 'No, to visit (the sick).' So Ali said: 'I heard the Messenger of Allah saying: "No Muslim visits (the sick) Muslims in the morning, except that sevety-thousand angels, sent Salat upon him until the evening, and he does not visit at night except that seventy thousand angels sent Salat upon him until the morning, and there will be a garden for him in Paradise."

"A man came to the Prophet (SAW) and said: 'O Messenger of Allah! What do you say about a man who meets a woman and there is no acquaintance between them. So there is nothing that a man who would do with his wife but he does it with her, except that he does not have intercourse with her?'" He said: "So Allah revealed: And perform the Salat, at the two ends of the day and in some hours of the night. Verily, the good deeds remove the evil deeds. That is a reminder for the mindful (11:114). So he ordered him to perform Wudu and Salat." Then Mu'adh said: "I said: 'O Messenger of Allah! Is that specifically for him, or for the believers in general?' He said: 'Rather it is for the believers in general.'"

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH), "The supplication of every one of you will be granted if he does not get impatient and say (for example): 'I supplicated my Rubb but my prayer has not been granted'."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

The narration of Muslim is: "The supplication of a slave continues to be granted as long as he does not supplicate for a sinful thing or for something that would cut off the ties of kinship and he does not grow impatient." It was said: "O Messenger of Allah! What does growing impatient mean?" He (PBUH) said, "It is one's saying: 'I supplicated again and again but I do not think that my prayer will be answered.' Then he becomes frustrated (in such circumstances) and gives up supplication altogether."

“I heard Bashir b. Abu Mas'ud say that he heard Abu Mas'ud say that he heard God’s Messenger say, 'Gabriel came down and acted as my imam and I prayed along with him, then I prayed along with him, then I prayed along with him, then I prayed along with him, then I prayed along with him,’ reckoning with his fingers five times of prayer." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

While God’s Messenger was leading his companions in prayer he took off his sandals and laid them at his left side; so when the people saw that, they removed their sandals. When he had finished his prayer he asked, "What made you remove your sandals? They replied, “We saw you remove yours, so we removed ours.” God’s Messenger then said, “Gabriel came to me and informed me that there was filth on them. When any of you comes to the mosque he should examine, and if he sees filth on his sandals he should wipe it off and pray in them.” Abu Dawud and Darimi transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Umar said that on a journey God’s Messenger would pray on his riding beast in whatever direction it turned, making a sign with his head* in prayer during the night, but not in the obligatory prayers; and he would observe a witr on his riding beast. *To indicate the bowing and the prostration. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Yahya related to me from Malik that he asked Ibn Shihab about a pregnant woman who noticed bleeding. Ibn Shihab replied, "She refrains from prayer."

Yahya said that Malik said, "That is what is done in our community."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Humayd at-Tawil that Anas ibn Malik said, "I stood behind Abu Bakr and Umar and Uthman and none of them used to recite 'In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate' when they began the prayer."

Yahya related to me from Malik that he had heard that Abdullah ibn Umar used to say, "(Voluntary) prayer in both the day and night is two at a time with a taslim after every 2 raka'ahs."

Malik said, "That is the custom among us."

Allah's Messenger said: "Whoever performs Salat for Allah for forty days in congregation, catching the first Takbir, two absolutions are written for him: absolution from the Fire, and absolution from the Fire, and absolution from hypocrisy."

"When we performed Salat behind Allah's Messenger, he would raise his head from bowing, and no man among us would bend his back until Allah's Messenger prostrated, then we prostrated."

"The Adhan during the time of Allah's Messenger, Abu Bakr, and Umar was when the Imam came out, [and when] the Iqamah was called for the Salat. Then Uthman [may Allah be pleased with him] added a third call at Az-Zawra."

After the Fajr (dawn) prayer the Prophet (PBUH) used to sit crossed legged in the same place in which he had prayed till the sun shone brightly.

[Abu Dawud].

`They distracted us from the middle prayer until the sun set - or until the sun was about to set, May Allah fill their stomachs - or their graves - with fire.”

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said on the day of al-Khandaq: `What is wrong with them? May Allah fill their houses and graves with fire as they distracted us from the middle prayer until the sun set.”

Jabir reported the Prophet as saying, “Prayer should not be said over an infant which has not uttered a sound, neither may he inherit nor leave an inheritance.” Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it, but the latter did not mention “nor leave an inheritance”.

Umm Salama said that the Prophet used to say after the dawn prayer, “O God, I ask Thee for beneficial knowledge, acceptable action, and good provision.” Ahmad, Ibn Majah and Baihaqi, in [Kitab] ad- Da'awat al-kabir, transmitted it.

prayer when its time comes, a funeral, and the marriage of an unmarried woman when she finds one of suitable class for her.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Abu Ayyub reported God's Messenger as saying, “My people will continue to prosper (or he said, to follow Islam), as long as they do not postpone the sunset prayer till the stars are not in abundance.” Abu Dawud transmitted it and Darimi transmitted it from al-‘Abbas.

