The Prophet ﷺ used to pray a short prayer (in congregation) but used to offer it in a perfect manner.  

كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يُوجِزُ الصَّلاَةَ وَيُكْمِلُهَا  

My father said, "The Prophet ﷺ said, 'When I stand for prayer, I intend to prolong it but on hearing the cries of a child, I cut it short, as I dislike to trouble the child's mother.' "  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ إِنِّي لأَقُومُ فِي الصَّلاَةِ أُرِيدُ أَنْ أُطَوِّلَ فِيهَا فَأَسْمَعُ بُكَاءَ الصَّبِيِّ فَأَتَجَوَّزُ فِي صَلاَتِي كَرَاهِيَةَ أَنْ أَشُقَّ عَلَى أُمِّهِ  

I never prayed behind any Imam a prayer lighter and more perfect than that behind the Prophet ﷺ and he used to cut short the prayer whenever he heard the cries of a child lest he should put the child's mother to trial.  

سَمِعْتُ أَنَسَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ يَقُولُ مَا صَلَّيْتُ وَرَاءَ إِمَامٍ قَطُّ أَخَفَّ صَلاَةً وَلاَ أَتَمَّ مِنَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ وَإِنْ كَانَ لَيَسْمَعُ بُكَاءَ الصَّبِيِّ فَيُخَفِّفُ مَخَافَةَ أَنْ تُفْتَنَ أُمُّهُ  

The Prophet ﷺ said, "When I start the prayer I intend to prolong it, but on hearing the cries of a child, I cut short the prayer because I know that the cries of the child will incite its mother's passions."  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَالَ إِنِّي لأَدْخُلُ فِي الصَّلاَةِ وَأَنَا أُرِيدُ إِطَالَتَهَا فَأَسْمَعُ بُكَاءَ الصَّبِيِّ فَأَتَجَوَّزُ فِي صَلاَتِي مِمَّا أَعْلَمُ مِنْ شِدَّةِ وَجْدِ أُمِّهِ مِنْ بُكَائِهِ  

The Prophet, said, "Whenever I start the prayer I intend to prolong it, but on hearing the cries of a child, I cut short the prayer because I know that the cries of the child will incite its mother's passions."  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ إِنِّي لأَدْخُلُ فِي الصَّلاَةِ فَأُرِيدُ إِطَالَتَهَا فَأَسْمَعُ بُكَاءَ الصَّبِيِّ فَأَتَجَوَّزُ مِمَّا أَعْلَمُ مِنْ شِدَّةِ وَجْدِ أُمِّهِ مِنْ بُكَائِهِ وَقَالَ مُوسَى حَدَّثَنَا أَبَانُ حَدَّثَنَا قَتَادَةُ حَدَّثَنَا أَنَسٌ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ مِثْلَهُ  

Muʿadh used to pray with the Prophet ﷺ and then go and lead his people (tribe) in the prayer.  

كَانَ مُعَاذٌ يُصَلِّي مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ ثُمَّ يَأْتِي قَوْمَهُ فَيُصَلِّي بِهِمْ  

When the Prophet, became ill in his fatal illness, Someone came to inform him about the prayer, and the Prophet ﷺ told him to tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in the prayer. I said, "Abu Bakr is a softhearted man and if he stands for the prayer in your place, he would weep and would not be able to recite the Qur'an." The Prophet ﷺ said, "Tell Abu Bakr to lead the prayer." I said the same as before. He (repeated the same order and) on the third or the fourth time he said, "You are the companions of Joseph. Tell Abu Bakr to lead the prayer." So Abu Bakr led the prayer and meanwhile the Prophet ﷺ felt better and came out with the help of two men; as if I see him just now dragging his feet on the ground. When Abu Bakr saw him, he tried to retreat but the Prophet ﷺ beckoned him to carry on. Abu Bakr retreated a bit and the Prophet ﷺ sat on his (left) side. Abu Bakr was repeating the Takbir (Allahu Akbar) of Messenger of Allah ﷺ for the people to hear.  

لَمَّا مَرِضَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ مَرَضَهُ الَّذِي مَاتَ فِيهِ أَتَاهُ بِلاَلٌ يُؤْذِنُهُ بِالصَّلاَةِ فَقَالَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ قُلْتُ إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ رَجُلٌ أَسِيفٌ إِنْ يَقُمْ مَقَامَكَ يَبْكِي فَلاَ يَقْدِرُ عَلَى الْقِرَاءَةِ قَالَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ فَقُلْتُ مِثْلَهُ فَقَالَ فِي الثَّالِثَةِ أَوِ الرَّابِعَةِ إِنَّكُنَّ صَوَاحِبُ يُوسُفَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ فَصَلَّى وَخَرَجَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يُهَادَى بَيْنَ رَجُلَيْنِ كَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِ يَخُطُّ بِرِجْلَيْهِ الأَرْضَ فَلَمَّا رَآهُ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ذَهَبَ يَتَأَخَّرُ فَأَشَارَ إِلَيْهِ أَنْ صَلِّ فَتَأَخَّرَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ؓ وَقَعَدَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ إِلَى جَنْبِهِ وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ يُسْمِعُ النَّاسَ التَّكْبِيرَ  

When Messenger of Allah ﷺ became seriously ill, Bilal came to him for the prayer. He said, "Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in the prayer." I said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Abu Bakr is a softhearted man and if he stands in your place, he would not be able to make the people hear him. Will you order ʿUmar (to lead the prayer)?" The Prophet ﷺ said, "Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in the prayer." Then I said to Hafsa, "Tell him, Abu i Bakr is a softhearted man and if he stands in his place, he would not be able to make the people hear him. Would you order ʿUmar to lead the prayer?' " Hafsa did so. The Prophet ﷺ said, "Verily you are the companions of Joseph. Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in the prayer." So Abu- Bakr stood for the prayer. In the meantime Messenger of Allah ﷺ felt better and came out with the help of two persons and both of his legs were dragging on the ground till he entered the mosque. When Abu Bakr heard him coming, he tried to retreat but Messenger of Allah ﷺ beckoned him to carry on. The Prophet ﷺ sat on his left side. Abu Bakr was praying while standing and Messenger of Allah ﷺ was leading the prayer while sitting. Abu Bakr was following the Prophet ﷺ and the people were following Abu Bakr (in the prayer).  

