O mu’adh, do not become a trouble , because the aged, the weak, the needy and the traveler pray behind you.  

رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَا مُعَاذُ لاَ تَكُنْ فَتَّانًا فَإِنَّهُ يُصَلِّي وَرَاءَكَ الْكَبِيرُ وَالضَّعِيفُ وَذُو الْحَاجَةِ وَالْمُسَافِرُ  

AbuSalih reported on the authority of some Companions of the Prophet ﷺ: The Prophet ﷺ said to a person: what do you say in prayer? He replied: I first recite tashahhud (supplication recited in sitting position), and then I say: O Allah, I ask Thee for Paradise, and I seek refuge in Thee from Hell-Fire, but I do not understand your sound and the sound of Mu'adh (what you say or he says in prayer). The Prophet ﷺ said: We too go around it (paradise and Hell-fire).  

عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ لِرَجُلٍ كَيْفَ تَقُولُ فِي الصَّلاَةِ قَالَ أَتَشَهَّدُ وَأَقُولُ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْجَنَّةَ وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ النَّارِ أَمَا إِنِّي لاَ أُحْسِنُ دَنْدَنَتَكَ وَلاَ دَنْدَنَةَ مُعَاذٍ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ حَوْلَهَا نُدَنْدِنُ  

The prophet ﷺ said to a youth: My nephew, what do you do in prayer? He replied: I recited fatihat al-katab and I ask Allah for paradise and seek his refuge from hell-fire I do not understand well your sound and the sound of mu’adh. The prophet ﷺ said: I and Mu’adh go around both (paradise and Hell-fire), or he said something similar.  

وَقَالَ يَعْنِي النَّبِيَّ ﷺ لِلْفَتَى كَيْفَ تَصْنَعُ يَا ابْنَ أَخِي إِذَا صَلَّيْتَ قَالَ أَقْرَأُ بِفَاتِحَةِ الْكِتَابِ وَأَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ الْجَنَّةَ وَأَعُوذُ بِهِ مِنَ النَّارِ وَإِنِّي لاَ أَدْرِي مَا دَنْدَنَتُكَ وَلاَ دَنْدَنَةُ مُعَاذٍ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِنِّي وَمُعَاذٌ حَوْلَ هَاتَيْنِ أَوْ نَحْوَ هَذَا  

When one of you leads the people in prayer, he should be brief, for among them are the weak, the sick, and the aged. But when one of you prays by himself, he may pray as long as he likes.  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَالَ إِذَا صَلَّى أَحَدُكُمْ لِلنَّاسِ فَلْيُخَفِّفْ فَإِنَّ فِيهِمُ الضَّعِيفَ وَالسَّقِيمَ وَالْكَبِيرَ وَإِذَا صَلَّى لِنَفْسِهِ فَلْيُطَوِّلْ مَا شَاءَ  

when one of you leads the people in prayer, he should be brief, for among them are the sick, the aged and the needy.  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَالَ إِذَا صَلَّى أَحَدُكُمْ لِلنَّاسِ فَلْيُخَفِّفْ فَإِنَّ فِيهِمُ السَّقِيمَ وَالشَّيْخَ الْكَبِيرَ وَذَا الْحَاجَةِ  

I heard the apostle of Allah ﷺ say: A man returns after saying his prayer while a tenth part of his prayer, or a ninth part, or an eight part, or a seventh part, or a sixth part, or a fifth part, or a third part, or half of it, is recorded for him.  

سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيَنْصَرِفُ وَمَا كُتِبَ لَهُ إِلاَّ عُشْرُ صَلاَتِهِ تُسْعُهَا ثُمُنُهَا سُبُعُهَا سُدُسُهَا خُمُسُهَا رُبُعُهَا ثُلُثُهَا نِصْفُهَا  

In every prayer there is a recitation. We make you listen what the Messenger of Allah ﷺ made us listen, and we keep hidden from you what he kept hidden from us.  

أَسْمَعَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَسْمَعْنَاكُمْ وَمَا أَخْفَى عَلَيْنَا أَخْفَيْنَا عَلَيْكُمْ  

The apostle of Allah ﷺ used to lead us in prayer and recite in the first two rak’ahs of the noon prayers Fatihat al-kitab and two surahs, and he would sometimes recite loud enough for us to hear the verse. He would prolong the first rak’ah of the noon prayer and shorten the second; and he did so in the morning prayer. Abu Dawud said: Musaddad did not mention the words fatihat al-kitab and surah.  

