[Machine] After that, O people, I performed ablution for prayer and I passed by a woman from my family. There were feelings between me and her that Allah had decreed. When I was in my prayer, I found wetness, so I became hesitant between two matters: either I shy away from you and take the risk with Allah, or I shy away from Allah and take the risk with you. It was that I shy away from Allah and take the risk with you which was more beloved to me. So I left and performed ablution again and renewed my prayer. Whoever does what I have done, then let him do as I have done. And it has been narrated in the legality of istikharah, from Ali.

أَمَّا بَعْدُ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ فَإِنِّي تَوَضَّأْتُ لِلصَّلَاةِ فَمَرَرْتُ بِامْرَأَةٍ مِنْ أَهْلِي فَكَانَ مِنِّي وَمِنْهَا مَا شَاءَ اللهُ أَنْ يَكُونَ فَلَمَّا كُنْتُ فِي صَلَاتِي وَجَدْتُ بَلَلًا فَخَيَّرْتُ نَفْسِي بَيْنَ أَمْرَيْنِ إِمَّا أَنْ أَسْتَحْيِيَ مِنْكُمْ وَأَجْتَرِئَ عَلَى اللهِ وَإِمَّا أَنْ أَسْتَحْيِيَ مِنَ اللهِ وَأَجْتَرِئَ عَلَيْكُمْ فَكَانَ أَنْ أَسْتَحْيِيَ مِنَ اللهِ وَأَجْتَرِئَ عَلَيْكُمْ أَحَبَّ إِلَيَّ فَخَرَجْتُ فَتَوَضَّأْتُ وَجَدَّدْتُ صَلَاتِي فَمَنْ صَنَعَ كَمَا صَنَعْتُهُ فَلْيَصْنَعْ كَمَا صَنَعْتُ وَرُوِيَ فِي جَوَازِ الِاسْتِخْلَافِ عَنْ عَلِيٍّ ؓ

[Machine] I prayed behind Ali ibn Abi Talib, and he stumbled. He turned around and took the hand of a man and made him lead the prayer, then Ali left.

صَلَّيْتُ خَلْفَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ؓ فَرُعِفَ فَالْتَفَتَ فَأَخَذَ بِيَدِ رَجُلٍ فَقَدَّمَهُ فَصَلَّى وَخَرَجَ عَلِيٌّ ؓ

[Machine] Muawiyah said to the people, "Complete your prayers." Then each person stood up and completed their prayer, and no one preceded anyone else, and the people did not precede him.

مُعَاوِيَةُ لِلنَّاسِ أَتِمُّوا صَلَاتَكُمْ فَقَامَ كُلُّ امْرِئٍ فَأَتَمَّ صَلَاتَهُ وَلَمْ يُقَدِّمْ أَحَدًا وَلَمْ يُقَدِّمْهُ النَّاسُ

[Machine] I did not pray behind an Imam who was more humble and who performed a more complete prayer than the Messenger of Allah ﷺ .

مَا صَلَّيْتُ وَرَاءَ إِمَامٍ أَخَفَّ وَلَا أَتَمَّ صَلَاةً مِنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to shorten the prayer and complete it.

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يُوجِزُ الصَّلَاةَ وَيُكْمِلُهَا

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to shorten the prayer and complete it.

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يُوجِزُ الصَّلَاةَ وَيُتِمُّ

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to perform the prayers in a perfect manner, and according to the narration of Ibn Abi Aruba, he was one of the most concealed among the people.

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أَخَفَّ النَّاسِ صَلَاةً فِي تَمَامٍ وَفِي حَدِيثِ ابْنِ أَبِي عَرُوبَةَ مِنْ أَخَفِّ النَّاسِ

[Machine] A man came to the Prophet ﷺ and said, "O Messenger of Allah, I often miss the Fajr prayer because so-and-so delays us." The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Among you are those who make others detestable. So whoever is among you should reduce the length of the prayer, for among you are the old, the sick, and those with needs."

جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنِّي لَأَتَخَلَّفُ عَنْ صَلَاةِ الصُّبْحِ مِمَّا يُطَوِّلُ بِنَا فُلَانٌ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ إِنَّ مِنْكُمْ مُنَفِّرِينَ فَأَيُّكُمْ أَمَّ النَّاسَ فَلْيُخَفِّفْ فَإِنَّ فِيكُمُ الْكَبِيرَ وَالسَّقِيمَ وَذَا الْحَاجَةِ

Once a man said to Messenger of Allah ﷺ "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! I may not attend the (compulsory congregational) prayer because so and so (the Imam) prolongs the prayer when he leads us for it. The narrator added: "I never saw the Prophet ﷺ more furious in giving advice than he was on that day. The Prophet said, "O people! Some of you make others dislike good deeds (the prayers). So whoever leads the people in prayer should shorten it because among them there are the sick the weak and the needy (having some jobs to do). (Using translation from Bukhārī 90)

جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنِّي لَا أَكَادُ أُدْرِكُ الصَّلَاةَ مِمَّا يُطَوِّلُ بِنَا فُلَانٌ فَمَا رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ فِي مَوْعِظَةٍ كَانَ أَشَدَّ غَضَبًا مِنْهُ يَوْمَئِذٍ فَقَالَ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّ مِنْكُمْ مُنَفِّرِينَ مَنْ صَلَّى بِالنَّاسِ فَلْيُخَفِّفْ فَإِنَّ فِيهِمُ الْمَرِيضَ وَالضَّعِيفَ وَذَا الْحَاجَةِ

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "When one of you leads the prayer for the people, let him make it lightened, for amongst them there may be the weak and the elderly, as well as those in need."