‘A’isha reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The prayer of a woman who has reached puberty is not accepted unless she is wearing a veil.”* * A veil (khimar) covering the head and the breasts. Cf. Al-Quran; 24:31. Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Abu Huraira said that God’s Messenger recited in both rak'as of the dawn prayer, “Say, O unbelievers”1 and “Say, He is God, one God.2 1. Al-Qur’an; 109. 2. Al-Qur’an; 112. Muslim transmitted it.

Al-Farafisa b. 'Umair al-Hanafi said that he learned Sura Yusuf (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.

‘Abdallah b. Mughaffal reported the Prophet as saying, “Pray before the sunset prayer,” adding when saying it a third time, “This applies to those who wish to do so.” That was because he did not wish the people to treat it as a sunna. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Samura b. Jundub reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone omits the Friday prayer without excuse he must give a dinar in alms, or if he does not have as much, half a dinar.” Ahmad, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Abu Rafi' told th at he saw God's messenger uttering the call to prayer in the ear of al-Hasan b. ‘Ali when Fatima gave birth to him. Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying this is a hasan sahih tradition.

The Prophet (PBUH) said, "Do not choose the Friday night among all other nights for standing in (Tahajjud) prayer, and do not choose Friday among all other days for Saum (fasting) except that one you have accustomed to."

[Muslim].

In the Pre-Islamic Period of Ignorance, I used to think that people who used to worship idols, were deviated and did not adhere to the true religion. Then I heard of a man in Makkah who was preaching a message. So I mounted my camel and went to him. I found that (this man who was) Messenger of Allah (PBUH) remained hidden because of the persecution by his people. I had entered Makkah stealthily and when I met him I asked him, "Who are you?" He (PBUH) said, "I am a Prophet." I asked; "What is a Prophet?" He said, "Allah has sent me (with a message)". I asked, "With what has He sent you?" He said, "He sent me to strengthen the ties of kinship, to destroy idols so that Allah alone should be worshipped and nothing should be associated with Him". I asked, "Who has followed you in this?" He said, "A freeman and a slave". (At that time only Abu Bakr and Bilal (May Allah be pleased with her) were with him). I said, "I shall follow you". He said, "You can not do that now. Do you not see my situation and that of the people? Go to your people, and when you hear that my cause has prevailed, come to me". So I went back to my people, and while I was with my people, Messenger of Allah (PBUH) emigrated to Al-Madinah. I continued to ask people about him till some of my people visited Al- Madinah. On their return, I asked them, "How is that man who has arrived in Al-Madinah faring?" They said, "People are hastening to him. His own people had planned to kill him but did not succeed." Then I went to Al-Madinah and came to him and said, "O Messenger of Allah, do you recognize me?" He (PBUH) said, "Yes, you are the one who met me in Makkah." I said, "O Messenger of Allah, tell me of that which Allah has taught you and of which I am unaware. Tell me about Salat first." He (PBUH) replied, "Perform the Fajr (morning) Salat, then stop Salat until the sun has risen up to the height of a lance, for when it rises, it rises up between the horns of the devil, and the infidels prostrate themselves before it at that time. Then perform Salat, for Salat is witnessed and angels attend it, until the shadow becomes equal to the length of its object; then stop Salat, for at that time Jahannam (Hell) is heated up. Then pray when the shadow becomes longer, for the prayer is witnessed and angels attend it, until you perform 'Asr prayer; then stop Salat till sun sets, for it sets between the horns of a devil. At that time the infidels prostrate themselves before it." I then asked the Messenger of Allah to tell me about Wudu', and he (PBUH) said, "When a person begins the Wudu' and washes his mouth and nose, the sins committed by his face, mouth and nostrils are washed out. Then when he washes his face as commanded by Allah, the sins of his face are washed out with the water from the sides of his beard. Then when he washes his hands up to elbows, the sins of his hands are washed out through his fingers with water. Then he passes his wet hands over his head and the sins of the head are washed out through the ends of his hair with water. Then he washes his feet up to the ankles, the sins of his feet are washed out through his toes with water. Then, if he stands up for Salat and praises Allah, glorifies Him, proclaims His Greatness as He deserves and devotes his heart wholly to Allah, he emerges sin free as the day he was born".

When 'Amr bin 'Abasah (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated this Hadith to Abu Umamah (May Allah be pleased with him) a Companion of the Prophet (PBUH), the latter said to him, "Watch what you are saying. O 'Amr bin 'Abasah, a man will be getting all of this in one shot?" 'Amr (May Allah be pleased with him) replied, "O Abu Umamah, I have attained old age, my bones have become dry, my death is approaching and there is no need for me to tell lies concerning Allah and His Messenger (PBUH). Had I not heard this from the Messenger of Allah only once, twice, thrice (and he counted up to seven) I would never have reported it. Indeed I have heard this frequently".

[Muslim].

Yahya related to me from Malik that Yahya ibn Said said, "I have heard that by his good character a man can reach the degree of the one who stands in prayer at night and the one who is thirsty from fasting in the heat of the day."

"The Salat of Allah's Messenger (was such that) when he bowed, and when he raised his head from bowing, and when he prostrated, and when he raised his head from prostration it (all) was nearly the same."

