In the state of the Ignorance (before embracing Islam), I used to think that the people were in error and they were not on anything (which may be called the right path) and worshipped the idols. Meanwhile, I heard of a man in Mecca who was giving news (on the basis of his prophetic knowledge) ; so I sat on my ride and went to him. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was at that time hiding as his people had made life hard for him. I adopted a friendly attitude (towards the Meccans and thus managed) to enter Mecca and go to him (the Holy Prophet) and I said to him: Who are you? He said: I am a Prophet (of Allah). I again said: Who is a Prophet? He said: (I am a Prophet in the sense that) I have been sent by Allah. I said: What is that which you have been sent with? He said: I have been sent to join ties of relationship (with kindness and affection), to break the Idols, and to proclaim the oneness of Allah (in a manner that) nothing is to be associated with Him. I said: Who is with you in this (in these beliefs and practices)? He said: A free man and a slave. He (the narrator) said: Abu Bakr and Bilal were there with him among those who had embraced Islam by that time. I said: I intend to follow you. He said: During these days you would not be able to do so. Don't you see the (hard) condition under which I and (my) people are living? You better go back to your people and when you hear that I have been granted victory, you come to me. So I went to my family. I was in my home when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to Medina. I was among my people and used to seek news and ask people when he arrived in Medina. Then a group of people belonging to Yathrib (Medina) came. I said (to them): How is that person getting on who has come to Medina? They said: The people are hastening to him, while his people (the polytheists of Mecca) planned to kill him, but they could not do so. I (on hearing it) came to Medina and went to him and said: Messenger of Allah, do you recognise me? He said: Yes, you are the same man who met me at Mecca. I said: It is so. I again said: Prophet of Allah, tell me that which Allah has taught you and which I do not know, tell me about the prayer. He said: Observe the dawn prayer, then stop praying when the sun is rising till it is fully up, for when it rises it comes up between the horns of Satan, and the unbelievers prostrate themselves to it at that time. Then pray, for the prayer is witnessed and attended (by angels) till the shadow becomes about the length of a lance; then cease prayer, for at that time Hell is heated up. Then when the shadow moves forward, pray, for the prayer is witnessed and attended by angels, till you pray the afternoon prayer, then cease prayer till the sun sets, for it sets between the horns of devil, and at that time the unbelievers prostrate themselves before it. I said: Apostle of Allah, tell me about ablution also. He said: None of you who uses water for ablution and rinses his mouth, snuffs up water and blows it, but the sins of his face, and his mouth and his nostrils fall out. When he washes his face, as Allah has commanded him, the sins of