The Book of Prayers

Jabir said: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) led the prayer and Abu Bakr was behind him. When the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) recited the takbir, Abu Bakr also recited (it) in order to make it audible to us. And the rest of the hadith is like one transmitted by Laith.

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: The Imam is appointed, so that he should be followed, so don't be at variance with him. Recite takbir when he recites it; bow down when he bows down and when he says:" Allah listens to him who praises Him," say:" O Allah, our Lord, to Thee be the Praise." And when he (the Imam) prostrates, you should also prostrate, and when he says prayer sitting, you should all observe prayer sitting.

A hadith like this has been transmitted by Hammam b. Munabbih from the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) on the authority of Abu Huraira.

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) while teaching us (the principles of faith), said: Do not try to go ahead of the Imam, recite takbir when he recites it. and when he says:" Nor of those who err," you should say Amin, bow down when lie bows down, and when he says:" Allah listens to him who praises Him," say:" O Allah, our Lord, to Thee be the praise".

Abu Huraira reported from the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) (a hadith) like it, except the words: " Nor of those who err, say Amin" and added:" And don't rise up ahead of him."

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: Verily the Imam is a shield, say prayer sitting when he says prayer sitting. And when he says:" Allah listens to him who praises Him," say:" O Allah, our Lord, to Thee be the praise." and when the utterance of the people of the earth synchronises with that of the beings of heaven (angels), all the previous sins would be pardoned.

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) saying: The Imamis appointed to be followed. So recite takbir when he recites it, and bow down when he bows down and when he utters:" Allah listens to him who praises Him," say" O Allah, our Lordfor Thee be the praise." And when he prays, standing, you should pray standing. And when he prays sitting, all of you should pray sitting.

Ubaidullah b. Abdullah reported: I visited 'A'isha and asked her to tell about the illness of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him). She agreed and said: The Apostle (may peace be upon him) was seriously ill and he asked whether the people had prayed. We said: No, they are waiting for you, Messenger of Allah. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Put some water in the tub for me. We did accordingly and he (the Holy Prophet) took a bath;and, when he was about to move with difficulty, he fainted. When he came round, he again said: Have the people said prayer? We said: No, they are waiting for you, Messenger of Allah. He (the Holy Prophet) again said: Put some water for me in the tub. We did accordingly and he took a bag, but when he was about to move with difficultyhe fainted. When he came round, he asked whether the people had prayed. We said: No, they are waiting for you, Messenger of Allah. He said: Put some water for me in the tub. We did accordingly and he took a bath and he was about to move with difficulty when he fainted. When he came roundhe said: Have the people saidprayer? We said: No, they are waiting for you, Messenger of Allah. She ('A'isha) said: The people were staying in the mosque and waiting for the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) to lead the last (night) prayer. She ('A'isha) said: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) sent (instructions) to Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer. When the messenger came, he told him (Abd Bakr): The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) has ordered you to lead the people in prayer. Abu Bakr who was a man of very tenderly feelings asked Umar to lead the prayer. 'Umar said: You are more entitled to that. Abu Bakr led the prayers during those days. Afterwards the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) felt some relief and he went out supported by two men, one of them was al-'Abbas, to the noon prayer. Abu Bakr was leading the people in prayer. When Abu Bakr saw him. he began to withdraw, but the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) told him not to withdraw. He told his two (companions) to seat him down beside him (Abu Bakr). They seated him by the side of Abu Bakr. Abu Bakr said the prayer standing while following the prayer of the Apostle (way peace be upon him) and the people Bald prayer (standing) while following the prayer of Abu Bakr. The Apostle (may peace be upon him) was seated. Ubaidullah said: I visited 'Abdullah b. 'Abbas, and said: Should I submit to you what 'A'isha had told about the illness of the Apostle (may peace be upon him)? He said: Go ahead. I submitted to him what had been transmitted by her ('A'isha). He objected to none of it, only asking whether she had named to him the man who accompanied al-'Abbas. I said: No. He said: It was 'Ali.

'A'isha reported: It was in the house ofMaimuna that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) first fell ill. He asked permission from his wives to stay in her ('A'isha's) house during his illness. They granted him permission. She ('A'isha) narrated: He (the Holy Prophet) went out (for prayer) with his hand over al-Fadl b. 'Abbas and on the other hand there was another person and (due to weakness) his feet dragged on the earth. 'Ubaidullah said: I narrated this hadith to the son of 'Abbas ('Abdullah b. 'Abbas) and he said: Do you know who the man was whose name 'A'isha did not mention? It was 'Ali.