"Allah's Messenger used to mingle with us such that he said to my younger brother: 'O Abu Umair! What did the Nughair do?'" He (Anas) said: "A Bisat of ours would be sprinkled (with water) to perform Salat on."

"I saw the Prophet, after the Iqamah was called for Salat, talking to a man who was standing between him and the Qiblah, he did not stop talking, and I saw some of them getting sleepy from his lengthy standing the Prophet."

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "If a Muslim dies and forty people, who do not associate anything with Allah in worship, participate in the funeral prayer over him, Allah will accept their intercession for him."

[Muslim].

I heard the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) as saying, "The Satan has despaired of being worshipped by those who engage in prayer in the Arabian Peninsula but (has not lost hope) in creating dissension among them."

[Muslim].

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "When anyone of you has performed two of Sunnah before the Fajr prayer, he should lie down on his right side."

[Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi].

`They distracted us from the middle prayer until the sunset. May Allah fill their bellies and their houses with fire.”

Anas b. Malik al-Ka‘bi reported God’s messenger as saying, “God has remitted half the prayer to the traveller, and fasting to the traveller, the woman who is suckling an infant and the woman who is pregnant.” Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Salman said that he heard God’s Messenger say, “He who goes out early to Morning Prayer goes out with the standard of faith, but he who goes out early to the market goes out with the standard of Iblis.” Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Jabir said that he heard the Prophet say, “When the devil hears the summons to prayer he goes off till he is as far away as ar-Rauha’.” The transmitter said that ar-Rauha’ is thirty-six miles from Medina. Muslim transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. Arqam said he heard God’s Messenger say, “When the time for prayer comes and one of you needs to relieve himself, he should do that first.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, and Malik, Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted something similar.

Umm Habiba said she heard God’s Messenger say, “If anyone keeps on praying four rak'as before and four after the noon prayer, God will forbid that he be sent to hell.” Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Nasa'i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “When one of you prays the two rak'as of the dawn prayer, he should lie down on his right side.”* * Cf. the third tradition in section 1 of this chapter. Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

‘Umar reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Should anyone fall asleep and fail to recite his portion of the Qur’an or a part of it, if he recites it between the dawn and the noon prayer it will be recorded for him as though he had recited it during the night.” Muslim transmitted it.

"I heard 'Umar bin Al-Khattab saying: 'When 'Abdullah bin Ubayy died, the Messenger of Allah (SAW) was called to perform the funeral prayer over him. The Messenger of Allah (SAW) came to him, and when he stood over him, about to perform the prayer, he turned until he was standing at his chest. I said: "O Messenger of Allah! (You pray) for Allah's enemy 'Abdullah bin Ubayy, who on this day said this and that" - mentioning different days. He said: "The Messenger of Allah (SAW) was smiling until I had said too much to him and he said: 'Leave me O 'Umar! Indeed I have been given the choice, so I chose. I was told: Whether you ask forgiveness for them, or do not ask for forgiveness for them. Even though you ask for their forgiveness seventy times, Allah will not forgive them (9:80). If I knew that were I to ask more than seventy times that he would be forgiven, then I would do so." He said: "Then he performed the Salat for him and walked with him (his funeral procession) and he stood at his grave until it was finished. I was amazed at myself and my daring to talk like that to the Messenger of Allah (SAW), while Allah and His Messenger (SAW) know better. But by Allah! It was not long until these two Ayat were revealed: 'And never pray for any of them who dies nor stand at his grave... (9:84) until the end of the Ayah. He said: "So afterwards the Messenger of Allah (SAW) did not perform the Salat for a hypocrite, nor would he stand at his grave until Allah took him."

I heard the Prophet prohibiting them and afterwards saw him praying them. When he came in I sent the slavegirl to him telling her to say that Umm Salama sent this query, “Messenger of God, I heard you prohibiting these two, and I see you praying them.” He replied, “Daughter of Abu Umayya,* you have asked about the two rak'as after the afternoon prayer. Some people of ‘Abd Qais came and hindered me from praying the two rak'as which come after the noon prayer, so those are the two I have been praying.” * Abu Umayya was Umm Salama’s father. Although the slavegirl conveyed the query, the reply is given as if addressed directly to Umm Salama. (Bukhari and Muslim)

Yahya related to me from Malik that Yahya ibn Said said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, had wanted to take two pieces of wood to strike them together to gather people for the prayer, and Abdullah ibn Zayd al-Ansari, then of the tribe of Harith ibn al-Khazraj, was shown two pieces of wood in his sleep. He said, 'These are close to what the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, wants.' Then it was said, 'Do you not call to the prayer?', so when he woke up he went to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and mentioned the dream to him. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, ordered the adhan."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Muslim ibn Abi Maryam that AIi ibn Abd ar-Rahman al-Muawi said, "Abdullah ibn Umar saw me playing with some small pebbles in the prayer. When I finished he forbade me, saying, 'Do as the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, did.' I said, 'What did the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, do?' He said, 'When he sat in the prayer, he placed his right hand on his right thigh and he closed his fist and pointed his index finger, and he placed his left hand on his left thigh. That is what he used to do.' "