لَمَّا ثَقُلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ جَاءَ بِلاَلٌ يُؤْذِنُهُ بِالصَّلاَةِ فَقَالَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ بِالنَّاسِ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ رَجُلٌ أَسِيفٌ وَإِنَّهُ مَتَى مَا يَقُمْ مَقَامَكَ لاَ يُسْمِعُ النَّاسَ فَلَوْ أَمَرْتَ عُمَرَ فَقَالَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ فَقُلْتُ لِحَفْصَةَ قُولِي لَهُ إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ رَجُلٌ أَسِيفٌ وَإِنَّهُ مَتَى يَقُمْ مَقَامَكَ لاَ يُسْمِعِ النَّاسَ فَلَوْ أَمَرْتَ عُمَرَ قَالَ إِنَّكُنَّ لأَنْتُنَّ صَوَاحِبُ يُوسُفَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ بِالنَّاسِ فَلَمَّا دَخَلَ فِي الصَّلاَةِ وَجَدَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي نَفْسِهِ خِفَّةً فَقَامَ يُهَادَى بَيْنَ رَجُلَيْنِ وَرِجْلاَهُ يَخُطَّانِ فِي الأَرْضِ حَتَّى دَخَلَ الْمَسْجِدَ فَلَمَّا سَمِعَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ حِسَّهُ ذَهَبَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يَتَأَخَّرُ فَأَوْمَأَ إِلَيْهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَجَاءَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ حَتَّى جَلَسَ عَنْ يَسَارِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ فَكَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يُصَلِّي قَائِمًا وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُصَلِّي قَاعِدًا يَقْتَدِي أَبُو بَكْرٍ بِصَلاَةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَالنَّاسُ مُقْتَدُونَ بِصَلاَةِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ ؓ  

Once Messenger of Allah ﷺ prayed two rakʿat (instead of four) and finished his prayer. Dhul-Yadain asked him whether the prayer had been reduced or whether he had forgotten. Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked the people whether Dhul-Yadain was telling the truth. The people replied in the affirmative. Then Allah's Apostle stood up, offered the remaining two rakʿat and then finished his prayer with Taslim and then said, "Allahu Akbar." He followed it with two prostrations like ordinary prostrations or a bit longer.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ انْصَرَفَ مِنَ اثْنَتَيْنِ فَقَالَ لَهُ ذُو الْيَدَيْنِ أَقَصُرَتِ الصَّلاَةُ أَمْ نَسِيتَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَصَدَقَ ذُو الْيَدَيْنِ فَقَالَ النَّاسُ نَعَمْ فَقَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَصَلَّى اثْنَتَيْنِ أُخْرَيَيْنِ ثُمَّ سَلَّمَ ثُمَّ كَبَّرَ فَسَجَدَ مِثْلَ سُجُودِهِ أَوْ أَطْوَلَ  

The Prophet ﷺ prayed two rakʿat of Zuhr prayer (instead of four) and he was told that he had prayed two rakʿat only. Then he prayed two more rakʿat and finished them with the Taslim followed by two prostrations.  

صَلَّى النَّبِيُّ ﷺ الظُّهْرَ رَكْعَتَيْنِ فَقِيلَ صَلَّيْتَ رَكْعَتَيْنِ فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ سَلَّمَ ثُمَّ سَجَدَ سَجْدَتَيْنِ  

the mother of the faithful believers: Messenger of Allah ﷺ in his last illness said, "Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in the prayer." I said, "If Abu Bakr stood in your place, he would not be able to make the people hear him owing to his weeping. So please order ʿUmar to lead the prayer." He said, "Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in the prayer." I said to Hafsa, "Say to him, 'Abu Bakr is a softhearted man and if he stood in your place he would not be able to make the people hear him owing to his weeping. So order ʿUmar to lead the people in the prayer.' " Hafsa did so but Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Keep quiet. Verily you are the companions of (Prophet) Joseph. Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in the prayer." Hafsa said to me, "I never got any good from you."  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ فِي مَرَضِهِ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ قُلْتُ إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ إِذَا قَامَ فِي مَقَامِكَ لَمْ يُسْمِعِ النَّاسَ مِنَ الْبُكَاءِ فَمُرْ عُمَرَ فَلْيُصَلِّ فَقَالَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ لِلنَّاسِ قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ لِحَفْصَةَ قُولِي لَهُ إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ إِذَا قَامَ فِي مَقَامِكَ لَمْ يُسْمِعِ النَّاسَ مِنَ الْبُكَاءِ فَمُرْ عُمَرَ فَلْيُصَلِّ لِلنَّاسِ فَفَعَلَتْ حَفْصَةُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَهْ إِنَّكُنَّ لأَنْتُنَّ صَوَاحِبُ يُوسُفَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ لِلنَّاسِ قَالَتْ حَفْصَةُ لِعَائِشَةَ مَا كُنْتُ لأُصِيبَ مِنْكِ خَيْرًا  

The Prophet ﷺ said, "Straighten your rows or Allah will alter your faces."  

