A man from among the people of Najd with disheveled hair came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. The humming sound of his voice could be heard but what he was saying could not be understood. He came closer and it was then known that he was asking about Islam. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Five times of prayer each day and night: He asked: Must I observe any more than them? He replied: No, unless you do it voluntarily. He (Talhah) said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ mentioned fasting during the month of Ramadan. He asked: Must I observe anything else? He replied: No, unless you do it voluntarily. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ mentioned Zakat to him. He asked: Must I pay anything else? He replied: No, unless you do it voluntarily. The man then turned away saying: I swear by Allah, I shall not add anything to this or fall short of it. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: The man will be successful if he speaks truth.  

جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ مِنْ أَهْلِ نَجْدٍ ثَائِرَ الرَّأْسِ يُسْمَعُ دَوِيُّ صَوْتِهِ وَلاَ يُفْقَهُ مَا يَقُولُ حَتَّى دَنَا فَإِذَا هُوَ يَسْأَلُ عَنِ الإِسْلاَمِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ خَمْسُ صَلَوَاتٍ فِي الْيَوْمِ وَاللَّيْلَةِ قَالَ هَلْ عَلَىَّ غَيْرُهُنَّ قَالَ لاَ إِلاَّ أَنْ تَطَّوَّعَ قَالَ وَذَكَرَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ صِيَامَ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ قَالَ هَلْ عَلَىَّ غَيْرُهُ قَالَ لاَ إِلاَّ أَنْ تَطَّوَّعَ قَالَ وَذَكَرَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الصَّدَقَةَ قَالَ فَهَلْ عَلَىَّ غَيْرُهَا قَالَ لاَ إِلاَّ أَنْ تَطَّوَّعَ فَأَدْبَرَ الرَّجُلُ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ وَاللَّهِ لاَ أَزِيدُ عَلَى هَذَا وَلاَ أَنْقُصُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَفْلَحَ إِنْ صَدَقَ  

He will be successful, by his father, if he speaks the truth; he will enter Paradise, by his father, if he speaks the truth.  

أَفْلَحَ وَأَبِيهِ إِنْ صَدَقَ دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ وَأَبِيهِ إِنْ صَدَقَ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Gabriel ﷺ led me in prayer at the House (i.e. the Ka'bah). He prayed the noon prayer with me when the sun had passed the meridian to the extent of the thong of a sandal; he prayed the afternoon prayer with me when the shadow of everything was as long as itself; he prayed the sunset prayer with me when one who is fasting breaks the fast; he prayed the night prayer with me when the twilight had ended; and he prayed the dawn prayer with me when food and drink become forbidden to one who is keeping the fast. On the following day he prayed the noon prayer with me when his shadow was as long as himself; he prayed the afternoon prayer with me when his shadow was twice as long as himself; he prayed the sunset prayer at the time when one who is fasting breaks the fast; he prayed the night prayer with me when about the third of the night had passed; and he prayed the dawn prayer with me when there was a fair amount of light. Then turning to me he said: Muhammad, this is the time observed by the prophets before you, and the time is anywhere between two times.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَمَّنِي جِبْرِيلُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ عِنْدَ الْبَيْتِ مَرَّتَيْنِ فَصَلَّى بِيَ الظُّهْرَ حِينَ زَالَتِ الشَّمْسُ وَكَانَتْ قَدْرَ الشِّرَاكِ وَصَلَّى بِيَ الْعَصْرَ حِينَ كَانَ ظِلُّهُ مِثْلَهُ وَصَلَّى بِيَ يَعْنِي الْمَغْرِبَ حِينَ أَفْطَرَ الصَّائِمُ وَصَلَّى بِيَ الْعِشَاءَ حِينَ غَابَ الشَّفَقُ وَصَلَّى بِيَ الْفَجْرَ حِينَ حَرُمَ الطَّعَامُ وَالشَّرَابُ عَلَى الصَّائِمِ فَلَمَّا كَانَ الْغَدُ صَلَّى بِيَ الظُّهْرَ حِينَ كَانَ ظِلُّهُ مِثْلَهُ وَصَلَّى بِيَ الْعَصْرَ حِينَ كَانَ ظِلُّهُ مِثْلَيْهِ وَصَلَّى بِيَ الْمَغْرِبَ حِينَ أَفْطَرَ الصَّائِمُ وَصَلَّى بِيَ الْعِشَاءَ إِلَى ثُلُثِ اللَّيْلِ وَصَلَّى بِيَ الْفَجْرَ فَأَسْفَرَ ثُمَّ الْتَفَتَ إِلَىَّ فَقَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ هَذَا وَقْتُ الأَنْبِيَاءِ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ وَالْوَقْتُ مَا بَيْنَ هَذَيْنِ الْوَقْتَيْنِ  

'Umar b. 'Abdul 'Aziz was sitting on the pulpit and he somewhat postponed the afternoon prayer. 'Urwah b. al-Zubair said to him: "Gabriel informed Muhammed ﷺ of the time of prayer". So 'Umar said to him: "Be sure of what you are saying". 'Urwah then replied: "I heard Bashir b. Abu Mas'ud say that he heard Abu Mas'ud al-Ansari say that he heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: 'Gabriel came down and informed me of the time of prayer, and I prayed along with him, then prayed along with him, then I prayed along with him, then I prayed along with him, then I prayed along with him, reckoning with his fingers five times of the prayer.' I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ offering the Duhr prayer when the sun had passed the meridian. Sometimes he would delay it when it was sever heat ; and I witnessed that he prayer the 'Asr prayer when the sun was high and bright before the yellowness had overcome it; then a man could go off after the prayer and reach Dhu'l-Hulaifah before the sunset, and he would pray Maghrib when the sun had set ; and he would pray the 'Isha prayer when darkness prevailed over the horizon; sometime he would delay it until the people assembled; and once he prayer the fair prayer in the darkness of dawn and at another time he prayed it when it became fairly light; but later on he continued to pray in the darkness of dawn until his death; he never prayed it again in the light of the dawn." Abu Dawud said: This tradition has been transmitted from al-Zuhri by Ma'mar, Malik, Ibn 'Uyainah, Shu'aib b. Abi Hamzah, and al-Laith b. Sa'd and others; but they did not mention the time in which he (the Prophet) had prayer, nor did they explain it. And similarly it has been narrated by Hisham b. 'Urwah and Habib b. Abu Mazruq from 'Urwah like the report of Ma'mar and his companions. But Habib did not make a mention of Bashir. And Wahb b. Kaisan reported on the authority of Jabir from the Prophet ﷺ the time of the Maghrib prayer. He said: "Next day he (Gabriel) came to him at the time of the Maghrib prayer when the sun had already set. (He came both days) at the same time." Abu Dawud said: Similarly, this tradition has been transmitted by Abu Hurairah from the Prophet ﷺ. He said: "Then he (Gabriel) led me in the sunset prayer next day at the same time." Similarly, this tradition has been narrated through a different chain by 'Abd Allah b. 'Amr b. al-'As, through a chain from Hassan b. 'Atiyyah, from 'Amr b. Shu'aib, from his father, on the authority from the Prophet ﷺ.  