'A'isha, the wife of the Apostle (may peace be upon him), said: When the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) fell ill and his illness became serious, he asked permission from his wives to stay in my house during his illness. They gave him permission to do so. He stepped out (of'A'isha's apartment for prayer) supported by two persons. (He was so much weak) that his feet dragged on the ground and he was being supported by 'Abbas b. 'Abd al-Muttalib and another person. 'Ubaidullah said: I informed 'Abdullah (b. 'Abbas) about that which 'A'isha had said. 'Abdullah b. 'Abbas said: Do you know the man whose name 'A'isha did not mention? He said: No. Ibn 'Abbas said: It was 'Ali.

'A'isha, the wife of the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him), said: I tried to dissuade the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) from it (i. e. from appointing Abu Bakr as the Imam.) and my insistence upon it was not due to the fact that I entertained any apprehension in my mind that the people would not love the man who would occupy his (Prophet's) place (i. e. who would be appointed as his caliph) and I feared that the people would be superstitious about one who would occupy his place. I, therefore, desired that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) should leave Abu Bakr aside in this matter.

'A'isha reported: When the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) came to my house, he said: Ask Abu Bakr to lead people in prayer. 'A'isha narrated: I said, Messenger of Allah, Abu Bakr is a man of tenderly feelings; as he recites the Qur'an, he cannot help shedding tears: so better command anyone else to lead the prayer. By Allah, there is nothing disturbing in it for me but the idea that the people may not takeevil omen with regard to one who is the first to occupy the place of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him). I tried to dissuade him (the Holy Prophet) twice or thrice (from appointing my father as an Imam in prayer), but he ordered Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer and said: You women are like those (who had) surrounded Yusuf.

'A'isha reported: When the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) was confined to bed, Bilal came to him to summon him to prayer. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Ask Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer. She ('A'isha) reported: I said: Messenger of Allah, Abu! Bakr is a tenderhearted man, go when ]be would stand at your place (he would be so overwhelmed by feelings) that he would not be able to make the people hear anything (his recitation would not be audible to the followers in prayer). You should better order Umar (to lead the prayer). He (the Holy Prophet) said: Ask Abu Bakr to lead people in- prayer. She ('A'isha) said: I asked Hafsa to (convey) my impression to him (the Holy Prophet) that Abu Bakr was a tenderhearted man, so when he would stand at his place, he would not be able to make the people bear anything. He better order Umar. Hafsa conveyed this (message of Hadrat 'A'isha) to him (the Holy Prophet). The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: (You are behaving) as if you are the females who had gathered around Yusuf. Order Abd Bakr to lead the people in prayer. She ('A'isha) reported: So Abu Bakr was ordered to lead the people in prayer. As the prayer began, the Messenger of Allah (may peace he upon him) felt some relief; he got up and moved supported by two persons and his feet dragged on earth (due to excessive weakness). 'A'isha reported: As he (the Holy Prophet) entered the mosque. Abu Bakr perceived his (arrival). He was about to with. draw, but the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) by the gesture (of This hand) told him to keep standing at his place. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) came and seated himself on the left side of Abu Bakr. She ('A'isha) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) was leading people in prayer sitting. Abu Bakr was following the prayer of the Apostle (may peace be upon him) in a standing posture and the people were following the prayer of Abu Bakr.

A'mash reported: When the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) suffered from illness of which he died, and in the hadith transmitted by Ibn Mus-hir, the words are: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) was brought till he was seated by his (Abu Bakr's) side and the Apostle (may peace be upon him) led the people in prayer and Abu Bakr was making takbir audible to them, and in the hadith transmitted by 'Isa the (words are):" The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) sat and led the people in prayer and Abu Bakr was by his side and he was making (takbir) audible to the people."

'A'isha reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) ordered Abu Bakr that he should lead people in prayer during his illness, and he led them In prayer. 'Urwa said: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) felt relief and went (to the mosque) and Abd Bakr was leading the people in prayer. When Abel Bakr saw him he began to withdraw, but the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) signed him to remain where he was. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) sat opposite to Abu Bakr by his side. Abu Bakr said prayer following the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him), and the people said prayer following the prayer of Abu Bakr.

Anas b. Malik reported, Abu Bakr led them in prayer due to the illness of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) of which be died. It was a Monday and they stood in rows for prayer. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) drew aside the curtain of ('A'isha's) apartment and looked at us while he was standing, and his (Prophet's) face was (as bright) as the paper of the Holy Book. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) felt happy and smiled. And we were confounded with joy while in prayer due to the arrival (among our midst) of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him), Abu Bakr stepped back upon his heels to say prayer in a row perceiving that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) had come out for prayer. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) with the help of his hand signed to them to complete their prayer. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) went back (to his apartment) and drew the curtain. He (the narrator) said: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) breathed his last on that very day.

Anas reported: The last glance that I have had of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) (before his death) was that when he on Monday drew the curtain aside. The hadith transmitted by Salih is perfect and complete.

This hadith is narrated on the authority of Anas b. Malik by another chain of transmitters.