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ إِذَا صَلَّى أَحَدُكُمْ لِلنَّاسِ فَلْيُخَفِّفْ فَإِنَّ فِيهِمُ الضَّعِيفَ وَالْكَبِيرَ وَذَا الْحَاجَةِ

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: When any one of you leads people in prayer, he must shorten it for among them are the weak, the infirm and those who have business to attend. (Using translation from Muslim 467c)

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ إِذَا صَلَّى أَحَدُكُمُ النَّاسَ فَلْيُخَفِّفْ فَإِنَّ فِي النَّاسِ الضَّعِيفَ وَالسَّقِيمَ وَذَا الْحَاجَةِ

“When you lead people, keep it short for them.” (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 988)

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ إِذَا أَمَمْتَ الْقَوْمَ فَأَخِفَّ بِهِمُ الصَّلَاةَ

[Machine] The last thing that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ advised me when you lead a group is to conceal the prayer from them.

آخِرُ مَا عَهِدَ إِلَيَّ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ إِذَا أَمَمْتَ قَوْمًا فَأَخِفَّ بِهِمُ الصَّلَاةَ

[Machine] I arrived at the city and stayed at Abu Hurairah's place. There was a close relationship between him and his followers, so he used to lead the people in prayer and make it short. I asked Abu Hurairah, "Was this how the Prophet Muhammad's prayer used to be?" He replied, "Yes, it was."

قَدِمْتُ الْمَدِينَةَ فَنَزَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ وَكَانَ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ مَوَالِيَّ قَرَابَةٌ فَكَانَ يَؤُمُّ النَّاسَ فَيُخَفِّفُ فَقُلْتُ يَا أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ هَكَذَا كَانَتْ صَلَاةُ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ؟ قَالَ نَعَمْ وَأَوْجَزُ

[Machine] That Mu'adh sought permission from him, so he went to the Prophet ﷺ complaining to him about Mu'adh. The Prophet ﷺ said, "Are you a troublemaker or are you two troublemakers?" three times. If it were not for you praying with "Glorify the name of your Lord, the Most High" and "By the sun and its brightness" and "By the night when it covers", then indeed the elderly, the one in need, and the weak would have prayed behind you.

أَنَّ مُعَاذًا أَنَالَ مِنْهُ فَأَتَى النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَشَكَا إِلَيْهِ مُعَاذًا فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَفَاتِنٌ أَنْتَ أَوْ قَالَ أَفَتَّانٌ أَنْتَ؟ ثَلَاثَ مِرَارٍ فَلَوْلَا صَلَّيْتَ بِسَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الْأَعْلَى وَالشَّمْسِ وَضُحَاهَا وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَى فَإِنَّهُ يُصَلِّي وَرَاءَكَ الْكَبِيرُ وَذُو الْحَاجَةِ وَالضَّعِيفُ

[Machine] He told him that Mu'adh ibn Jabal prayed the Isha prayer and prolonged it with his companions. So the Prophet ﷺ was informed of that, and the Prophet ﷺ said to Mu'adh, "Are you trying to cause difficulty, O Mu'adh? Make it easy for the people and recite the Surah of the Sun and its brightness, and glorify the name of your Lord, the Most High, and similar to that, and do not burden the people."

أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ مُعَاذَ بْنَ جَبَلٍ صَلَّى الْعِشَاءَ فَطَوَّلَ عَلَى أَصْحَابِهِ فَأُخْبِرَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ بِذَلِكَ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ لِمُعَاذٍ أَفَتَّانٌ أَنْتَ يَا مُعَاذُ خَفِّفْ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَاقْرَأْ بِالشَّمْسِ وَضُحَاهَا وَسَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الْأَعْلَى وَنَحْوِ ذَلِكَ وَلَا تَشُقَّ عَلَى النَّاسِ

[Machine] Mu'adh used to pray Isha prayer with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and then he would return and pray with his companions. One night, he came back and prayed with them and a young man from his people prayed behind him. When Mu'adh took too long in the prayer, the young man prayed and left, grabbed the reins of his camel, and went ahead. When Mu'adh finished praying, someone informed him of what the young man had done. Mu'adh said, "Indeed, this is hypocrisy. I will inform the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about what he did." The young man said, "I will also inform the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about what he did." So they went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and Mu'adh informed him about what the young man had done. The young man said, "O Messenger of Allah, Mu'adh takes a long time to stay with you and then he takes a long time with us." The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Are you complaining, O Mu'adh?" He said to the young man, "How do you behave, O son of my brother, when you pray?" The young man said, "I recite Surah Al-Fatiha and ask Allah for Paradise and seek refuge in Him from the Fire. And I do not know how you and Mu'adh recite." The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Mu'adh and I both recite something like or similar to that." He then said, "The young man will know when the people come and are informed that the enemy has come." So they went ahead and the young man was martyred. After that, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked Mu'adh, "What did my opponent and your opponent do?" He said, "O Messenger of Allah, Allah is truthful and I lied. He was martyred."