لَهُ عُمَرُ اعْلَمْ مَا تَقُولُ فَقَالَ عُرْوَةُ سَمِعْتُ بَشِيرَ بْنَ أَبِي مَسْعُودٍ يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا مَسْعُودٍ الأَنْصَارِيَّ يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ نَزَلَ جِبْرِيلُ ﷺ فَأَخْبَرَنِي بِوَقْتِ الصَّلاَةِ فَصَلَّيْتُ مَعَهُ ثُمَّ صَلَّيْتُ مَعَهُ ثُمَّ صَلَّيْتُ مَعَهُ ثُمَّ صَلَّيْتُ مَعَهُ ثُمَّ صَلَّيْتُ مَعَهُ يَحْسُبُ بِأَصَابِعِهِ خَمْسَ صَلَوَاتٍ فَرَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ صَلَّى الظُّهْرَ حِينَ تَزُولُ الشَّمْسُ وَرُبَّمَا أَخَّرَهَا حِينَ يَشْتَدُّ الْحَرُّ وَرَأَيْتُهُ يُصَلِّي الْعَصْرَ وَالشَّمْسُ مُرْتَفِعَةٌ بَيْضَاءُ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَدْخُلَهَا الصُّفْرَةُ فَيَنْصَرِفُ الرَّجُلُ مِنَ الصَّلاَةِ فَيَأْتِي ذَا الْحُلَيْفَةِ قَبْلَ غُرُوبِ الشَّمْسِ وَيُصَلِّي الْمَغْرِبَ حِينَ تَسْقُطُ الشَّمْسُ وَيُصَلِّي الْعِشَاءَ حِينَ يَسْوَدُّ الأُفُقُ وَرُبَّمَا أَخَّرَهَا حَتَّى يَجْتَمِعَ النَّاسُ وَصَلَّى الصُّبْحَ مَرَّةً بِغَلَسٍ ثُمَّ صَلَّى مَرَّةً أُخْرَى فَأَسْفَرَ بِهَا ثُمَّ كَانَتْ صَلاَتُهُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ التَّغْلِيسَ حَتَّى مَاتَ وَلَمْ يَعُدْ إِلَى أَنْ يُسْفِرَ  

A man asked the Prophet ﷺ [about the prayer times] but he did reply to him but he commanded Bilal, who made the announcement for the beginning of the time of the the fair prayer prayer when the dawn broke. He offered (the fair prayer) when a man (due to darkness) could not recognize the face of his companion ; or a man could not know the person who stood by his side. He then commanded Bilal who made announcement for the beginning of the time of the Zuhr prayer when the sun had passed the meridian until some said: Has the noon come ? While he (the Prophet) knew (the time) well. He the commanded Bilal who announced the beginning of the time of the 'Asr prayer when the sun was white and high. When the sunset he commanded Bilal who announced beginning of the time of the Maghrib prayer. When the twilight disappeared he commanded Bilal who announced the beginning of the Isha prayer. Next day he offered the Fajr prayer and returned until we said: Has the sun rise ? He observed the Zuhr prayer at the time he has previously observed the 'Asr prayer. He offered the 'Asr prayer at the time when the sun had become yellow or the evening had come. He offered the Maghrib prayer before the twilight had ended. He observed the Isha prayer when a third of the night had passed. He then asked: Where is the man who was asking me about the time of prayer. (Then replying to him he said): The time (of your prayer) lies within these two limits. Abu Dawud said: Sulaiman b. Musa has narrated this tradition about the time of the Maghrib prayer from Musa from 'Ata on the authority of Jabir from the Prophet ﷺ. This version adds: He then offered the Isha prayer when a third of the night had passed, as narrated (he said the Isha prayer) when half the night had passed. This tradition has been transmitted by Ibn Buraidah on the authority of his father from the Prophet ﷺ in a similar way.  

أَنَّ سَائِلاً سَأَلَ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَلَمْ يَرُدَّ عَلَيْهِ شَيْئًا حَتَّى أَمَرَ بِلاَلاً فَأَقَامَ لِلْفَجْرِ حِينَ انْشَقَّ الْفَجْرُ فَصَلَّى حِينَ كَانَ الرَّجُلُ لاَ يَعْرِفُ وَجْهَ صَاحِبِهِ أَوْ إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لاَ يَعْرِفُ مَنْ إِلَى جَنْبِهِ ثُمَّ أَمَرَ بِلاَلاً فَأَقَامَ الظُّهْرَ حِينَ زَالَتِ الشَّمْسُ حَتَّى قَالَ الْقَائِلُ انْتَصَفَ النَّهَارُ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ ثُمَّ أَمَرَ بِلاَلاً فَأَقَامَ الْعَصْرَ وَالشَّمْسُ بَيْضَاءُ مُرْتَفِعَةٌ وَأَمَرَ بِلاَلاً فَأَقَامَ الْمَغْرِبَ حِينَ غَابَتِ الشَّمْسُ وَأَمَرَ بِلاَلاً فَأَقَامَ الْعِشَاءَ حِينَ غَابَ الشَّفَقُ فَلَمَّا كَانَ مِنَ الْغَدِ صَلَّى الْفَجْرَ وَانْصَرَفَ فَقُلْنَا أَطَلَعَتِ الشَّمْسُ فَأَقَامَ الظُّهْرَ فِي وَقْتِ الْعَصْرِ الَّذِي كَانَ قَبْلَهُ وَصَلَّى الْعَصْرَ وَقَدِ اصْفَرَّتِ الشَّمْسُ أَوْ قَالَ أَمْسَى وَصَلَّى الْمَغْرِبَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَغِيبَ الشَّفَقُ وَصَلَّى الْعِشَاءَ إِلَى ثُلُثِ اللَّيْلِ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَيْنَ السَّائِلُ عَنْ وَقْتِ الصَّلاَةِ الْوَقْتُ فِيمَا بَيْنَ هَذَيْنِ  

