When the deputation of ‘Abd al-Qais came to the Messenger of Allah (May peace be upon him), he commanded them to believe in Allah. He asked : Do you know what faith in Allah is? They replied : Allah and his Apostle know best. He said: It includes the testimony that there is no god but Allah, and that Muhammad is Allah’s Apostle, the observance of the prayer, the payment of zakat, the fasts of Ramadan, and your giving a fifth of the booty.

I did not see more defective in respect of reason and religion than the wise of you (women). A woman asked: What is the defect of reason and religion ? He replied: The defect of reason is the testimony of two women for one man, and the defect of faith is that one of you does not fast during Ramadan (when one is menstruating), and keep away from prayer for some days.

By Allah, I love you, Mu'adh. I give some instruction to you. Never leave to recite this supplication after every (prescribed) prayer: "O Allah, help me in remembering You, in giving You thanks, and worshipping You well."

Mu'adh willed this supplication to the narrator al-Sunabihi and al-Sunabihi to 'Abu Abd al-Rahman.

I came to medina afterwards and saw that the houses of the prophet (may peace be upon him) were (built) in the left.

The menstruating women should keep themselves away from the place of prayer of the Muslims. She did not mention the garment. She narrated this tradition from Hafsah mentioning a woman who asked about another woman saying: O Messenger of Allah ....She then reported the tradition like that narrated by Musa mentioning the garment.

"Anas bin Malik was asked: 'Did the Prophet wear a ring?' He said: 'Yes.' One night he delayed the 'Isha' prayer until almost the middle of the night. When he had prayed, he turned to face us and said: 'The people have prayed and gone to sleep, but you will still be in a state of prayer so long as you are waiting for the (next) prayer.'" (Sahih)Anas said: "It was as if I can see the sparkle from his ring.'"

"The Messenger of Allah said: 'When one of you enters the mosque, he is in a state of prayer, so long as the prayer keeps him there, and the angels will send prayer upon anyone of you so long as he remains in the place where he prayed, saying: "O Allah, forgive him; O Allah, have mercy on him; O Allah, accept his repentance," so long as he does not commit Hadath nor disturb anyone.'"

“I suffered from Nasur* and I asked the Prophet (saw) about prayer. He said: ‘Perform prayer standing; if you cannot, then sitting; and if you cannot then while lying on your side.’”

