"The Messenger of Allah said: 'The prayer of a man in congregation is twenty-seven levels more virtuous than a man's prayer on his own.'"

“The Messenger of Allah (saw) said: ‘Whoever catches one Rak’ah of Friday prayer or other than it, then he has caught the prayer.’”

We alighted with the Prophet (saws) at Khaybar, and he had his companions with him. The chief of Khaybar was a defiant and abominable man.

He came to the Prophet (saws) and said: Is it proper for you, Muhammad, that you slaughter our donkeys, eat our fruit, and beat our women?

The Prophet (saws) became angry and said: Ibn Awf, ride your horse, and call loudly: Beware, Paradise is lawful only for a believer, and that they (the people) should gather for prayer.

They gathered and the Prophet (saws) led them in prayer, stood up and said: Does any of you, while reclining on his couch, imagine that Allah has prohibited only that which is to be found in this Qur'an? By Allah, I have preached, commanded and prohibited various matters as numerous as that which is found in the Qur'an, or more numerous. Allah has not permitted you to enter the houses of the people of the Book without permission, or beat their women, or eat their fruits when they give you that which is imposed on them.

The Messenger of Allah (May peace be upon him) said to me: When you go to your bed, perform ablution like the ablution for prayer, and then lie on your right side and say: O Allah I have handed over my face to thee, entrusted my affairs to thee, and committed my back to thee out of desire for and fear to thee. There is no refuge and no place of safety from thee except by having recource to thee. I believe in Thy Book which Thou hast sent down and in Thy prophet whom thou hast sent down. He said : If you die (that night), you would die in the true religion, and utter these words in the last of that you utter (other prayers). Al-Bara said : I said: I memorise them, and then I repeated, saying “and in Thy Apostle whom Thou hast sent”. He said : No, say : “and in Thy Prophet whom Thou hast sent.

I heard the Messenger of Allah( may peace be upon him) say: When the iqamah is pronounced for prayer, do not come to it running, but come walking(slowly). You should observe tranquility. The part of the prayer you get(along with the imam) offer it, and the part you miss complete it(afterwards).

Abu Dawud said: The version narrated by al-Zubaidi, Ibn Abi Dhi’b, Ibrahim b. Sa’d, Ma’mar, Shu’aib b. Abi Hamzah on the authority of al-Zuhri has the words: “the part you miss then complete it”. Ibn ‘Uyainah alone narrated from al-Zuhri the words “then offer it afterwards”. And Muhammad b. ‘Amr narrated from Abu Salamah on the authority of Abu Hurairah, and Ja’far b. Rabi’ah narrated from al-A’raj on the authority of Abu Hurairah the words “then complete it”. And Ibn Mas’ud narrated from the Prophet(may peace be upon him) and Abu Qatadah and Anas reported from the Prophet( may peace be upon him) the words” then complete it”.

There was an eclipse of the sun in the time of the Prophet (may peace be upon him). The Prophet stood for a long time, accompanied by the people. He then bowed, then raised his head, then he bowed and then he raised his head, and again he bowed and prayed two rak'ahs of prayer. In each rak'ah he bowed three times. After bowing for the third time he prostrated himself. He stood for such a long time that some people became unconscious on that occasion and buckets of water had to be poured on them. When he bowed, he said, Allah is most great; and when he raised his head, he said, Allah listens to him who praises Him, till the sun became bright. then he said: The sun and the moon are not eclipsed on account of anyone's death or on account of anyone's birth, but they are two of Allah's signs, He produces dread in His servants by means of them. When they are eclipsed, hasten to prayer

The Messenger of Allah (saws) sent me to Khalid b. Sufyan al-Hudhail. This was towards 'Uranah and 'Arafat. He (the Prophet) said: Go and kill him. I saw him when the time of the afternoon prayer had come. I said: I am afraid if a fight takes place between me and him (Khalid b. Sufyan), that might delay the prayer. I proceeded walking towards him while I was praying by making a sign. When I reached near him, he said to me: Who are you ? I replied: A man from the Arabs; it came to me that you were gathering (any army) for this man (i.e. Prophet). Hence I came to you in connection with this matter. He said: I am (engaged) in this (work). I then walked along with him for a while ; when it became convenient for me, I dominated him with my sword until he became cold (dead).

