I said: Messenger of Allah, which mosque was set up first on the earth? He said: Al-Masjid al-Haram (the sacred). I (again) said: Then which next? He said: It was the Masjid Aqsa. I (again) said: How long the space of time (between their setting up)? He (the Holy Prophet) said: It was forty years. And whenever the time comes for prayer, pray there, for that is a mosque; and in the hadith transmitted by Abu Kamil (the words are):" Whenever time comes for prayer, pray, for that is a mosque (for you)."  

قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَىُّ مَسْجِدٍ وُضِعَ فِي الأَرْضِ أَوَّلُ قَالَ الْمَسْجِدُ الْحَرَامُ قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَىٌّ قَالَ الْمَسْجِدُ الأَقْصَى قُلْتُ كَمْ بَيْنَهُمَا قَالَ أَرْبَعُونَ سَنَةً وَأَيْنَمَا أَدْرَكَتْكَ الصَّلاَةُ فَصَلِّ فَهُوَ مَسْجِدٌ وَفِي حَدِيثِ أَبِي كَامِلٍ ثُمَّ حَيْثُمَا أَدْرَكَتْكَ الصَّلاَةُ فَصَلِّهْ فَإِنَّهُ مَسْجِدٌ  

I used to read the Qur'an with my father in the vestibule (before the door of the mosque). When I recited the ayat (verses) concerning prostration, he prostrated himself. I said to him: Father, do you prostrate yourself in the path? He said: I heard Abu Dharr saying: I asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about the mosque that was first set up on the earth. He said: Masjid Harim. I said: Then which next? He said: The Masjid al-Aqsa. I said: How long is the space of time between the two? He said: Forty years. He (then) further said: The earth is a mosque for you, so wherever you are at the time of prayer, pray there.  

كُنْتُ أَقْرَأُ عَلَى أَبِي الْقُرْآنَ فِي السُّدَّةِ فَإِذَا قَرَأْتُ السَّجْدَةَ سَجَدَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ يَا أَبَتِ أَتَسْجُدُ فِي الطَّرِيقِ قَالَ إِنِّي سَمِعْتُ أَبَا ذَرٍّ يَقُولُ سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَنْ أَوَّلِ مَسْجِدٍ وُضِعَ فِي الأَرْضِ قَالَ الْمَسْجِدُ الْحَرَامُ قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَىٌّ قَالَ الْمَسْجِدُ الأَقْصَى قُلْتُ كَمْ بَيْنَهُمَا قَالَ أَرْبَعُونَ عَامًا ثُمَّ الأَرْضُ لَكَ مَسْجِدٌ فَحَيْثُمَا أَدْرَكَتْكَ الصَّلاَةُ فَصَلِّ  

The Prophet ﷺ said: I have been conferred upon five (things) which were not granted to anyone before me (and these are): Every apostle wassent particularly to his own people, whereas I have been sent to all the red and the black the spoils of war have been made lawful for me, and these were never made lawful to anyone before me, and the earth has been made sacred and pure and mosque for me, so whenever the time of prayer comes for any one of you he should pray whenever he is, and I have been supported by awe (by which the enemy is overwhelmed) from the distance (which one takes) one month to cover and I have been granted intercession.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أُعْطِيتُ خَمْسًا لَمْ يُعْطَهُنَّ أَحَدٌ قَبْلِي كَانَ كُلُّ نَبِيٍّ يُبْعَثُ إِلَى قَوْمِهِ خَاصَّةً وَبُعِثْتُ إِلَى كُلِّ أَحْمَرَ وَأَسْوَدَ وَأُحِلَّتْ لِيَ الْغَنَائِمُ وَلَمْ تُحَلَّ لأَحَدٍ قَبْلِي وَجُعِلَتْ لِيَ الأَرْضُ طَيِّبَةً طَهُورًا وَمَسْجِدًا فَأَيُّمَا رَجُلٍ أَدْرَكَتْهُ الصَّلاَةُ صَلَّى حَيْثُ كَانَ وَنُصِرْتُ بِالرُّعْبِ بَيْنَ يَدَىْ مَسِيرَةِ شَهْرٍ وَأُعْطِيتُ الشَّفَاعَةَ  

Jabir b. 'Abdullah related that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, and he related like this.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ فَذَكَرَ نَحْوَهُ  