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ لَتُسَوُّنَّ صُفُوفَكُمْ أَوْ لَيُخَالِفَنَّ اللَّهُ بَيْنَ وُجُوهِكُمْ  

The Prophet ﷺ said, "Straighten your rows, for I see you from behind my back.'  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَالَ أَقِيمُوا الصُّفُوفَ فَإِنِّي أَرَاكُمْ خَلْفَ ظَهْرِي  

Once the Iqama was pronounced and Messenger of Allah ﷺ faced us and said, "Straighten your rows and stand closer together, for I see you from behind my back.'  

أُقِيمَتِ الصَّلاَةُ فَأَقْبَلَ عَلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِوَجْهِهِ فَقَالَ أَقِيمُوا صُفُوفَكُمْ وَتَرَاصُّوا فَإِنِّي أَرَاكُمْ مِنْ وَرَاءِ ظَهْرِي  

The Prophet ﷺ said, "Martyrs are those who die because of drowning, plague, an Abdominal disease, or of being buried alive by a falling building." And then he added, "If the people knew the Reward for the Zuhr prayer in its early time, they would race for it. If they knew the reward for the ʿIsha' and the Fajr prayers in congregation, they would join them even if they had to crawl. If they knew the reward for the first row, they would draw lots for it."  

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ الشُّهَدَاءُ الْغَرِقُ وَالْمَطْعُونُ وَالْمَبْطُونُ وَالْهَدْمُ وَقَالَ وَلَوْ يَعْلَمُونَ مَا فِي التَّهْجِيرِ لاَسْتَبَقُوا {إِلَيْهِ} وَلَوْ يَعْلَمُونَ مَا فِي الْعَتَمَةِ وَالصُّبْحِ لأَتَوْهُمَا وَلَوْ حَبْوًا وَلَوْ يَعْلَمُونَ مَا فِي الصَّفِّ الْمُقَدَّمِ لاَسْتَهَمُوا  

The Prophet ﷺ said, "The Imam is (appointed) to be followed. So do not differ from him, bow when he bows, and say, "Rabbana-lakal hamd" if he says "Samiʿa l-lahu liman hamidah"; and if he prostrates, prostrate (after him), and if he prays sitting, pray sitting all together, and straighten the rows for the prayer, as the straightening of the rows is amongst those things which make your prayer a correct and perfect one. (See Hadith No. 657).  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ أَنَّهُ قَالَ إِنَّمَا جُعِلَ الإِمَامُ لِيُؤْتَمَّ بِهِ فَلاَ تَخْتَلِفُوا عَلَيْهِ فَإِذَا رَكَعَ فَارْكَعُوا وَإِذَا قَالَ سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ فَقُولُوا رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ وَإِذَا سَجَدَ فَاسْجُدُوا وَإِذَا صَلَّى جَالِسًا فَصَلُّوا جُلُوسًا أَجْمَعُونَ وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّفَّ فِي الصَّلاَةِ فَإِنَّ إِقَامَةَ الصَّفِّ مِنْ حُسْنِ الصَّلاَةِ  

The Prophet ﷺ said, "Straighten your rows as the straightening of rows is essential for a perfect and correct prayer. "  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ سَوُّوا صُفُوفَكُمْ فَإِنَّ تَسْوِيَةَ الصُّفُوفِ مِنْ إِقَامَةِ الصَّلاَةِ  

I arrived at Medina and was asked whether I found any change since the days of Messenger of Allah ﷺ. I said, "I have not found any change except that you do not stand in alignment in your prayers."  

أَنَّهُ قَدِمَ الْمَدِينَةَ فَقِيلَ لَهُ مَا أَنْكَرْتَ مِنَّا مُنْذُ يَوْمِ عَهِدْتَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ مَا أَنْكَرْتُ شَيْئًا إِلاَّ أَنَّكُمْ لاَ تُقِيمُونَ الصُّفُوفَ وَقَالَ عُقْبَةُ بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ عَنْ بُشَيْرِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ قَدِمَ عَلَيْنَا أَنَسُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ الْمَدِينَةَ بِهَذَا  

The Prophet ﷺ said, "Straighten your rows for I see you from behind my back." Anas added, "Everyone of us used to put his shoulder with the shoulder of his companion and his foot with the foot of his companion."  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ: «أَقِيمُوا صُفُوفَكُمْ، فَإِنِّي أَرَاكُمْ مِنْ وَرَاءِ ظَهْرِي۔» وَكَانَ أَحَدُنَا يُلْزِقُ مَنْكِبَهُ بِمَنْكِبِ صَاحِبِهِ وَقَدَمَهُ بِقَدَمِهِ۔  

I prayed with the Prophet ﷺ one night and stood on his left side. Messenger of Allah ﷺ caught hold of my head from behind and drew me to his right and then offered the prayer and slept. Later the Mu'adh-dhin came and the Prophet ﷺ stood up for prayer without performing ablution.  

صَلَّيْتُ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ فَقُمْتُ عَنْ يَسَارِهِ فَأَخَذَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِرَأْسِي مِنْ وَرَائِي فَجَعَلَنِي عَنْ يَمِينِهِ فَصَلَّى وَرَقَدَ فَجَاءَهُ الْمُؤَذِّنُ فَقَامَ وَصَلَّى وَلَمْ يَتَوَضَّأْ  

One night an orphan and I offered the prayers behind the Prophet ﷺ in my house and my mother (Um Sulaim) was standing behind us (by herself forming a row).  