The time of the Zuhr prayer is as along as the time of the 'Asr prayer has not come; the time of the Asr prayer is as long as the sun has not become yellow ; the time of the Maghrib prayer is as long as the twilight has not ended; the time of the Isha prayer is up to midnight; and the time of the Fajr prayer is as long as the sun has not risen.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ أَنَّهُ قَالَ وَقْتُ الظُّهْرِ مَا لَمْ تَحْضُرِ الْعَصْرُ وَوَقْتُ الْعَصْرِ مَا لَمْ تَصْفَرَّ الشَّمْسُ وَوَقْتُ الْمَغْرِبِ مَا لَمْ يَسْقُطْ فَوْرُ الشَّفَقِ وَوَقْتُ الْعِشَاءِ إِلَى نِصْفِ اللَّيْلِ وَوَقْتُ صَلاَةِ الْفَجْرِ مَا لَمْ تَطْلُعِ الشَّمْسُ  

We asked Jabir about the time of the prayer of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He said: He used to offer the Zuhr prayer in the midday heat, the 'Asr prayer when the sun was bright, the Maghrib prayer when the sun had completely set, the Isha prayer early when many people were present, but late if there were few, and the Fajr prayer in the darkness (of the dawn).  

عَنْ وَقْتِ صَلاَةِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقَالَ كَانَ يُصَلِّي الظُّهْرَ بِالْهَاجِرَةِ وَالْعَصْرَ وَالشَّمْسُ حَيَّةٌ وَالْمَغْرِبَ إِذَا غَرَبَتِ الشَّمْسُ وَالْعِشَاءَ إِذَا كَثُرَ النَّاسُ عَجَّلَ وَإِذَا قَلُّوا أَخَّرَ وَالصُّبْحَ بِغَلَسٍ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would offer the Zuhr prayer when the sun had passed the meridian; he would offer 'Asr prayer after which one of us would visit the skirts of Medina and return him while the sun was still bright; I forgot what he said about the Maghrib prayer; he did not fear postponing the Isha prayer until a third of night had passed, or he said: until the midnight had passed. He would dislike sleeping before it or talking after it. And he would offer the Fajr prayer when a man could recognize his neighbor whom he recognized well; and he would recite from sixty to a hundred verses during it.  

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُصَلِّي الظُّهْرَ إِذَا زَالَتِ الشَّمْسُ وَيُصَلِّي الْعَصْرَ وَإِنَّ أَحَدَنَا لَيَذْهَبُ إِلَى أَقْصَى الْمَدِينَةِ وَيَرْجِعُ وَالشَّمْسُ حَيَّةٌ وَنَسِيتُ الْمَغْرِبَ وَكَانَ لاَ يُبَالِي تَأْخِيرَ الْعِشَاءِ إِلَى ثُلُثِ اللَّيْلِ قَالَ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِلَى شَطْرِ اللَّيْلِ قَالَ وَكَانَ يَكْرَهُ النَّوْمَ قَبْلَهَا وَالْحَدِيثَ بَعْدَهَا وَكَانَ يُصَلِّي الصُّبْحَ وَمَا يَعْرِفُ أَحَدُنَا جَلِيسَهُ الَّذِي كَانَ يَعْرِفُهُ وَكَانَ يَقْرَأُ فِيهَا مِنَ السِّتِّينَ إِلَى الْمِائَةِ  

I would offer my noon prayer with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and took a handful of gravels so that they might become cold in my hand and I placed them (before me) so that I may put my forehead on them at the time when I would prostrate. I did this due to the intensity of heat.  

كُنْتُ أُصَلِّي الظُّهْرَ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَآخُذُ قَبْضَةً مِنَ الْحَصَى لِتَبْرُدَ فِي كَفِّي أَضَعُهَا لِجَبْهَتِي أَسْجُدُ عَلَيْهَا لِشِدَّةِ الْحَرِّ  

The extent of the shadow when the Messenger of Allah prayed (the noon prayer) was three to five feet in summer and five to seven feet in winter.  

كَانَتْ قَدْرُ صَلاَةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي الصَّيْفِ ثَلاَثَةَ أَقْدَامٍ إِلَى خَمْسَةِ أَقْدَامٍ وَفِي الشِّتَاءِ خَمْسَةَ أَقْدَامٍ إِلَى سَبْعَةِ أَقْدَامٍ  

We were in the company of the Prophet ﷺ. The mu'adhdhin intended to call for the Zuhr prayer. He said: Make it cooler. He then intended to call for prayer. He said twice or thrice: Make it cooler. We then witnessed the shadow of the mounds. He then said: The intensity of heat comes from the bubbling over of the Hell ; so when the heat is violent, offer (the Zuhr) prayer when it becomes cooler.  

When the heat is violent, offer (the Zuhr) prayer when it becomes fairly cool, for the violent heat comes from the bubbling over the Hell.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ إِذَا اشْتَدَّ الْحَرُّ فَأَبْرِدُوا عَنِ الصَّلاَةِ قَالَ ابْنُ مَوْهَبٍ بِالصَّلاَةِ فَإِنَّ شِدَّةَ الْحَرِّ مِنْ فَيْحِ جَهَنَّمَ  

Jabir b. Samurah reported that Bilal used to call for the noon prayer when the sun had declined.  

أَنَّ بِلاَلاً كَانَ يُؤَذِّنُ الظُّهْرَ إِذَا دَحَضَتِ الشَّمْسُ  

Anas b. Malik said the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to say the 'Asr prayer when the sun was high and bright and living, then one would go off to al-'Awali and get there while the sun was still high.  

أَنَّهُ أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَانَ يُصَلِّي الْعَصْرَ وَالشَّمْسُ بَيْضَاءُ مُرْتَفِعَةٌ حَيَّةٌ وَيَذْهَبُ الذَّاهِبُ إِلَى الْعَوَالِي وَالشَّمْسُ مُرْتَفِعَةٌ  

Al-'Awali is situated at a distance of two miles or three (from Medina). He (the narrator) said: I think he said: or four miles.  