كَانَ مُعَاذٌ يُصَلِّي مَعَ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ الْعِشَاءَ ثُمَّ يَرْجِعُ فَيُصَلِّي بِأَصْحَابِهِ فَرَجَعَ ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ فَصَلَّى بِهِمْ وَصَلَّى خَلْفَهُ فَتًى مِنْ قَوْمِهِ فَلَمَّا طَالَ عَلَى الْفَتَى صَلَّى وَخَرَجَ وَأَخَذَ بِخِطَامِ بَعِيرِهِ وَانْطَلَقَ فَلَمَّا صَلَّى مُعَاذٌ ذُكِرَ ذَلِكَ لَهُ فَقَالَ إِنَّ هَذَا بِهِ لَنِفَاقٌ لَأُخْبِرَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ بِالَّذِي صَنَعَ وَقَالَ الْفَتَى وَأَنَا لَأُخْبِرَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ بِالَّذِي صَنَعَ فَغَدَوْا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَأَخْبَرَهُ مُعَاذٌ بِالَّذِي صَنَعَ الْفَتَى فَقَالَ الْفَتَى يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ يُطِيلُ الْمُكْثَ عِنْدَكَ ثُمَّ يَرْجِعُ فَيُطِيلُ عَلَيْنَا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أَفَتَّانٌ أَنْتَ يَا مُعَاذُ؟ وَقَالَ للْفَتَى كَيْفَ تَصْنَعُ أَنْتَ يَا ابْنَ أَخِي إِذَا صَلَّيْتَ؟ قَالَ أَقْرَأُ بِفَاتِحَةِ الْكِتَابِ وَأَسْأَلُ اللهَ الْجَنَّةَ وَأَعُوذُ بِهِ مِنَ النَّارِ وَأَنِّي لَا أَدْرِي مَا دَنْدَنَتُكَ وَدَنْدَنَةُ مُعَاذٍ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ إِنِّي وَمُعَاذٌ حَوْلَ هَاتَيْنِ أَوْ نَحْوَ ذَا قَالَ فَقَالَ الْفَتَى وَلَكِنْ سَيَعْلَمُ مُعَاذٌ إِذَا قَدِمَ الْقَوْمُ وَقَدْ خُبِّرُوا أَنَّ الْعَدُوَّ قَدْ أَتَوْا قَالَ فَقَدِمُوا فَاسْتُشْهِدَ الْفَتَى فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ لِمُعَاذٍ مَا فَعَلَ خَصْمِي وَخَصْمُكَ؟ قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ صَدَقَ اللهَ وَكَذَبْتُ اسْتُشْهِدَ

[Machine] "He came to Mu'adh while he was leading his people in the Maghrib prayer. Upon hearing this news, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, 'O Mu'adh, do not be a cause of fitnah (trial) for he prays behind you, the elderly, the weak, those in need, and the traveler.' This is what he said, and the earlier narrations about Isha prayer are more correct. And Allah knows best."

أَنَّهُ أَتَى مُعَاذًا وَهُوَ يُصَلِّي بِقَوْمِهِ صَلَاةَ الْمَغْرِبِ فِي هَذَا الْخَبَرِ قَالَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يَا مُعَاذُ لَا تَكُنْ فَتَّانًا فَإِنَّهُ يُصَلِّي وَرَاءَكَ الْكَبِيرُ وَالضَّعِيفُ وَذُو الْحَاجَةِ وَالْمُسَافِرُ كَذَا قَالَ وَالرِّوَايَاتُ الْمُتَقَدِّمَةُ فِي الْعِشَاءِ أَصَحُّ وَاللهُ أَعْلَمُ

[Machine] On the authority of the Prophet ﷺ , he said: "When one of you prays among the people, let him shorten it, for among them there may be sick and weak. But when one of you prays for himself, let him prolong it as much as he wishes." In another narration by Ash-Shafi'i, it is reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "When one of you prays for the people, let him shorten it, for among them there may be sick and weak. But when one of you prays for himself, let him prolong it as much as he wishes."