I went out (on a mercantile venture) during the period (of truce) between me and the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him). While I was in Syria, the letter of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) was handed over to Hiraql (Ceasar), the Emperor of Rome (who was on a visit to Jerusalem at that time). The letter was brought by Dihya Kalbi who delivered it to the governor of Busra The governor passed it on to Hiraql, (On receiving the letter), he said: Is there anyone from the people of this man who thinks that he is a prophet. People said: Yes. So, I was called along with a few others from the Quraish. We were admitted to Hiraql and he seated usbefore him. He asked: Which of you has closer kinship with the man who thinks that he is a prophet? Abu Sufyan said: I. So they seated me in front of him and stated my companions behind me. Then, he called his interpreter and said to him: Tell them that I am going to ask this fellow (i. e. Abu Sufyan) about the man who thinks that he is a prophet. It he tells me a lie, then refute him. Abu Sufyan told (the narrator): By God, if there was not the fear that falsehood would be imputed to me I would have lied. (Then) Hiraqi said to his interpreter: Inquire from him about his ancestry, I said: He is of good ancestry among us. He asked: Has there been a king among his ancestors? I said: No. He asked: Did you accuse him of falsehood before he proclaimed his prophethood? I said: No. He asked: Who are his follower people of high status or low status? I said: (They are) of low status. He asked: Are they increasing in number or decreasing? I said. No. they are rather increasing. He asked: Does anyone give up his religion, being dissatisfied with it, after having embraced it? I said: No. He asked: Have you been at war with him? I said: Yes. He asked: How did you fare in that war? I said: The war between us and him has been wavering like a bucket, up at one turn and down at the other (i. e. the victory has been shared between us and him by turns). Sometimes he suffered loss at our hands and sometimes we suffered loss at his (hand). He asked: Has he (ever) violated his covenant? I said: No. but we have recently concluded a peace treaty with him for a petiod and we do not know what he is going to do about it. (Abu Sufyin said on oath that he could not interpolate in this dialogue anything from himself more than these words ) He asked: Did anyone make the proclamation (Of prophethood) before him? I said: No. He (now) said to his interpreter: Tell him, I asked him about his ancestry and he had replied that he had the best ancestry. This is the case with Prophets; they are the descendants of the noblest among their people (Addressing Abu Sufyan), he continued: I asked you if there had been a king among his ancestors. You said that there had been none. If there had been a king among his ancestors, I would have said that he was a man demanding his ancestral kingdom. I asked you about his followers whether they were people of high or low status, and you said that they were of rather low status. Such are the followers of the Prophets. I asked you whether you used to accuse him of falsehood before he proclaimed his prophethood, and you said that you did not. So I have understood that when he did not allow himself to tell a lie about the poeple, he would never go to the length of forging a falsehood about Allah. I asked you whether anyone renounced his religion being dissatisfied with it after he had embraced it, and you replied in the negative. Faith is like this when it enters the depth of the heart (it perpetuates them). I asked you whether his followers were increasing or decreasing. You said they were increasing. Faith is like this until it reaches its consummation. I asked you whether you had been at war with him, and you replied that you had been and that the victory between you and him had been shared by turns, sometimes he suffering loss at your hand and sometimes you suffering lost at his. This is how the Prophets are tried before the final victory its theirs. I asked you whether he (ever) violated his covenant, and you said that he did not. This is how the Prophets behave. They never violate (their covenants). I asked you whether anyone before him had proclaimed the same thing, and you replied in the negative. I said: If anyone had made the same proclamation before, I would have thought that he was a man following what had been proclaimed before. (Then) he asked: What does he enjoin upon you? I said: He exhorts us to offer Salat, to pay Zakat, to show due regard to kinship and to practise chastity. He said: It what you have told about him is true, he is certainly a Prophet. I knew that he was to appear but I did not think that he would be from among you. If I knew that I would be able to reach him. I would love to meet him; and it I had been with him. I would have washed his feet (out of reverence). His dominion would certainly extend to this place which is under my feet. Then he called for the letter of the Messenger of Allah (may pface be upon him) and read it. The letter ran as follows:" In the name of Allah, Most Gracious and Most Merciful. From Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, to Hiraql, the Emperor of the Romans. Peace be upon him who follows the guidance. After this, I extend to you the invitation to accept Islam. Embrace Islam and you will be safe. Accept Islam, God will give you double the reward. And if you turn away, upon you will be the sin of your subjects." O People of the Book, come to the word that is common between us that we should worship none other than Allah, should not ascribe any partner to Him and some of us should not take their fellows as Lords other than Allah. If they turn away, you should say that we testify to our being Muslims [iii. 64]." When he hid finished the reading of the letter, noise and confused clamour was raise around him, and he ordered us to leave. Accordingly, we left. (Addressing my companions) while we were coming out (of the place). I said: Ibn Abu Kabsha (referring sarcastically to the Holy Prophet) has come to wield a great power. Lo! (even) the king of the Romans is afraid of him. I continued to believe that the authority of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) would triumph until God imbued me with (the spirit of) Islam.

God’s Messenger led us in one of the two evening ('ashiy)¹ prayers. (Ibn Sirin said that Abu Huraira named it, but he had forgotten which, it was.) He led us in two rak'as and when he had given the salutation he got up, and going towards a piece of wood which was placed crosswise in the mosque, he leaned on it looking as if he were angry. He placed his right hand on his left, and intertwining his fingers, he placed his right cheek on the back of his left hand. Those who were first to come out of the doors of the mosque said, “The prayer has been shortened." Abu Bakr and ‘Umar were among the people, but they were too afraid to speak to him; but among them was a man with such long arms that he was called “The possessor of arms" (Dhulyadain) who asked, “Have you forgotten, Messenger of God, or has the prayer been shortened?” He replied, “I have neither forgotten, nor has it been shortened." He then asked whether things were as the possessor of arms had said, and when he was told that that was so he went forward and prayed what he had omitted. He then gave the salutation, then said “God is most great" and made his usual prostration or one a little longer, then raised his head and said “God is most great", then said “God is most great" and made his usual prostration or one a little longer, then raised his head and said “God is most great". He² was often asked whether he then gave the salutation and he would say: I have been informed that ‘Imran b. Husain said he then gave the salutation. 1. ‘Ashiy generally means evening, but it also means the time between the declining of the sun after the meridian and sunset or morning, so the two prayers here mentioned are the noon (zuhr) prayer and the afternoon prayer. 2. i.e. Ibn Sirin (Bukhari and Muslim, the wording being Bukhari’s.) In another version given by both of them, instead of saying “I have neither forgotten nor has it been shortened” God’s Messenger said, “None of that has happened," to which he replied, “Some of it has, Messenger of God."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Ibn Shihab from Salim ibn Abdullah that Abdullah ibn Umar used to shorten the prayer when he travelled for a whole day.

Yahya related to me from Malik from Abd ar-Rahman ibn al-Qasim that his father used to pray four rakas before he went to the place of prayer.