صَلَّيْتُ أَنَا وَيَتِيمٌ فِي بَيْتِنَا خَلْفَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ وَأُمِّي أُمُّ سُلَيْمٍ خَلْفَنَا  

One night I stood to the left of the Prophet ﷺ in the prayer but he caught hold of me by the hand or by the shoulder (arm) till he made me stand on his right and beckoned with his hand (for me) to go from behind (him). (Al-Kashmaihani [??] , Fath-ul-Bari).  

عَنْ يَسَارِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَأَخَذَ بِيَدِي أَوْ بِعَضُدِي حَتَّى أَقَامَنِي عَنْ يَمِينِهِ وَقَالَ بِيَدِهِ مِنْ وَرَائِي  

Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to pray in his room at night. As the wall of the room was LOW, the people saw him and some of them stood up to follow him in the prayer. In the morning they spread the news. The following night the Prophet ﷺ stood for the prayer and the people followed him. This went on for two or three nights. Thereupon Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not stand for the prayer the following night, and did not come out. In the morning, the people asked him about it. He replied, that he way afraid that the night prayer might become compulsory.  

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فِي حُجْرَتِهِ وَجِدَارُ الْحُجْرَةِ قَصِيرٌ فَرَأَى النَّاسُ شَخْصَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقَامَ أُنَاسٌ يُصَلُّونَ بِصَلاَتِهِ فَأَصْبَحُوا فَتَحَدَّثُوا بِذَلِكَ فَقَامَ لَيْلَةَ الثَّانِيَةِ فَقَامَ مَعَهُ أُنَاسٌ يُصَلُّونَ بِصَلاَتِهِ صَنَعُوا ذَلِكَ لَيْلَتَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلاَثَةً حَتَّى إِذَا كَانَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ جَلَسَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَلَمْ يَخْرُجْ فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحَ ذَكَرَ ذَلِكَ النَّاسُ فَقَالَ إِنِّي خَشِيتُ أَنْ تُكْتَبَ عَلَيْكُمْ صَلاَةُ اللَّيْلِ  

The Prophet ﷺ had a mat which he used to spread during the day and use as a curtain at night. So a number of people gathered at night facing it and prayed behind him.  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ كَانَ لَهُ حَصِيرٌ يَبْسُطُهُ بِالنَّهَارِ وَيَحْتَجِرُهُ بِاللَّيْلِ فَثَابَ إِلَيْهِ نَاسٌ فَصَلَّوْا وَرَاءَهُ  

Messenger of Allah ﷺ made a small room in the month of Ramadan (Saʿid said, "I think that Zaid bin Thabit said that it was made of a mat") and he prayed there for a few nights, and so some of his companions prayed behind him. When he came to know about it, he kept on sitting. In the morning, he went out to them and said, "I have seen and understood what you did. You should pray in your houses, for the best prayer of a person is that which he prays in his house except the compulsory prayers."  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ اتَّخَذَ حُجْرَةً قَالَ حَسِبْتُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ مِنْ حَصِيرٍ فِي رَمَضَانَ فَصَلَّى فِيهَا لَيَالِيَ فَصَلَّى بِصَلاَتِهِ نَاسٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ فَلَمَّا عَلِمَ بِهِمْ جَعَلَ يَقْعُدُ فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْهِمْ فَقَالَ قَدْ عَرَفْتُ الَّذِي رَأَيْتُ مِنْ صَنِيعِكُمْ فَصَلُّوا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ فِي بُيُوتِكُمْ فَإِنَّ أَفْضَلَ الصَّلاَةِ صَلاَةُ الْمَرْءِ فِي بَيْتِهِ إِلاَّ الْمَكْتُوبَةَ قَالَ عَفَّانُ حَدَّثَنَا وُهَيْبٌ حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى سَمِعْتُ أَبَا النَّضْرِ عَنْ بُسْرٍ عَنْ زَيْدٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ  

Messenger of Allah ﷺ rode a horse and fell down and the right side of his body was injured. On that day he prayed one of the prayers sitting and we also prayed behind him sitting. When the Prophet ﷺ finished the prayer with Taslim, he said, "The Imam is to be followed and if he prays standing then pray standing, and bow when he bows, and raise your heads when he raises his head; prostrate when he prostrates; and if he says "Samiʿa l-lahu liman hamidah", you should say, "Rabbana wa laka l-hamd.:  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ رَكِبَ فَرَسًا فَجُحِشَ شِقُّهُ الأَيْمَنُ قَالَ أَنَسٌ ؓ فَصَلَّى لَنَا يَوْمَئِذٍ صَلاَةً مِنَ الصَّلَوَاتِ وَهْوَ قَاعِدٌ فَصَلَّيْنَا وَرَاءَهُ قُعُودًا ثُمَّ قَالَ لَمَّا سَلَّمَ إِنَّمَا جُعِلَ الإِمَامُ لِيُؤْتَمَّ بِهِ فَإِذَا صَلَّى قَائِمًا فَصَلُّوا قِيَامًا وَإِذَا رَكَعَ فَارْكَعُوا وَإِذَا رَفَعَ فَارْفَعُوا وَإِذَا سَجَدَ فَاسْجُدُوا وَإِذَا قَالَ سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ فَقُولُوا رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ  

Messenger of Allah ﷺ fell from a horse and got injured so he led the prayer sitting and we also prayed sitting. When he completed the prayer he said, "The Imam is to be followed; if he says Takbir then say Takbir, bow if he bows; raise your heads when he raises his head, when he says, 'Samiʿa l-lahu liman hamidah say, 'Rabbana laka l-hamd', and prostrate when he prostrates."  