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ أَنَّهُ قَالَ إِذَا صَلَّى أَحَدُكُمْ بِالنَّاسِ فَلْيُخَفِّفْ فَإِنَّ فِيهِمُ السَّقِيمَ وَالضَّعِيفَ وَالْكَبِيرَ وَإِذَا صَلَّى أَحَدُكُمْ لِنَفْسِهِ فَلْيُطَوِّلْ مَا شَاءَ وَفِي رِوَايَةِ الشَّافِعِيِّ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ إِذَا كَانَ أَحَدُكُمْ يُصَلِّي لِلنَّاسِ فَلْيُخَفِّفْ فَإِنَّ فِيهِمُ السَّقِيمَ وَالضَّعِيفَ فَإِذَا كَانَ يُصَلِّي لِنَفْسِهِ فَلْيُطِلْ مَا شَاءَ

The Apostle of Allah ﷺ said: When any one of you leads the people in prayer, he should be brief for among them are the young and the aged, the weak and the sick. But when one of you prays by himself, he may (prolong) as he likes. (Using translation from Muslim 467a)

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَالَ إِذَا أَمَّ أَحَدُكُمُ النَّاسَ فَلْيُخَفِّفْ فَإِنَّ فِيهِمُ الصَّغِيرَ وَالْكَبِيرَ وَالضَّعِيفَ وَالْمَرِيضَ فَإِذَا صَلَّى وَحْدَهُ فَلْيُصَلِّ كَيْفَ شَاءَ

[Machine] And the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "When one of you leads the people in prayer, let him shorten the prayer, as there may be elderly, weak, or sick among them. But if he prays alone, let him prolong his prayer as much as he wishes."

وَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ إِذَا أَمَّ أَحَدُكُمْ بِالنَّاسِ فَلْيُخَفِّفِ الصَّلَاةَ فَإِنَّ فِيهِمُ الْكَبِيرَ وَفِيهِمُ الضَّعِيفُ وَفِيهِمُ السَّقِيمُ وَإِنْ قَامَ وَحْدَهُ فَلْيُطِلْ صَلَاتَهُ مَا شَاءَ

The Apostle of Allah ﷺ said to him: Lead your people in prayer. I said: Messenger of Allah. I perceive something (disturbing) in my soul. He (the Holy Prophet) asked me to draw near him and making me sit down in front of him he placed his hand on my breast between my nipples. and then, telling me to turn round, he placed it on my back between my shoulders. He then said: Act as an Imam for your people. He who acts as Imam of the people, he must be brief, for among them are the aged, among them are the sick, among them are the weak, and among them are the people who have business to attend. But when any of you prays alone, he may pray as he likes. (Using translation from Muslim 468a)

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَالَ لَهُ أُمَّ قَوْمَكَ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنِّي أَجِدُ فِي نَفْسِي شَيْئًا قَالَ ادْنُهْ فَأَجْلَسَنِي بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ ثُمَّ وَضَعَ كَفَّهُ فِي صَدْرِي بَيْنَ ثَدْيِيَّ ثُمَّ قَالَ تَحَوَّلْ فَوَضَعَهُمَا فِي ظَهْرِي بَيْنَ كَتِفِيَّ ثُمَّ قَالَ أُمَّ قَوْمَكَ فَمَنْ أَمَّ قَوْمًا فَلْيُخَفِّفْ فَإِنَّ فِيهِمُ الْكَبِيرَ وَإِنَّ فِيهِمُ الصَّغِيرَ وَإِنَّ فِيهِمُ الْمَرِيضَ وَإِنَّ فِيهِمْ ذَا الْحَاجَةِ فَإِذَا صَلَّى أَحَدُكُمْ فَلْيُصَلِّ كَيْفَ شَاءَ

[Machine] We returned to Abu Waqid Al-Laythi during his illness in which he passed away, and we heard him say: "The Prophet ﷺ used to offer prayers that were short for the people and longer for himself."

عُدْنَا أَبَا وَاقِدٍ اللَّيْثِيَّ فِي وَجَعِهِ الَّذِي مَاتَ فِيهِ فَسَمِعْنَاهُ يَقُولُ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَخَفَّ النَّاسِ صَلَاةً عَلَى النَّاسِ وَأَطْوَلَ النَّاسِ صَلَاةً لِنَفْسِهِ

[Machine] "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, 'I stand up for prayer and I intend to prolong it, but then I hear the crying of a baby, so I hurry in order to not cause hardship to its mother. This is in accordance with the narration of Al-Ruzbary and in the narration of Al-Adib regarding prayer.' And he said, 'So I hasten in my prayer.'"

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ إِنِّي لَأَقُومُ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ وَأَنَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ أُطَوِّلَ فِيهَا فَأَسْمَعُ بُكَاءَ الصَّبِيِّ فَأَتَجَوَّزُ كَرَاهِيَةَ أَنْ أَشُقَّ عَلَى أُمِّهِ لَفْظُ حَدِيثِ الرُّوذْبَارِيِّ وَفِي حَدِيثِ الْأَدِيبِ فِي الصَّلَاةِ وَقَالَ فَأَتَجَوَّزُ فِي صَلَاتِي

[Machine] "The prophet of Allah ﷺ used to say, 'I stand in prayer intending to prolong it, but when I hear the crying of a baby, I cut short my prayer out of empathy for its mother.'"