Yahya related to me from Malik from Nafi that Abdullah ibn Umar said, "The prayer for a dead person can be done after asr and subh if these have been prayed at their times."

"I am the most knowledgeable among the people about the prescribed time of this prayer: Allah's Messenger would pray it when the moon set on the third (of the month)."

"The Prophet was asked: 'Which deed is the best?' So he said: 'Salat in the beginning of its time.'"

"I said to Anas bin Malik: 'Would Allah's Messenger (S) perform Salat wearing his sandals?' He said: 'Yes.'"

"We were with the Prophet (S) on a journey when it started to rain on us, so the Prophet (S) said: 'Whoever wishes, let him perform Salat in his place.'"

Allah's Messenger said: "When Fajr begins, then every Salat of the night and Al-Witr have gone, so perform Al-Witr before Fajr begins."

he said: "The Prophet ordered us to attend the Friday prayer in Quba."

"The Messenger of Allah took a covenant from me for three: To not sleep except after performing Witr, to fast three days of every month, and to perform the Duha prayer."

the Prophet said: "O Banu Abd Manaf! Do not prevent anyone from performing Tawaf around this House, and Salat, whichever hour it is of the night or day."

"Indeed Ash-Shaitan has despaired of getting those who perform Salat to worship him.But he is engaged in sowing hatred among them."

“The stingy person is the one before whom I am mentioned, and he does not send Salat upon me.”

I came to the Prophet (PBUH) when he was in the mosque, and he said to me, "Perform two Rak'ah prayer."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) used to perform four Rak'ah of Duha prayer (at the forenoon) and would add to them whatever Allah wished.

[Muslim].

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "He who misses the 'Asr Salat (deliberately), his deeds will be rendered nul and void."

[Al- Bukhari].

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Do not revile the rooster for it wakes you up for prayer."

[Abu Dawud].

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) disliked going to bed before the 'Isha' (night) prayer and indulging in conversation after it."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

‘A'isha said that when God’s messenger intended to engage in private devotion in the mosque he prayed the dawn prayer and then entered his place of seclusion. Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Buraida reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The covenant between us and them is prayer, so if anyone abandons it he has become an infidel.” Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Ibn Mas'ud said that the extent of the shadow when God’s Messenger prayed the noon prayer was three to five feet in summer and five to seven feet in winter. Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Umar reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone misses the afternoon prayer, it is as though he had been cut off from his family and his property.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Qabisa b. Hulb quoted his father as saying that God’s Messenger would lead them in prayer and hold his left hand in his right. Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Abu Umama said that God’s Messenger was asked which supplication is most readily listened to, and replied, “What is offered in the latter part of the depth of the night and after the prescribed prayers.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

He said that God’s Messenger gave them this command, “When you are in the mosque and the call to prayer is made, none of you must go out before he prays.” Ahmad transmitted it.

He said that the Prophet led him and his mother, or his maternal aunt, in prayer, adding, “He set me at his right and set the woman behind us." Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “They lead you in prayer, and if they do it properly you will reap a reward, but if they make mistakes you will reap a reward and they will be held responsible. Bukhari transmitted it.

He said that God’s Messenger did not pray after the Friday noon prayer till he had departed. He would then pray two rak'as in his house. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Ayyub al-Ansari reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The gates of heaven are opened for four rak'as containing no taslim before the noon prayer.” Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Abu Umama said that God’s Messenger was asked which supplication was most readily listened to, and replied, “One made in the course of the latter part of the night, and after the prescribed prayers.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Mu'adha said she asked ‘A’isha how many rak'as God’s Messenger prayed at the forenoon prayer, and she replied, “Four rak'as, but sometimes more, as God pleased.” Muslim transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas said, “God has prescribed the prayer by the tongue of your Prophet as four rak'as when resident, two when travelling, and one when danger is present.” Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported the Prophet as saying, “The Friday prayer is obligatory on him who can get home to his family by night.” Tirmidhi transmitted it and said this is a tradition whose isnad is weak.

Jabir said there was an eclipse of the sun in the time of God’s Messenger on the day his son Ibrahim died. He led the people in prayer, performing six bowings and four prostrations. Muslim transmitted it.

Samura b. Jundub said that God’s Messenger led them in prayer during an eclipse, but that they did not hear what he said. Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

“If anyone resorts to a diviner (arraf) and asks him about anything prayer will not be accepted from him for forty days.”* Muslim transmitted it. * Literally, Nights.

