He reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Sonny, avoid turning to the side when you are engaged in prayer, for turning to the side produces destruction. If you must do it, do it in the voluntary, but not in the obligatory prayer.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas said that God’s Messenger used to glance right and left during prayer but did not turn his neck to look behind him. Tirmidhi and Nasa’i transmitted it.

‘Adi b. Thabit quoted his father as saying that his grandfather traced the following back to the Prophet, “Sneezing, drowsing and yawning during prayer, also menstruation, vomiting and nose bleeding come from the devil.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Mutarrif b. ‘Abdallah [b.] ash-Shikhkhir quoted his father as saying, “I came to the Prophet when he was engaged in prayer, and heard a sound from within him like the bubbling of a pot,” meaning that he was weeping. In a version he said, “I saw the Prophet praying and a sound came from his breast like the rumbling of a mill, owing to weeping.” Ahmad transmitted it. Nasa’i transmitted the first version and Abu Dawud the second.

Abu Dharr reported God’s Messenger as saying, “When one of you gets up to pray he must not remove pebbles, for mercy is facing him.”* * Meaning that such an action is unfitting when one is in God’s presence. Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

The Prophet saw a servant of ours called Aflah blowing when he prostrated himself, and said, “Throw dust on your face, Aflah.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Umar reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Resting the hands on the waist in prayer is the comfort of those who go to hell.” [Baghawi] transmitted it in Sharh as-sunna.

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Kill the two black things during prayer, the snake and the scorpion.” Ahmad, Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi transmitted it, and Nasa’i has something to the same effect.

‘A’isha said, “When God’s Messenger was praying voluntary prayers with his door bolted I came and asked to have the door opened, and he went and opened it for me, then returned to his place of prayer.” She mentioned that the door faced the qibla. Ahmad, Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi transmitted it, and Nasa’i transmitted something similar.

‘A’isha reported the Prophet as saying, “If any of you breaks wind during prayer he should hold his nose and withdraw.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr reported God’s Messenger as saying, “When one of you breaks wind when he has sat at the end of his prayer before giving the salutation, his prayer is valid.” Tirmidhi transmitted it saying that this is a tradition whose isnad is not strong, and there is confusion about its isnad.

The Prophet came out for prayer, but when he had said “God is most great” he went off, giving them a sign to stay where they were. He went away, and when he had bathed he came with his head dripping and led them in prayer. Then when he finished he said, “I was defiled by a seminal emission and forgot to bathe.” Ahmad transmitted it, and Malik transmitted it from ‘Ata’ b. Yasar in mursal form.

Jabir said, “I used to pray the noon prayer with God’s Messenger, and would take a handful of pebbles to cool them in my palm and lay them down to put my forehead on them when prostrating myself because of the excessive heat.” Abu Dawud transmitted it, and Nasa’i transmitted something similar.

God’s Messenger stood up to pray and we heard him say, “I seek refuge in God from you”, then say, “I curse you with God’s curse,” three times, then he stretched but his hand as though he was taking something. When he finished the prayer we said, “Messenger of God, we heard you say something during the prayer which we have not heard you say before, and we saw you stretch out your hand.” He replied, “God’s enemy Iblis came with a flame of fire to put it in my face, so I said three times, ‘I seek refuge in God from you’. Then I said three times, ‘I curse you with God’s perfect curse', but he did not retreat. Thereafter I meant to seize him. I swear by God that had it not been for the supplication of my brother Solomon, he would have been bound and made an object of sport for the Medina children.”* * Cf. the tradition from Abu Huraira, p. 202. There it says, “my brother.” Here it is “our brother”, but the plural is often used for the singular. Muslim transmitted it.

Nafi' said that ‘Abdallah b. ‘Umar passed a man while he was praying and gave him a salutation to which the man uttered some words in reply. ‘Abdallah b. ‘Umar went back to him and said to him, “When one of you is greeted while he is engaged in prayer he must not speak, but give a sign with his hand.” Malik transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God's Messenger as saying, “When one of you stands up to pray the devil comes to him and confuses him so that he does not know how much he has prayed. If any of you has such an experience he should perform two prostrations during the period when he sits.”* * i.e. before pronouncing the taslim. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘Ata b. Yasar said that Abu Sa'id reported God’s Messenger as saying, “When one of you is in doubt aoout his prayer and does not know how much he has prayed, three or four rak'as, he should subtract what he is doubtful about and base his prayer on what he is sure of, then perform two prostrations before giving the salutation. If he has prayed five rak'as they will make his prayer an even number for him, and if he has prayed exactly four they will be a humbling for the devil.” Muslim transmitted it, and Malik transmitted it from ‘Ata’ in mursal form. In his version it says, “he will make it an even number by these two prostrations.”

