The Book of Leading the Prayer (Al-Imamah)

It was narrated that 'Abdullah said: "When the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) passed away, the Ansar said: 'Let there be an Amir from among us and an Amir from among you.' Then 'Umar came to them and said: 'Do you not know that the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) commanded Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer? Who mong you could accept to put himself ahead of Abu Bakr?' They said: 'We seek refuge with Allah from putting ourselves ahead of Abu Bakr."'

It was narrated that Abu Aliyah Al-Barra said: "Ziyad delayed the prayer, then Ibn Samit came to me and I gave him a chair and he sat on it. I told him what Ziyad had done and he bit his lip (in disapproval), and he struck me on the thigh and said: 'I asked Abu Dharr the same question you asked me, and he struck me on the thigh as I struck you on the thigh and said: I asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) the same question as you have asked me and he struck me on the thigh as I have struck you on the thigh and said: Offer the prayer on time, and if you catch up with them, then pray with them, and do not say: 'I have already prayed so I will not pray(now)."'

It was narrated that 'Abdullih said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'You may live to meet people who will be offering the prayer outside its (prayer) time. If you meet them, then offer the prayer on time, then pray with them and make that a voluntary prayer."'

It was narrated that Abu Masud said: "The Messenger of Allah(ﷺ)said: 'Let the one who has most knowledge of the Book of Allah lead the people in prayer. If they are equal in terms of knowledge of the Qur'h, let the one who emigrated first (lead them). If they are equal in terms of emigration, let the one who has more knowledge of the Sunnah, (lead them). If they are equal in terms of knowledge of the Sunnah, let the one who is oldest (lead them). Do not lead a man in prayer in his place of authority, and do not sit in his place of honor, unless hegives you permission."'

It was narrated that Milik bin Al-Huwairith said: "I came to the Messenger of Allih (ﷺ) with a cousin of mine" - once he said, "with a friend of mine"-and he said: 'When you travel, call the Adhan and Iqamah, and let the older of you lead the prayer."'

It was narrated from Abu Sa'eed that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "when there are three people let one of them lead the prayer, and the one who is most entitled to lead the prayer is the one who has most knowledge of the Qur'an."

It was narrated that Abu Masud said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'A man should not be led in prayer in his place of authority, and no one should sit in his place of honor except with his permission."'

It was narrated from Sahl bin Sa'd that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) heard that there was a dispute among Banu 'Amr bin 'Awf, so hewent to them with some other people to reconcile between them. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was delayed there, and the time for Zuhr came. Bilal came to Abu Bakr and said to him: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) has been delayed (there) and the time for prayer has come, will you lead the people in prayer?" Abu Bakr said: 'Yes, if you wish.' Bilal said the Iqamah and Abu Bakr went forward and said the Takbir for the people. Then the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) came, passing through the rows (of praying people) and stood in the (first) row and the people started clapping. Abu Bakr would never glance sideways in his prayer but when the people clapped so much he looked back and (ﷺ)Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). The Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) gestured to him to carry on praying. Aha Bakr raised his hands praising Allah the Mighty and Sublime, and retreated till he reached the (first) row. Then the Messenger ofAllah(ﷺ) went forward and led the people in the prayer. When he completed the prayer he turned to face the people and said: '0 people, why did you start clapping when something unusual happened to you in the prayer? Clapping is only for women. So whoever among you comes across something in the prayer should say: 'Subhan Allah' for there is none who will not turn round when they hear him saying Subhan Allah. 0 Abu Bakr! What prevented you from leading the people in the prayer when I gestured to you to do so?' Abu Bakr replied: 'It is not fitting for the son of Abu Quhafah to lead the prayer in the presence of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).'"

It was narrated that Anas said: "In the last prayer that the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) prayed with the people, he prayed wrapped up in a single garment, behind Abu Bakr."

It was narrated from Aisha that Abu Bakr led the people in prayer and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)was in the row.

It was narrated that Malik bin Al-Huwairith said: "I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: 'When any one of you visits some people,he should not lead them in prayer."'

It was narrated from Mahmiid bin Ar-Rabi' that 'Itbk bin Milk used to lead his people in prayer, and he was blind. He said to theMessenger of Allah (ﷺ): "Sometimes it is dark or rainy or there is a flood, and I am a blindman; 0 Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), (come and) pray in a place in my house that I may take as a prayer-place." He said: "Where would you likeme to pray for you?" He showed him a place in his house, and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayed there.

'Amr bin Salamah Al-Jarmi said: "Riders used to pass by us and we would leam the Qur'an from them. My father came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and he said: 'Let the one of you who knows most Qur'an leads the prayer.' My father came and said that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had said: 'Let the one of you who knows most Quran lead you in prayer.' They looked and found that I was the one who knew most Qur'an, so I used to lead them in prayer when I was eight years old.'

It was narrated from Abdullah bin Abi Qatadah that his father said: "The messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'When the call to prayer is given, do not stand up until you see me.'"

It was narrated that Anas said: "The Iqamah for prayer was said, and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was conversing privately with a man, and did not commence the prayer until the people slept."