أَنَّ نَبِيَّ اللهِ ﷺ كَانَ يَقُولُ إِنِّي لَأَقُومُ فِي الصَّلَاةِ وَأَنَا أُرِيدُ أُطِيلُهَا فَأَسْمَعُ بُكَاءَ الصَّبِيِّ فَأَتَجَوَّزُ فِي صَلَاتِي مِمَّا أَعْلَمُ مِنْ وَجْدِ أُمِّهِ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ بُكَائِهِ

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to enjoin upon us to make the prayer short, but he would lead us in prayer and recite As-Saffat." (Using translation from Nasāʾī 826)

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يَأْمُرُنَا بِالتَّخْفِيفِ وَإِنْ كَانَ لَيَؤُمُّنَا بِالصَّافَّاتِ

[Machine] About the measure of the prayer of the Prophet ﷺ, he said: "So Anas bin Malik or one of his sons commanded us and led us in the Dhuhr or Asr prayer. He recited Surah Al-Mursalat and those who raised questions continued to wonder."

عَنْ مِقْدَارِ صَلَاةِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ فَأَمَرَ النَّضْرَ بْنَ أَنَسٍ أَوْ أَحَدَ بَنِيهِ فَصَلَّى بِنَا الظُّهْرَ أَوِ الْعَصْرَ فَقَرَأَ بِنَا وَالْمُرْسَلَاتِ وَعَمَّ يَتَسَاءَلُونَ

[Machine] He heard Jaabir bin Samurah saying that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to pray the prayers similar to your prayers today, but he would lighten them. His prayer was lighter than your prayers. He used to recite Al-Waqi'ah and similar chapters in the dawn prayer.

أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ جَابِرَ بْنَ سَمُرَةَ يَقُولُ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يُصَلِّي الصَّلَوَاتِ كَنَحْوٍ مِنْ صَلَاتِكُمُ الَّتِي تُصَلُّونَ الْيَوْمَ وَلَكِنَّهُ كَانَ يُخَفِّفُ كَانَتْ صَلَاتُهُ أَخَفَّ مِنْ صَلَاتِكُمْ كَانَ يَقْرَأُ فِي الْفَجْرِ الْوَاقِعَةَ وَنَحْوَهَا مِنَ السُّوَرِ

The one who is most versed in Allah's Book should act as Imam for the people, but If they are equally versed in reciting it, then the one who has most knowledge regarding Sunnah if they are equal regarding the Sunnah, then the earliest one to emigrate; it they emigrated at the same time, then the earliest one to embrace Islam. No man must lead another in prayer where (the latter) has authority, or sit in his place of honour in his house, without his permission. Ashajj in his narration used the word," age" in place of" Islam". (Using translation from Muslim 673a)

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يَؤُمُّ الْقَوْمَ أَقْرَؤُهُمْ لِكِتَابِ اللهِ فَإِنْ كَانُوا فِي الْقِرَاءَةِ سَوَاءً فَأَعْلَمُهُمْ بِالسُّنَّةِ فَإِنْ كَانُوا فِي السُّنَّةِ سَوَاءً فَأَقْدَمُهُمْ هِجْرَةً فَإِنْ كَانُوا فِي الْهِجْرَةِ سَوَاءً فَأَكْبَرُهُمْ سِنًّا وَلَا يُؤَمُّ رَجُلٌ فِي سُلْطَانِهِ وَلَا يُجْلَسُ عَلَى تَكْرِمَتِهِ فِي بَيْتِهِ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "He who leads the people in prayer should be the one who knows the Qur'an the most. If they are equal in recitation of the Qur'an, then the one who migrated earlier should lead them. If they are equal in migration, then the one who has more understanding of the religion should lead them. If they are equal in religious understanding, then the eldest among them should lead. No man should be appointed leader over his own authority or sit on his own honor without permission." This was narrated by Jarir ibn Hazim from Al-A'mash, and it was narrated by a group from Al-A'mash with the same wording.

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يَؤُمُّ الْقَوْمَ أَكْثَرُهُمْ قُرْآنًا فَإِنْ كَانُوا فِي الْقُرْآنِ وَاحِدًا فَأَقْدَمُهُمْ هِجْرَةً فَإِنْ كَانَتِ الْهِجْرَةُ وَاحِدَةً فَأَكْثَرُهُمْ فِقْهًا فَإِنْ كَانَ الْفِقْهُ وَاحِدًا فَأَكْبَرُهُمْ سِنًّا وَلَا يُؤَمَّنَّ رَجُلٌ فِي سُلْطَانِهِ وَلَا يُجْلَسُ عَلَى تَكْرِمَتِهِ فِي بَيْتِهِ إِلَّا أَنْ يَأْذَنَ لَهُ كَذَا قَالَهُ جَرِيرُ بْنُ حَازِمٍ عَنِ الْأَعْمَشِ وَرَوَاهُ جَمَاعَةٌ عَنِ الْأَعْمَشِ عَلَى اللَّفْظِ الْأَوَّلِ

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "When they are three, one of them should lead them in prayer, and the most knowledgeable of them in recitation should lead them."

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ إِذَا كَانُوا ثَلَاثَةً فَلْيَؤُمَّهُمْ أَحَدُهُمْ وَأَحَقُّهُمْ بِالْإِمَامَةِ أَقْرَؤُهُمْ لَفْظُهُمَا سَوَاءٌ

[Machine] "That the Prophet ﷺ said: When there are three in a journey, let one of them lead the prayer and the most deserving among them for leadership is the one who is most knowledgeable in reciting the Quran."