I spent a night with the Prophet (saws) to see how he prayed. He got up, performed ablution and prayed two rak'ahs. His standing was like his bowing (i.e. equal in duration), and his bowing was like his prostration (equal in length). Then he slept. Afterwards he awoke, performed ablution, and used tooth-stick. He then recited five verses from Surah Al-'Imran : "In the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of night and day". He went on doing so till he prayed ten rak'ahs. He then stood up and prayed one rak'ah observing witr with it. In the meantime the mu'adhdhin called to prayer. The Messenger of Allah (saws) stood up after the mu'adhdhin had kept silent. He prayed two light rak'ahs and remained sitting till he offered the dawn prayer.

Abu Dawud said: A part of the tradition transmitted by Ibn Bashshar remained hidden from me.

How would the Messenger of Allah (saws) pray during the night ? He replied: I spent a night with him when he was with Maimunah. He slept and awoke when half the night or one-third of it had passed. He stood up and went to a leather bad containing water. He performed ablution and I also performed ablution with him. He then stood up and I also stood at his left side. He made me stand at his right side. He then put his hand upon my head, as he was touching my ear and awakening me. He then prayed two light rak'ahs and recited Surah al-Fatihah in each of them, and uttered the salutation. He then prayed eleven rak'ahs observing the witr and slept. Then Bilal came to him and said: Prayer, Messenger of Allah. He got up and prayed two rak'ahs, and then led the people in the prayer.

When the Messenger of Allah (saws) intended to observe I'tikaf, he prayed the fajr prayer and then entered his place of seclusion. Once he intended to observe I'tikaf during the last ten days of Ramadan. She said: He ordered to pitch a tent for him, and it was pitched. She said: The other wives of the Prophet (saws) also ordered to pitch tents for them and they were pitched. When he offered the fajr prayer, he saw the tents, and said: What is this ? Did you intend to do an act of virtue ? She said: He then ordered to demolish his tent, and it was demolished. Then his wives also ordered to demolish their tents and they were demolished. He then postponed I'tikaf till the first ten days, that is of Shawwal.

Abu Dawud said: This tradition has been transmitted by Ibn Ishaq and al-Auza'i from Yahya b. Sa'id in a similar manner, and Malik narrated it from Yahya b. Sa'id, saying: He observed I'tikaf during twenty days of Shawwal.

"I said to Hudhaifah bin Al-Yaman: 'Did the Messenger of Allah (SAW) perform Salat in Bait Al-Maqdis?' He said: 'No.' I said: 'But he did.' He said: 'You say that, O bald one! Based upon what do you say that?' I said: 'Based upon the Qur'an, (the Judge) between you and I is the Qur'an.' So Hudhaifah said: 'Whoever argues using the Qur'an, then he has indeed succeeded.'" (One of the narrators) Sufyan said: "He means: 'He has indeed proven'" - and perhaps he (Sufyan) said: "He triumphed." He (Zirr) said: "Glorified is He Who took His slave for a journey by night from Al-Masjid Al-Haram to Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa (17:1).' He (Hudhaifah) said: 'Do you see (this proves that) he (SAW) performed Salat in it?' I said: 'No.' He said: 'If he had performed Salat in it, then it would have been required upon you that you perform Salat in it, just as it is required that you perform Salat in Al-Masjid Al-Haram.' Hudhaifah said: 'The Messenger of Allah (SAW) was brought a beast with a long back - stretching out like this - one stride of it, is as far as his vision. So, the two of them remained upon the back of Al-Buraq until they saw Paradise and the Fire, and all of what has been prepared for the Hereafter, then they returned back to where they began.' He said: 'They say that he was fettered, but for what? Because he might flee? The Knower of the unseen and the witness subdued him.'"

I would offer my noon prayer with the Messenger of Allah (saws) and took a handful of gravels so that they might become cold in my hand and I placed them (before me) so that I may put my forehead on them at the time when I would prostrate. I did this due to the intensity of heat.

Qatadah said: I heard Jabir ibn Zayd who reported on the authority of Ibn Abbas; and Shu'bah reported the Prophet (saws) as saying: A menstruating woman and a dog cut off the prayer.