Anas reported: The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) did not come to us for three days. When the prayer was about to start. Abu Bakr stepped forward (to lead the prayer), and the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) lifted the curtain. When the face of the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) became visible to us, we (found) that no sight was more endearing to us than the face of the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) as it appeared to us. The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) with the gesture of his hand directed Abu Bakr to step forward (and lead the prayer). The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) then drew the curtain, and we could not see him till he died.

Abu Musa reported: When the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) became ill and illness became serious he ordered Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer. Upon this 'A'isha said: Messenger of Allah, Abd Bakr is a man of tenderly feelings: when he would stand in your place (he would be so much overwhelmed -by grief that) he would not be able to lead the people in prayer. He (the Holy Prophet) said: You order Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer, and added: You are like the female companions of Yusuf. So Abu Bakr led the prayer (during this period of illness) in the life of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him).

Sahl b. Sa'd al-Sa'idi reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) went to the tribe of Bani Amr b. Auf in order to bring reconciliation amongst (its members), and It was a time of prayer. The Mu'adhdhin came to Abu Bakr and said: Would you lead the prayer in case I recite takbir (tahrima, with which the prayer begins)? He (Abu Bakr) said: Yes. He (the narrator) said: He (Abu Bakr) started (leading) the prayer. The people were engaged in observing prayer when the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) happened to come there and made his way (through the people) till he stood in a row. The people began to clap (their hands), but Abu Bakr paid no heed (to it) in prayer. When the people clapped more vigorously, he (Abu Bakr) then paid heed and saw the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) there. (He was about to withdraw when) the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) signed to him to keep standing at his place. Abu Bakr lifted his hands and praised Allah for what the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) had commanded him and then Abu Bakr withdrew himself till he stood in the midst of the row and the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) stepped forward and led the prayer. When (the prayer) was over, he (the Holy Prophet) said: 0 Abu Bakr, what prevented you from standing (at that place) as I ordered you to do? Abu Bakr said: It does not become the son of Abu Quhafa to lead prayer before the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him). The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said (to the people) around him: What is it that I saw you clapping so vigorously? (Behold) when anything happens in prayer, say: Subha Allah, for when you would utter it, it would attract the attention, while clapping of hands is meant for women.

This hadith is transmitted by Sahl b. Sa'd in the same way as narrated by Malik, with the exception of these words: " Abu Bakr lifted his hands and praised Allah and retraced his (steps) till he stood in a row."

Sahl b. Sa'd al-Sa'idi reported: The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) went to Bani Amr b. 'Auf in order to bring about reconciliation amongst them. The rest of the hadith is the same but with (the addition of these words):" The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) came and made his way through the rows till he came to the first row and Abu Bakr retraced his steps."

Mughira b. Shu'ba reported that he participated In the expedition of Tabuk along with the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him). The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) went out to answer the call of nature before the morning prayer. and I carried along with him a jar (full of water). When the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) came back to me (after relieving himself). I began to pour water upon his hands out of the jar and he washed his hands three times, then washed his face three times. He then tried to tuck up the sleeves of his cloak upon his forearms but since the sleeves were tight he inserted his hands in the cloak and then brought out his forearms up to the elbow below the cloak, and then wiped over his shoes and then moved on. Mughira said: I also moved along with him till he came to the people and (he found) that they had been saying their prayer under the Imamah of 'Abd al-Rahman b. 'Auf. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) could get one rak ah out of two and said (this) last rak'ah along with the people. When Abd al-Rahman b. 'Auf pronounced the salutation, the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) got up to complete the prayer. This made the Muslims terrified and most of them began to recite the glory of the Lord. When the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) finished his prayer, he turned towards them and then said: You did well, or said with a sense of joy: You did the right thing that you said prayer at the appointed hour.

This hadith is narrated by Hamza b. Mughira by another chain of trans- mitters (but with the addition of these words): I made up my mind to hold Abd al-Rahman b. 'Auf back, but the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: Leave him."

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: Glorification of Allah is for men and clapping of hands is meant for women (if something happens in prayer). Harmala added in his narration that Ibn Shihab told him: I saw some of the scholars glorifying Allah and making a gesture.

This hadith is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira by another chain of transmitters.

This hadith is transmitted by Muhammad b. Rafi', Abu'I-Razzaq. Ma'mar, Hammam on the authority of Abu Huraira with the addition of (the word)" prayer".

Abu Huraira reported: one day the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) led the prayer. Then turning (towards his Companions) he said: 0 you, the man, why don't you say your prayer well? Does the observer of prayer not see how he is performing the prayer for he performs it for himself? By Allah, I see behind me as I see In front of me.

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: Do you find me seeing towards the Qibla only? By Allah, your bowing and your prostrating are not hidden from my view. Verily I see them behind my back.