The Book of Forgetfulness (In Prayer)

It was narrated that Anas bin Malik said: "Umm Sulaim came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: 'O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), teach me some words that I may supplicate with during my prayer.' He said: 'Glorify Allah (by saying SubhanAllah) ten times, and praise Him (by saying Alhamdulilah) ten times, and magnify Him (by saying Allahu Akbar) ten times, then ask Him for what you need; He will say: 'Yes, yes.'

It was narrated that Anas bin Malik said: "I was sitting with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and a man was standing and praying. When he bowed, prostrated and recited the tashahhud, he supplicated, and in his supplication he said: "Allahumma inni as'aluka bi-anna lakal-hamd, lailaha illa ant, al-mannanu badi'us-samawati wal-ard, ya dhal-jalali wal-ikram! Ya hayyu ya qayyum! Inni as'aluka. (O Allah, indeed I ask You since all praise is due to You, there is none worthy of worship but You, the Bestower, the Creator of the heavens and earth, O Possessor of majesty and honor, O Ever-living, O-Eternal, I ask of You.)' The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Do you know what he has supplicated with?' They said: "Allah (SWT) and His Messenger know best." He said: 'By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, he called upon Allah by His greatest Name, which, if He is called by it, He responds, and if He is asked by it, He gives.'"

Hanzalah bin 'Ali narrated that: Mihjan bin Al-Adra' narrated to him that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) entered the masjid and there was a man who had finished his prayer and he was reciting the tashahhud. He said: "Allahumma inni as'aluka ya Allah! Bi-annakal-Wahidul-Ahad us-Samad, alladhi lam yalid wa lam yowled, wa lam yakun lahu kufuwan ahad, an taghfirali dhunubi, innaka antal-Ghafurur-Rahim (O Allah, I ask of You, O Allah, as You are the One, the Only, the Self-Sufficient Master, Who begets not nor was He begotten, and there is None equal or comparable to Him, forgive me my sins, for You are the Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.)" The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "He has been forgiven," three times.

It was narrated from 'Abdullah bin 'Amr, from Abu Bakr As-Siddiq, may Allah (SWT) be pleased with them both, that he said to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): "Teach me a supplication that I may recite in my prayer." He said: "Say: 'Alahumma inni zalamtu afsi zulman kathiran wa la yaghfirudhunub illa anta faghfirli maghfiratan min 'indika warhamni innaka antalGhafurur-Rahim (O Allah, verily I have wronged myself much and there is None who forgives sins except You. Grant me forgiveness from You and have mercy on me for You are the Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.)'"

It was narrated that Mu'adhbin Jabal said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) took my hand and said: 'I love you, O Mu'adh!' I said: 'And I love you, O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).' Then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'Never forget to say in every prayer: Rabbi a'inni 'ala dhikrika wa shukrika wa husni 'ibadatik (My Lord, help me to remember You, give thanks to You and worship You well.)"

It was narrated from Shadad bin Aws that: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to say in his prayer: "Allahumma inni as'aluka at-thabbuta fi al-amr wal-'azimata 'alar-rushdi wa as'aluka shukr ni'matik wa husna 'ibadatik wa as'aluka qalban saliman wa lisanan sadiqan wa as'aluka min khairi ma at'lamu wa author bika min sharri ma at'lamu wastaghfiruka lima ta'lam (O Allah, I ask You for steadfastness in all my affairs and determination in following the right path, I ask You to make me thankful for Your blessings and to make me worship You properly. I ask You for a sound heart and a truthful tongue. I ask You for the best of what You know and I seek refuge in You from the worst of what You know and I seek Your forgiveness for what You know.)"

Ata bn As-Sa'ib narrated that his father said: "Ammar bin Yasir led us in prayer and he made it brief. Some of the people said to him: 'You made the prayer sort (or brief).' He said: 'Nevertheless I still recited supplications that I heard from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).' When he got up and left, a man- he was my father but he did not name himself- followed him and asked him about that supplication, then he came and told the people. "Allahumma bi 'ilmikal-ghaiba wa qudratika 'alal-khalqi ahini ma 'alimtal-hayata khairan li, wa tawaffani idha 'alimtal-wafata khairan li. Allahumma as'aluka khashyataka fil-ghaibi wash-shahadati wa as'aluka kalimatul-aqua fir-rida'i wal ghadab, wa as'alukal-qasda fil faqr wal-ghina, wa as'aluka na'iman la yanfadu wa as'aluka qurrata ainan la tanqati'u wa as'alukar-rida'i ba'dal-qada'i wa as'aluka bardal 'aishi ba'dal-mawti, wa as'aluka ladhatan-nazari ila wajhika wash-shawqa ila liqa'ika fi fitnatin mudillatin, Allahumma zayyina dizinatil-imani waj'alna hudatan muhtadin (O Alah, by Your knowledge of the unseen and Your power over creation, keep me alive so long as You know that living is good for me and cause me to die when You know that death is better for me. O Allah, cause me to fear You in secret and in public. I ask You to make me true in speech in times of pleasure and of anger. I ask You to make me moderate in times of wealth and poverty. And I ask You for everlasting delight and joy that will never cease. I ask You to make me pleased with that which You have decreed and for an easy life after death. I askYou for the sweetness of looking upon Your face and a longing to meet You in a manner that does not entail a calamity that will bring about harm or a trial that will cause deviation. O Allah, beautify us with the adornment of faith and make us among those who guide and are rightly guided."