The Messenger of Allah (may peace be npon him) said: We have been made to excel (other) people in three (things): Our rows have been made like the rows of the angels and the whole earth has been made a mosque for us, and its dust has been made a purifier for us in case water is not available. And he mentioned another characteristic too  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فُضِّلْنَا عَلَى النَّاسِ بِثَلاَثٍ جُعِلَتْ صُفُوفُنَا كَصُفُوفِ الْمَلاَئِكَةِ وَجُعِلَتْ لَنَا الأَرْضُ كُلُّهَا مَسْجِدًا وَجُعِلَتْ تُرْبَتُهَا لَنَا طَهُورًا إِذَا لَمْ نَجِدِ الْمَاءَ وَذَكَرَ خَصْلَةً أُخْرَى  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said like this.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِمِثْلِهِ  

I have been given superiority over the other prophets in six respects: I have been given words which are concise but comprehensive in meaning; I have been helped by terror (in the hearts of enemies): spoils have been made lawful to me: the earth has been made for me clean and a place of worship; I have been sent to all mankind and the line of prophets is closed with me.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ فُضِّلْتُ عَلَى الأَنْبِيَاءِ بِسِتٍّ أُعْطِيتُ جَوَامِعَ الْكَلِمِ وَنُصِرْتُ بِالرُّعْبِ وَأُحِلَّتْ لِيَ الْغَنَائِمُ وَجُعِلَتْ لِيَ الأَرْضُ طَهُورًا وَمَسْجِدًا وَأُرْسِلْتُ إِلَى الْخَلْقِ كَافَّةً وَخُتِمَ بِيَ النَّبِيُّونَ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: I have been commissioned with words which are concise but comprehensive in meaning; I have been helped by terror (in the hearts of enemies): and while I was asleep I was brought the keys of the treasures of the earth which were placed in my hand. And Abfi Huraira added: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ has left (for his heavenly home) and you are now busy in getting them.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بُعِثْتُ بِجَوَامِعِ الْكَلِمِ وَنُصِرْتُ بِالرُّعْبِ وَبَيْنَا أَنَا نَائِمٌ أُتِيتُ بِمَفَاتِيحِ خَزَائِنِ الأَرْضِ فَوُضِعَتْ فِي يَدَىَّ قَالَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ فَذَهَبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَأَنْتُمْ تَنْتَثِلُونَهَا  

I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying a hadith like that of Yunus.  

سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ مِثْلَ حَدِيثِ يُونُسَ  

This hadith has been narratted by Abu Huraira by another chain of transmitters.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ بِمِثْلِهِ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: I have been helped by terror (in the heart of the enemy) ; I have been given words which are concise but comprehensive in meaning; and while I was asleep I was brought the keys of the treasures of the earth which were placed in my hand.  

عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنَّهُ قَالَ نُصِرْتُ بِالرُّعْبِ عَلَى الْعَدُوِّ وَأُوتِيتُ جَوَامِعَ الْكَلِمِ وَبَيْنَمَا أَنَا نَائِمٌ أُتِيتُ بِمَفَاتِيحِ خَزَائِنِ الأَرْضِ فَوُضِعَتْ فِي يَدَىَّ  

That is what Abu Huraira reported to us from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and he narrated (some) ahadith one of which is that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: I have been helped by terror (in the hearts of enemies) and I have been given words which are concise but comprehensive in meaning.  

عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَذَكَرَ أَحَادِيثَ مِنْهَا وَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ نُصِرْتُ بِالرُّعْبِ وَأُوتِيتُ جَوَامِعَ الْكَلِمِ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to Medina and stayed in the upper part of Medina for fourteen nights with a tribe called Banu 'Amr b 'Auf. He then sent for the chiefs of Banu al-Najir, and they came with swords around their inecks. He (the narrator) said: I perceive as if I am seeing the Messenger of Allah ﷺ on his ride with Abu Bakr behind him and the chiefs of Banu al-Najjar around him till he alighted in the courtyard of Abu Ayyub. He (the narrator) said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said prayer when the time came for prayer, and he prayed in the fold of goats and sheep. He then ordered mosques to be built and sent for the chiefs of Banu al-Najjar, and they came (to him). He (the Holy Prophet) said to them: O Banu al-Najjar, sell these lands of yours to me. They said: No, by Allah. we would not demand their price, but (reward) from the Lord. Anas said: There (in these lands) were trees and graves of the polytheists, and ruins. The Messenger of Allah (may peace he upon him) ordered that the trees should be cut, and the graves should be dug out, and the ruins should be levelled. The trees (were thus) placed in rows towards the qibla and the stones were set on both sides of the door, and (while building the mosque) they (the Companions) sang rajaz verses along with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ: O Allah: there is no good but the good of the next world, So help the Ansar and the Muhajirin.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَدِمَ الْمَدِينَةَ فَنَزَلَ فِي عُلْوِ الْمَدِينَةِ فِي حَىٍّ يُقَالُ لَهُمْ بَنُو عَمْرِو بْنِ عَوْفٍ فَأَقَامَ فِيهِمْ أَرْبَعَ عَشْرَةَ لَيْلَةً ثُمَّ إِنَّهُ أَرْسَلَ إِلَى مَلإِ بَنِي النَّجَّارِ فَجَاءُوا مُتَقَلِّدِينَ بِسُيُوفِهِمْ قَالَ فَكَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَلَى رَاحِلَتِهِ وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ رِدْفُهُ وَمَلأُ بَنِي النَّجَّارِ حَوْلَهُ حَتَّى أَلْقَى بِفِنَاءِ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ قَالَ فَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُصَلِّي حَيْثُ أَدْرَكَتْهُ الصَّلاَةُ وَيُصَلِّي فِي مَرَابِضِ الْغَنَمِ ثُمَّ إِنَّهُ أَمَرَ بِالْمَسْجِدِ قَالَ فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَى مَلإِ بَنِي النَّجَّارِ فَجَاءُوا فَقَالَ يَا بَنِي النَّجَّارِ ثَامِنُونِي بِحَائِطِكُمْ هَذَا قَالُوا لاَ وَاللَّهِ لاَ نَطْلُبُ ثَمَنَهُ إِلاَّ إِلَى اللَّهِ قَالَ أَنَسٌ فَكَانَ فِيهِ مَا أَقُولُ كَانَ فِيهِ نَخْلٌ وَقُبُورُ الْمُشْرِكِينَ وَخِرَبٌ فَأَمَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِالنَّخْلِ فَقُطِعَ وَبِقُبُورِ الْمُشْرِكِينَ فَنُبِشَتْ وَبِالْخِرَبِ فُسُوِّيَتْ قَالَ فَصَفُّوا النَّخْلَ قِبْلَةً وَجَعَلُوا عِضَادَتَيْهِ حِجَارَةً قَالَ فَكَانُوا يَرْتَجِزُونَ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَعَهُمْ وَهُمْ يَقُولُونَ اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّهُ لاَ خَيْرَ إِلاَّ خَيْرُ الآخِرَهْ فَانْصُرِ الأَنْصَارَ وَالْمُهَاجِرَهْ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to pray in the folds of the sheep and goats before the mosque was built.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَانَ يُصَلِّي فِي مَرَابِضِ الْغَنَمِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُبْنَى الْمَسْجِدُ  

I heard from Anas a narration like this from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.  

سَمِعْتُ أَنَسًا يَقُولُ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِمِثْلِهِ  

I said prayer with the Apostle ﷺ turning towards Bait-ul-Maqdis for sixteen months till this verse of Surah Baqara wis revealed:" And wherever you are turn your faces towards it" (ii. 144). This verse was revealed when the Apostle ﷺ had said prayer. A person amongst his people passed by the people of Ansar as they were engaged in prayer. He narrated to them (this command of Allah) and they turned their faces towards the Ka'ba.  

صَلَّيْتُ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ إِلَى بَيْتِ الْمَقْدِسِ سِتَّةَ عَشَرَ شَهْرًا حَتَّى نَزَلَتِ الآيَةُ الَّتِي فِي الْبَقَرَةِ { وَحَيْثُمَا كُنْتُمْ فَوَلُّوا وُجُوهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُ} فَنَزَلَتْ بَعْدَ مَا صَلَّى النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَانْطَلَقَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ فَمَرَّ بِنَاسٍ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ وَهُمْ يُصَلُّونَ فَحَدَّثَهُمْ فَوَلَّوْا وُجُوهَهُمْ قِبَلَ الْبَيْتِ  

I heard al-Bara' saying: We prayed with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ (with our faces) towards Bait-ul-Maqdis for sixteen months or seventeen months. Then we were made to change (our direction) towards the Ka'ba.  