وَالْعَوَالِي عَلَى مِيلَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلاَثَةٍ قَالَ وَأَحْسَبُهُ قَالَ أَوْ أَرْبَعَةٍ  

By the life of the sun is meant that you may find heat in it.  

أَنْ تَجِدَ حَرَّهَا  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would offer the Zuhr prayer while the sunlight was present in her apartment before it ascended (the walls).  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَانَ يُصَلِّي الْعَصْرَ وَالشَّمْسُ فِي حُجْرَتِهَا قَبْلَ أَنْ تَظْهَرَ  

We came upon the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in Medina. He would postpone the afternoon prayer as long as the sun remained white and clear.  

قَدِمْنَا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ الْمَدِينَةَ فَكَانَ يُؤَخِّرُ الْعَصْرَ مَا دَامَتِ الشَّمْسُ بَيْضَاءَ نَقِيَّةً  

'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) reported the Messenger of Allah ﷺ as saying on the day of Battle of Khandaq (Trench). They (the unbelievers) prevented us from offering the middle prayer i.e. 'Asr prayer. May Allah fill their houses and their graves with Hell-fire.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ يَوْمَ الْخَنْدَقِ حَبَسُونَا عَنْ صَلاَةِ الْوُسْطَى صَلاَةِ الْعَصْرِ مَلأَ اللَّهُ بُيُوتَهُمْ وَقُبُورَهُمْ نَارًا  

'Aishah commanded me to write for her come passage from the Qur'an. She also added: When you reach the following verse, inform me: "Be guardian of your prayers and of the midmost prayer" (2:238). When I reached it, I informed her. She asked me to write: "Be guardians of your prayers, and of the midmost prayer, and of the 'Asr prayer, and stand up with devotion of Allah" (2:238). 'Aishah then said: I heard it from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.  

وَقَالَتْ إِذَا بَلَغْتَ هَذِهِ الآيَةَ فَآذِنِّي { حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ وَالصَّلاَةِ الْوُسْطَى } فَلَمَّا بَلَغْتُهَا آذَنْتُهَا فَأَمْلَتْ عَلَىَّ { حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ وَالصَّلاَةِ الْوُسْطَى وَصَلاَةِ الْعَصْرِ وَقُومُوا لِلَّهِ قَانِتِينَ } ثُمَّ قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ سَمِعْتُهَا مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to offer the Zuhr prayer in midday heat; and no prayer was harder on the Companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ that this one. Hence the revelation came down: "Be guardians of your prayers, and of the midmost prayer" (2:238). He (the narrator) said: There are two prayers before it and two prayers after it.  

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُصَلِّي الظُّهْرَ بِالْهَاجِرَةِ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ يُصَلِّي صَلاَةً أَشَدَّ عَلَى أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ مِنْهَا فَنَزَلَتْ { حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ وَالصَّلاَةِ الْوُسْطَى } وَقَالَ إِنَّ قَبْلَهَا صَلاَتَيْنِ وَبَعْدَهَا صَلاَتَيْنِ  

If anyone says a rak'ah of the 'Asr prayer before sunset, he has observed (the 'Asr prayer), and if anyone performs a rak'ah of the Fajr prayer, he has observed (the Fajr prayer).  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَنْ أَدْرَكَ مِنَ الْعَصْرِ رَكْعَةً قَبْلَ أَنْ تَغْرُبَ الشَّمْسُ فَقَدْ أَدْرَكَ وَمَنْ أَدْرَكَ مِنَ الْفَجْرِ رَكْعَةً قَبْلَ أَنْ تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ فَقَدْ أَدْرَكَ  

We came upon Anas b. Malik after the Zuhr prayer. He stood for saying the 'Asr prayer. When he became free from praying, we mentioned to him about observing prayer in its early period or he himself mentioned it. He said: I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: This is how hypocrites pray, this is how hypocrites pray, this is how hypocrites pray: He sits (watching the sun), and when it becomes yellow and is between the horns of the devil, or is on the horns of the devil, he rises and prays for rak'ahs quickly, remembering Allah only seldom during them.  

سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ تِلْكَ صَلاَةُ الْمُنَافِقِينَ تِلْكَ صَلاَةُ الْمُنَافِقِينَ تِلْكَ صَلاَةُ الْمُنَافِقِينَ يَجْلِسُ أَحَدُهُمْ حَتَّى إِذَا اصْفَرَّتِ الشَّمْسُ فَكَانَتْ بَيْنَ قَرْنَىْ شَيْطَانٍ أَوْ عَلَى قَرْنَىِ الشَّيْطَانِ قَامَ فَنَقَرَ أَرْبَعًا لاَ يَذْكُرُ اللَّهَ فِيهَا إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً  

Anyone who loses his 'Asr prayer is like a person whose family has perished and whose property has been plundered. Abu Dawud said: 'Abd Allah b. 'Umar narrated the word utira (instead of wutira, meaning perished). The dispute on this point goes back to Ayyub. Al-Zuhri reported from Salim on the authority of this father from the Prophet ﷺ the word 'wutira'.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ الَّذِي تَفُوتُهُ صَلاَةُ الْعَصْرِ فَكَأَنَّمَا وُتِرَ أَهْلَهُ وَمَالَهُ  

Delaying the 'Asr prayer means that the sunshine becomes yellow on the earth.  

أَنْ تَرَى مَا عَلَى الأَرْضِ مِنَ الشَّمْسِ صَفْرَاءَ  

We used to offer the Maghrib prayer with the Prophet ﷺ and then shoot arrows, one of us could see the place where arrow would fall.  

كُنَّا نُصَلِّي الْمَغْرِبَ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ ثُمَّ نَرْمِي فَيَرَى أَحَدُنَا مَوْضِعَ نَبْلِهِ  

The Prophet ﷺ used to say the Maghrib prayer immediately after the sun had set when its upper side would disappear.  

كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يُصَلِّي الْمَغْرِبَ سَاعَةَ تَغْرُبُ الشَّمْسُ إِذَا غَابَ حَاجِبُهَا  

Marthad ibn Abdullah said: When AbuAyyub came upon us to fight the infidels and in those days Uqbah ibn Amir was the Governor of Egypt, he (Uqbah) delayed the sunset prayer. Hence AbuAyyub stood and said: What kind of prayer is this, Uqbah? He said: We were busy. He said: Did you not hear the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: My community will remain well, or he said: will remain on its natural condition, so long as it would not delay the evening prayer until the stars shine brightly just like a network.  