أَنَّهُ قَالَ خَرَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَنْ فَرَسٍ فَجُحِشَ فَصَلَّى لَنَا قَاعِدًا فَصَلَّيْنَا مَعَهُ قُعُودًا ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ فَقَالَ إِنَّمَا الإِمَامُ أَوْ إِنَّمَا جُعِلَ الإِمَامُ لِيُؤْتَمَّ بِهِ فَإِذَا كَبَّرَ فَكَبِّرُوا وَإِذَا رَكَعَ فَارْكَعُوا وَإِذَا رَفَعَ فَارْفَعُوا وَإِذَا قَالَ سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ فَقُولُوا رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ وَإِذَا سَجَدَ فَاسْجُدُوا  

The Prophet ﷺ said, "The Imam is to be followed. Say the Takbir when he says it; bow if he bows; if he says 'Samiʿa l-lahu liman hamidah', say, ' Rabbana wa laka l-hamd', prostrate if he prostrates and pray sitting altogether if he prays sitting."  

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ إِنَّمَا جُعِلَ الإِمَامُ لِيُؤْتَمَّ بِهِ فَإِذَا كَبَّرَ فَكَبِّرُوا وَإِذَا رَكَعَ فَارْكَعُوا وَإِذَا قَالَ سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ فَقُولُوا رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ وَإِذَا سَجَدَ فَاسْجُدُوا وَإِذَا صَلَّى جَالِسًا فَصَلُّوا جُلُوسًا أَجْمَعُونَ  

My father said, "Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to raise both his hands up to the level of his shoulders when opening the prayer; and on saying the Takbir for bowing. And on raising his head from bowing he used to do the same and then say "Samiʿa l-lahu liman hamidah, Rabbana wa laka l-hamd." And he did not do that (i.e. raising his hands) in prostrations.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَانَ يَرْفَعُ يَدَيْهِ حَذْوَ مَنْكِبَيْهِ إِذَا افْتَتَحَ الصَّلاَةَ وَإِذَا كَبَّرَ لِلرُّكُوعِ وَإِذَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ الرُّكُوعِ رَفَعَهُمَا كَذَلِكَ أَيْضًا وَقَالَ سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ وَكَانَ لاَ يَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ فِي السُّجُودِ  

I saw that whenever Messenger of Allah ﷺ stood for the prayer, he used to raise both his hands up to the shoulders, and used to do the same on saying the Takbir for bowing and on raising his head from it and used to say, "Samiʿa l-lahu liman hamidah". But he did not do that (i.e. raising his hands) in prostrations.  

رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذَا قَامَ فِي الصَّلاَةِ رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ حَتَّى يَكُونَا حَذْوَ مَنْكِبَيْهِ وَكَانَ يَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ حِينَ يُكَبِّرُ لِلرُّكُوعِ وَيَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ إِذَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ الرُّكُوعِ وَيَقُولُ سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ وَلاَ يَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ فِي السُّجُودِ  

I saw Malik bin Huwairith saying Takbir and raising both his hands (on starting the prayers and raising his hands on bowing and also on raising his head after bowing. Malik bin Huwairith said, "Messenger of Allah ﷺ did the same."  

أَنْ يَرْكَعَ رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ وَإِذَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ الرُّكُوعِ رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ وَحَدَّثَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ صَنَعَ هَكَذَا  

I saw Messenger of Allah ﷺ opening the prayer with the Takbir and raising his hands to the level of his shoulders at the time of saying the Takbir, and on saying the Takbir for bowing he did the same; and when he said, "Samiʿa l-lahu liman hamidah ", he did the same and then said, "Rabbana wa laka lhamd." But he did not do the same on prostrating and on lifting the head from it."  

رَأَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ افْتَتَحَ التَّكْبِيرَ فِي الصَّلاَةِ فَرَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ حِينَ يُكَبِّرُ حَتَّى يَجْعَلَهُمَا حَذْوَ مَنْكِبَيْهِ وَإِذَا كَبَّرَ لِلرُّكُوعِ فَعَلَ مِثْلَهُ وَإِذَا قَالَ سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ فَعَلَ مِثْلَهُ وَقَالَ رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ وَلاَ يَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ حِينَ يَسْجُدُ وَلاَ حِينَ يَرْفَعُ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ السُّجُودِ  

Whenever Ibn ʿUmar started the prayer with Takbir, he used to raise his hands: whenever he bowed, he used to raise his hands (before bowing) and also used to raise his hands on saying, "Samiʿa l-lahu liman hamidah", and he used to do the same on rising from the second rakʿa (for the 3rd rakʿa). Ibn ʿUmar said: "The Prophet ﷺ used to do the same."  

سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ وَإِذَا قَامَ مِنَ الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ وَرَفَعَ ذَلِكَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ إِلَى نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ ﷺ رَوَاهُ حَمَّادُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ عَنْ أَيُّوبَ عَنْ نَافِعٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ وَرَوَاهُ ابْنُ طَهْمَانَ عَنْ أَيُّوبَ وَمُوسَى بْنِ عُقْبَةَ مُخْتَصَرًا  

The people were ordered to place the right hand on the left forearm in the prayer. Abu Hazim said, "I knew that the order was from the Prophet ﷺ ."  

