Abu Huraira said that the Prophet used to recite at the dawn prayer on Friday A.L.M. Tanzil1 in the first rak'a, and in the second, “Has there come upon man?"2 1. Al-Qur’an; 32. 2. Al-Qur’an; 76. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Marwan appointed Abu Huraira as governor of Medina and went to Mecca. Abu Huraira led us in the Friday prayer and recited sura al-Jumu'a1 in the first sajda and “When the hypocrites come to you"2 in the last, and said, “I heard God's Messenger reciting them on Friday." 1. Al-Qur'an, 62, recited in the first rak'a, which is what is meant by sajda in the text. 2. Al-Qur'an, 63. Muslim transmitted it.

An-Nu‘man b. Bashir said that God’s Messenger used to recite at the two festivals1 and on Friday, “Glorify the name of your most high Lord", 2 and “Has the story of the overwhelming event reached you?"3 He said that when a festival and a Friday coincided he recited them both at the two prayers. 1. Id al-Fitr at the end of Ramadan, and Id al-Adha on the 10th of Dhul Hijja, when sacrifices are made. The former is called the lesser and latter the greater. 2. Al-Qur’an; 87. 3. Al-Qur'an, 88. Muslim transmitted it.

‘Ubaidallah said that ‘Umar b. al-Khattab asked Abu Waqid al- Laithi what God’s Messenger recited at the ‘Id al-Adha and 'Id al-Fitr, and he replied that he recited at both of them, “Qaf. By the glorious Qur’an’’1-and “The Hour is nigh.’’2 1. Al-Qur’an; 50. 2. Al-Qur’an, 54. Muslim 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.

Ibd ‘Abbas said that God’s Messenger used to recite in both rak'as of the dawn prayer, “Say, We believe in God and in the revelation given to us,”1 and the verse in Al 'Imran, “Say, O people of the Book, come to common terms between us and you.”2 1. Al-Qur’an; 2:136 2. Al-Qur’an; 3:64 Muslim transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas said that God’s Messenger used to begin his prayer with, “In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.” Tirmidhi transmitted it and said that the isnad of this tradition is not approved.

Wa’il b. Hujr said that he heard God’s Messenger recite, “Not of those with whom Thou art angry, nor of those who go astray” (Al-Qur’an 1:7) and say “Amen”, prolonging the word. Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Darimi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

We went out with God’s Messenger one night and came upon a man who made supplication with persistence. The Prophet said, “He will have done something which guarantees [paradise for him] if he puts a seal to it.” One of the people asked what he should use for a seal, and he replied, “Amen”. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

‘A’isha said that God’s Messenger prayed the sunset prayer using sura al-A'raf (Al-Qur’an; 7) dividing it between the two rak'as. Nasa’i transmitted it.

When I was leading God’s Messenger’s she-camel for him on a journey he said to me, “Shall I not teach you, ‘Uqba, the best two suras to recite?” Then he taught me “Say, I seek refuge in the Lord of the dawn” and “Say, I seek refuge in the Lord of men” (Al-Qur’an; 113-114). He saw that I was not greatly pleased with them, so when he alighted for the Morning Prayer he used them in leading the people in the Morning Prayer, and when he had finished he turned to me and said, “How do you find them now, ‘Uqba?” Ahmad, Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

Jabir b. Samura said that the Prophet used to recite in the sunset prayer on Thursday evening, “Say, O unbelievers,”1 and “Say, He is God one God.”2 1. Al-Qur’an; 109 2. Al-Qur’an; 112 [Baghawi] transmitted it in Sharh as-sunna; and Ibn Majah transmitted it from Ibn ‘Umar, but did not mention Thursday evening.

I cannot count how often I heard God’s Messenger reciting in the two rak'as after the sunset prayer and in the two rak'as before the dawn prayer, “Say, O unbelievers,” and “Say, He is God, one God.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, and Ibn Majah transmitted it on Abu Huraira’s authority, but he did not mention “after the sunset prayer.”