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَالَ إِذَا كَانُوا ثَلَاثَةً فِي سَفَرٍ فَلْيَؤُمَّهُمْ أَحَدُهُمْ وَأَحَقُّهُمْ بِالْإِمَامَةِ أَقْرَؤُهُمْ

[Machine] When we used to learn from the Prophet ﷺ , if we learned ten verses from the Quran, we would not learn any verses that were revealed after them until we understood the meaning. It was said to a partner in action, "Yes."

كُنَّا إِذَا تَعَلَّمْنَا مِنَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ عَشْرَ آيَاتٍ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ لَمْ نَتَعَلَّمْ مِنَ الْعَشْرِ الَّتِي نَزَلَتْ بَعْدَهَا حَتَّى نَعْلَمَ مَا فِيهِ قِيلَ لِشَرِيكٍ مِنَ الْعَمَلِ؟ قَالَ نَعَمْ

[Machine] "That he should stand at it as you learned that you are today the Quran. Then I saw today men who were given the Quran before faith, so he reads from its beginning to its end, not knowing what his command is, nor his prohibition, nor what he should stop at from it. So he scatters it like the scattering of broken pieces."

أَنْ يَقِفَ عِنْدَهُ مِنْهَا كَمَا تَعَلَّمُونَ أَنْتُمُ الْيَوْمَ الْقُرْآنَ ثُمَّ لَقَدْ رَأَيْتُ الْيَوْمَ رِجَالًا يُؤْتَى أَحَدُهُمُ الْقُرْآنَ قَبْلَ الْإِيمَانِ فَيَقْرَأُ مَا بَيْنَ فَاتِحَتِهِ إِلَى خَاتِمَتِهِ مَا يَدْرِي مَا آمِرُهُ وَلَا زَاجِرُهُ وَلَا مَا يَنْبَغِي أَنْ يَقِفَ عِنْدَهُ مِنْهُ فَيَنْثُرَهُ نَثْرَ الدَّقَلِ

[Machine] "To give faith."

أَنْ تُؤْتَوَا الْإِيمَانَ

[Machine] We were young boys studying with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ , learning faith before the Quran. Then he taught us the Quran, and our faith increased through it. And today, you are learning the Quran before faith.

كُنَّا غِلْمَانًا حَزَاوِرَةً مَعَ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَيُعَلِّمُنَا الْإِيمَانَ قَبْلَ الْقُرْآنِ ثُمَّ يُعَلِّمُنَا الْقُرْآنَ فَازْدَدْنَا بِهِ إِيمَانًا وَإِنَّكُمُ الْيَوْمَ تُعَلَّمُونَ الْقُرْآنَ قَبْلَ الْإِيمَانِ

We came to the Prophet ﷺ and stayed with him for twenty days and nights. We were all young and of about the same age. The Prophet ﷺ was very kind and merciful. When he realized our longing for our families, he asked about our homes and the people there and we told him. Then he asked us to go back to our families and stay with them and teach them (the religion) and to order them to do good things. He also mentioned some other things which I have (remembered or [??] ) forgotten. The Prophet ﷺ then added, "Pray as you have seen me praying and when it is the time for the prayer one of you should pronounce the Adhan and the oldest of you should lead the prayer. (Using translation from Bukhārī 631)

أَتَيْنَا رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ وَنَحْنُ شَبَبَةٌ مُتَقَارِبُونَ فَأَقَمْنَا عِنْدَهُ عِشْرِينَ لَيْلَةً وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ رَحِيمًا رَقِيقًا فَلَمَّا ظَنَّ أَنَّا قَدِ اشْتَهَيْنَا أَهْلِينَا وَاشْتَقْنَا سَأَلَنَا عَمَّا تَرَكْنَا بَعْدُ فَأَخْبَرَنَاهُ فَقَالَ ارْجِعُوا إِلَى أَهَالِيكُمْ فَأَقِيمُوا فِيهِمْ وَعَلِّمُوهُمْ وَمُرُوهُمْ وَذَكَرَ أَشْيَاءَ أَحْفَظُهَا وَأَشْيَاءَ لَا أَحْفَظُهَا وَصَلُّوا كَمَا رَأَيْتُمُونِي أُصَلِّي فَإِذَا حَضَرَتِ الصَّلَاةُ فَلْيُؤَذِّنْ لَكُمْ أَحَدُكُمْ وَلْيَؤُمَّكُمْ أَكْبَرُكُمْ

When the time of prayer comes, call the Adhan, then call the iqamah, then the one who is oldest of you should act as your imam. The version narrated by Maslamah goes : He said: On that day we were almost equal in knowledge. The version narrated by Isma’il says: Khalid said: I said to Abu Qilabah: where is the Qur’an(i.e. why did the Prophet ﷺ not say: The one who knows the Qur’an most should act as imam)? He replied: Both of them were equal in the knowledge of the Qur’an. (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 589)