أَنْ يَضَعَ الرَّجُلُ الْيَدَ الْيُمْنَى عَلَى ذِرَاعِهِ الْيُسْرَى فِي الصَّلاَةِ قَالَ أَبُو حَازِمٍ لاَ أَعْلَمُهُ إِلاَّ يَنْمِي ذَلِكَ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ إِسْمَاعِيلُ يُنْمَى ذَلِكَ وَلَمْ يَقُلْ يَنْمِي  

Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "You see me facing the Qibla; but, by Allah, nothing is hidden from me regarding your bowing and submissiveness and I see you from behind my back."  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ هَلْ تَرَوْنَ قِبْلَتِي هَا هُنَا وَاللَّهِ مَا يَخْفَى عَلَىَّ رُكُوعُكُمْ وَلاَ خُشُوعُكُمْ وَإِنِّي لأَرَاكُمْ وَرَاءَ ظَهْرِي  

The Prophet ﷺ said, "Perform the bowing and the prostrations properly. By Allah, I see you from behind me (or from behind my back) when you bow or prostrate."  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ أَقِيمُوا الرُّكُوعَ وَالسُّجُودَ فَوَاللَّهِ إِنِّي لأَرَاكُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِي وَرُبَّمَا قَالَ مِنْ بَعْدِ ظَهْرِي إِذَا رَكَعْتُمْ وَسَجَدْتُمْ  

The Prophet, Abu Bakr and ʿUmar used to start the prayer with "Al hamdu li l-lahi Rabbi l-ʿalamin (All praise is but to Allah, Lord of the Worlds).  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ وَأَبَا بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ ؓ كَانُوا يَفْتَتِحُونَ الصَّلاَةَ بِ {الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ}  

Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to keep silent between the Takbir and the recitation of Qur'an and that interval of silence used to be a short one. I said to the Prophet ﷺ "May my parents be sacrificed for you! What do you say in the pause between Takbir and recitation?" The Prophet ﷺ said, "I say, 'Allahumma, baaʿid baini wa baina khatayaya kama baaʿadta baina l-mashriqi wa l-maghrib. Allahumma, naqqini min khatayaya kama yunaqqa th-thawbu l-abyadu mina d-danas. Allahumma, ighsil khatayaya bi l-maa'i wa th-thalji wa l-barad (O Allah! Set me apart from my sins (faults) as the East and West are set apart from each other and clean me from sins as a white garment is cleaned of dirt (after thorough washing). O Allah! Wash off my sins with water, snow and hail.)"  

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَسْكُتُ بَيْنَ التَّكْبِيرِ وَبَيْنَ الْقِرَاءَةِ إِسْكَاتَةً قَالَ أَحْسِبُهُ قَالَ هُنَيَّةً فَقُلْتُ بِأَبِي وَأُمِّي يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِسْكَاتُكَ بَيْنَ التَّكْبِيرِ وَالْقِرَاءَةِ مَا تَقُولُ قَالَ أَقُولُ اللَّهُمَّ بَاعِدْ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ خَطَايَاىَ كَمَا بَاعَدْتَ بَيْنَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ اللَّهُمَّ نَقِّنِي مِنَ الْخَطَايَا كَمَا يُنَقَّى الثَّوْبُ الأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الدَّنَسِ اللَّهُمَّ اغْسِلْ خَطَايَاىَ بِالْمَاءِ وَالثَّلْجِ وَالْبَرَدِ  

The Prophet ﷺ once offered the eclipse prayer. He stood for a long time and then did a prolonged bowing. He stood up straight again and kept on standing for a long time, then bowed a long bowing and then stood up straight and then prostrated a prolonged prostration and then lifted his head and prostrated a prolonged prostration. And then he stood up for a long time and then did a prolonged bowing and then stood up straight again and kept on standing for a long time. Then he bowed a long bowing and then stood up straight and then prostrated a prolonged prostration and then lifted his head and went for a prolonged prostration. On completion o the prayer, he said, "Paradise became s near to me that if I had dared, I would have plucked one of its bunches for you and Hell became so near to me that said, 'O my Lord will I be among those people?' Then suddenly I saw a woman and a cat was lacerating her with it claws. On inquiring, it was said that the woman had imprisoned the cat till it died of starvation and she neither fed it no freed it so that it could feed itself."  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ صَلَّى صَلاَةَ الْكُسُوفِ فَقَامَ فَأَطَالَ الْقِيَامَ ثُمَّ رَكَعَ فَأَطَالَ الرُّكُوعَ ثُمَّ قَامَ فَأَطَالَ الْقِيَامَ ثُمَّ رَكَعَ فَأَطَالَ الرُّكُوعَ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ ثُمَّ سَجَدَ فَأَطَالَ السُّجُودَ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ ثُمَّ سَجَدَ فَأَطَالَ السُّجُودَ ثُمَّ قَامَ فَأَطَالَ الْقِيَامَ ثُمَّ رَكَعَ فَأَطَالَ الرُّكُوعَ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ فَأَطَالَ الْقِيَامَ ثُمَّ رَكَعَ فَأَطَالَ الرُّكُوعَ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ فَسَجَدَ فَأَطَالَ السُّجُودَ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ ثُمَّ سَجَدَ فَأَطَالَ السُّجُودَ ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ فَقَالَ قَدْ دَنَتْ مِنِّي الْجَنَّةُ حَتَّى لَوِ اجْتَرَأْتُ عَلَيْهَا لَجِئْتُكُمْ بِقِطَافٍ مِنْ قِطَافِهَا وَدَنَتْ مِنِّي النَّارُ حَتَّى قُلْتُ أَىْ رَبِّ وَأَنَا مَعَهُمْ فَإِذَا امْرَأَةٌ حَسِبْتُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ تَخْدِشُهَا هِرَّةٌ قُلْتُ مَا شَأْنُ هَذِهِ قَالُوا حَبَسَتْهَا حَتَّى مَاتَتْ جُوعًا لاَ أَطْعَمَتْهَا وَلاَ أَرْسَلَتْهَا تَأْكُلُ قَالَ نَافِعٌ حَسِبْتُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ مِنْ خَشِيشِ أَوْ خُشَاشِ الأَرْضِ  

We asked Khabbab whether Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to recite (the Qur'an) in the Zuhr and the ʿAsr prayers. He replied in the affirmative. We said, "How did you come to know about it?" He said, "By the movement of his beard."  