لَهُ مَا هَذِهِ الصَّلاَةُ يَا عُقْبَةُ فَقَالَ شُغِلْنَا قَالَ أَمَا سَمِعْتَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ لاَ تَزَالُ أُمَّتِي بِخَيْرٍ أَوْ قَالَ عَلَى الْفِطْرَةِ مَا لَمْ يُؤَخِّرُوا الْمَغْرِبَ إِلَى أَنْ تَشْتَبِكَ النُّجُومُ  

I am the one who is best informed of the time of this prayer, i.e. the night prayer. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to offer it at the hour when the moon went down on its third night.  

أَنَا أَعْلَمُ النَّاسِ بِوَقْتِ هَذِهِ الصَّلاَةِ صَلاَةِ الْعِشَاءِ الآخِرَةِ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُصَلِّيهَا لِسُقُوطِ الْقَمَرِ لِثَالِثَةٍ  

We remained one night waiting for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to offer the Isha prayer. He came out to us when one-third of the night has passed or even after it. We did not know whether anything kept him occupied or there was some other matter. When he came out, he said: Are you waiting for this prayer ? Were it not that it would impose a burden on my people, I would normally pray with them at this time. He then gave orders to the mu'adhdhin who declared that the time of the prayer had come.  

مَكَثْنَا ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ نَنْتَظِرُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ لِصَلاَةِ الْعِشَاءِ فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْنَا حِينَ ذَهَبَ ثُلُثُ اللَّيْلِ أَوْ بَعْدَهُ فَلاَ نَدْرِي أَشَىْءٌ شَغَلَهُ أَمْ غَيْرُ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ حِينَ خَرَجَ أَتَنْتَظِرُونَ هَذِهِ الصَّلاَةَ لَوْلاَ أَنْ تَثْقُلَ عَلَى أُمَّتِي لَصَلَّيْتُ بِهِمْ هَذِهِ السَّاعَةَ ثُمَّ أَمَرَ الْمُؤَذِّنَ فَأَقَامَ الصَّلاَةَ  

We waited for the Prophet ﷺ to offer the night prayer. He delayed until people thought that he would not come out and some of us said that he had offered the prayer. At the moment when we were in this condition the Prophet ﷺ came out. People said to him as they were already saying. He said: Observe this prayer when it is dark, for by it you have been made superior to all the peoples, no people having observed it before you.  

أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ مُعَاذَ بْنَ جَبَلٍ يَقُولُ ارْتَقَبْنَا النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فِي صَلاَةِ الْعَتَمَةِ فَأَخَّرَ حَتَّى ظَنَّ الظَّانُّ أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ بِخَارِجٍ وَالْقَائِلُ مِنَّا يَقُولُ صَلَّى فَإِنَّا لَكَذَلِكَ حَتَّى خَرَجَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَقَالُوا لَهُ كَمَا قَالُوا فَقَالَ لَهُمْ أَعْتِمُوا بِهَذِهِ الصَّلاَةِ فَإِنَّكُمْ قَدْ فُضِّلْتُمْ بِهَا عَلَى سَائِرِ الأُمَمِ وَلَمْ تُصَلِّهَا أُمَّةٌ قَبْلَكُمْ  

We observed the prayer after nightfall with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and he did not come out till about half the night had passed. He then said: Take your places. We then took our places. Then he said: The people have prayed and gone to bed, but you are still engaged in prayer as long as you wait for the prayer. Were it not for the weakness of the weak and for the sickness of the sick. I would delay this prayer till half the night had gone.  

صَلَّيْنَا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ صَلاَةَ الْعَتَمَةِ فَلَمْ يَخْرُجْ حَتَّى مَضَى نَحْوٌ مِنْ شَطْرِ اللَّيْلِ فَقَالَ خُذُوا مَقَاعِدَكُمْ فَأَخَذْنَا مَقَاعِدَنَا فَقَالَ إِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدْ صَلَّوْا وَأَخَذُوا مَضَاجِعَهُمْ وَإِنَّكُمْ لَنْ تَزَالُوا فِي صَلاَةٍ مَا انْتَظَرْتُمُ الصَّلاَةَ وَلَوْلاَ ضَعْفُ الضَّعِيفِ وَسَقَمُ السَّقِيمِ لأَخَّرْتُ هَذِهِ الصَّلاَةَ إِلَى شَطْرِ اللَّيْلِ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would say the Fajr prayer after which the women would depart wrapped up their woolen garments, being unrecognizable because of the darkness before dawn.  

أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ إِنْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لَيُصَلِّي الصُّبْحَ فَيَنْصَرِفُ النِّسَاءُ مُتَلَفِّعَاتٍ بِمُرُوطِهِنَّ مَا يُعْرَفْنَ مِنَ الْغَلَسِ  

Offer Fajr prayer at dawn, for it is most productive of rewards to you or most productive of reward.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَصْبِحُوا بِالصُّبْحِ فَإِنَّهُ أَعْظَمُ لأُجُورِكُمْ أَوْ أَعْظَمُ لِلأَجْرِ  

AbuMuhammad fancies that witr prayer is essential. (Hearing this) Ubadah ibn as-Samit said: AbuMuhammad was wrong. I bear witness that I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: Allah, the Exalted, has made five prayers obligatory. If anyone performs ablution for them well, offers them at their (right) time, and observes perfectly their bowing and submissiveness in them, it is the guarantee of Allah that He will pardon him; if anyone does not do so, there is no guarantee for him on the part of Allah; He may pardon him if He wills, and punish him if He wills.  

سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ خَمْسُ صَلَوَاتٍ افْتَرَضَهُنَّ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى مَنْ أَحْسَنَ وُضُوءَهُنَّ وَصَلاَّهُنَّ لِوَقْتِهِنَّ وَأَتَمَّ رُكُوعَهُنَّ وَخُشُوعَهُنَّ كَانَ لَهُ عَلَى اللَّهِ عَهْدٌ أَنْ يَغْفِرَ لَهُ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَفْعَلْ فَلَيْسَ لَهُ عَلَى اللَّهِ عَهْدٌ إِنْ شَاءَ غَفَرَ لَهُ وَإِنْ شَاءَ عَذَّبَهُ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked: Which of the actions is best? He replied: Observing prayer early in its period. Al-Khuza'i narrated in his version from his aunt named Umm Farwah who took the oath of allegiance to the Prophet ﷺ: He was questioned.  

سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَىُّ الأَعْمَالِ أَفْضَلُ قَالَ الصَّلاَةُ فِي أَوَّلِ وَقْتِهَا قَالَ الْخُزَاعِيُّ فِي حَدِيثِهِ عَنْ عَمَّةٍ لَهُ يُقَالُ لَهَا أُمُّ فَرْوَةَ قَدْ بَايَعَتِ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ سُئِلَ  

A man from Basrah said: Tell me what you heard from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He said: I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: No one will enter Hell who has prayed before the rising of the sun and before its setting (meaning the dawn and the afternoon prayers). He said three times: Have you heard it from him? He replied: Yes, each time saying: My ears heard it and my heart memorised it. The man then said: And I heard him (the Prophet) say that.  

سَمِعْتَ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ لاَ يَلِجُ النَّارَ رَجُلٌ صَلَّى قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ وَقَبْلَ أَنْ تَغْرُبَ قَالَ أَنْتَ سَمِعْتَهُ مِنْهُ ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ قَالَ نَعَمْ كُلَّ ذَلِكَ يَقُولُ سَمِعَتْهُ أُذُنَاىَ وَوَعَاهُ قَلْبِي فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ وَأَنَا سَمِعْتُهُ ﷺ يَقُولُ ذَلِكَ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ taught me and what he taught me is this: Observe the five prayers regularly. He said: I told (him): I have many works at these times; so give me a comprehensive advice which, if I follow, should be enough for me. He said: Observe the two afternoon prayers (al-asrayn). But the term al-asrayn (two afternoon prayers) was not used in our language. Hence I said: What is al-asrayn? He said: A prayer before the sunrise and a prayer before the sunset (i.e. the dawn and the afternoon prayers).  

عَلَّمَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَكَانَ فِيمَا عَلَّمَنِي وَحَافِظْ عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ الْخَمْسِ قَالَ قُلْتُ إِنَّ هَذِهِ سَاعَاتٌ لِي فِيهَا أَشْغَالٌ فَمُرْنِي بِأَمْرٍ جَامِعٍ إِذَا أَنَا فَعَلْتُهُ أَجْزَأَ عَنِّي فَقَالَ حَافِظْ عَلَى الْعَصْرَيْنِ وَمَا كَانَتْ مِنْ لُغَتِنَا فَقُلْتُ وَمَا الْعَصْرَانِ فَقَالَ صَلاَةٌ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ وَصَلاَةٌ قَبْلَ غُرُوبِهَا  

There are five thing, if anyone observe them with faith, he will enter Paradise. He who prays the five times prayer regularly, with the ablution for them, with their bowing, with their prostration and their (right) times ; keeps fast during Ramadan ; performs Hajj (pilgrimage) to the House (Ka'bah), provided he has the ability for its passage; pays Zakat happily ; and fulfills the trust (he will enter Paradise). People said: Abu al-Darda', what is fulfilling the trust ? He replied: Washing because of sexual defilement.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ خَمْسٌ مَنْ جَاءَ بِهِنَّ مَعَ إِيمَانٍ دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ مَنْ حَافَظَ عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ الْخَمْسِ عَلَى وُضُوئِهِنَّ وَرُكُوعِهِنَّ وَسُجُودِهِنَّ وَمَوَاقِيتِهِنَّ وَصَامَ رَمَضَانَ وَحَجَّ الْبَيْتَ إِنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلاً وَأَعْطَى الزَّكَاةَ طَيِّبَةً بِهَا نَفْسُهُ وَأَدَّى الأَمَانَةَ قَالُوا يَا أَبَا الدَّرْدَاءِ وَمَا أَدَاءُ الأَمَانَةِ قَالَ الْغُسْلُ مِنَ الْجَنَابَةِ  

Allah , the Exalted said: I made five times' prayers obligatory on your people, and I took a guarantee that if anyone observes them regularly at their times, I shall admit him to Paradise; if anyone does not offer them regularly, there is no such guarantee of Mine for him.  

أَخْبَرَهُ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى إِنِّي فَرَضْتُ عَلَى أُمَّتِكَ خَمْسَ صَلَوَاتٍ وَعَهِدْتُ عِنْدِي عَهْدًا أَنَّهُ مَنْ جَاءَ يُحَافِظُ عَلَيْهِنَّ لِوَقْتِهِنَّ أَدْخَلْتُهُ الْجَنَّةَ وَمَنْ لَمْ يُحَافِظْ عَلَيْهِنَّ فَلاَ عَهْدَ لَهُ عِنْدِي  

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked me: 'How will you act, Abu Dharr, when you are under rulers who kill prayer or delay it (beyond its proper time) ?' I said: 'Messenger of Allah, what do you command me ?' He replied: 'Offer the prayer at its proper time, and if you say it along with them, say it, for it will be a supererogatory prayer for you.'"  

لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ كَيْفَ أَنْتَ إِذَا كَانَتْ عَلَيْكَ أُمَرَاءُ يُمِيتُونَ الصَّلاَةَ أَوْ قَالَ يُؤَخِّرُونَ الصَّلاَةَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَمَا تَأْمُرُنِي قَالَ صَلِّ الصَّلاَةَ لِوَقْتِهَا فَإِنْ أَدْرَكْتَهَا مَعَهُمْ فَصَلِّهَا فَإِنَّهَا لَكَ نَافِلَةٌ  

Amr ibn Maymun al-Awdi said: Mu'adh ibn Jabal, the Messenger of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to us in Yemen, I heard his takbir (utterance of AllahuAkbar) in the dawn prayer. He was a man with loud voice. I began to love him. I did depart from him until I buried him dead in Syria (i.e. until his death). Then I searched for a person who had deep understanding in religion amongst the people after him. So I came to Ibn Mas'ud and remained in his company until his death. He (Ibn Mas'ud) said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to me: How will you act when you are ruled by rulers who say prayer beyond its proper time? I said: What do you command me, Messenger of Allah, if I witness such a time? He replied: Offer the prayer at its proper time and also say your prayer along with them as a supererogatory prayer.  