Abu Dawud said: Sa'id, Hisham and Hammam narrated this tradition from Qatadah on the authority of Jabir b. Zaid as a statement of Ibn 'Abbas.

When the Messenger of Allah (saws) uttered the takbir (Allah is most great) for prayer (in the beginning), he raised his hands opposite to his shoulders; and when he bowed, he did like that; and when he raised his head to prostrate, he did like that; and when he got up at the end of two rak'ahs, he did like that.

The Prophet (saws) said: When one of you becomes defiled during prayer, he should hold his nose and then turn away.

Abu Dawud said: This tradition has been narrated by Hammad b. Salamah and Abu Usamah from Hisham on the authority of his father from the Prophet (Saws). They did not mention the name of 'Aishah.

The Messenger of Allah (saws) offered the morning prayer. When he finished it, he stood up and said three times: False witness has been made equivalent to attributing a partner to Allah. He then recited: "So avoid the abomination of idols and avoid speaking falsehood as people pure of faith to Allah, not associating anything with Him.

When ‘Abd Allah b. ‘Umar began his prayer, he raised his hands opposite to his shoulders; and when he raised his head after bowing, he raised them lower than that.

Abu Dawud said: So as far as I know, no one narrated the words “he raised them lower that that” except Malik.

Umm Habibah daughter of Jahsh had a prolonged flow of blood. The Prophet (saws) commander her to refrain (from prayer) during her menstrual period; then she should wash and pray. If she sees anything (which renders ablution void) she should perform ablution and pray.

Abu Dawud said: This is the view held by Malik b. Anas.

The narrator Husain also reported it like al-A'mash.

"The Messenger of Allah ate a shoulder, then he wiped his hands on a Mish that was underneath him, then he got up for prayer, and performed the prayer.

"The Messenger of Allah said: 'the prayer of a man in congregation is twenty-five levels higher than his prayer in his home.'"

It was narrated from Hafsah bint ‘Umar that when the call for the Subh prayer was given, the Messenger of Allah (saw) would pray two short Rak’ah before going to the prayer.

"Allah's Messenger did not pray any Salat at the end of its time two times, until Allah took him."

"When Allah's Messenger would enter the Salat he would raise his hands while they were extended."

"Allah's Messenger would say one Taslim for the Salat while facing forward and turning to his right side a little."

Allah's Messenger performing Salat in the house of Umm Salamah wrapped in one garment.

"Allah's Messenger performed Salat behind Abu Bakr, during the illness from which he died, and he was sitting."

Allah's Messenger said: "Whoever among you is to pray after the Friday prayer, then let him pray four."

Az-Zubair offered the funeral prayer for `Uthman (رضي الله عنه) and buried him in accordance with his instructions.

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “The key to prayer is wudoo’, entering it is takbeer and exiting it is tasleem.`

Ibn ‘Umar reported God’s messenger as saying, “When any of you goes to the Friday prayer he should bathe.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘Abdallah b. Shaqiq said that the companions of God’s Messenger did not consider the abandonment of any good deeds but prayer to be infidelity. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Sahl b. Sa'd said that the people received command that a man should place the right hand on the left forearm in prayer. Bukhari transmitted it.

Anas said that the Prophet urged them to pray and forbade them to leave after prayer before he did. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

‘A’isha said that God’s Messenger used to give one salutation in the prayer straight in front of him, then incline a little to the right. Tirmidhi 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.

Jabir reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Do not postpone prayer because of food or any other reason.” [Baihaqi] transmitted it in Sharh as-sunna.

Anas said that God’s Messenger appointed Ibn Umm Maktum as substitute to lead the people in prayer, and he was blind. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Jabir said that Muadh b. Jabal would pray along with the Prophet, then go to his people and lead them in prayer. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

She said that when the Prophet prayed the two rak'as of the dawn prayer he lay down on his right side. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

She said the Prophet used to pray thirteen rak'as during the night, including the witr and two rak'as of the dawn prayer. Muslim transmitted it.

‘A’isha said that when the Prophet stood up at night to pray he began his prayer with two short rak'as. Muslim transmitted it.