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

(And Al-Bara was not a liar) Whenever we offered prayer with the Prophet ﷺ and he raised his head from the bowing, we used to remain standing till we saw him prostrating .  

حَدَّثَنَا الْبَرَاءُ وَكَانَ غَيْرَ كَذُوبٍ أَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا إِذَا صَلَّوْا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَرَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ الرُّكُوعِ قَامُوا قِيَامًا حَتَّى يَرَوْنَهُ قَدْ سَجَدَ  

Once solar eclipse occurred during the lifetime of Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He offered the eclipse prayer. His companions asked, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! We saw you trying to take something while standing at your place and then we saw you retreating." The Prophet ﷺ said, "I was shown Paradise and wanted to have a bunch of fruit from it. Had I taken it, you would have eaten from it as long as the world remains."  

خَسَفَتِ الشَّمْسُ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَصَلَّى قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ رَأَيْنَاكَ تَنَاوَلُ شَيْئًا فِي مَقَامِكَ ثُمَّ رَأَيْنَاكَ تَكَعْكَعْتَ قَالَ إِنِّي أُرِيتُ الْجَنَّةَ فَتَنَاوَلْتُ مِنْهَا عُنْقُودًا وَلَوْ أَخَذْتُهُ لأَكَلْتُمْ مِنْهُ مَا بَقِيَتِ الدُّنْيَا  

The Prophet ﷺ led us in prayer and then went up to the pulpit and beckoned with both hands towards the Qibla of the mosque and then said, "When I started leading you in prayer, I saw the display of Paradise and Hell on the wall of the mosque (facing the Qibla). I never saw good and bad as I have seen today." He repeated the last statement thrice.  

صَلَّى لَنَا النَّبِيُّ ﷺ ثُمَّ رَقَا الْمِنْبَرَ فَأَشَارَ بِيَدَيْهِ قِبَلَ قِبْلَةِ الْمَسْجِدِ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَقَدْ رَأَيْتُ الآنَ مُنْذُ صَلَّيْتُ لَكُمُ الصَّلاَةَ الْجَنَّةَ وَالنَّارَ مُمَثَّلَتَيْنِ فِي قِبْلَةِ هَذَا الْجِدَارِ فَلَمْ أَرَ كَالْيَوْمِ فِي الْخَيْرِ وَالشَّرِّ ثَلاَثًا  

The Prophet ﷺ said, "What is wrong with those people who look towards the sky during the prayer?" His talk grew stern while delivering this speech and he said, "They should stop (looking towards the sky during the prayer); otherwise their eyesight would be taken away."  

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ مَا بَالُ أَقْوَامٍ يَرْفَعُونَ أَبْصَارَهُمْ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ فِي صَلاَتِهِمْ فَاشْتَدَّ قَوْلُهُ فِي ذَلِكَ حَتَّى قَالَ لَيَنْتَهُنَّ عَنْ ذَلِكَ أَوْ لَتُخْطَفَنَّ أَبْصَارُهُمْ  

I asked Messenger of Allah ﷺ about looking hither and thither in prayer. He replied, "It is a way of stealing by which Satan takes away (a portion) from the prayer of a person."  

سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَنْ الاِلْتِفَاتِ فِي الصَّلاَةِ فَقَالَ هُوَ اخْتِلاَسٌ يَخْتَلِسُهُ الشَّيْطَانُ مِنْ صَلاَةِ الْعَبْدِ  

Once the Prophet ﷺ prayed on a Khamisa with marks on it and said, "The marks on it diverted my attention, take this Khamisa to Abu Jahm and bring an Inbijaniya (from him.)"  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ صَلَّى فِي خَمِيصَةٍ لَهَا أَعْلاَمٌ فَقَالَ شَغَلَتْنِي أَعْلاَمُ هَذِهِ اذْهَبُوا بِهَا إِلَى أَبِي جَهْمٍ وَأْتُونِي بِأَنْبِجَانِيَّةٍ  

The Prophet ﷺ saw expectoration in the direction of the Qibla of the mosque while he was leading the prayer, and scratched it off. After finishing the prayer, he said, "Whenever any of you is in prayer he should know that Allah is in front of him. So none should spit in front of him in the prayer."  

أَنَّهُ قَالَ رَأَى النَّبِيُّ ﷺ نُخَامَةً فِي قِبْلَةِ الْمَسْجِدِ وَهْوَ يُصَلِّي بَيْنَ يَدَىِ النَّاسِ فَحَتَّهَا ثُمَّ قَالَ حِينَ انْصَرَفَ إِنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ إِذَا كَانَ فِي الصَّلاَةِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ قِبَلَ وَجْهِهِ فَلاَ يَتَنَخَّمَنَّ أَحَدٌ قِبَلَ وَجْهِهِ فِي الصَّلاَةِ رَوَاهُ مُوسَى بْنُ عُقْبَةَ وَابْنُ أَبِي رَوَّادٍ عَنْ نَافِعٍ  

While the Muslims were offering the Fajr prayer, Messenger of Allah ﷺ suddenly appeared before them by living the curtain of the dwelling place of ʿAisha, looked towards the Muslims who were standing in rows. He smiled with pleasure. Abu Bakr started retreating to join the row on the assumption that the Prophet wanted to come out for the prayer. The Muslims intended to leave the prayer (and were on the verge of being put to trial), but the Prophet ﷺ beckoned them to complete their prayer and then he let the curtain fall. He died in the last hours of that day.  