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُصَلِّي بِنَا فَيَقْرَأُ فِي الظُّهْرِ وَالْعَصْرِ فِي الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ الأُولَيَيْنِ بِفَاتِحَةِ الْكِتَابِ وَسُورَتَيْنِ وَيُسْمِعُنَا الآيَةَ أَحْيَانًا وَكَانَ يُطَوِّلُ الرَّكْعَةَ الأُولَى مِنَ الظُّهْرِ وَيُقَصِّرُ الثَّانِيَةَ وَكَذَلِكَ فِي الصُّبْحِ  

He would recite Fatihat al-kitab in the last two surahs. Hammam added: He would prolong the first rak’ah but would not prolong the second so much; and he did so similarly in the afternoon prayer, and so in the morning prayer.  

عَنْ أَبِيهِ بِبَعْضِ هَذَا وَزَادَ فِي الأُخْرَيَيْنِ بِفَاتِحَةِ الْكِتَابِ وَزَادَ عَنْ هَمَّامٍ قَالَ وَكَانَ يُطَوِّلُ فِي الرَّكْعَةِ الأُولَى مَا لاَ يُطَوِّلُ فِي الثَّانِيَةِ وَهَكَذَا فِي صَلاَةِ الْعَصْرِ وَهَكَذَا فِي صَلاَةِ الْغَدَاةِ  

We thought that by this (prolonging the first rak’ah). He (the prophet) meant that the people might join the first rak’ah.  

أَنْ يُدْرِكَ النَّاسُ الرَّكْعَةَ الأُولَى  

We asked Khabbab: Did the Messenger of Allah ﷺ recit (the Quran) in the noon and afternoon prayers? He replied: Yes. We then asked: How did you know this? He said: By the shaking of his beard, may peace be upon him.  

قُلْنَا لِخَبَّابٍ هَلْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقْرَأُ فِي الظُّهْرِ وَالْعَصْرِ قَالَ نَعَمْ قُلْنَا بِمَ كُنْتُمْ تَعْرِفُونَ ذَاكَ قَالَ بِاضْطِرَابِ لِحْيَتِهِ  

The prophet ﷺ used to stand in the rak’ah of prayer so much so that no sound of steps heard.  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ كَانَ يَقُومُ فِي الرَّكْعَةِ الأُولَى مِنْ صَلاَةِ الظُّهْرِ حَتَّى لاَ يَسْمَعَ وَقْعَ قَدَمٍ  

’Umar said to Sa’d: people complain against you for everything, even for prayer. He replied: I prolong the first two rak’ahs of prayer and make the last two rak’ahs brief; I do not fall short of following the prayer offered by the Messenger of Allah(May peace be upon him). He said: I think so about you.  

عُمَرُ لِسَعْدٍ قَدْ شَكَاكَ النَّاسُ فِي كُلِّ شَىْءٍ حَتَّى فِي الصَّلاَةِ قَالَ أَمَّا أَنَا فَأَمُدُّ فِي الأُولَيَيْنِ وَأَحْذِفُ فِي الأُخْرَيَيْنِ وَلاَ آلُو مَا اقْتَدَيْتُ بِهِ مِنْ صَلاَةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ ذَاكَ الظَّنُّ بِكَ  

We used to estimate how long the Messenger of Allah ﷺ stood in the noon and the afternoon prayer, and we estimated that he stood in the first two rak’ahs of the noon prayer as long as it takes to recite thirty verses (of the Qur’an), such as A-L-M Tanzil al-Sajdah. And we estimated that he stood in the last two rak’ahs half the time he stood in the first two rak’ahs. We estimated that he stood in the first two rak’ahs of the afternoon prayer as long as he did in the last two at noon; and we estimated that he stood in the last two rak’ahs of the afternoon prayer half the time he did in first two.  

حَزَرْنَا قِيَامَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي الظُّهْرِ وَالْعَصْرِ فَحَزَرْنَا قِيَامَهُ فِي الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ الأُولَيَيْنِ مِنَ الظُّهْرِ قَدْرَ ثَلاَثِينَ آيَةً قَدْرَ { الم * تَنْزِيلُ } السَّجْدَةِ وَحَزَرْنَا قِيَامَهُ فِي الأُخْرَيَيْنِ عَلَى النِّصْفِ مِنْ ذَلِكَ وَحَزَرْنَا قِيَامَهُ فِي الأُولَيَيْنِ مِنَ الْعَصْرِ عَلَى قَدْرِ الأُخْرَيَيْنِ مِنَ الظُّهْرِ وَحَزَرْنَا قِيَامَهُ فِي الأُخْرَيَيْنِ مِنَ الْعَصْرِ عَلَى النِّصْفِ مِنْ ذَلِكَ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to recite in the noon and afternoon prayer: "By the Heaven and the Morning Star" (Surah 86) and "By the Heaven , holding mansions of the stars" (Surah 85) and similar surahs of equal length.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَانَ يَقْرَأُ فِي الظُّهْرِ وَالْعَصْرِ بِالسَّمَاءِ وَالطَّارِقِ وَالسَّمَاءِ ذَاتِ الْبُرُوجِ وَنَحْوِهِمَا مِنَ السُّوَرِ  

When the sun declined, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ offered the noon prayer and recited surahs lie "By the night when it covers over" (92) and (recited similar surahs) in the afternoon prayer, and in the other prayers except the dawn prayer which he used to prolong.  