سَمِعْتُ الْبَرَاءَ يَقُولُ صَلَّيْنَا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ نَحْوَ بَيْتِ الْمَقْدِسِ سِتَّةَ عَشَرَ شَهْرًا أَوْ سَبْعَةَ عَشَرَ شَهْرًا ثُمَّ صُرِفْنَا نَحْوَ الْكَعْبَةِ  

As the people were praying at Quba' a man came to them and said: It has been revealed to file Messenger of Allah ﷺ during the night and he has been directed to turn towards the Ka'ba. So turn towards it. Their faces were towards Syria and they turned round towards Ka'ba.  

بَيْنَمَا النَّاسُ فِي صَلاَةِ الصُّبْحِ بِقُبَاءٍ إِذْ جَاءَهُمْ آتٍ فَقَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَدْ أُنْزِلَ عَلَيْهِ اللَّيْلَةَ وَقَدْ أُمِرَ أَنْ يَسْتَقْبِلَ الْكَعْبَةَ فَاسْتَقْبِلُوهَا وَكَانَتْ وُجُوهُهُمْ إِلَى الشَّامِ فَاسْتَدَارُوا إِلَى الْكَعْبَةِ  

As the people were engaged in the morning prayer a man came to them. The rest of the hadith is the same.  

بَيْنَمَا النَّاسُ فِي صَلاَةِ الْغَدَاةِ إِذْ جَاءَهُمْ رَجُلٌ بِمِثْلِ حَدِيثِ مَالِكٍ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to pray towards Bait-ul-Maqdis, that it was revealed (to him):" Indeed We see the turning of the face to heaven, wherefore We shall assuredly cause thee to turn towards Qibla which shall please thee. So turn thy face towards the sacred Mosque (Ka'ba)" (ii. 144). A person from Banu Salama was going; (he found the people) in ruk'u (while) praying the dawn prayer and they had said one rak'ah. He said in a loud voice: Listen! the Qibla has been changed and they turned towards (the new) Qibla (Ka'ba) in that very state.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَانَ يُصَلِّي نَحْوَ بَيْتِ الْمَقْدِسِ فَنَزَلَتْ { قَدْ نَرَى تَقَلُّبَ وَجْهِكَ فِي السَّمَاءِ فَلَنُوَلِّيَنَّكَ قِبْلَةً تَرْضَاهَا فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ} فَمَرَّ رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَنِي سَلِمَةَ وَهُمْ رُكُوعٌ فِي صَلاَةِ الْفَجْرِ وَقَدْ صَلَّوْا رَكْعَةً فَنَادَى أَلاَ إِنَّ الْقِبْلَةَ قَدْ حُوِّلَتْ فَمَالُوا كَمَا هُمْ نَحْوَ الْقِبْلَةِ  

Umm Habiba and Umm Salama made a mention before the Messenger of Allah ﷺ of a church which they had seen in Abyssinia and which had pictures in it. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: When a pious person amongst them (among the religious groups) dies they build a place of worship on his grave, and then decorate it with such pictures. They would be the worst of creatures on the Day of judgment in the sight of Allah.  

أَنَّ أُمَّ حَبِيبَةَ وَأُمَّ سَلَمَةَ ذَكَرَتَا كَنِيسَةً رَأَيْنَهَا بِالْحَبَشَةِ فِيهَا تَصَاوِيرُ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِنَّ أُولَئِكِ إِذَا كَانَ فِيهِمُ الرَّجُلُ الصَّالِحُ فَمَاتَ بَنَوْا عَلَى قَبْرِهِ مَسْجِدًا وَصَوَّرُوا فِيهِ تِلْكَ الصُّوَرَ أُولَئِكِ شِرَارُ الْخَلْقِ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ  

They (some Companions of the Holy Prophet) were conversing with one another in the presence of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ (during his last) illness. Umm Salama and Umm Habiba made a mention of the church and then (the hadith was) narrated.  

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ أَنَّهُمْ تَذَاكَرُوا عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي مَرَضِهِ فَذَكَرَتْ أُمُّ سَلَمَةَ وَأُمُّ حَبِيبَةَ كَنِيسَةً ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ نَحْوَهُ  

The wives of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be Upon him) made a mention of the church which they had seen in Abyssinia which was called Marya, and the rest of the hadith is the same.  