I asked the Messenger of Allah (PBUH): "Inform me of an act which will cause me to enter Jannah and keep me far from Hell." He (PBUH) replied, "You have asked me about a matter of great importance, but it is easy for one for whom Allah makes it easy." He added, "Worship Allah, associate nothing with Him in worship, offer As-Salat (the prayer), pay the Zakat, observe Saum (fasting) during Ramadan and perform Hajj (pilgrimage) to the House of Allah, if you can afford it." He (PBUH) further said, "Shall I not guide you to the gates of goodness? Fasting is a screen (from Hell), charity extinguishes (i.e., removes) the sins as water extinguishes fire, and standing in prayers by a slave of Allah during the last third part of the night." Then he recited: "Their sides forsake their beds, to invoke their Rabb in fear and hope, and they spend (in charity in Allah's Cause) out of what We have bestowed on them. No person knows what is kept hidden for them of joy as a reward for what they used to do." (32:16-17) Then he added, "Shall I tell you of the root of the matter, its pillar and its highest point?" I replied: "Yes! Certainly, O Prophet of Allah." He said, "The root of this matter (foundation) is Islam, its pillar (mainstay is) As-Salat (the prayer) and its highest point is Jihad (fighting in the Cause of Allah)." Then he asked, "Shall I tell you of that which holds all these things?" I said: "Yes, O Messenger of Allah." So he took hold of his tongue and said, "Keep this in control." I asked: "O Messenger of Allah! Shall we really be accounted for what we talk about?" He replied, "May your mother lose you! People will be thrown on their faces into the Hell on account of their tongues."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Ibn Shihab from Said ibn al- Musayyab that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, travelled by night on the way back from Khaybar.Towards the end of the night he stopped for a rest and told Bilal to stay awake to keep watch for the subh prayer. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and his companions slept. Bilal stayed on guard as long as was decreed for him and then he leant against his riding camel facing the direction of the dawn and sleep overcame him and neither he nor the Messenger of Allah nor any of the party woke up until the sun's rays had struck them. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was alarmed. Bilal excused himself, saying, "Messenger of Allah! The One who took your self was the One who took myself. "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, ordered the party to move on and so they roused thei r mounts and rode on a short distance. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, ordered Bilal to give the iqama and then led them in the subh prayer. When he had finished he said, "Anyone who forgets a prayer should pray it when he remembers. Allah theBlessed and Exalted says in His book, 'Establish the prayer to remember Me.'"

"A man came to the Prophet to ask him about the times for Salat. So he said: 'Stay with us, In sha Allah.' So he ordered Bilal to call the Iqamah when Fajr began, then he ordered him to call the Iqamah when the Sun passed the zenith, then he prayed Zuhr. Then he ordered him to call the Iqamah to pray Asr while the sun was elevated and white. Then he ordered him (to call the Iqamah for) Maghrib when the (top) edge of the sun had set. Then he ordered him to call the Iqamah for Isha when the horizon (twilight) had vanished. Then he ordered him in the morning (to give the call for Fajr prayer), when the light of Fajr glowed. Then he ordered (him to call the Iqamah for) Zuhr, so he waited well until it had cooled. Then he ordered (him to call the Iqamah for) Asr, so he calIed the Iqamah while the sun was later in its position than what it was (the day before). Then he ordered him to delay Maghrib until right before the twilight had disappeared. Then he ordered (him to call the Iqamah for) Isha, so he called the Iqamah when a third of the night had passed. Then he said: 'Where is the one who asked about he times for the Salat?' So the man said, 'It is I.' So he said: 'The times [or the Salat are what are between these two.'"

that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) came out to Ubayy bin Ka'b, and the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: "O Ubayy!" And he was performing Salat, so Ubayy turned around but he did not respond to him, so Ubayy finished his Salat quickly. Then he turned to the Messenger of Allah (SAW) and said: 'As-Salamu 'Alaikum, O Messenger of Allah!' The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: 'Wa 'Alaikum As-Salam - what prevented you from responding to me when I called you Ubayy?' He said: 'O Messenger of Allah! I was performing Salat.' So he said: 'Do you not find among what Allah revealed to me: Respond to Allah and to the Messenger when they call you to what gives you life?' He said: 'Of course, I shall not repeat that, if Allah wills.' He said: 'Would you like for me to teach you a Surah the likes of which has neither been revealed in the Tawrah, nor the Injil, nor the Zabur, nor in the entire Qur'an?' He said: "Yes, O Messenger of Allah!' The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: 'What do you recite in your Salat?' He said: 'I recite Umm Al-Qur'an.' So the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: 'By the One in Whose Hand is my soul! The like of it has neither been revealed in the Tawrah, nor the Injil nor the Zabur, nor in the Furqan. It is the seven oft-repeated, and the Magnificent Qur'an which I was given.'"