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذَا دَحَضَتِ الشَّمْسُ صَلَّى الظُّهْرَ وَقَرَأَ بِنَحْوِ مِنْ { وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَى } وَالْعَصْرَ كَذَلِكَ وَالصَّلَوَاتِ كَذَلِكَ إِلاَّ الصُّبْحَ فَإِنَّهُ كَانَ يُطِيلُهَا  

The prophet ﷺ prostrated himself in the noon prayer; then he stood up and bowed, and we knew that he recited Tanzil al-sajdah(surah xxxii). Ibn ‘Isa said: No one narrated this tradition to Umayyah except Mu’tamir.  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ سَجَدَ فِي صَلاَةِ الظُّهْرِ ثُمَّ قَامَ فَرَكَعَ فَرَأَيْنَا أَنَّهُ قَرَأَ تَنْزِيلَ السَّجْدَةِ قَالَ ابْنُ عِيسَى لَمْ يَذْكُرْ أُمَيَّةَ أَحَدٌ إِلاَّ مُعْتَمِرٌ  

Abdullah ibn Ubaydullah said: I went to Ibn Abbas accompanying some youths of Banu Hashim. We said to one of them: Ask Ibn Abbas: Did the Messenger of Allah ﷺ recite (the Qur'an) in the noon and afternoon prayers? He replied: No. People said to him: Perhaps he might recite the Qur'an quietly. He said: May your face be scratched (a kind of curse)! This (statement) is worse than the former. He was only a servant (of Allah) receiving Commands from Him. He preached (the divine) message which he brought with him. He did not command anything to us (Banu Hashim) specially excluding other people except three points: he commanded us to perform ablution perfectly, and not to accept charity (sadaqah) and not to make pairing of donkey with horse.  

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ فِي شَبَابٍ مِنْ بَنِي هَاشِمٍ فَقُلْنَا لِشَابٍّ مِنَّا سَلِ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ أَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقْرَأُ فِي الظُّهْرِ وَالْعَصْرِ فَقَالَ لاَ لاَ فَقِيلَ لَهُ فَلَعَلَّهُ كَانَ يَقْرَأُ فِي نَفْسِهِ فَقَالَ خَمْشًا هَذِهِ شَرٌّ مِنَ الأُولَى كَانَ عَبْدًا مَأْمُورًا بَلَّغَ مَا أُرْسِلَ بِهِ وَمَا اخْتَصَّنَا دُونَ النَّاسِ بِشَىْءٍ إِلاَّ بِثَلاَثِ خِصَالٍ أَمَرَنَا أَنْ نُسْبِغَ الْوُضُوءَ وَأَنْ لاَ نَأْكُلَ الصَّدَقَةَ وَأَنْ لاَ نُنْزِيَ الْحِمَارَ عَلَى الْفَرَسِ  

I do not know whether the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would recite the Qur'an at the noon and afternoon prayer or not.  

لاَ أَدْرِي أَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقْرَأُ فِي الظُّهْرِ وَالْعَصْرِ أَمْ لاَ  

I heard Ibn’Abbas reciting wa’l-mursalat urfan(surah lxxxvii). She said; sonny you have reminded me of this surah by your recitation. Thie is the last surah which I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ reciting in the sunset prayer.  

أَنَّ أُمَّ الْفَضْلِ بِنْتَ الْحَارِثِ سَمِعَتْهُ وَهُوَ يَقْرَأُ { وَالْمُرْسَلاَتِ عُرْفًا } فَقَالَتْ يَا بُنَىَّ لَقَدْ ذَكَّرْتَنِي بِقِرَاءَتِكَ هَذِهِ السُّورَةَ إِنَّهَا لآخِرُ مَا سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقْرَأُ بِهَا فِي الْمَغْرِبِ  

I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ reciting al-Tur(surah lii) in the sunset prayer.  

أَنَّهُ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقْرَأُ بِالطُّورِ فِي الْمَغْرِبِ  

Zaid b. Thabit asked me: Why do you recite short surahs in the sunset prayer? I saw the Messenger of Allah (May peace be upon him) reciting two long surahs at the sunset prayers. I asked him: which are those two long surahs? He replied: Al-A’raf(surah vii) and al-an’am(surah vi). I ( the narrator Ibn Juraij) asked Ibn Mulaikah (about these surahs): He said on his own accord: Al-ma’idah (surah v.) and al-A’raf(furah vii.)  