his face fall out from the end of his beard with water. Then (when) he washes his forearms up to the elbows, the sins of his arms fall out along with water from his finger-tips. And when he wipes his head, the sins of his head fall out from the points of his hair along with water. And (when) he washes his feet up to the ankles, the sins of his feet fall out from his toes along with water. And if he stands to pray and praises Allah, lauds Him and glorifies Him with what becomes Him and shows wholehearted devotion to Allah, his sins would depart leaving him (as innocent) as he was on the day his mother bore him. 'Amr b. 'Abasa narrated this hadith to Abu Umama, a Companion of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and Abu Umama said to him: 'Amr b. 'Abasa, think what you are saying that such (a great reward) is given to a man at one place (only in the act of ablution and prayer). Upon this 'Amr said: Abu Umama, I have grown old and my bones have become weak and I am at the door of death; what impetus is there for me to attribute a lie to Allah and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ? Had I heard it from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ once, twice, or three times (even seven times), I would have never narrated it, but I have heard it from him on occasions more than these. (Using translation from Muslim 832)   

فَسَمِعْتُ بِرَجُلٍ بِمَكَّةَ يُخْبِرُ أَخْبَارًا فَقَعَدْتُ عَلَى رَاحِلَتِي فَقَدِمْتُ إِلَيْهِ فَإِذَا رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ مُسْتَخْفِيًا جُرَّاءٌ عَلَيْهِ قَوْمُهُ فَتَلَطَّفْتُ حَتَّى دَخَلْتُ عَلَيْهِ بِمَكَّةَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ مَا أَنْتَ؟ قَالَ أَنَا نَبِيٌّ فَقُلْتُ وَمَا نَبِيٌّ؟ قَالَ أَرْسَلَنِي اللهُ فَقُلْتُ بِأِيِّ شَيْءٍ أَرْسَلَكَ؟ قَالَ أَرْسَلَنِي بِصِلَةِ الْأَرْحَامِ وَكَسْرِ الْأَوْثَانِ وَأَنْ يُوَحَّدَ اللهُ لَا يُشْرَكَ بِهِ شَيْءٌ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ مَنْ مَعَكَ عَلَى هَذَا؟ قَالَ حُرٌّ وَعَبْدٌ قَالَ وَمَعَهُ يَوْمَئِذٍ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَبِلَالٌ مِمَّنْ آمَنَ بِهِ فَقُلْتُ إِنِّي مُتَّبِعُكَ قَالَ إِنَّكَ لَا تَسْتَطِيعُ ذَلِكَ يَوْمَكَ هَذَا أَلَا تَرَى حَالِي وَحَالَ النَّاسِ وَلَكِنِ ارْجِعْ إِلَى أَهْلِكَ فَإِذَا سَمِعْتَ بِي قَدْ ظَهَرْتُ فَأْتِنِي فَذَهَبْتُ إِلَى أَهْلِي فَقَدِمَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ الْمَدِينَةَ وَكُنْتُ فِي أَهْلِي فَجَعَلْتُ أَتَخَبَّرُ الْأَخْبَارَ وَأَسْأَلُ كُلَّ مَنْ قَدِمَ مِنَ النَّاسِ حَتَّى قَدِمَ عَلَيَّ نَفَرٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ يَثْرِبَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ فَقُلْتُ مَا فَعَلَ هَذَا الرَّجُلُ الَّذِي قَدِمَ الْمَدِينَةَ؟ فَقَالُوا النَّاسُ إِلَيْهِ سِرَاعٌ وَقَدْ أَرَادَ قَوْمُهُ قَتْلَهُ فَلَمْ يَسْتَطِيعُوا ذَلِكَ قَالَ فَقَدِمْتُ الْمَدِينَةَ فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَتَعْرِفُنِي؟ قَالَ نَعَمْ أَلَسْتَ الَّذِي أَتَيْتَنِي بِمَكَّةَ؟ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ يَا نَبِيَّ اللهِ أَخْبِرْنِي عَمَّا عَلَّمَكَ اللهُ وَأَجْهَلُهُ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الصَّلَاةِ قَالَ صَلِّ صَلَاةَ الصُّبْحِ ثُمَّ أَقْصِرْ عَنِ الصَّلَاةِ حَتَّى تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ حَتَّى تَرْتَفِعَ فَإِنَّهَا تَطْلُعُ حِينَ تَطْلُعُ بَيْنَ قَرْنَيْ شَيْطَانٍ وَحِينَئِذٍ يَسْجُدُ لَهَا الْكُفَّارُ ثُمَّ صَلِّ فَالصَّلَاةُ مَشْهُودَةٌ مَحْضُورَةٌ حَتَّى يَسْتَقِلَّ الظِّلُّ بِالرُّمْحِ ثُمَّ أَقْصِرْ عَنِ الصَّلَاةِ فَإِنَّ حِينَئِذٍ تُسَجَّرُ جَهَنَّمُ فَإِذَا أَقْبَلَ الْفَيْءُ فَصَلِّ فَإِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ مَشْهُودَةٌ حَتَّى تُصَلِّيَ الْعَصْرَ ثُمَّ أَقْصِرْ عَنِ الصَّلَاةِ حَتَّى تَغْرُبَ الشَّمْسُ فَإِنَّهَا تَغْرُبُ بَيْنَ قَرْنَيْ شَيْطَانٍ وَحِينَئِذٍ تَسْجُدُ لَهَا الْكُفَّارُ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا نَبِيَّ اللهِ فَالْوُضُوءُ حَدِّثْنِي عَنْهُ قَالَ مَا مِنْكُمْ رَجُلٌ يُقَرِّبُ وَضُوءَهُ فَيُمَضْمِضُ وَيَسْتَنْشِقُ فَيَنْتَثِرُ إِلَّا خَرَّتْ خَطَايَا وَجْهِهِ مِنْ أَطْرَافِ لِحْيَتِهِ وَخَيَاشِيمِهِ مَعَ الْمَاءِ ثُمَّ يَغْسِلُ يَدَيْهِ إِلَى الْمِرْفَقَيْنِ إِلَّا خَرَّتْ خَطَايَا يَدَيْهِ مِنْ أَنَامِلِهِ مَعَ الْمَاءِ ثُمَّ يَمْسَحُ رَأْسَهُ إِلَّا خَرَّتْ خَطَايَا رَأْسِهِ مِنْ أَطْرَافِ شَعْرِهِ مَعَ الْمَاءِ ثُمَّ يَغْسِلُ قَدَمَيْهِ إِلَى الْكَعْبَيْنِ إِلَّا خَرَّتْ خَطَايَا رِجْلَيْهِ مِنْ أَنَامِلِهِ مَعَ الْمَاءِ فَإِنْ هُوَ قَامَ فَصَلَّى فَحَمِدَ اللهَ وَأَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ وَمَجَّدَهُ بِالَّذِي هُوَ لَهُ أَهْلٌ وَفَرَّغَ قَلَبَهُ لِلَّهِ إِلَّا انْصَرَفَ مِنْ خَطِيئَتِهِ كَهَيْئَتِهِ يَوْمَ وَلَدَتْهُ أُمُّهُ فَحَدَّثَ عَمْرُو بْنُ عَبَسَةَ بِهَذَا الْحَدِيثِ أَبَا أُمَامَةَ صَاحِبَ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو أُمَامَةَ يَا عَمْرُو انْظُرْ مَاذَا تَقُولُ فِي مَقَامٍ وَاحِدٍ يُعْطَى هَذَا الرَّجُلُ؟ فَقَالَ عَمْرٌو يَا أَبَا أُمَامَةَ لَقَدْ كَبِرَتْ سِنِّي وَرَقَّ عَظْمِي وَاقْتَرَبَ أَجْلَى وَمَا لِي حَاجَةٌ أَنْ أَكْذِبَ عَلَى اللهِ وَلَا عَلَى رَسُولِهِ لَوْ لَمْ أَسْمَعْهُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ إِلَّا مَرَّةً أَوْ مَرَّتَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلَاثًا حَتَّى عَدَّ سَبْعَ مَرَّاتٍ مَا حَدَّثْتُ بِهِ أَبَدًا وَلَكِنِّي قَدْ سَمِعْتُهُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ  

I asked: Messenger of Allah, in which part of night the supplication is more likely to be accepted? He replied: In the last part: Pray as much as you like, for the prayer is attended by the angels and it is recorded till you offer the dawn prayer; then stop praying when the sun is rising till it has reached the height of one or two lances, for it rises between the two horns of the Devil, and the infidels offer prayer for it (at that time). Then pray as much as you like, because the prayer is witnessed and recorded till the shadow of a lance be- comes equal to it. Then cease prayer, for at that time the Hell-fire is heated up and doors of Hell are opened. When the sun declines, pray as much as you like, for the prayer is witnessed till you pray the afternoon prayer; then cease prayer till the sun sets, for it sets between the horns of the Devil, and (at that time) the infidels offer prayer for it. He narrated a lengthy tradition. Abbas said: AbuSalam narrated this tradition in a similar manner from AbuUmamah. If I have made a mistake unintentionally, I beg pardon of Allah and repent to Him. (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 1277)   