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said: "The Iqamah for prayer was said and the people stood in rows, and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came out. Then when he stood in the place where he prayed, he remembered that he had not performed Ghusl. He said to the people: 'Stay where you are.' Then he went back to his house, then he came out with his head dripping with water. He performed Ghusl while we were standing in our rows."

Sahl bin Sa'd said: "There was some fighting among Banu 'Amr bin 'Ad, and news of that reached the Prophet (ﷺ). He prayed Zuhr, then he went to them to reconcile between them. Then he said to Bilal: '0 Bilal, if the time for Asr comes and I have not come back, then tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer.' When thetime (for Asr) came, Bilil called the A&Bn, then the Iqimh, then he said to Abu Bakr: 'Go forward. So Abu Bakr went forward and started to pray. Then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came and started passing through the rows of people until he stood behind Abu Bakr, and the people clapped. Abu Bakr was such that whenever he started praying, he would never glance sideways, but when he noticed that the clapping persisted he turned around. The Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) gestured to him to carry on praying. Abu Bakr praised Allah the Mighty and Sublime for the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) having told him to continue. Then Abu Bakr moved backward on his heels, and when the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) saw that, he came foiward and led the people in prayer. When he completed the prayer he said: '0Abu Bakr, when I gestured to you, what kept you from continuing (to lead the people)?' He said: 'It does not befit the son of Abu Quhafah to lead the Messenger of Alliah (ﷺ) in prayer.' And he (the Prophet) said to the people: 'If you notice something (during the prayer), men should say Subhan Allah and women should clap."'

It was narrated from Anas that the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) fell from a horse onto his right side.They came to visit him and the time for prayer came. When the prayer was over he said: "The Imam is appointed to be followed. When he bows, then bow, when he stands up, then stand up, when he prostrates, then prostrate, and when he says Sami' Alldhu liman hamidah (Allah hears the one who praises Him), then say, Rabbanrilakal-hamd (Our Lord, to You be the praise)."

It was narrated from Abu Sa'eed that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saw that his companions tended to stand in the rear, so he said: "Come forward and follow me, and let those who are behind you follow your lead. If peoplecontinue to lag behind, Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, will put them back."

(Another chain) from Abu Nadrah (from Abu Sa'eed) with similar narration.

It was narrated from Aisha may Allah be pleased with her, that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) told Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer. She said: "The Prophet was in front of Abu Bakr and he prayed sitting down, and Abu Bakr was leading the people in prayer, and the people were behind Abu Bakr."

It was narrated that Jabir said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) led us in Zuhr prayer and Abu Bakr was behind him. When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said the Takbir, Abu Bakr said the Takbir so that the people could hear."

It was narrated that Al-Aswad and 'Alqamah said: "We entered upon 'Abdullah at midday and he said: 'There will be rulers who would be distracted from praying on time, so pray on time.' Then he stood up and prayed between him and I, and said: 'This is what I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) do."'

Buraidah bin Sufyin bin Farwah Al-Aslami narrated that a slave of his grandfather who was called Mas'Od said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and Abu Bakr passed by me and Abu Bakr said to me: '0 Mas'ud, go to Abu Tamim' - meaning the man from whom he had been freed - 'and tell him to give us a camel so that wecould ride, and let him send us some food and a guide to show us the way.' So I went to my former master and told him the same, and he sent with me a camel and vessels of milk, and I brought them via a secret route. Then the time for prayer came and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stood up and prayed, and Abu Bakr stood to his right. I had come to know about Islam and I was with them, so I came and stood behind them. So the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) pushed Abu Bakr on the chest (to make him move backward) and we stood behind him." Abu 'Abdur-Rahman (An-Nasai)said: (This) Buraidah is not a reliable narrator of Hadith.

It was narrated from Anas bin Malik, that his grandmother Mulaikah invited the Messenger ofAllah (ﷺ) to come and eat some food that she had prepared for him. Then he said: "Get up and I will lead you in prayer." Anas said: "So I got up and brought a reed mat of ours that had turned black from long use, and spreaded somewater on it. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stood and the orphan and I stood in a row behind him, and the old woman stood behind us, and he led us in praying two Rak'ahs, then he left."

It was narrated that Anas said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) entered upon us and the only people present were myself, my mother, the orphan and Umm Harh, my maternal aunt. He said: 'Stand up and I will lead you in prayer.' It was not the time for a (prescribed) prayer. And he led us in prayer."

It was narrated from Anas that he and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and his mother, and his maternal aunt (were together). The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayed, and he told Anas to stand on his right and his mother and maternal aunt behind them.

It was narrated that Ibn 'Abbas said: "I prayed beside the Prophet (ﷺ) and Ayesha was behind us praying with us, and I was beside the Prophet (ﷺ) praying with him."

It was narrated that Anas said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) led me and a woman from my family in prayer. He made me to stand on his right and the woman to stand behind us."

It was narrated that Ibn Abbas said: "I stayed overnight with my maternal aunt Maimunah, and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) got up to pray at night. I stood on his left, so he did this to me: He took me by the head and made me stand on his right."