لِي زَيْدُ بْنُ ثَابِتٍ مَا لَكَ تَقْرَأُ فِي الْمَغْرِبِ بِقِصَارِ الْمُفَصَّلِ وَقَدْ رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقْرَأُ فِي الْمَغْرِبِ بِطُولَى الطُّولَيَيْنِ قَالَ قُلْتُ مَا طُولَى الطُّولَيَيْنِ قَالَ الأَعْرَافُ وَالأُخْرَى الأَنْعَامُ قَالَ وَسَأَلْتُ أَنَا ابْنَ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ فَقَالَ لِي مِنْ قِبَلِ نَفْسِهِ الْمَائِدَةُ وَالأَعْرَافُ  

This indicates that those (traditions indicating long surahs) are abrogated, and this is more sound tradition.  

أَنَّ أَبَاهُ كَانَ يَقْرَأُ فِي صَلاَةِ الْمَغْرِبِ بِنَحْوِ مَا تَقْرَءُونَ { وَالْعَادِيَاتِ } وَنَحْوِهَا مِنَ السُّوَرِ  

There is no short or long surah in al-Mufassal which I have not heard the Messenger of Allah (May peace be upon him) reciting when he led the people in the prescribed prayer.  

أَنَّهُ قَالَ مَا مِنَ الْمُفَصَّلِ سُورَةٌ صَغِيرَةٌ وَلاَ كَبِيرَةٌ إِلاَّ وَقَدْ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَؤُمُّ النَّاسَ بِهَا فِي الصَّلاَةِ الْمَكْتُوبَةِ  

He is Allah, the One” (Surah 112).  

أَنَّهُ صَلَّى خَلْفَ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ الْمَغْرِبَ فَقَرَأَ بِ { قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ }  

A man of Juhaynah told him that he had heard the Prophet ﷺ reciting "When the earth is shaken" (Surah 99) in both rak'ahs of the morning prayer. But I do not know whether he had forgotten, or whether he recited it on purpose.  

أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ يَقْرَأُ فِي الصُّبْحِ { إِذَا زُلْزِلَتِ الأَرْضُ } فِي الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ كِلْتَيْهِمَا فَلاَ أَدْرِي أَنَسِيَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَمْ قَرَأَ ذَلِكَ عَمْدًا  

As if I am hearing the voice of the prophet (may peace by upon him) who would recite at the morning prayer “Oh, but I call to witness the planets, the stars which rise and set”(surah 81:15-16)  

أَسْمَعُ صَوْتَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ يَقْرَأُ فِي صَلاَةِ الْغَدَاةِ { فَلاَ أُقْسِمُ بِالْخُنَّسِ * الْجَوَارِ الْكُنَّسِ }  

we were commanded to recite Fatihat al-kitab and whatever was convenient (from the Qur’an during the prayer).  

أَنْ نَقْرَأَ بِفَاتِحَةِ الْكِتَابِ وَمَا تَيَسَّرَ  

Go out and announce in medina that prayer is not valid but the recitation of the Qur’an even though it might be fatihat al-kitab and something more.  

لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ اخْرُجْ فَنَادِ فِي الْمَدِينَةِ أَنَّهُ لاَ صَلاَةَ إِلاَّ بِقُرْآنٍ وَلَوْ بِفَاتِحَةِ الْكِتَابِ فَمَا زَادَ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded me to announce that prayer is not valid but with the recitation of Fatihat al-kitab and something more.  

أَمَرَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنْ أُنَادِيَ أَنَّهُ لاَ صَلاَةَ إِلاَّ بِقِرَاءَةِ فَاتِحَةِ الْكِتَابِ فَمَا زَادَ  

If anyone observes a prayer in which he does not recite Umm al-Qur’an, it is incomplete, it is incomplete, it is incomplete, and deficient. (The narrator said) I said: Abu Hurairah, sometime I pray behind the imam(then what should I do)? Pressing my hand he replied: O Persian, recite it inwardly, for I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ as saying that Allah, Most High, has said: I have Me and the Half for my servant and My servant will receive what he asks. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Recite. When the servant says: “praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Universe,” Allah, Most High says: “My servant has praised me.” When the servant says: “ The Compassionate, the merciful, “Allah Most High says: “My servant has lauded me.” When the servant says: “Owner of the Day of Judgment,” Allah, Most High, says: “My servant has glorified Me” When the servant says: “ Thee do we worship and of thee we ask help. “ (Allah says) “This is between Me and My servant, and My servant will receive what he asks.” When the servant says: “ Guide us to the Straight Path, the path of those whom thou hast favoured, not ( the path) of those who earn thine anger nor of those who go astray,”(Allah says: ) “This is for My servant, and My servant will receive what he asks.”  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَنْ صَلَّى صَلاَةً لَمْ يَقْرَأْ فِيهَا بِأُمِّ الْقُرْآنِ فَهِيَ خِدَاجٌ فَهِيَ خِدَاجٌ فَهِيَ خِدَاجٌ غَيْرُ تَمَامٍ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ يَا أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ إِنِّي أَكُونُ أَحْيَانًا وَرَاءَ الإِمَامِ قَالَ فَغَمَزَ ذِرَاعِي وَقَالَ اقْرَأْ بِهَا يَا فَارِسِيُّ فِي نَفْسِكَ فَإِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى قَسَمْتُ الصَّلاَةَ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ عَبْدِي نِصْفَيْنِ فَنِصْفُهَا لِي وَنِصْفُهَا لِعَبْدِي وَلِعَبْدِي مَا سَأَلَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ اقْرَءُوا يَقُولُ الْعَبْدُ { الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ } يَقُولُ اللَّهُ ﷻ حَمِدَنِي عَبْدِي يَقُولُ الْعَبْدُ { الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ } يَقُولُ اللَّهُ ﷻ أَثْنَى عَلَىَّ عَبْدِي يَقُولُ الْعَبْدُ { مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ } يَقُولُ اللَّهُ ﷻ مَجَّدَنِي عَبْدِي يَقُولُ الْعَبْدُ { إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ } يَقُولُ اللَّهُ وَهَذِهِ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ عَبْدِي وَلِعَبْدِي مَا سَأَلَ يَقُولُ الْعَبْدُ { اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ * صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ الضَّالِّينَ } يَقُولُ اللَّهُ فَهَؤُلاَءِ لِعَبْدِي وَلِعَبْدِي مَا سَأَلَ  