قَدِمَ عَلَيْنَا مُعَاذُ بْنُ جَبَلٍ الْيَمَنَ رَسُولُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِلَيْنَا قَالَ فَسَمِعْتُ تَكْبِيرَهُ مَعَ الْفَجْرِ رَجُلٌ أَجَشُّ الصَّوْتِ قَالَ فَأُلْقِيَتْ عَلَيْهِ مَحَبَّتِي فَمَا فَارَقْتُهُ حَتَّى دَفَنْتُهُ بِالشَّامِ مَيْتًا ثُمَّ نَظَرْتُ إِلَى أَفْقَهِ النَّاسِ بَعْدَهُ فَأَتَيْتُ ابْنَ مَسْعُودٍ فَلَزِمْتُهُ حَتَّى مَاتَ فَقَالَ قَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَيْفَ بِكُمْ إِذَا أَتَتْ عَلَيْكُمْ أُمَرَاءُ يُصَلُّونَ الصَّلاَةَ لِغَيْرِ مِيقَاتِهَا قُلْتُ فَمَا تَأْمُرُنِي إِنْ أَدْرَكَنِي ذَلِكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ صَلِّ الصَّلاَةَ لِمِيقَاتِهَا وَاجْعَلْ صَلاَتَكَ مَعَهُمْ سُبْحَةً  

After me you will come under rulers who will be detained from saying prayer at its proper time by (their) works until its time has run out, so offer prayer at its proper time. A man asked him: Messenger of Allah, may I offer prayer with them? He replied: Yes, if you wish (to do so). Sufyan (another narrator through a different chain)said: May I offer prayer with them if I get it with them? He said: Yes, if you wish to do so.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِنَّهَا سَتَكُونُ عَلَيْكُمْ بَعْدِي أُمَرَاءُ تَشْغَلُهُمْ أَشْيَاءُ عَنِ الصَّلاَةِ لِوَقْتِهَا حَتَّى يَذْهَبَ وَقْتُهَا فَصَلُّوا الصَّلاَةَ لِوَقْتِهَا فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أُصَلِّي مَعَهُمْ قَالَ نَعَمْ إِنْ شِئْتَ وَقَالَ سُفْيَانُ إِنْ أَدْرَكْتُهَا مَعَهُمْ أَأُصَلِّي مَعَهُمْ قَالَ نَعَمْ إِنْ شِئْتَ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: After me you will be ruled by rulers who will delay the prayer and it will be to your credit but to their discredit. So pray with them so long as they pray facing the qiblah.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَكُونُ عَلَيْكُمْ أُمَرَاءُ مِنْ بَعْدِي يُؤَخِّرُونَ الصَّلاَةَ فَهِيَ لَكُمْ وَهِيَ عَلَيْهِمْ فَصَلُّوا مَعَهُمْ مَا صَلَّوُا الْقِبْلَةَ  

When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ returned from the Battle of Khaibar, he travelled during the night. When we felt sleep, he halted for rest. Addressing Bilal he said: Keep vigilance at night for us. But Bilal who was leaning against the saddle of his mount was dominated by sleep. Neither the Prophet ﷺ nor Bilal nor any of his Companions could get up till the sunshine struck them. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ got up first of all. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was embarrassed and said: O Bilal ! He replied: He who detained your soul, detained my soul, Messenger of Allah, my parents be sacrificed for you. Then they drove their mounts to a little distance. The Prophet ﷺ perfumed ablution and commanded Bilal who made announcement for the prayer. He (the Prophet) led them in the Fajr prayer. When he finished prayer, he said: If anyone forget saying prayer, he should observe it when he recalls it, for Allah has said (in the Qur'an): "Establish prayer for my remembrance". Yunus said: Ibn Shihab used to recite this verse in a similar way (i.e. instead of reciting the word li-dhikri - for the sake of My remembrance - he would recite li-dhikra - when you remember). Ahmad (one of the narrator) said: 'Anbasah (a reporter) reported on the authority of Yunus the word li-dhikri (for the sake of my remembrance). Ahmad said: The word nu'as (occurring in this tradition) means "drowsiness".  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ حِينَ قَفَلَ مِنْ غَزْوَةِ خَيْبَرَ فَسَارَ لَيْلَةً حَتَّى إِذَا أَدْرَكَنَا الْكَرَى عَرَّسَ وَقَالَ لِبِلاَلٍ اكْلأْ لَنَا اللَّيْلَ قَالَ فَغَلَبَتْ بِلاَلاً عَيْنَاهُ وَهُوَ مُسْتَنِدٌ إِلَى رَاحِلَتِهِ فَلَمْ يَسْتَيْقِظِ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ وَلاَ بِلاَلٌ وَلاَ أَحَدٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ حَتَّى إِذَا ضَرَبَتْهُمُ الشَّمْسُ فَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَوَّلَهُمُ اسْتِيقَاظًا فَفَزِعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ يَا بِلاَلُ فَقَالَ أَخَذَ بِنَفْسِي الَّذِي أَخَذَ بِنَفْسِكَ بِأَبِي أَنْتَ وَأُمِّي يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَاقْتَادُوا رَوَاحِلَهُمْ شَيْئًا ثُمَّ تَوَضَّأَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ وَأَمَرَ بِلاَلاً فَأَقَامَ لَهُمُ الصَّلاَةَ وَصَلَّى بِهِمُ الصُّبْحَ فَلَمَّا قَضَى الصَّلاَةَ قَالَ مَنْ نَسِيَ صَلاَةً فَلْيُصَلِّهَا إِذَا ذَكَرَهَا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى قَالَ { أَقِمِ الصَّلاَةَ لِلذِّكْرَى } قَالَ يُونُسُ وَكَانَ ابْنُ شِهَابٍ يَقْرَؤُهَا كَذَلِكَ قَالَ أَحْمَدُ قَالَ عَنْبَسَةُ يَعْنِي عَنْ يُونُسَ فِي هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ لِذِكْرِي وَقَالَ أَحْمَدُ الْكَرَى النُّعَاسُ  

Another version of the above tradition adds: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Go away from this place of yours where inadvertence took hold of you. He then commanded Bilal who called for prayer and announced that the prayer in congregation was ready (i.e. he uttered the iqamah) and he observed prayer. Abu Dawud said: This tradition has been narrated by Malik, Sufyan b. 'Uyainah, al-Awza'i, and 'Abd al-Razzaq from Ma'mar and Ibn Ishaq, none of them made a mention of the call for prayer (adman) in this version of the tradition narrated by al-Zuhri, and none of them attribute (this tradition) to him except al-Awza'i and Aban al-'Attar on the authority of Ma'mar.  

رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ تَحَوَّلُوا عَنْ مَكَانِكُمُ الَّذِي أَصَابَتْكُمْ فِيهِ الْغَفْلَةُ قَالَ فَأَمَرَ بِلاَلاً فَأَذَّنَ وَأَقَامَ وَصَلَّى  

"The Prophet ﷺ was on a journey. The Prophet ﷺ took a turn and I also took a turn with him. He said: 'Look!' I said: 'This is a rider; these are two riders; and these are three' until we became seven. He then said: Guard for us our prayer, i.e. the Fajr prayer. But sleep dominated them and none could awaken them except the heat of the sun. They stood up and drove away a little. Then they got down (from their mounts) and performed ablution. Bilal called for prayer and they offered two rak'ahs of (Sunnah) of Fajr and then offered the Fajr prayer and mounted (their mounts). Some of them said to others: We showed negligence in prayer. The Prophet ﷺ said: There is no negligence in sleep. The negligence is in wakefulness. If any of you forget saying prayer, he should offer it when he remembers it and next day (he should say it) at its proper time.  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ كَانَ فِي سَفَرٍ لَهُ فَمَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَمِلْتُ مَعَهُ فَقَالَ انْظُرْ فَقُلْتُ هَذَا رَاكِبٌ هَذَانِ رَاكِبَانِ هَؤُلاَءِ ثَلاَثَةٌ حَتَّى صِرْنَا سَبْعَةً فَقَالَ احْفَظُوا عَلَيْنَا صَلاَتَنَا يَعْنِي صَلاَةَ الْفَجْرِ فَضُرِبَ عَلَى آذَانِهِمْ فَمَا أَيْقَظَهُمْ إِلاَّ حَرُّ الشَّمْسِ فَقَامُوا فَسَارُوا هُنَيَّةً ثُمَّ نَزَلُوا فَتَوَضَّئُوا وَأَذَّنَ بِلاَلٌ فَصَلَّوْا رَكْعَتَىِ الْفَجْرِ ثُمَّ صَلَّوُا الْفَجْرَ وَرَكِبُوا فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ قَدْ فَرَّطْنَا فِي صَلاَتِنَا فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ إِنَّهُ لاَ تَفْرِيطَ فِي النَّوْمِ إِنَّمَا التَّفْرِيطُ فِي الْيَقَظَةِ فَإِذَا سَهَا أَحَدُكُمْ عَنْ صَلاَةٍ فَلْيُصَلِّهَا حِينَ يَذْكُرُهَا وَمِنَ الْغَدِ لِلْوَقْتِ  

'Abd Allah b. Rabah al-Ansari, whom the Ansar called faqih (juries), came to us from Medina, and reported us on the authority of Abu Qatadah al-Ansari, the horseman of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent a military expedition consisting of the chief Companions. He then narrated the same story, saying Nothing awakened us except the rising sun. We stoop up in bewilderment, for our prayer. The Prophet ﷺ said: Wait a little, wait a little. When the sun rose high, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Those who sued to observer the two rak'ahs of Fajr prayer (sunnah prayer before obligatory prayer) should observe them. Then those who used to observe and those who would not observe stood up and said prayer. Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded to call for prayer; the call for prayer was made accordingly. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ stood and led us in prayer. When he turned away (from the prayer) he said: We thank Allah for the fact that we were not engaged in any wordily affairs which detained us from our prayer. Instead our souls were in the hands of Allah. He released them whenever He wished. If any one of you gets morning prayer tomorrow at its proper time, he should offer a similar prayer as an atonement.  

فَحَدَّثَنَا قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو قَتَادَةَ الأَنْصَارِيُّ فَارِسُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ بَعَثَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ جَيْشَ الأُمَرَاءِ بِهَذِهِ الْقِصَّةِ قَالَ فَلَمْ تُوقِظْنَا إِلاَّ الشَّمْسُ طَالِعَةً فَقُمْنَا وَهِلِينَ لِصَلاَتِنَا فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ رُوَيْدًا رُوَيْدًا حَتَّى إِذَا تَعَالَتِ الشَّمْسُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَنْ كَانَ مِنْكُمْ يَرْكَعُ رَكْعَتَىِ الْفَجْرِ فَلْيَرْكَعْهُمَا فَقَامَ مَنْ كَانَ يَرْكَعُهُمَا وَمَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ يَرْكَعُهُمَا فَرَكَعَهُمَا ثُمَّ أَمَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنْ يُنَادَى بِالصَّلاَةِ فَنُودِيَ بِهَا فَقَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَصَلَّى بِنَا فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَ قَالَ أَلاَ إِنَّا نَحْمَدُ اللَّهَ أَنَّا لَمْ نَكُنْ فِي شَىْءٍ مِنْ أُمُورِ الدُّنْيَا يَشْغَلُنَا عَنْ صَلاَتِنَا وَلَكِنَّ أَرْوَاحَنَا كَانَتْ بِيَدِ اللَّهِ ﷻ فَأَرْسَلَهَا أَنَّى شَاءَ فَمَنْ أَدْرَكَ مِنْكُمْ صَلاَةَ الْغَدَاةِ مِنْ غَدٍ صَالِحًا فَلْيَقْضِ مَعَهَا مِثْلَهَا  

"Allah takes your souls as He wishes, and returns them as He wishes. Stand up and call the Adhan to prayer." They (the Companions) stood and performed ablution. When the sun rose high, the Prophet ﷺ stood and led the people in prayer.  

إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَبَضَ أَرْوَاحَكُمْ حَيْثُ شَاءَ وَرَدَّهَا حَيْثُ شَاءَ قُمْ فَأَذِّنْ بِالصَّلاَةِ فَقَامُوا فَتَطَهَّرُوا حَتَّى إِذَا ارْتَفَعَتِ الشَّمْسُ قَامَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَصَلَّى بِالنَّاسِ  

"He performed ablution when the sun had arisen high and led them in prayer."  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ بِمَعْنَاهُ قَالَ فَتَوَضَّأَ حِينَ ارْتَفَعَتِ الشَّمْسُ فَصَلَّى بِهِمْ