‘A'isha said, “God’s Messenger has done all that; he both shortened the prayer and observed it completely.” [Baghawi] transmitted it in Sharh as-sunna.

He said that rain fell on a festival day and the Prophet led them in the festival prayer in the mosque. Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Jabir said that Mu'adh b. Jabal used to pray along with the Prophet, then come and lead his people in prayer. One night he prayed the evening prayer along with the Prophet, then came to his people and led them in prayer, beginning with Sura al-Baqara1. A man turned aside, pronounced the taslim, then prayed alone and departed. The people said to him, “Have you become a hypocrite, so and so?” He replied, I swear by God that I have not, but I shall certainly go to God’s Messenger and tell him.” So he went to him and said, “Messenger of God, we look after camels used for watering and work by day. After having prayed the evening prayer with you, Mu'adh came and began with Sura al-Baqara.” God’s Messenger then approached Mu'adh and said, “Are you a troubler, Mu’adh? Recite, ‘By the sun and its morning brightness,’2 ‘By the morning brightness,’3 ‘By the night when it covers over,’4 and ‘Glorify the name of thy most high Lord’.”5 1. Al-Qur’an; 2 the longest sura in the Qur’an. 2. Al-Qur’an; 91 3. Al-Qur'an; 93. 4. Al-Qur'an; 92. 5. Al-Qur’an; 87. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

When the Messenger of Allah(may peace be upon him) entered the mosque, a man also entered it and prayed. He then came and saluted the Messenger of Allah(may peace be upon him). The Messenger of Allah(may peace be upon him) returned the salutation and said to him: Go back and pray, for you have not prayed. The man returned and prayed as he prayed before. He then came to prophet(may peace be upon him) and saluted him. The Messenger of Allah(may peace be upon him) said to him: “ And upon you be peace. “ Go back and pray, for you have not prayed. He did so three times. Then the man said: By Him who has sent you(as a Prophet) with truth; I cannot do better than this; so teach me. He said: When you get up to pray, utter the takbir(Allah is most great); then recite a convenient portion of the Qur’an; then bow and remain quietly in that position; then sit and remain quietly in that position; then raise yourself and stand erect: then prostrate yourself and remain quietly in that position; then sit and remain quietly in that position; then do that throughout all your prayer.

Abu Dawud said: Al-Qa’nabi reported this tradition from Sa’id b. Abi Sa’Id on the authority of Abu Hurairah. This version has the wording in the last: When you do this, then your prayer is completed. If you omit anything form this, you omit that much from your prayer. This version also has the wording: when you get up for praying, perform the abulation perfectly.

Yahya related to me from Malik from his uncle Abu Suhayl ibn Malik that his father said, "I used to see a carpet belonging to Aqil ibn Abi Talib spread out on the day of jumua up to the west wall of the mosque. When the shadow of the wall covered the whole carpet, Umar ibn al-Khattab would come out and pray the jumua prayer."

Malik, Abu Suhayl's father, added, "We would then return after the jumua prayer and take our midday sleep."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Ibn Shihab from Salim ibn Abdullah that Abdullah ibn Umar used to say "Allah is greater" in the prayer whenever he lowered himself and raised himself.

Yahya related to me from Malik from Nafi that Abdullah ibn Umar used to raise his hands to the level of his shoulders when he began the prayer and when he raised his head from the ruku he would raise them less than that.

"Allah's Messenger turned (after praying) from a Salat in which he recited aloud and said: 'Has any one of you recite along with me just now?' A man said: 'Yes, O Messenger of Allah.' He said: 'Indeed I said to myself: Why was I being contended with for the Quran?'" He (Az-Zuhri one of the narrators) said: "So when they heard that from Allah's Messenger, the people stopped reciting with Allah's Messenger in the prayers that Allah's Messenger recited aloud."

"The Imam stands facing the Qiblah while a group of them stand with him, and a group is before the enemy, facing the enemy. He leads them in a Rak'ah, and they perform a bowing by themselves, and they perform two prostrations in their places. Then they go to take the position of the others and the others come (for prayers). He (the Imam) bows for one Rak'ah with them and performs two prostrations with them. That is two for him and one for them, then they perform one bowing and two prostrations."