the prayer is not valid I one does not recite fatihat al-kitab and something more, sufyan( the narrator) said: This applies to a man who prays alone.  

النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَالَ لاَ صَلاَةَ لِمَنْ لَمْ يَقْرَأْ بِفَاتِحَةِ الْكِتَابِ فَصَاعِدًا قَالَ سُفْيَانُ لِمَنْ يُصَلِّي وَحْدَهُ  

We were behind the Messenger of Allah ﷺ at the dawn prayer, and he recited (the passage), but the recitation became difficult for him. Then when he finished, he said: Perhaps you recite behind your imam? We replied: Yes, it is so, Messenger of Allah. He said: Do not do so except when it is Fatihat al-Kitab, for he who does not recite it is not credited with having prayed.  

كُنَّا خَلْفَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي صَلاَةِ الْفَجْرِ فَقَرَأَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَثَقُلَتْ عَلَيْهِ الْقِرَاءَةُ فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ قَالَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَقْرَءُونَ خَلْفَ إِمَامِكُمْ قُلْنَا نَعَمْ هَذَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ لاَ تَفْعَلُوا إِلاَّ بِفَاتِحَةِ الْكِتَابِ فَإِنَّهُ لاَ صَلاَةَ لِمَنْ لَمْ يَقْرَأْ بِهَا  

“Ubadah b. al-samit came to late to lead the morning prayer. Abu Nu’aim, the mu’adhdhin, pronounced the takbir and he led the people in prayer. Then Ubadah came and I was with him. We Joined the row behind Abu Nu’aim, while Abu Nu’aim was reciting the Qur’an loudly. Then ‘Ubadah began to recite the Umm al-Quran (I.e Surah al Fatihah). When he finished, I said to Ubadah: I heard you reciting the Umm al-Qur’an while Abu Nu’aim was reciting Qur’an loudly. He replied: yes> The Messenger of Allah ﷺ led us in a certain prayer in which the Qur’an is recited loudly, but he became confused in the recitation. When he finished he turned his face to us and said: Do you recite when I recite the Qur’an loudly? Some of us said: we do so; this is why I said to myself: What is that which confused me (in the recitation of ) the Qur’an. Do not recite anything from the Qur’an when I recite it loudly except the Umm al-Qur’an.  

عَنْ صَلاَةِ الصُّبْحِ فَأَقَامَ أَبُو نُعَيْمٍ الْمُؤَذِّنُ الصَّلاَةَ فَصَلَّى أَبُو نُعَيْمٍ بِالنَّاسِ وَأَقْبَلَ عُبَادَةُ وَأَنَا مَعَهُ حَتَّى صَفَفْنَا خَلْفَ أَبِي نُعَيْمٍ وَأَبُو نُعَيْمٍ يَجْهَرُ بِالْقِرَاءَةِ فَجَعَلَ عُبَادَةُ يَقْرَأُ بِأُمِّ الْقُرْآنِ فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَ قُلْتُ لِعُبَادَةَ سَمِعْتُكَ تَقْرَأُ بِأُمِّ الْقُرْآنِ وَأَبُو نُعَيْمٍ يَجْهَرُ قَالَ أَجَلْ صَلَّى بِنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بَعْضَ الصَّلَوَاتِ الَّتِي يَجْهَرُ فِيهَا بِالْقِرَاءَةِ قَالَ فَالْتَبَسَتْ عَلَيْهِ الْقِرَاءَةُ فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَ أَقْبَلَ عَلَيْنَا بِوَجْهِهِ وَقَالَ هَلْ تَقْرَءُونَ إِذَا جَهَرْتُ بِالْقِرَاءَةِ فَقَالَ بَعْضُنَا إِنَّا نَصْنَعُ ذَلِكَ قَالَ فَلاَ وَأَنَا أَقُولُ مَا لِي يُنَازَعُنِي الْقُرْآنُ فَلاَ تَقْرَءُوا بِشَىْءٍ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ إِذَا جَهَرْتُ إِلاَّ بِأُمِّ الْقُرْآنِ  