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَالَ لَهُ أَوْ لِصَاحِبٍ لَهُ إِذَا حَضَرَتِ الصَّلَاةُ فَأَذِّنَا ثُمَّ أَقِيمَا ثُمَّ لِيَؤُمَّكُمَا أَكْبَرُكُمَا وَفِي حَدِيثِ مَسْلَمَةَ قَالَ كُنَّا يَوْمَئِذٍ مُتَقَارِبَيْنِ فِي الْعِلْمِ وَقَالَ فِي حَدِيثِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ قَالَ خَالِدٌ قُلْتُ لِأَبِي قِلَابَةَ فَأَيْنَ الْقِرَاءَةُ؟ قَالَ إِنَّهُمَا كَانَا مُتَقَارِبَيْنِ

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "The people are followers of Quraysh in this matter. Their Muslim is followed by their Muslim and their disbeliever is followed by their disbeliever."

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ النَّاسُ تَبَعٌ لِقُرَيْشٍ فِي هَذَا الشَّأْنِ مُسْلِمُهُمْ تَبَعٌ لِمُسْلِمِهِمْ وَكَافِرُهُمْ تَبَعٌ لِكَافِرِهِمْ

[Machine] The Prophet ﷺ said, "This matter will continue to be in the hands of the Quraysh as long as there are two individuals remaining from the people."

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ لَا يَزَالُ هَذَا الْأَمْرُ فِي قُرَيْشٍ مَا بَقِيَ مِنَ النَّاسِ اثْنَانِ

[Machine] "That the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, ‘Do not teach the Quraysh and learn from them, and do not surpass them nor fall behind them, for the Quraysh are like the strength of two men other than themselves, meaning in opinion. This is a transmitted hadith’."

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ لَا تُعَلِّمُوا قُرَيْشًا وَتَعَلَّمُوا مِنْهَا وَلَا تَقَدَّمُوا قُرَيْشًا وَلَا تَأَخَّرُوا عَنْهَا فَإِنَّ الْقُرَشِيَّ مِثْلُ قُوَّةِ الرَّجُلَيْنِ مِنْ غَيْرِهِمْ يَعْنِي فِي الرَّأْيِ هَذَا مُرْسَلٌ وَرُوِيَ مَوْصُولًا وَلَيْسَ بِالْقَوِيِّ

[Machine] The Prophet ﷺ said, "The leaders are from the Quraysh."

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَالَ الْأَئِمَّةُ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ

[Machine] On the authority of the Prophet ﷺ , he said: When there are three people, let the one who is most knowledgeable in the Book of Allah lead them in prayer. If they are equal in recitation, then let the one who is older lead them. If they are equal in age, then let the one who has the best appearance lead them.

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ إِذَا كَانُوا ثَلَاثَةً فَلْيَؤُمَّهُمْ أَقْرَؤُهُمْ لِكِتَابِ اللهِ ﷻ فَإِنْ كَانُوا فِي الْقِرَاءَةِ سَوَاءً فَأَكْبَرُهُمْ سِنًّا فَإِنْ كَانُوا فِي السِّنِّ سَوَاءً فَأَحْسَنُهُمْ وَجْهًا

The Prophet ﷺ said: Striving in the path of Allah (jihad) is incumbent on you along with every ruler, whether he is pious or impious; the prayer is obligatory on you behind every believer, pious or impious, even if he commits grave sins; the (funeral) prayer is incumbent upon every Muslim, pious and impious, even if he commits major sins. (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 2533)

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ الْجِهَادُ وَاجِبٌ عَلَيْكُمْ مَعَ كُلِّ أَمِيرٍ بَرًّا كَانَ أَوْ فَاجِرًا وَالصَّلَاةُ وَاجِبَةٌ عَلَيكُمْ خَلْفَ كُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ بَرًّا كَانَ أَوْ فَاجِرًا وَإِنْ عَمِلَ الْكَبَائِرَ وَالصَّلَاةُ وَاجِبَةٌ عَلَى كُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ بَرًّا كَانَ أَوْ فَاجِرًا وَإِنْ عَمِلَ الْكَبَائِرَ

[Machine] Ibn Umar withdrew from Mina during the battles between Ibn Zubayr and Al-Hajjaj in Mina, and he prayed with Al-Hajjaj.

أَنَّ ابْنَ عُمَرَ اعْتَزَلَ بِمِنًى فِي قِتَالِ ابْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ وَالْحَجَّاجُ بِمِنًى فَصَلَّى مَعَ الْحَجَّاجِ

[Machine] "O brother of the people of Sham, I am not one who praises them nor do I obey a creation in disobedience to the Creator." He said, "What do you say about the people of Sham?" He said, "I am not one who praises them." I said, "So what do you say about the people of Makkah?" He said, "I am not one who excuses them. They fight over the worldly life and compete in entering the Fire, like flies compete over a broth." I said, "So what is your opinion about this allegiance that Marwan has imposed upon us?" He said, "Ibn Umar said: When we pledged allegiance to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ for hearing and obeying, he would teach us to the best of our ability."