‘Abdallah ibn Buhaina said that the Prophet led them in the noon prayer, and when he stood up at the end of the first two rak'as and did not sit, the people stood up along with him. When he finished the prayer and the people expected him to give the salutation, he said “God is most great" while sitting and made two prostrations before giving the salutation. Then he gave it. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘Imran b. Husain said that the Prophet led them in prayer and forgot something, so he made two prostrations, then uttered the shahada, then gave the salutation. Tirmidhi transmitted it and said this is a hasan gharib tradition.

Al-Mughira b. Shu'ba reported God’s Messenger as saying, “When an imam stands up at the end of two rak'as, if he remembers before standing straight up he should sit down, but if he stands straight up he must not sit down, but perform the two prostrations of forgetfulness.” Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Imran b. Husain said that God’s Messenger prayed the afternoon prayer and gave the salutation at the end of three rak'as, then went into his house. A man called al-Khirbaq who had long arms got up and went to him, and addressing him mentioned to him what he had done. He came out angrily trailing his cloak, and when he came to the people he asked, “Is this man telling the truth?” When they told him that he was, he prayed a rak‘a, then gave the salutation, then made two prostrations, then gave the salutation. Muslim transmitted it.

‘Abd ar-Rahman b. ‘Auf said that he heard God’s Messenger say,“If any of you prays a prayer and is in doubt whether it is deficient, he should go on praying till he begins to wonder whether he has not prayed too much.” Ahmad transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas said that the Prophet prostrated himself when an-Najm (Al-Qur'an; 53) was revealed, and the Muslims, the ploytheists, jinn and men prostrated themselves along with him. Bukhari transmitted it.

We prostrated ourselves along with the Prophet on account of “When the sky is rent asunder”, Al-Qur’an; 84) and “Recite in the name of your Lord” (Al-Qur’an; 96). Muslim transmitted it.

God’s Messenger was reciting as-Sajda (Al-Qur’an; 32) when we were with him. He was prostrating himself and we were doing so along with him, but we were so crowded that none of us could find a place for his forehead when prostrating himself. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

I recited to God’s Messenger “By the star” (Al-Qur’an; 53) but he did not prostrate himself when I did so. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

A prostration when reciting Sad (Al-Qur’an; 38) is not one of those which are divinely commanded, but I have seen the Prophet prostrate himself when it was recited. In a version Mujahid said that he asked Ibn ‘Abbas whether he should prostrate himself when reciting Sad, whereupon he recited, “And among his progeny David and Solomon . . . so copy the guidance they received,” (Al-Qur’an; 6:84-90) and said, “Your prophet was one of those who were commanded to copy them.” Bukhari transmitted it.

God’s Messenger taught me fifteen prostrations, while reciting the Qur’an, including three in al-Mufassal, 1 and two in sura al-Hajj2. 1. A title given to the suras from 49 to the end, but several other suras are also mentioned: 37, 45, 47, 48, 50, 61, 67, 87, and 93. The name is most appropriately explained ay meaning that this is the section of the Qur’an which contains many shorter suras. 2. Al-Qur’an; 22 Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

‘Uqba b. ‘Amir told that he said, “Messenger of God, sura al-Hajj has been given superior excellence through having two prostrations in it.” He replied, “Yes, and he who does not make the two prostrations should not recite the two verses.” Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi transmitted it, and [Tirmidhi] said this is a tradition whose isnad is not strong. Al-Masabih has “should not recite it”, as occurs in Sharh as-sunna.

Ibn ‘Umar said that the Prophet made a prostration in the noon prayer, then stood up and bowed; and they thought he recite Tanzil, i.e. sura as-Sajda (Al-Qur’an; 32). Abu Dawud transmitted it.

God’s Messenger used to recite the Qur'an to us, and when he came to a place where a prostration should be made he said “God is most great” and prostrated himself, and we prostrated ourselves along with him. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

He said that in the year of the Conquest* God's Messenger recited a verse at which a prostration should be made and all the people prostrated themselves. Some were mounted, some were prostrating themselves on the ground, and those who were mounted prostrated themselves on their hands. * i.e. the Conquest of Mecca in 8 A.H. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas said that the Prophet did not make a prostration at any verse in al-Mufassal from the time he removed to Medina. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

‘A’isha said that when God’s Messenger prostrated himself at night when reciting the Qur’an he said, “My face prostrates itself to Him who created it and brought forth its hearing and seeing by His might and power.” Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi and Nasa’i transmitted it, and Tirmidhi said this is a hasan sahih tradition.

The Prophet thereupon recited a verse at which a prostration should be made, then prostrated himself, and I heard him saying the words the man told him the tree had said. Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it, but Ibn Majah did not mention, "and accept it from me as Thou didst accept it from Thy servant David.” Tirmidhi said this is a gharib tradition.

Ibn Mas'ud said that the Prophet recited "By the star”(Al-Qur’an; 53) prostrating himself when doing so, as did those who were with him with the exception of an old man of Quraish who took a handful of pebbles or dust and raised it to his forehead saying. "This is enough for me.” ‘Abdallah (i.e. Ibn Mas’ud) said that he later saw him killed as an infidel. (Bukhari and Muslim.) Bukhari added in a version that he was Umayya b. Khalaf.