Sulaiman b. Yasar quoted Abu Huraira as saying, “I never prayed behind anyone whose prayer more closely resembled that of God’s Messenger than so and so’s.” Sulaiman said that he prayed behind him, and he was prolonging the first two rak'as of the noon prayer, shortening the last two, shortening the afternoon prayer, reciting short suras from al-Mufassal* at the sunset prayer, medium suras from al-Mufassal at the evening prayer, and long ones from al-Mufassal at the morning prayer. * A name applied to the latter part of the Qur’an because there are many divisions, but opinions differ about where it begins. Lane mentions the different views in his Lexicon, pp 2407 f., saying the most correct opinion is that it begins with sura 49. Nasa’i transmitted it, and Ibn Majah transmitted up to “shortening the afternoon prayer.”

We were behind the Prophet at the dawn prayer, and he recited a passage, but the recitation became difficult for him. Then when he finished he said, “Perhaps you recite behind your imam?” We replied, “Yes, Messenger of God.” He said, “Do it only when it is Fatihat al-Kitab, for he who does not include it in his recitation is not credited with having prayed.” Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi transmitted it, and Nasa’i has something to the same effect. In a version by Abu Dawud he said, “I am wondering what is the matter with me that the Qur’an should be at variance with me. So do not recite any of the Qur’an when I recite aloud, except Umm al-Qur'an."

Abu Huraira said that when God’s Messenger had finished a prayer in which he had recited aloud, he asked, “Did any of you recite along with me just now?” When a man replied that he had, he said, “I am wondering what is the matter with me that I should be contended with regarding the Qur’an.” He said that when the people heard that from God’s Messenger they ceased reciting along with him the passages which he recited aloud in the prayers. Malik, Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, and Nasa'i transmitted it, and Ibn Majah transmitted something similar.

Ibn ‘Umar and al-Bayadi reported God’s Messenger as saying, “He who prays holds intimate converse with his Lord, so he must consider how he does so, and none of you must recite the Qur’an more loudly than others. Ahmad transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The imam is appointed only to be followed, so when he says the takbir, say it also; and when he recites, listen silently.” Abu Dawud, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. Abu Aufa told of a man who came to the Prophet and said, “I am unable to learn any of the Qur’an, so teach me something which will suffice me.” He told him to say, “Glory be to God; Praise be to God; There is no god but God; God is most great; There is no might and no power except in God.” He said, “Messenger of God, this is for God; but what is there for me?” He told him to say, “O God, have mercy on me, heal me, guide me, and provide for me.” He said that the man clenched his hands, whereupon God’s Messenger said, “This man has filled his hands with good.” Abu Dawud transmitted it, and Nasa’i’s transmission finished with “except in God.”

Ibn ‘Abbas said that when the Prophet recited, “Glorify the name of thy most high Lord,” (Al-Quran; 87) he said, “Glory be to my Lord most high.” Ahmad and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

When one of you recites, "By the fig and the olive”1 and comes to "Is not God the best of judges?”2 he should say, "Certainly, and I am one of those who testify to that.” When one recites, "I swear by the day of resurrection”3 and comes to "Is not that One able to raise the dead to life?’4 he should say, "Certainly.” And when one recites, "By those that are sent”5 and comes to "Then in what message after that will they believe?”6 he should say, "We believe in God.” 1. Al-Qur’an; 95 2. Verse 8 3. Al-Qur’an; 75 4. Verse 40. 5. Al-Qur’an; 77 6. Verse 50. Abu Dawud transmitted it, and Tirmidhi transmitted up to "and I am one of those who testify to that.”

I have recited it to the jinn on the night they came to me, 2 and they responded better than you. As often as I came to the words, "Then which of the favours of your Lord do you deny?” they replied, "We deny none of Thy favours, O our Lord. To Thee be the praise.” 1. Al-Qur’an; 55. 2. When the Prophet was returning to Mecca after being rejected by the people of at-Ta’if. Tirmidhi transmitted it and said this is a gharib tradition.