Makhul used to recite Surah al Fatihah al-kitab quietly in the prayer in which the imam recites the Qur’an loudly when he observes the period of silence. If he does not observe the period of silence, recite it before him(i.e before his recitation), or along with him or after him; do not give it up in any case.  

مَكْحُولٌ اقْرَأْ بِهَا فِيمَا جَهَرَ بِهِ الإِمَامُ إِذَا قَرَأَ بِفَاتِحَةِ الْكِتَابِ وَسَكَتَ سِرًّا فَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْكُتِ اقْرَأْ بِهَا قَبْلَهُ وَمَعَهُ وَبَعْدَهُ لاَ تَتْرُكْهَا عَلَى حَالٍ  

When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ finished a prayer in which he had recited (the Qur'an) loudly, he asked: Did any of you recite along with me just now? A man replied: Yes, Messenger of Allah. He said: I am wondering what is the matter with me that I have been contended with reciting the Qur'an. He said: When the people heard that from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ they ceased reciting (the Qur'an) along with him at the prayers in which he recited aloud. Abu Dawud said: This tradition reported by Ibn Ukaimah has also been narrated by Ma'mar, Yunus, and Usamah b. Zaid on the authority of al-Zuhri similar to the tradition of Malik.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ انْصَرَفَ مِنْ صَلاَةٍ جَهَرَ فِيهَا بِالْقِرَاءَةِ فَقَالَ هَلْ قَرَأَ مَعِي أَحَدٌ مِنْكُمْ آنِفًا فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ نَعَمْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ إِنِّي أَقُولُ مَا لِي أُنَازَعُ الْقُرْآنَ قَالَ فَانْتَهَى النَّاسُ عَنِ الْقِرَاءَةِ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِيمَا جَهَرَ فِيهِ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ بِالْقِرَاءَةِ مِنَ الصَّلَوَاتِ حِينَ سَمِعُوا ذَلِكَ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ led us in prayer, that was, we think, the dawn prayer, He further narrated this tradition up to the words “what is the matter with me that I have been contended with in (the recitation of ) the Qur’an.” Abu Dawud said: Musaddad in his tradition said that Ma’mar said: The people ceased to recite (the Qur’an) at the prayer in which the Messenger of Allah ﷺ recited aloud. Ibn al-Sarh said in his version that Ma’mar reported from al-Zuhri on the authority of Abu Hurairah. Then the people ceased (to recite behind the imam). Another version says: Sufyan said: Al-Zuhri spoke a word that I could not hear. Then Ma’mar said: He said: Then people ceased (to recite the Qur’an) Abu Dawud said: This tradition has been narrated by ‘Abd al-Raman b. Ishaq on the authority of al-Zuhri. This version ends at the words: “What is the matter with me that I am contended with in (the recitation of) the Qur’an. Al-Awza’i also narrated it on the authority of al-Zuhri. This version has: Al-Zuhri said: The Muslims took lesson from that and thenceforth they did not recite (the Qur’an) at the prayer in which he (the Prophet) recited aloud. Abu Dawud said: I heard Muhammad b. Yaya b. Faris say: The words “the people ceased to recite (the Qur’an)” is a statement of al-zuhri.  

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ يَقُولُ صَلَّى بِنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ صَلاَةً نَظُنُّ أَنَّهَا الصُّبْحُ بِمَعْنَاهُ إِلَى قَوْلِهِ مَا لِي أُنَازَعُ الْقُرْآنَ  

The Prophet ﷺ led (us) in the noon prayer, and a man came and recited behind him "Glorify the name of thy Lord, the Most High" (Surah 87). When he finished (the prayer), he said: Which of you recited? They (the people) said: A man (recited). He said: I knew that some one of you confused me in it (in the recitation of the Qur'an). Abu Dawud said: Abu al-Walid said in his version: Shu'bah said: I asked Qatadah: Did Sa'id not say: Listen attentively to the Qur'an? He replied: (Yes), but that applies to prayer in which it (the Qur'an) is recited aloud. Ibn Kathir said in his version: I said to Qatadah: Perhaps he (the Prophet) disliked it (recitation). He said: If he had disliked it, he would have prohibited it.  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ صَلَّى الظُّهْرَ فَجَاءَ رَجُلٌ فَقَرَأَ خَلْفَهُ { سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الأَعْلَى } فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ قَالَ أَيُّكُمْ قَرَأَ قَالُوا رَجُلٌ قَالَ قَدْ عَرَفْتُ أَنَّ بَعْضَكُمْ خَالَجَنِيهَا  

Which of you did recite the surah “ Glorify the name of thy lord, the Most High”(Surah lxxxvii.) A man said: I . He said: I knew that some one of you confused me in it(i.e in the recitation of the Qur’an).  