يَا أَخَا أَهْلِ الشَّامِ مَا أَنَا لَهُمْ بِحَامِدٍ وَلَا نُطِيعُ مَخْلُوقًا فِي مَعْصِيَةِ الْخَالِقِ قَالَ قُلْتُ مَا تَقُولُ فِي أَهْلِ الشَّامِ؟ قَالَ مَا أَنَا لَهُمْ بِحَامِدٍ قُلْتُ فَمَا تَقُولُ فِي أَهْلِ مَكَّةَ؟ قَالَ مَا أَنَا لَهُمْ بِعَاذِرٍ يَقْتَتِلُونَ عَلَى الدُّنْيَا يَتَهَافَتُونَ فِي النَّارِ تَهَافُتَ الذُّبَابُ فِي الْمَرَقِ قُلْتُ فَمَا قَوْلُكَ فِي هَذِهِ الْبَيْعَةِ الَّتِي أَخَذَ عَلَيْنَا مَرْوَانُ؟ قَالَ قَالَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ كُنَّا إِذَا بَايَعْنَا رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ عَلَى السَّمْعِ وَالطَّاعَةِ يُلَقِّنُنَا فِيمَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ

[Machine] No, by Allah, they did not exceed the prayer of the imams.

لَا وَاللهِ مَا كَانَا يَزِيدَانِ عَلَى صَلَاةِ الْأَئِمَّةِ

[Machine] I met ten companions of the Prophet ﷺ, all of them used to pray behind the leaders of the prayer.

أَدْرَكْتُ عَشَرَةً مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ كُلُّهُمْ يُصَلِّي خَلْفَ أَئِمَّةِ الْجَوْرِ

[Machine] I said no to the idea of killing your Muslim brother and taking his money.

حِيَّ عَلَى قَتْلِ أَخِيكَ الْمُسْلِمِ وَأَخْذِ مَالِهِ قُلْتُ لَا

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ went to Banu ‘Amr b. ‘Awf to effect reconciliation between them . in the meantime the time of prayer came and the Mu’adhdhin came to Abu Bakr and asked : Will you lead the people in prayer? I pronounce the Iqamah. He said ; Yes. So Abiu Bakr led the prayer , and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came back while the people were praying. He penetrated through the rows and stood in the first row. The people clapped but Abu Bakr did not pay any attention to it during prayer. When the people clapped increasingly, he paid attention. He saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ made a sign to him (saying); Stay at your place. Abu BAkr raised his hands and praised Allah for the commandment the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had given him (to lead the people in prayer). Abu Bakr then stepped back and stood in the row. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ stepped forward and led the prayer. When he finished the prayer, he said; Abu Bakr, what prevented you staying (at your place) when I already commented you to do so? Abu Bakr said ; it was not befitting for the son of Abu Quhafah (Abu Bakr) to lead the prayer in the presence of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said; What is the matter that I saw you clapping frequently during prayer? If anything happens to someone during prayer, he should say “Glory be to Allah,” for when he glorifies Allah. He pays attention to him. Clapping applies only to women. Abu Dawud said: This is operative in the obligatory prayer. (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 940)

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ ذَهَبَ إِلَى بَنِي عَمْرِو بْنِ عَوْفٍ لِيُصْلِحَ بَيْنَهُمْ وَحَانَتِ الصَّلَاةُ فَجَاءَ الْمُؤَذِّنُ إِلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ ؓ فَقَالَ أَتُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ فَأُقِيمَ؟ قَالَ نَعَمْ فَصَلَّى أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَجَاءَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ وَالنَّاسُ فِي الصَّلَاةِ فَتَخَلَّصَ حَتَّى وَقَفَ فِي الصَّلَاةِ فَصَفَّقَ النَّاسُ وَكَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ؓ لَا يَلْتَفِتُ فِي الصَّلَاةِ فَلَمَّا أَكْثَرَ النَّاسُ التَّصْفِيقَ الْتَفَتَ فَرَأَى رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ فَأَشَارَ إِلَيْهِ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أَنِ امْكُثْ مَكَانَكَ فَرَفَعَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يَدَيْهِ فَحَمِدَ اللهَ عَلَى مَا أَمَرَهُ بِهِ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ مِنْ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ اسْتَأْخَرَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ؓ حَتَّى اسْتَوَى فِي الصَّفِّ وَتَقَدَّمَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَ قَالَ يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَنْ تَثْبُتَ إِذْ أَمَرْتُكَ؟ قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ؓ مَا كَانَ لِابْنِ أَبِي قُحَافَةَ أَنْ يُصَلِّي بَيْنَ يَدَيْ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ ثُمَّ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ مَا لِي رَأَيْتُكُمْ أَكْثَرْتُمُ التَّصْفِيحَ؟ مَنْ نَابَهُ شَيْءٌ فِي صَلَاتِهِ فَلْيُسَبِّحْ فَإِنَّهُ إِذَا سَبَّحَ التُفِتَ إِلَيْهِ فَإِنَّمَا التَّصْفِيحُ لِلنِّسَاءِ أَخْرَجَاهُ فِي الصَّحِيحَيْنِ مِنْ حَدِيثِ مَالِكٍ وَغَيْرِهِ عَنْ أَبِي حَازِمٍ