Mu'adh b. ‘Abdallah. al-Juhani said that a man of Juhaina told him he had heard God’s Messenger reciting "When the earth is shaken”(Al-Qur’an; 99) in both rak'as of the morning prayer, but did not know whether he had forgotten, or whether he recited it on purpose. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

‘Urwa said that Abu Bakr as-Siddlq prayed the Morning Prayer and recited Sura al-Baqara (Al-Qur’an; 2) in both the rak'as. Malik 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.

‘Amir b. Rabi'a said that they prayed the morning prayer behind ‘Umar b. al-Khattab and that he recited slowly in both rak'as Sura Yusuf and Sura al-Hajj (Al-Qur’an; 22). When someone remarked that he must have begun the prayer at break of day he replied that that was so. Malik transmitted it.

‘Amr b. Shu'aib on his father’s authority quoted his grandfather as saying, “There is no short or long sura in al-Mufassal* which I have not heard God’s Messenger reciting when he led the people in the prescribed prayer.” * A name applied to the latter part of the Qur’an because there are many divisions, but opinions differ about where it begins. Lane mentions the different views in his Lexicon, pp 2407 f., saying the most correct opinion is that it begins with sura 49. Malik transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Utba b. Mas'ud said that God’s Messenger recited at the sunset prayer H.M. ad-Dukhan (Al-Qur’an; 44). Nasa’i transmitted it in mursal form.

Anas reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Perform the bowing and the prostration properly, for I swear by God that I can see you behind me." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Al-Bara,’ said that the bowing observed by the Prophet, his prostration, his sitting between the two sajdas, and when he raised his head after bowing, but not the standing [during recitation of the Qur’an] and the sitting [when saying the shahada, were nearly equal. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

When the Prophet said, “God listens to him who praises Him,” he stood so long that we thought he had omitted something; then he would prostrate himself and sit between the sajdas so long that we thought he had omitted something. Muslim transmitted it.

‘A’isha told how the Prophet often said while bowing and prostrating himself, “Glory be to Thee, O God, our Lord, and praise be to Thee. O God, forgive me," thus complying with the [command in] the Qur’an (Al-Qur’an; 110-3). (Bukhari and Muslim.)

She told how the Prophet used to say when bowing and prostrating himself, “All-Glorious, All-Holy, Lord of the angels and the spirit." Muslim transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s Messenger as saying, “I have been prohibited to recite the Qur’an when bowing or prostrating myself; so when bowing magnify the Lord, and when prostrating yourselves be earnest in supplication, for it is fitting that your supplications should be answered.’’ Muslim transmitted it.

When the imam says, “God listens to him who praises Him," say, “O God, our Lord, to Thee be the praise for if what anyone says synchronises with what the angels say, he will be forgiven his past sins. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘Abdallah b. Abu Aufa said that when God’s Messenger raised his back after bowing he said, “God listens to him who praises Him. O God, our Lord, to Thee be the praise in all the heavens and all the earth, and all that it pleases Thee to create afterwards.” Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri said that when God’s Messenger raised his head after bowing he said, “O God, our Lord, to Thee be the praise in all the heavens and all the earth, and all that it pleases Thee to create afterwards, O Thou who art worthy of praise and glory, most worthy of what a servant says, and we are all Thy servants, no one can withhold what Thou givest or give what Thou withholdest, and riches cannot avail a wealthy person with Thee.”* * This is explained as meaning that only obedience to God will avail him, or protect him from God’s punishment. Jadd (riches) has also been understood in the sense of ancestor (lit. grandfather), so the phrase may be taken to mean that one’s reward in the next world does dot depend on one’s ancestry. Muslim transmitted it.