أَنَّ نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ ﷺ صَلَّى بِهِمُ الظُّهْرَ فَلَمَّا انْفَتَلَ قَالَ أَيُّكُمْ قَرَأَ بِ { سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الأَعْلَى } فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ أَنَا فَقَالَ عَلِمْتُ أَنَّ بَعْضَكُمْ خَالَجَنِيهَا  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to us while we were reciting the Qur'an, and there were among us bedouins and the non-Arabs. He said: Recite, all is well. In the near future there will appear people who will straighten it (the Qur'an) as an arrow is straightened. They will recite it quickly and not slowly (or it means that they will get the reward in this world and not in the Hereafter).  

خَرَجَ عَلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَنَحْنُ نَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ وَفِينَا الأَعْرَابِيُّ وَالأَعْجَمِيُّ فَقَالَ اقْرَءُوا فَكُلٌّ حَسَنٌ وَسَيَجِيءُ أَقْوَامٌ يُقِيمُونَهُ كَمَا يُقَامُ الْقِدْحُ يَتَعَجَّلُونَهُ وَلاَ يَتَأَجَّلُونَهُ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ one day came out to us while we were reciting the Qur’an. He said: Praise be to Allah. The Book of Allah is one, and among you are the red, and among you are the white and among you are the black. Recite it before there appear people who will recite it and straighten it as an arrow is straightened. They will get their reward for it in this world and will not get it in the Hereafter.  

خَرَجَ عَلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَوْمًا وَنَحْنُ نَقْتَرِئُ فَقَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ كِتَابُ اللَّهِ وَاحِدٌ وَفِيكُمُ الأَحْمَرُ وَفِيكُمُ الأَبْيَضُ وَفِيكُمُ الأَسْوَدُ اقْرَءُوهُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَقْرَأَهُ أَقْوَامٌ يُقِيمُونَهُ كَمَا يُقَوَّمُ السَّهْمُ يَتَعَجَّلُ أَجْرَهُ وَلاَ يَتَأَجَّلُهُ  

A man came to the Prophet ﷺ and said: I cannot memorise anything from the Qur'an: so teach me something which is sufficient for me. He said: Say Glory be to Allah, and praise be to Allah, and there is no god but Allah, and Allah is most great, and there is no might and no strength but in Allah. :He said: Messenger of Allah, this is for Allah, but what is for me? He said: Say: O Allah have mercy on me, and sustain me, and keep me well, and guide me. When he stood up, he made a sign with his hand (indicating that he had earned a lot). The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: He filed up his hand with virtues.  

جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقَالَ إِنِّي لاَ أَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ آخُذَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ شَيْئًا فَعَلِّمْنِي مَا يُجْزِئُنِي مِنْهُ قَالَ قُلْ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَلاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ وَلاَ حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّةَ إِلاَّ بِاللَّهِ قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ هَذَا لِلَّهِ ﷻ فَمَا لِي قَالَ قُلِ اللَّهُمَّ ارْحَمْنِي وَارْزُقْنِي وَعَافِنِي وَاهْدِنِي فَلَمَّا قَامَ قَالَ هَكَذَا بِيَدِهِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَمَّا هَذَا فَقَدْ مَلأَ يَدَهُ مِنَ الْخَيْرِ  

we used to offer supererogatory prayers and recite supplications while we were standing, and would glorify Allah while bowing and prostrating.  

كُنَّا نُصَلِّي التَّطَوُّعَ نَدْعُو قِيَامًا وَقُعُودًا وَنُسَبِّحُ رُكُوعًا وَسُجُودًا  

Al-Hasan (al-Basri) would recite fatihat al-kitab in the noon and afternoon prayers while he led in prayer or he was behind the imam and would glorify Allah, and would repeatedly say: “Allah is most great” and “ There is no god but Allah” (i.e takbir and tahlil) equal to the amount one recites al-Qaf (Surah 50) and al-Dhariyat(surah 51).  