أَنَّهُ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أِيُّ اللَّيْلِ أَسْمَعُ؟ قَالَ جَوْفُ اللَّيْلِ الْآخِرِ فَصَلِّ مَا شِئْتَ فَإِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ مَشْهُودَةٌ مَكْتُوبَةٌ حَتَّى تُصَلِّيَ الصُّبْحَ ثُمَّ أَقْصِرْ حَتَّى تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ وَتَرْتَفِعَ قَيْسَ رُمْحٍ أَوْ رُمْحَيْنِ فَإِنَّهَا تَطْلُعُ بَيْنَ قَرْنَيْ شَيْطَانٍ وَيُصَلِّي لَهَا الْكُفَّارُ ثُمَّ صَلِّ مَا شِئْتَ فَإِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ مَشْهُودَةٌ مَكْتُوبَةٌ حَتَّى يُعْدَلَ الرُّمْحُ ثُمَّ أَقْصِرْ فَإِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ تُسَجَّرُ وَتُفْتَحُ أَبْوَابُهَا فَإِذَا زَاغَتِ الشَّمْسُ فَصَلِّ مَا شِئْتَ؛ فَإِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ مَشْهُودَةٌ حَتَّى تُصَلِّيَ الْعَصْرَ ثُمَّ أَقْصِرْ حَتَّى تَغْرُبَ الشَّمْسُ فَإِنَّهَا تَغْرُبُ بَيْنَ قَرْنَيْ شَيْطَانٍ فَتُصَلِّي لَهَا الْكُفَّارُ قَالَ وَقَصَّ حَدِيثًا طَوِيلًا  

“Safwan bin Mu’attal asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ: ‘O Messenger of Allah, I want to ask you about something of which you have knowledge and I know nothing.’ He said: ‘What is it?’ He said: ‘Is there any time of the night or day when it is disliked to perform prayer? He said: ‘Yes, when you have prayed the Subh, then do not pray until the sun has risen, for it rises between the two horns of Satan. Then pray, for the prayer is attended (by the angels) and is acceptable (to Allah) until the sun is right overhead like a spear. For at that time Hell is heated up and its gates are opened. (Then refrain from prayer) until the sun passes the zenith. Then when it has passed the zenith, the prayer is attended (by the angels) and is acceptable (to Allah) until you pray the ‘Asr. Then stop praying until the sun has set.’” (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 1252)   

سَأَلَ صَفْوَانُ بْنُ الْمُعَطَّلِ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنِّي سَائِلُكَ عَنْ أَمْرٍ أَنْتَ بِهِ عَالِمٌ وَأَنَا بِهِ جَاهِلٌ هَلْ مِنْ سَاعَاتِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ سَاعَةٌ يُكْرَهُ الصَّلَاةُ فِيهَا؟ قَالَ نَعَمْ إِذَا صَلَّيْتَ الصُّبْحَ فَدَعِ الصَّلَاةَ حَتَّى تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ؛ فَإِنَّهَا تَطْلُعُ بَيْنَ قَرْنَيْ شَيْطَانٍ ثُمَّ الصَّلَاةُ مَحْضُورَةٌ مُتَقَبَّلَةٌ حَتَّى تَسْتَوِيَ الشَّمْسُ عَلَى رَأْسِكَ كَالرُّمْحِ فَإِذَا اسْتَوَتْ عَلَى رَأْسِكَ كَالرُّمْحِ فَدَعِ الصَّلَاةَ؛ فَإِنَّ تِلْكَ السَّاعَةَ تُسَجَّرُ فِيهَا جَهَنَّمُ وَتُفْتَحُ فِيهَا أَبْوَابُهَا حَتَّى تَرْتَفِعَ الشَّمْسُ عَنْ جَانِبِكَ الْأَيْمَنِ فَإِذَا زَالَتِ الشَّمْسُ فَالصَّلَاةُ مَحْضُورَةٌ مُتَقَبَّلَةٌ حَتَّى تُصَلِّيَ الْعَصْرَ ثُمَّ دَعِ الصَّلَاةَ حَتَّى تَغْرُبَ الشَّمْسُ وَرَوَاهُ عِيَاضُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللهِ الْقُرَشِيُّ عَنْ سَعِيدٍ الْمَقْبُرِيِّ بِنَحْوِهِ إِلَّا أَنَّهُ لَمْ يُسَمِّ السَّائِلَ وَزَادَ فِي آخِرِهِ ثُمَّ الصَّلَاةُ مَشْهُودَةٌ مَحْضُورَةٌ مُتَقَبَّلَةٌ حَتَّى تُصَلِّيَ الصُّبْحَ