Ibn ‘Abbas said that the Prophet prostrated himself when reciting Sad (Al-Qur’an; 38) and said, "David made this prostration in repentance, but we do it out of gratitude.” Nasa’i transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Umar reported God’s Messenger as saying, “None of you must choose for himself and pray at the rising or setting of the sun.” In a version he said, “When the rim of the sun rises leave off prayer till it comes right up, when the rim of the sun goes below the horizon leave off prayer till it has set, and do not make the rising or setting of the sun your time of prayer, for it rises between the horns of the devil.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

There were three times at which God’s Messenger used to forbid us to pray or bury our dead—when the sun begins to rise till it is fully up, when the sun is at its height at midday till it passes the meridian, and when the sun draws near to setting till it sets. Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri reported God’s Messenger as saying, “No prayer is to be said after the morning prayer until the sun rises, or after the afternoon prayer until the sun sets.”. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

After the Prophet had gone to Medina I went there, and I visited him and said, “Tell me about the prayer.” He replied, “Observe the Morning Prayer, then stop praying when the sun is rising till it is fully up, for when it rises it comes up between the horns of the devil, and the infidels prostrate themselves to it at that time. Then pray, for the prayer is witnessed and angels are attendant at it, till the shadow becomes about the breadth of a lance; then cease prayer, for at that time jahannam is heated up. Then when the shadow moves forward pray, for the prayer is witnessed and angels are attendant at it, till you pray the afternoon prayer; then cease prayer till the sun sets, for it sets between the horns of the devil, and at that time the infidels prostrate themselves to it.” I then asked God’s prophet to tell me about ablution, and he said, “None of you will keep his water for ablution handy and rinse his mouth, snuff up water and blow it out without the sins of his face, his mouth and the inner parts of his nose falling out. When he then washes his face as God has commanded him the sins of his face will fall out at the ends of his beard along with the water; when he then washes his arms up to the elbows the sins of his arms will fall out at his finger-tips along with the water; when he then wipes his head the sins of his head will fall out at the ends of his hairs along with the water when he then washes his feet up to the ankles the sins of his feet will fall out at his toes along with the water. Then if he stands praying, and praises, lauds and glorifies God as is fitting and devotes his whole heart to God, his sin will depart leaving him as he was the day his mother bore him.” Muslim transmitted it.

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)

Muhammad b. Ibrahim on the authority of Qais b. ‘Amr told how when the prophet saw a man praying two rak'as after the Morning Prayer he said, “At the Morning Prayer pray two rak'as." The man replied I had not prayed the two rak'as which precede them, so I prayed themjust now,” and God’s Messenger said nothing. Abu Dawud transmitted it. Tirmidhi transmitted something similar, saying, “The isnad of this tradition is not connected, because Muhammad b. Ibrahim did not hear from Qais b. ‘Amr.” There is something similar in Sharh as-sunna and in some texts of al-Masabih from Qais b. Qahd.

Jubair b. Mut'im reported the Prophet as saying, “You descendants of ‘Abd Manaf must not prevent anyone who goes round this House and prays at any hour of the night or day he wishes.” Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

Abfi Huraira said that the Prophet forbade prayer at the middle of the day until the sun declined from the meridian, with the exception of Friday. Shafi‘i transmitted it.

Abu Khalil said on the authority of Abu Qatada that the Prophet disliked prayer in the middle of the day before the sun declined from the meridian, except on Friday, saying, “Jahannam is heated up except on Friday.” Abu Dawud transmitted it, adding that Abu Khalil did not meet Abu Qatada.

‘Abdallah as-Sunabihi reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The sun rises accompanied by the horn of the devil, but when it is fully risen it leaves it; then when it is at the meridian it joins it, but when it passes the meridian it leaves it; then when it comes near to setting it joins it, but when it sets it leaves it.” God’s Messenger prohibited prayer at those hours. Malik, Ahmad and Nasa’i transmitted it.

God’s Messenger led us in the afternoon prayer at al-Mukhammas and said, “This is a prayer which was proposed to your predecessors, but they neglected it. Everyone who keeps observing it will have a double reward, but there is no prayer after it till ash-shahid rises.” Ash-shahid is the star.* * No particular star is intended. The meaning is that the prayer should be observed when stars become visible. Muslim transmitted it.

Mu'awiya said, “You observe a prayer which we who were the companions of God's Messenger never saw him pray; indeed, he forbade them;”* meaning the two rak'as after the afternoon prayer. * The dual is used here, the reference being to the two rak’as. Bukhari transmitted it.

He who knows me knows me, and if anyone does not know me, I am Jundub* who heard God's Messenger say, “There is no prayer after the morning prayer till the sun rises, or after the afternoon prayer till the sun sets except in Mecca, except in Mecca, except in Mecca.” * Abu Dharr’s name was Jundub b- Janada. Ahmad and Razin transmitted it.