The Book of Leading the Prayer (Al-Imamah)

It was narrated from Ibn 'Umar that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Praying in congregation is twenty-seven times better than praying alone."

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Praying in congregation is twenty-five portions better than one of you praying alone."

It was narrated from that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Prayer in congregation is twenty-five levels better than a prayer offered on one's own."

It was narrated that Abu Sa'eed said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)said: 'If there are three people, let one of them lead theothers in prayer, and the one who has the most right to lead the prayer is the one who recites(knows) the most (Qur'an)."'

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

It was narrated that Ibn Abbas said: "I prayed with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)and I stood on his left. He took hold of me with his left hand and made me stand on his right."

Ubay bin Ka'b said: "One day the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayed Fajr, then he said: 'Did so-and-so attend the prayer? They said: 'No.' He said: '(What about) so-and-so? They said:'No' He said: 'These two prayers. are the most burdensome for the hypocrites. If they knew what (virtue) there is in them, they would come, even if they had to crawl. And the virtue of the first row is like thatof the row of the angels. If you knew its virtue, you would compete for it. A man's prayer with another man is greater in reward than his prayer alone. And a man's prayer with two other men is greater in reward thanhis prayer with one other man; the more people there are, the more beloved that is to Allah, the Mighty and Sublime."'

It was narrated from 'Itban bin Malik that he said: "0 Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) the floods keep me from coming to the Masjid of my people. I would like you to come and pray in a place in my house so that I can take it as a Masjid." The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "We shall do that." "When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) entered he said: 'Where do you want (me to pray).' I showed him a comer of the house, and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stood there, and we formed rows behind him, and he led us in praying two Rak'ahs."

It was narrated that Anas said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) turned to face us when he stood up to pray, before he said Takbir, and said: 'Make your rows straight and fill the gaps, for I can see you from behind my back."'

It was narrated from 'Abdullah bin Abi Qatadah that his father said: "We were with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) when some of the people said: 'Why do you not stop with us to rest awhile, 0 Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)?' He said: 'I am afraid that you will sleep and miss the prayer.' Bilal said:'I will wake you up.' So they lay down and slept, and Bilal leaned back on his mount. Then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) woke up when the sun had already started to rise, and he said: '0 Bilal, what about what you told us?' He said: 'I have never slept like that before.' The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, takes your souls when He wills and sends them back when He wills.' Stand up 0 Bilal and call the people to prayer.' Then Bilal stood up and & called the Adhan, and they performed Wudu' - that is, when the sun had risen (fully) - "then he stood and lead them in prayer."

It was narrated that Ma'din bin Abi Talhah Al-Ya'muri said: "Abu Ad-Darda said to me: 'Where do you live?' I said: 'In a town near Hims.' Abu Ad-Darda said: 'I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: "There are no three people in a town or encampment among whom prayer is not established, but the Shaitan takes control of them. Therefore, stick to the congregation, for the wolf eats the sheep that strays off on its own." (One of the narrators (As Sa'ib) said: "The congregation means the congregational prayer."

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "By the One in Whose Hand is my soul! I nearly ordered that firewood be gathered to be lit, then I would have ordered that the Adhan be called for prayer, and ordered a man to lead the people in prayer, then I would have gone from behind to those men and burned their houses down over them. By the One in Whose Hand is my soul! If any one of them knew that he would get a meaty bone or some meat in between two ribs, he would attend Isha'.''

It was narrated that 'Abdullah said: "Whoever would like to meet Allah tomorrow as a Muslim, let him regularly attend these five (daily) prayers whenever the call for them is given (that in the mosques), for Allah prescribed forHis Prophet the ways of guidance, and they (the prayers) are part of those ways of guidance. I do not think that there is anyone among you who does not have a place where he prays in his house. But if you were to pray in your houses and forsake the Masjids, you would be forsaking the Sunnah of your Prophet, and if you were to forsake the Sunnah of yourProphet you would go astray. There is no Muslim slave who performs Wudu and does it well, then walks to the prayer, but Allah will record one Hasanah (gooddeed) for each step he takes, or raise' him one level by it or erase one sin from him. I remember how we used to take short steps, and I remember (a time) when no one stayed behind from the prayer excepta hypocrite whose hypocrisy was well known. And I have seen a man coming Supported by two others until he would be made to stand in the row."