It was narrated that Qais bin 'Ubad said: "Ammar bin Yasir led the people in prayer and he made the prayer short. It was as if they disliked that, so he said: 'Did I not do bowing and prostration properly?' They said: 'Yes.' He said: 'And I said a supplication that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to say:Allahumma bi 'ilmikal-ghaiba wa qudratika 'alal-khalqi ahini ma 'alimtal-hayata khairan li, wa tawaffani idha 'alimtal-wafata khairan li. Allahumma as'aluka khashyataka fil-ghaibi wash-shahadati wa as'aluka kalimatul-aqua fir-rida'i wal ghadab, wa as'alukal-qasda fil faqr wal-ghina, wa as'aluka na'iman la yanfadu wa as'aluka qurrata ainan la tanqati'u wa as'alukar-rida'i ba'dal-qada'i wa as'aluka bardal 'aishi ba'dal-mawti, wa as'aluka ladhatan-nazari ila wajhika wash-shawqa ila liqa'ika fi fitnatin mudillatin, Allahumma zayyina dizinatil-imani waj'alna hudatan muhtadin (O Allah, by Your knowledge of the unseen and Your power over creation, keep me alive so long as You know that living is good for me and cause me to die when You know that death is better for me. O Allah, cause me to fear You in secret and in public. I ask You to make me true in speech in times of pleasure and of anger. I ask You to make me moderate in times of wealth and poverty. And I ask You for everlasting delight and joy that will never cease. I ask You to make me pleased with that which You have decreed and for an easy life after death. I ask You for the sweetness of looking upon Your face and a longing to meet You in a manner that does not entail a calamity that will bring about harm or a trial that will cause deviation. O Allah, beautify us with the adornment of faith and make us among those who guide and are rightly guided."

It was narrated that Farwah bin Nawfal said: "I said to 'Aishah: 'Tell me of a supplication that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to say in his prayer.' She said: 'Yes. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to say: Allahumma inni author bika min sharri ma 'amiltu wa min sharri ma lam a'mal (O Allah, I seek refuge with You from the evil of that which I have done, and the evil of that which I have not done.)'"

It was narrated that 'Aishah said: "I asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) about the torment of the grave, and he siad: 'Yes, the torment of the grave is real.'" 'Aishah said: "After that I never saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) offer any prayer but he would seek refuge with Allah (SWT) from the torment of the grave."

Urwah bin Az-Zbair narrated that: Aishah told him that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to say the following supplication in his prayer: Allahumma inni audhu bika min 'adhab ilqabri wa 'audhu bika min fitnatil-masihid-dajjal, wa 'audhu bika min fitnatil-mahya walmamati, Allahumma inni 'audhu bika min al-ma'thami wal-maghram ( O Allah, I seek refuge with You from the torment of the grave, and I seek refuge in You from the tribulation of the Al-Masihid-Dajjal, and I seek refuge with You from the trials of life and death. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from sin and debt.) Someone said to him: "How often you seek refuge from debt!" He said: "If a man gets into debt, when he speaks lies, and when he makes a promise, he betrays it."

It was narrated that Muhammad bin Abi 'Aishah said: "I heard Abu Hurairah say: 'The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: When one of you recites the tashahhud, let him seek refuge with Allah (SWT) from our things: From the torment of hell, from the torment of the grave, from the trials of life and death and from the evils of the Dajjal. Then let him pray for himself asking whatever he wants.'"

It was narrated from Jabir that: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to say in his prayer, after the tashahhud: "The best of word is the word of Allah (SWT) and the best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (ﷺ)."

It was narrated from Hudhaifah that: He saw a man praying (And his bowing and prostration) were lacking. Hudhaifah said to him: 'For how long have you been praying like this?' He said: "For forty years.' He said: 'You have not been praying for forty years and if you die praying like this, you will have died following a path other than the path of Muhammad (ﷺ). Then he said: 'It is possible for a man to pray briefly, but still do it properly."

It was narrated from 'Ali- who is bin Yahya- from his father that: A paternal uncle of his who was present at Badr told him, that a man entered the masjid and prayed, and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was watching, but we did not realize. When he had finished, he came and greeted the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) with salam. He said: "Go back and pray, for you have not prayed." So he went back and prayed, then he came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and he said: "Go back and pray, for you have not prayed." (This happened) two or three times. Then the man said to him: "By the One who has honored you , O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), I have tried my best; teach me." He said: "When you get up to pray, perform wudu and do it well, then turn to face the Qiblah and say the takbir. Then recite the Quran, then bow until you are at ease in bowing. Then stand up until you are standing straight, then prostrate until you are at ease prostrating, then sit up until you are at ease sitting, then prostrate until you are at ease prostrating, then get up, and continue doing that until you have finished your prayer."

