The Book of Forgetfulness (In Prayer)

It was narrated that 'Abdur-Rahman bin Al-Asamm said: "Anas bin Malik was asked about the takbir in the prayer. He said: "The takbir should be said when bowing, when prostrating, when raising one's head from prostration and when standing up following the first two rak'ahs.' Hutaim said: 'From whom did you learn this?' He said: 'From the Prophet (ﷺ), Abu Bakr and 'Umar, may Allah (SWT) be pleased with them.' Then he fell silent and Hutaim said to him: 'And 'Uthman?' He said: 'And 'Uthman.'"

It was narrated that Mutarrif bin 'Abdullah said: "Ali bin Abi Talib prayed, and he said the takbir every time he went down and came up, in all movements of the prayer. 'Imran bin Husain said: 'This reminds me of the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).'"

It was narrated from Abu Humaid As-Sa'idi that: When the Prophet (ﷺ) stood up following two prostrations, he would say the takbir and raise his hands until they were level with his shoulders, as he had done at the beginning of the prayer.

It was narrated from Ibn 'Umar that : The Prophet (ﷺ) used to raise his hands when he began to pray, when he wanted to bow, when he raised his head from bowing, and when he stood up after the first two rak'ahs, he would raise his hands likewise, level with his shoulders.

It was narrated that Sahl bin Sa'd said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) set out to bring about reconciliation among Banu 'Amr bin 'Awf. The time for prayer came, and the Mu'adhdhin went to Abu Bakr to tell him to gather the people and lead them in prayer. Then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came and passed though the rows until he stood in the first row. The people started clapping to let Abu Bakr know that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had come. Abu Bakr never used to turn around when he prayed, but when they clapped consistently he realized something must have happened while they were praying. So he turned around and saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) gestured to him to stay where he was. Abu Bakr raised his hands and praised and thanked Allah (SWT) for what the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had said. Then, he moved backwards, and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) went forward and prayed. When he finished, he said to Abu Bakr: 'What stopped you from continuing to pray when I gestured to you?' Abu Bakr, may Allah (SWT) be pleased with him, said: 'It was not appropriate for the son of Abu Quhafah to lead the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) in prayer.' Then he said to the people: 'Why did you clap?' Clapping is for women.' Then he said: 'If you notice something when you are praying, say "SubhanAllah.'"

It was narrated that Jabir bin Samurah said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came out to us and we were raising our hands during the Salah. He said: 'Why are you raising your hands while praying, like the tails of wild horses? Stay still when you are praying.'"

It was narrated that Jabir bin Samurah said: "We used to pray behind the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and we would greet (others) with our hands. He said: 'What is the matter with those who greet (others) with their hands as if they were tails of wild horses? It is sufficient for any one of you to put his hand on his thigh and say: "As-salamu 'alaikum, as-salamu 'alaikum."

It was narrated that Suhaib, the Companion of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "I passed by the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) when he was praying, and greeted him with Salam. He returned my greeting with a gesture, or maybe it was just with his finger."

It was narrated that Zaid bin Aslam said: "Ibn 'Umar said:The Prophet (ﷺ) entered the Masjid of Quba' to pray there, then some men came in and greeted him with Salam. I asked Suhaib, who was with him: 'What did the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) do when he was greeted?' He said: 'He used to gesture with his hand.'"

It was narrated from 'Ammar bin Yasir that: He greeted the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) with the Salam when he was praying, and he returned the greeting.

It was narrated that Jabir said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sent me on an errand then I came back to him while he was praying. I greeted him with the salam and he gestured to me. When he finished he called me and said: 'You greeted me with Salam just now and I was praying.' And he was facing toward the east that day."

It was narrated that Jabir said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sent me on an errand, then I came back to him while he was facing the east or the west. I greeted him with salam and he gestured to me. Then when he finished he called me and said: "O Jabir!" So I came and said: "O Messenger of Allah, I greeted you with Salam but you did not answer." He said: 'I was praying.'

It was narrated that Abu Dharr said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'When any one of you stands in prayer, let him not smooth the pebbles, for he is facing Mercy.'"

Abu Salamah bin 'Abdur-Rahman said: "Mu'aiqib told me that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'If you have to do that, then do it only once.'"

It was narrated from Anas bin Malik that: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "What is the matter with people who lift their gaze to the sky when praying?" And he spoke sternly concerning that until he said: "They must stop that or they will certainly lose their eyesight."

It was narrated from 'Ubaidullah bin Abdullah that: A man from among the companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) told him that he heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: 'If any one of you in praying, let him not lift his gaze to the sky, or his eyesight will be taken away.'"

It was narrated that Az-Zuhri said: "I heard Abu Al-Ahwas saying to us in a gathering with Ibn Al-Musayyab when Ibn Al-Musayyab was sitting there, that he had heard Abu Dharr say: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Allah (SWT) continues to look upon His slave while he is praying, so long as he does not turn away. If he turns his face away, He turns away from him."

It was narrated that 'Aishah, may Allah (SWT) be pleased with her, said: X"I asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) about looking here and there during prayer. He said: 'That is something that the Shaitan snatches from one's prayer.'"

Narrated from 'Aishah: A similar report was also narrated from 'Aishah, from the Prophet (ﷺ).

Narrated from 'Aishah: A similar report was also narrated from 'Aishah, from the Prophet (ﷺ).

It was narrated that Abu 'Atiyyah said: "Aishah said: 'Turning around during prayer is something that the Shaitan snatches from one's prayer.'"

It was narrated that Jabir said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was ill, and we prayed behind him while he was sitting, and Abu Bakr repeated his takbirs so that the people could hear them. He turned to us and saw us standing, so he gestured to us to sit down. So we prayed behind him sitting. When he said the salam he said: 'Just now you were doing what the Persians and Romans do for their kings when they are sitting. Do not do that. Follow your Imams: If they pray standing then pray standing, and if they pray sitting then pray sitting.'"

It was narrated that Ibn 'Abbas said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to turn to his right and left when praying, but he did not twist his neck to look behind him."

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) commanded us to kill the two black ones (snakes and scorpions) while praying."

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) enjoined killing the two black ones (snakes and scorpions) while praying.

It was narrated from Abu Qatadah that: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to pray carrying Umamah. When he prostrated he put her down and when he stood up he picked her up again.

It was narrated that Abu Qatadah said: "I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) leading the people in prayer, carrying Umamah bint Abi Al-'As on his shoulder. When he bowed he put her down and when he finished prostrating he picked her up again."

It was narrated that 'Aishah, may Allah (SWT) be pleased with her, said: "I knocked at the door when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was offering a voluntary prayer. The door was in the direction of the Qiblah so he took a few steps to his right or left and opened the door, then he went back to where he was praying."

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "The Tasbih is for men, and clapping is for women." Ibn Al-Muthanna added: "During the prayer."

Sa'eed bin Al-Musayyab and Abu Salamah bin 'Abdur-Rahman said that: They heard Abu Hurairah say: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'The Tasbih is for men and clapping is for women.'"