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said: "A blind man came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)and said: 'I do not have a guide to bring me to the prayer.' And he asked him to grant him a dispensation allowing him to pray in his house, and he gave him permission. Then when he turned away he said to him: 'Can you hear the call to prayer?' He said: 'Yes.' He said: 'Then respond to it."'

It was narrated from Ibn Umm Maktum that he said: "0 Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), there are many (dangerous) pests and wild animals in Al-Madinah." He said: "Can you hear (the words) 'Come prayer, come to prosperity'?" He said "Yes." He said: "Then be quick to respond," and he did not grant him a dispensation.

It was narrated from Hisham bin 'Urwah from his father that 'Abdullih bin Arqam used to lead his companions in prayer. The time for prayer came one day and he went to relieve himself then he came back and said: "I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: 'If any one of you feels the need to defecate, let him do that first, before he prays."'

It was narrated that Anas said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'If dinner is ready and the Iqamah for prayer is said, then start with dinner first."'

It was narrated from Abu Al Malih that his father said: "We were with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) in Hunain and it rained. The caller of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)called out, telling us: 'Pray whereyou are."'

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Whoever performs wudu' and does it well, then sets out for the Masjid and finds that the people have already prayed, Allah will decree for him a reward like that of those who attended (the prayer), without reducing the slightest from their reward."

It was narrated that 'Uthman bin 'Affan said: "I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: 'Whoever does wudu' properly, then walks to (attend) the prescribed prayer, and prays with the people or with the congregation or in the Masjid, Allah will forgive him his sins."

It was narrated from Mihjan that he was in a gathering with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) when the Adhan was called for prayer. The A Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) got up, then he came back and Mihjan was still sitting there. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to him: "What kept you from praying? Are you not a Muslim man?" He said: "Yes, but I had already prayed with my family." The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)said to him: "When you come you should pray with the people even if you have already prayed."

Jabir bin Yazid bin Al-Aswad Al Amir told us that his father said: "I attended Fajr prayer with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)in Masjid Al Khaif. When he finished praying, he saw two men at the back of the people who had not prayed with him. He said: 'Bring them here.' So they were brought to him, trembling. He said: 'What kept you from praying with us? They said: '0 Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) we has already prayed in our lodgings.' He said: 'Do not do that. If you have already prayed in your lodgings, then you come to a Masjid in which there is a congregation, then pray with them, and it will be a voluntary prayer for you."'

It was narrated that Ahu Dharr said: "The Messenger of A;;ah (ﷺ) said to me, and struck my thigh: 'What will you do if you stay among people who delay the prayer until its time is over?' He said: 'What do you command me to do?' He said: 'Offer the prayer on time, then go about your business, Then if the Iqamah for that prayer is saidand you are in the Masjid, then pray."'

It was narrated that Sulaiman - the freed slave of Maimunah - said: "I saw Ibn 'Umar sitting in Al-Balat when the people werepraying. I said: '0 Abu 'Abdur- Rahman, why are you not praying?' He said: 'I have already prayed, and I heard the Messenger ofAllah (ﷺ) say: "Do not repeat a prayer twice in one day."

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said: "The Messenger of (ﷺ) said: 'When you come to pray, do not come rushing; come walking in a dignified manner, and whatever you catch up with, pray, and whatever you miss, make it up."'

It was narrated that Abu Rafi said: "After the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had prayed Asr, he would go to Banu 'Abdul-Ashhal to speak to them, until the time for Maghrib came." Abu Rafi said: "While the Prophet (ﷺ) was hastening to prayMaghrib, we passed by and he said: 'Fie on you, fie on you!' That upset me so I slowed down because I thought hat he meant me. He said: 'What is the matter with you? Keep up!' I said: 'Is there something wrong?' Hesaid: 'Why are you asking that? I said: 'Because you said: "Fie on you" to me.' He said: 'No, that was so-and-so whom I had sent to collect Zakat from the tribe of so-and-so, and he stole a Namirah and nowhe is clothed with something similarmade of Fire."'

(Another chain) with similar from Abu Rafi.

Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "The likeness of one who comes early to prayer is that of one who sacrificed a camel, then the one who comes after him is like one who sacrificed a cow, then the one who comes after him is like one who sacrificed a ram, then the one who comes after him is like one who sacrificed a chicken, then the one who comes after him is like one who sacrificed an egg."

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) aid: 'When the Iqamah for prayer is said, there is no prayer except the prescribed prayer."'

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "When the Iqamah for prayer is said, there is no prayer except the prescribed prayer."