بَيْنَمَا الْمُسْلِمُونَ فِي صَلاَةِ الْفَجْرِ لَمْ يَفْجَأْهُمْ إِلاَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَشَفَ سِتْرَ حُجْرَةِ عَائِشَةَ فَنَظَرَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَهُمْ صُفُوفٌ فَتَبَسَّمَ يَضْحَكُ وَنَكَصَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ؓ عَلَى عَقِبَيْهِ لِيَصِلَ لَهُ الصَّفَّ فَظَنَّ أَنَّهُ يُرِيدُ الْخُرُوجَ وَهَمَّ الْمُسْلِمُونَ أَنْ يَفْتَتِنُوا فِي صَلاَتِهِمْ فَأَشَارَ إِلَيْهِمْ أَتِمُّوا صَلاَتَكُمْ فَأَرْخَى السِّتْرَ وَتُوُفِّيَ مِنْ آخِرِ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ  

The People of Kufa complained against Saʿd to ʿUmar and the latter dismissed him and appointed ʿAmmar as their chief . They lodged many complaints against Saʿd and even they alleged that he did not pray properly. ʿUmar sent for him and said, "O Aba 'Is-haq! These people claim that you do not pray properly." Abu 'Is-haq said, "By Allah, I used to pray with them a prayer similar to that of Allah's Apostle and I never reduced anything of it. I used to prolong the first two rakʿat of ʿIsha prayer and shorten the last two rakʿat." ʿUmar said, "O Aba 'Is-haq, this was what I thought about you." And then he sent one or more persons with him to Kufa so as to ask the people about him. So they went there and did not leave any mosque without asking about him. All the people praised him till they came to the mosque of the tribe of Bani ʿAbs; one of the men called Usama bin Qatada with a surname of Aba Saʿda stood up and said, "As you have put us under an oath; I am bound to tell you that Saʿd never went himself with the army and never distributed (the war booty) equally and never did justice in legal verdicts." (On hearing it) Saʿd said, "I pray to Allah for three things: O Allah! If this slave of yours is a liar and got up for showing off, give him a long life, increase his poverty and put him to trials." (And so it happened). Later on when that person was asked how he was, he used to reply that he was an old man in trial as the result of Saʿd's curse. ʿAbdul Malik, the sub narrator, said that he had seen him afterwards and his eyebrows were overhanging his eyes owing to old age and he used to tease and assault the small girls in the way.  

شَكَا أَهْلُ الْكُوفَةِ سَعْدًا إِلَى عُمَرَ ؓ فَعَزَلَهُ وَاسْتَعْمَلَ عَلَيْهِمْ عَمَّارًا فَشَكَوْا حَتَّى ذَكَرُوا أَنَّهُ لاَ يُحْسِنُ يُصَلِّي فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا إِسْحَاقَ إِنَّ هَؤُلاَءِ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّكَ لاَ تُحْسِنُ تُصَلِّي قَالَ أَبُو إِسْحَاقَ أَمَّا أَنَا وَاللَّهِ فَإِنِّي كُنْتُ أُصَلِّي بِهِمْ صَلاَةَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَا أَخْرِمُ عَنْهَا أُصَلِّي صَلاَةَ الْعِشَاءِ فَأَرْكُدُ فِي الأُولَيَيْنِ وَأُخِفُّ فِي الأُخْرَيَيْنِ قَالَ ذَاكَ الظَّنُّ بِكَ يَا أَبَا إِسْحَاقَ فَأَرْسَلَ مَعَهُ رَجُلاً أَوْ رِجَالاً إِلَى الْكُوفَةِ فَسَأَلَ عَنْهُ أَهْلَ الْكُوفَةِ وَلَمْ يَدَعْ مَسْجِدًا إِلاَّ سَأَلَ عَنْهُ وَيُثْنُونَ مَعْرُوفًا حَتَّى دَخَلَ مَسْجِدًا لِبَنِي عَبْسٍ فَقَامَ رَجُلٌ مِنْهُمْ يُقَالُ لَهُ أُسَامَةُ بْنُ قَتَادَةَ يُكْنَى أَبَا سَعْدَةَ قَالَ أَمَّا إِذْ نَشَدْتَنَا فَإِنَّ سَعْدًا كَانَ لاَ يَسِيرُ بِالسَّرِيَّةِ وَلاَ يَقْسِمُ بِالسَّوِيَّةِ وَلاَ يَعْدِلُ فِي الْقَضِيَّةِ قَالَ سَعْدٌ أَمَا وَاللَّهِ لأَدْعُوَنَّ بِثَلاَثٍ اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كَانَ عَبْدُكَ هَذَا كَاذِبًا قَامَ رِيَاءً وَسُمْعَةً فَأَطِلْ عُمْرَهُ وَأَطِلْ فَقْرَهُ وَعَرِّضْهُ بِالْفِتَنِ وَكَانَ بَعْدُ إِذَا سُئِلَ يَقُولُ شَيْخٌ كَبِيرٌ مَفْتُونٌ أَصَابَتْنِي دَعْوَةُ سَعْدٍ قَالَ عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ فَأَنَا رَأَيْتُهُ بَعْدُ قَدْ سَقَطَ حَاجِبَاهُ عَلَى عَيْنَيْهِ مِنَ الْكِبَرِ وَإِنَّهُ لَيَتَعَرَّضُ لِلْجَوَارِي فِي الطُّرُقِ يَغْمِزُهُنَّ  

Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Whoever does not recite Al-Fatiha in his prayer, his prayer is invalid."  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ لاَ صَلاَةَ لِمَنْ لَمْ يَقْرَأْ بِفَاتِحَةِ الْكِتَابِ