كَانَ الْحَسَنُ يَقْرَأُ فِي الظُّهْرِ وَالْعَصْرِ إِمَامًا أَوْ خَلْفَ إِمَامٍ بِفَاتِحَةِ الْكِتَابِ وَيُسَبِّحُ وَيُكَبِّرُ وَيُهَلِّلُ قَدْرَ ق وَالذَّارِيَاتِ  

I and ‘Imran b. Husain offered prayer behind ‘All b. AbI Talib(may Allah be pleased with him). When he prostrated, he uttered the takbir (Allah is most great) and when he bowed, he uttered the takbir and when he stood up at the end of two rak’ahs, he uttered the takbir. When we finished our prayer, ‘Imran caught hold of my hand, and said: He has led us in prayer just now like the prayer offered by Muhammed(may peace by upon him).  

لَقَدْ صَلَّى بِنَا هَذَا قِبَلَ صَلاَةِ مُحَمَّدٍ ﷺ  

Abu Hurairah would utter the takbir in every prayer, whether obligatory or non-obligatory, He would utter the takbir when he stood, and he would utter the takbir when he bowed, then he would say: “Allah listens to him who praises Him”; he then would say before prostrating himself; “ Our Lord, to Thee be praise”; then he would say while falling in prostration: “Allah is most great”; he then would utter the takbir when he raised his head after prostration, and then utter the takbir when he prostrated, and then utter takbir the takbir when he stood up at the end of two rak’ahs after sitting down. He used to do so in every rak’ah until he finished his prayer. Then he would say at the end of the prayer: By Him in Whose hands lies my life, I am closer to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in respect of his prayer. Such was the prayer he used to offer until he departed from the world. Abu Dawud said: Malik, al-Zubaidi and others have narrated so that they form the last words from al-Zuhri on the authority of ‘Ali b, Husain. And this is supported by the version reported by ‘Abd al-A’la from Ma’mar and SHu’aib b. Abi Hamzah on the authority of Al-Zuhri.  

أَنَّ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ كَانَ يُكَبِّرُ فِي كُلِّ صَلاَةٍ مِنَ الْمَكْتُوبَةِ وَغَيْرِهَا يُكَبِّرُ حِينَ يَقُومُ ثُمَّ يُكَبِّرُ حِينَ يَرْكَعُ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَسْجُدَ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ حِينَ يَهْوِي سَاجِدًا ثُمَّ يُكَبِّرُ حِينَ يَرْفَعُ رَأْسَهُ ثُمَّ يُكَبِّرُ حِينَ يَسْجُدُ ثُمَّ يُكَبِّرُ حِينَ يَرْفَعُ رَأْسَهُ ثُمَّ يُكَبِّرُ حِينَ يَقُومُ مِنَ الْجُلُوسِ فِي اثْنَتَيْنِ فَيَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ فِي كُلِّ رَكْعَةٍ حَتَّى يَفْرُغَ مِنَ الصَّلاَةِ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ حِينَ يَنْصَرِفُ وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ إِنِّي لأَقْرَبُكُمْ شَبَهًا بِصَلاَةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِنْ كَانَتْ هَذِهِ لَصَلاَتُهُ حَتَّى فَارَقَ الدُّنْيَا  

This means that when he raised his head after bowing and when he was about to prostrate, he did not utter the takbir, and when he stood up after prostration, he did not utter the takbir.  

وَ  

I saw that the Prophet ﷺ placed his knees (on the ground) before placing his hands when he prostrated himself. And when he stood up, he raised his hands before his knees.  

رَأَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ إِذَا سَجَدَ وَضَعَ رُكْبَتَيْهِ قَبْلَ يَدَيْهِ وَإِذَا نَهَضَ رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ قَبْلَ رُكْبَتَيْهِ  

When he prostrated himself, his knees fell on the ground before his hands had fallen. Hemmam said: This tradition has also been transmitted by ‘Asim b. Kulaib through a different chain of narrators to the same effect. And one of these two versions, and probably the version narrated by Muhammad b. Juhadah, has the words: When he stood up (after prostration), he stood up on his knees taking the support of his thighs.  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَذَكَرَ حَدِيثَ الصَّلاَةِ قَالَ فَلَمَّا سَجَدَ وَقَعَتَا رُكْبَتَاهُ إِلَى الأَرْضِ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَقَعَ كَفَّاهُ قَالَ هَمَّامٌ وَحَدَّثَنَا شَقِيقٌ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عَاصِمُ بْنُ كُلَيْبٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ بِمِثْلِ هَذَا وَفِي حَدِيثِ أَحَدِهِمَا وَأَكْبَرُ عِلْمِي أَنَّهُ فِي حَدِيثِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ جُحَادَةَ وَإِذَا نَهَضَ نَهَضَ عَلَى رُكْبَتَيْهِ وَاعْتَمَدَ عَلَى فَخِذِهِ  

when one of you prostrates himself he must not kneel in the manner of camel, but should put down his hands before his knees.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذَا سَجَدَ أَحَدُكُمْ فَلاَ يَبْرُكْ كَمَا يَبْرُكُ الْبَعِيرُ وَلْيَضَعْ يَدَيْهِ قَبْلَ رُكْبَتَيْهِ