Ali bin Yahya bin Khallad bin Raf' bin Malik Al-Ansari said: "My father narrated to me that a paternal uncle of his, who had been at Badr, said: 'I was sitting with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) in the masjid when a man came in and prayed two rak'ahs, then he came and greeted the Prophet (ﷺ) with salam. The Prophet (ﷺ) had been watching him as he prayed, so he returned his salam, then he said: "Go back and pray, for you have not prayed." So he went back and prayed, then he came back and greeted the Prophet (ﷺ) with salam. He returned the salam, then he said: "Go back and pray, for you have not prayed." The third or fourth time this happened, then the man said: "By the One Who revealed the Book to you, I have done my best and have tried hard; show me and teach me." He said: 'When you want to pray, perform wudu and do it well, then turn to face the Qiblah and say the takbir. Then recite the Quran, then bow until you are at ease in bowing. Then stand up until you are standing straight, then prostrate until you are at ease prostrating, then sit up until you are at ease sitting, then prostrate until you are at ease prostrating, then get up. If you complete the prayer in this manner you wil hve done it properly, and whatever you do less than this is lacking from you prayer.'"

It was narrated that Sa'd bin Hisham said: "I said: 'O Mother of the believers! Tell me about the Witr of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).' She said: 'We used to prepare his siwak and water for purification, then Allah (SWT) would wake him when He willed to wake him at night. He would use the siwak and perform wudu, then pray eith rak'ahs; not sitting until the eighth rak'ah, when he would sit and remember Allah (SWT) and call upon Him. Then he would say the taslim loud enough for us to hear.'"

'Amr bin Sa'd narrated from his father: That the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to say the taslim to his right and to his left.

It was narrated that Sa'd said: "I used to see the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying the taslim to his right and to his left until the whiteness of his cheek could be seen."

It was narrated that Ubaidullah bin Al-Qibtiyyah said: "I heard Jabir bin Samurah say: 'When we prayed behind the Prophet (ﷺ) we used to say: As-salamu 'alaykum, as-salamu 'alaykum (peace be upon you, peace be upon you)" - and Mis'ar (one of the narrators) pointed with his hand to the right and the left. He (ﷺ) said: 'What is the matter with these people who wave their hands as if they are the tails of wild horses? It is sufficient for one to place his hands on his thighs and to say the salam to his brother to his right and left."

It was narrated that 'Abdullah said: "I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying the takir every time he went down or came up, or stood or sat, and he said the salam to his right and to his left: As-salamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullah, as-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah (peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah, peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah) until the whiteness of his cheek could be seen . And I saw Abu Bakr and 'Umar, may Allah (WT) be pleased with them, doing likewise."

It was narrated from Wasi' bin Habban that: He asked 'Abdullah bin 'Umar about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He said: "Allahu Akbar" every time he went down and "Allahu Akbar" every time he came up, then he said: "As-salamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullah (peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah) to his right and: As-salamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullah (peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah) to his left."

It was narrated that Wasi' bin Habban said: "I said to Ibn 'Umar: "Tell me about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ); how was it?" He mentioned the takbir and he mentioned: As-salamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullah (peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah) to his right and: As-salamu 'alaykum (peace be upon you) to his left."

It was narrated from 'Abdullah that: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "It is as if I can see the whiteness of his cheek, saying to his right: As-salamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullah (peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah) and to his left: As-salamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullah (peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah)." (Sahih

It was narrated that 'Abdullah said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to say the salam to his right so that the whiteness of his cheek could be seen, and to his left so that the whiteness of his cheek could be seen."

It was narrated from 'Abdullah that: The Prophet (ﷺ) used to say salam to his right and to his left: As-salamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullah, as-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah (peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah, peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah) until the whiteness of his cheek could be seen from here, and the whiteness of his cheek from here.

'Abdullah bin Mas'ud narrated that: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to say salam to his right:As-salamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullah (peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah) , until the whiteness of his right cheek could be seen, and to his left: As-salamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullah (peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah) until the whiteness of his left cheek could be seen.

It was narrated that Jabir bin Samurah said: "I prayed with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and when we said the salam we used to gesture with our hands: 'Asalamu alaykum wa rahmatullah (peace be upon, peace be upon you).' The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) looked at us and said: 'What is the matter with you, pointing with your hands as if they are the tails of wild horses? When any one of you says the salam, let him turn to his companions and not gesture with his hand.'"

'Itban bin Malik said: "I used to lead my people Bani Salim in prayer. I came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said: 'I have lost my eyesight and the rainwater prevents me from reaching the masjid of my people. I would like you to come and pray in my house in a place that I can take as a masjid.' The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'I will do that, if Allah (SWT) wills.' The next day, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came, and Abu Bakr was with him, after the day had grown hot. The Prophet (ﷺ) asked for permission to enter, and I gave him permission. He did not sit own until he asked: 'Where would you like me to pray in your house?' I showed him the place where I wanted him to pray, so the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stood there and formed a row behind him, then he said the salam and we said the salam when he did."

It was narrated from 'Urwah (that) Aishah said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to pray eleven rak'ahs, making it odd (witr) by one between the time when he finished 'Isha and dawn, and he would prostrate for as long as it takes one of you to recite fifty verses before raising his head."