We were praying behind the Prophet, and when he raised his head at the end of the rak'a he said, “God listens to him who praises Him.” A man behind him said, ‘O our Lord, to Thee be the praise, abundant, good, blessed, sufficient.” When he ended he asked, “Who was the speaker just now ?” and when the man replied that he had spoken he said, “I saw over thirty angels racing one another to be the first to record it.” Bukhari transmitted it.

Abu Mas'ud al-Ansari reported God’s Messenger as saying, “A man’s prayer does not avail him unless he keeps his back steady when bowing and prostrating himself.” Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Nasa’i, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it, and Tirmidhi said this is a hasan sahih tradition.

‘Uqba b. ‘Amir said that when “Glorify the name of your mighty Lord” (Al-Qur’an; 56:74, 96; 69:52) was revealed, God’s Messenger said, “Use it when bowing;” and when “Glorify the name of your most high Lord” (Al-Qur’an; 87) was revealed, he said, “Use it when prostrating yourselves.” Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it.

When one of you bows and says three times while doing so, “Glory be to my mighty Lord”, his bowing is complete; and that is the least which effects this. When he prostrates himself and says three times while doing so, “Glory be to my most high Lord”, his prostration is complete; and that is the least which effects this. Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it, but Tirmidhi said that its isnad is not connected, because ‘Aun did not meet Ibn Mas'ud.

Hudhaifa said that he prayed along with the Prophet and that he said when bowing, “Glory be to my mighty Lord”, and when prostrating himself, “Glory be to my most high Lord”; when he came to a verse which spoke of mercy he stopped and made supplication, and when he came to a verse which spoke of punishment he stopped and sought refuge in God. Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Darimi transmitted it. Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted up to “my most high Lord”. Tirmidhi said that this is a hasan sahih tradition.

‘Auf b. Malik said that he stood up to pray along with God’s Messenger and that when he bowed he paused about as long as it would take to recite Sura al-Baqara (Al-Qur’an; 2) and said while bowing, “Glory be to the Possessor of greatness, the kingdom, grandeur and majesty.” Nasa’i transmitted it.

Ibn Jubair said that he heard Anas b. Malik declare, “After the death of God’s Messenger I never prayed behind anyone whose prayer more closely resembled that of God’s Messenger than this young man,” meaning ‘Umar b. ‘Abd al-‘AzIz.* He reported him as saying, “I computed that he uttered ten tasbihas when bowing and ten when prostrating himself.” * He was Caliph from 99 to 101 A.H. and was noted for his piety. Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

Shaqiq said that Hudhaifa saw a man who was not performing the bowing or the prostration perfectly, so when he finished his prayer he called him. Hudhaifa said to him, “You have not prayed.” He added that he thought he also said, “If you were to die, you would die following something other than the true religion which God created Muhammad to proclaim.” Bukhari transmitted it.

Abu Qatada reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The one who commits the worst theft is he who steals from his prayer.” When asked how one could steal from his prayer he replied, “By not performing his bowing and his prostration perfectly.” Ahmad transmitted it.

An-Nu‘man b. Murra reported God’s Messenger as saying, “What do you think of the drinker, the fornicator, and the thief?” That was before the prescribed punishments regarding them were revealed. On receiving the reply that God and His Messenger knew best, he said, “Such sins are abominations and punishment is prescribed for them, but the worst theft is what one steals from his prayer.” He was asked how one could steal from his prayer and replied, “By not performing his bowing and his prostration perfectly.” Malik and Ahmad transmitted it, and Darimi transmitted something similar.

the forehead, the hands, 1 the knees, and the extremities of the feet, 2 and not to fold back the clothing or the hair.” 1. i.e. the palms. 2. i.e. the toes. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Anas reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Adopt a moderate position when prostrating yourselves, and see that none of you stretches out his forearms [on the ground] like a dog.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Al-Bara’ b. ‘Azib reported God's Messenger as saying, “When you prostrate yourself, place the palms of your hands on the ground and raise your elbows.” Muslim transmitted it.