ذَكَرْنَ أَزْوَاجُ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ كَنِيسَةً رَأَيْنَهَا بِأَرْضِ الْحَبَشَةِ يُقَالُ لَهَا مَارِيَةُ بِمِثْلِ حَدِيثِهِمْ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said during his illness from which he never recovered: Allah cursed the Jews and the Christians that they took the graves of their prophets as mosques. She ('A'isha) reported: Had it not been so, his (Prophet's) grave would have been in an open place, but it could not be due to the fear that it may not be taken as a mosque.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي مَرَضِهِ الَّذِي لَمْ يَقُمْ مِنْهُ لَعَنَ اللَّهُ الْيَهُودَ وَالنَّصَارَى اتَّخَذُوا قُبُورَ أَنْبِيَائِهِمْ مَسَاجِدَ قَالَتْ فَلَوْلاَ ذَاكَ أُبْرِزَ قَبْرُهُ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ خُشِيَ أَنْ يُتَّخَذَ مَسْجِدًا وَفِي رِوَايَةِ ابْنِ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ وَلَوْلاَ ذَاكَ لَمْ يَذْكُرْ قَالَتْ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Let Allah destroy the Jews for they have taken the graves of their apostles as places of worship.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَاتَلَ اللَّهُ الْيَهُودَ اتَّخَذُوا قُبُورَ أَنْبِيَائِهِمْ مَسَاجِدَ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Let there be curse of Allah upon the Jews and the Christians for they have taken the graves of their apostles as places of worship.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ لَعَنَ اللَّهُ الْيَهُودَ وَالنَّصَارَى اتَّخَذُوا قُبُورَ أَنْبِيَائِهِمْ مَسَاجِدَ  

As the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was about to breathe his last, he drew his sheet upon his face and when he felt uneasy, he uncovered his face and said in that very state: Let there be curse upon the Jews and the Christians that they have taken the graves of their apostles as places of worship. He in fact warned (his men) against what they (the Jews and the Christians) did.  

أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ وَعَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَبَّاسٍ قَالاَ لَمَّا نَزَلَتْ بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ طَفِقَ يَطْرَحُ خَمِيصَةً لَهُ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ فَإِذَا اغْتَمَّ كَشَفَهَا عَنْ وَجْهِهِ فَقَالَ وَهُوَ كَذَلِكَ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَى الْيَهُودِ وَالنَّصَارَى اتَّخَذُوا قُبُورَ أَنْبِيَائِهِمْ مَسَاجِدَ يُحَذِّرُ مِثْلَ مَا صَنَعُوا  

I heard from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ five days before his death and he said: I stand acquitted before Allah that I took any one of you as friend, for Allah has taken me as His friend, as he took Ibrahim as His friend. Had I taken any one of my Ummah as a friend, I would have taken Abu Bakr as a friend. Beware of those who preceded you and used to take the graves of their prophets and righteous men as places of worship, but you must not take graves as mosques; I forbid you to do that.  

سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَمُوتَ بِخَمْسٍ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ إِنِّي أَبْرَأُ إِلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ يَكُونَ لِي مِنْكُمْ خَلِيلٌ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى قَدِ اتَّخَذَنِي خَلِيلاً كَمَا اتَّخَذَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ خَلِيلاً وَلَوْ كُنْتُ مُتَّخِذًا مِنْ أُمَّتِي خَلِيلاً لاَتَّخَذْتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ خَلِيلاً أَلاَ وَإِنَّ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ كَانُوا يَتَّخِذُونَ قُبُورَ أَنْبِيَائِهِمْ وَصَالِحِيهِمْ مَسَاجِدَ أَلاَ فَلاَ تَتَّخِذُوا الْقُبُورَ مَسَاجِدَ إِنِّي أَنْهَاكُمْ عَنْ ذَلِكَ  

'Uthman b. 'Affan listened to the opinion of the people (which was not favourable) when he rebuilt the mosque of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Thereupon he said: You have not been fair to me for I have heard from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying: He who built a mosque for Allah, the Exalted, Allah would build for him a house in Paradise. Bukair said: I think he (the Holy Prophet) said: While he seeks the pleasure of Allah (by building the mosque). And in the narration of Ibn 'Isa (the words are):" (a house) like that (mosque) in Paradise."  

أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ عُثْمَانَ بْنَ عَفَّانَ عِنْدَ قَوْلِ النَّاسِ فِيهِ حِينَ بَنَى مَسْجِدَ الرَّسُولِ ﷺ إِنَّكُمْ قَدْ أَكْثَرْتُمْ وَإِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ مَنْ بَنَى مَسْجِدًا لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى قَالَ بُكَيْرٌ حَسِبْتُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ يَبْتَغِي بِهِ وَجْهَ اللَّهِ بَنَى اللَّهُ لَهُ بَيْتًا فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَقَالَ ابْنُ عِيسَى فِي رِوَايَتِهِ مِثْلَهُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ  

When 'Uthman b. 'Affan intended to build the mosque (of the Prophet) the people did not approve of it. They liked that it should be kept in the same state. Thereupon he said: I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: He who built a mosque for Allah, Allah would build a house for him like it in Paradise.  

سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ مَنْ بَنَى مَسْجِدًا لِلَّهِ بَنَى اللَّهُ لَهُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ مِثْلَهُ  

We came to the house of 'Abdullah b. Mas'ud. He said: Have these people said prayer behind you? We said: No. He said: Then stand up and say prayer. He neither ordered us to say Adhan nor Iqama. We went to stand behind him. He caught hold of our hands and mode one of us stand on his right hand and the other on his left side. When we bowed, we placed our hands on our knees. He struck our hands and put his hands together, palm to palm, then put them between his thighs. When he completed the prayer he said. There would soon come your Amirs, who would defer prayers from their appointed time and would make such delay that a little time is left before sunset. So when you see them doing so, say prayer at its appointed time and then say prayer along with them as (Nafl), and when you are three, pray together (standing in one row), and when you are more than three, appoint one amongst you as your Imam. And when any one of you bows he must place his hands upon hie thighs and kneel down. and putting his palms together place (them within his thighs). I perceive as if I am seeing the gap between the fingers of the Messenger of Allah (may peace he upon him).  

أَصَلَّى هَؤُلاَءِ خَلْفَكُمْ فَقُلْنَا لاَ قَالَ فَقُومُوا فَصَلُّوا فَلَمْ يَأْمُرْنَا بِأَذَانٍ وَلاَ إِقَامَةٍ قَالَ وَذَهَبْنَا لِنَقُومَ خَلْفَهُ فَأَخَذَ بِأَيْدِينَا فَجَعَلَ أَحَدَنَا عَنْ يَمِينِهِ وَالآخَرَ عَنْ شِمَالِهِ قَالَ فَلَمَّا رَكَعَ وَضَعْنَا أَيْدِيَنَا عَلَى رُكَبِنَا قَالَ فَضَرَبَ أَيْدِيَنَا وَطَبَّقَ بَيْنَ كَفَّيْهِ ثُمَّ أَدْخَلَهُمَا بَيْنَ فَخِذَيْهِ قَالَ فَلَمَّا صَلَّى قَالَ إِنَّهُ سَتَكُونُ عَلَيْكُمْ أُمَرَاءُ يُؤَخِّرُونَ الصَّلاَةَ عَنْ مِيقَاتِهَا وَيَخْنُقُونَهَا إِلَى شَرَقِ الْمَوْتَى فَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمُوهُمْ قَدْ فَعَلُوا ذَلِكَ فَصَلُّوا الصَّلاَةَ لِمِيقَاتِهَا وَاجْعَلُوا صَلاَتَكُمْ مَعَهُمْ سُبْحَةً وَإِذَا كُنْتُمْ ثَلاَثَةً فَصَلُّوا جَمِيعًا وَإِذَا كُنْتُمْ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ فَلْيَؤُمَّكُمْ أَحَدُكُمْ وَإِذَا رَكَعَ أَحَدُكُمْ فَلْيَفْرِشْ ذِرَاعَيْهِ عَلَى فَخِذَيْهِ وَلْيَجْنَأْ وَلْيُطَبِّقْ بَيْنَ كَفَّيْهِ فَلَكَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى اخْتِلاَفِ أَصَابِعِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَأَرَاهُمْ  

" I perceive as if I am seeing the gap between the fingers of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ as he was bowing."  

عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ وَالأَسْوَدِ أَنَّهُمَا دَخَلاَ عَلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بِمَعْنَى حَدِيثِ أَبِي مُعَاوِيَةَ وَفِي حَدِيثِ ابْنِ مُسْهِرٍ وَجَرِيرٍ فَلَكَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى اخْتِلاَفِ أَصَابِعِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَهُوَ رَاكِعٌ  

Have (people) behind you said prayer? They said: Yes. He stood between them ('Alqama and Aswad). One was on his right aide and the other was on his left. We then bowed and placed our hands on our knees. He struck our hands and then putting his hands together, palm to palm, placed them between his thighs. When he completed the prayer he said: This is how the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to do.  

عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ وَالأَسْوَدِ أَنَّهُمَا دَخَلاَ عَلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ أَصَلَّى مَنْ خَلْفَكُمْ قَالاَ نَعَمْ فَقَامَ بَيْنَهُمَا وَجَعَلَ أَحَدَهُمَا عَنْ يَمِينِهِ وَالآخَرَ عَنْ شِمَالِهِ ثُمَّ رَكَعْنَا فَوَضَعْنَا أَيْدِيَنَا عَلَى رُكَبِنَا فَضَرَبَ أَيْدِيَنَا ثُمَّ طَبَّقَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ ثُمَّ جَعَلَهُمَا بَيْنَ فَخِذَيْهِ فَلَمَّا صَلَّى قَالَ هَكَذَا فَعَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ  

I said prayer by the side of my father and placed my hands between my knees. My father said to me: Place your hands on your knees. I repeated that (the previous act) for the second time, and he struck at my hands and said: We have been forbidden to do so and have been commanded to place our palms on the knees.  

لِي أَبِي اضْرِبْ بِكَفَّيْكَ عَلَى رُكْبَتَيْكَ قَالَ ثُمَّ فَعَلْتُ ذَلِكَ مَرَّةً أُخْرَى فَضَرَبَ يَدَىَّ وَقَالَ إِنَّا نُهِينَا عَنْ هَذَا وَأُمِرْنَا أَنْ نَضْرِبَ بِالأَكُفِّ عَلَى الرُّكَبِ  

We have been forbidden from it and no mention of that has been made what follows it.  

عَنْ أَبِي يَعْفُورٍ بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ إِلَى قَوْلِهِ فَنُهِينَا عَنْهُ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرَا مَا بَعْدَهُ  

I bowed and my hands were in this state, i. e. they were put together, palm to palm, and were placed between his thighs. My father said: We used to do like this but were later on commanded to place them on the knees.  

رَكَعْتُ فَقُلْتُ بِيَدَىَّ هَكَذَا يَعْنِي طَبَّقَ بِهِمَا وَوَضَعَهُمَا بَيْنَ فَخِذَيْهِ فَقَالَ أَبِي قَدْ كُنَّا نَفْعَلُ هَذَا ثُمَّ أُمِرْنَا بِالرُّكَبِ  

I said prayer by the side of my father. When I bowed I intertwined my fingers and placed them between my knees. He struck my hands. When he completed the prayer he said: We used to do that but then were commanded to lift (our palms) to the knees.  

صَلَّيْتُ إِلَى جَنْبِ أَبِي فَلَمَّا رَكَعْتُ شَبَّكْتُ أَصَابِعِي وَجَعَلْتُهُمَا بَيْنَ رُكْبَتَىَّ فَضَرَبَ يَدَىَّ فَلَمَّا صَلَّى قَالَ قَدْ كُنَّا نَفْعَلُ هَذَا ثُمَّ أُمِرْنَا أَنْ نَرْفَعَ إِلَى الرُّكَبِ  

We asked Ibn Abbas about sitting on one's buttocks (in prayer). (ala alqad mein) He said: It is sunnah. We said to him: We find it a sort of cruelty to the foot. Ibn 'Abbas said: It is the sunnah of your Apostle ﷺ.  

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ وَتَقَارَبَا فِي اللَّفْظِ قَالاَ جَمِيعًا أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ أَخْبَرَنِي أَبُو الزُّبَيْرِ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ طَاوُسًا يَقُولُ قُلْنَا لاِبْنِ عَبَّاسٍ فِي الإِقْعَاءِ عَلَى الْقَدَمَيْنِ فَقَالَ هِيَ السُّنَّةُ فَقُلْنَا لَهُ إِنَّا لَنَرَاهُ جَفَاءً بِالرَّجُلِ فَقَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ بَلْ هِيَ سُنَّةُ نَبِيِّكَ ﷺ  

While I was praying with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, a man in the company sneezed. I said: Allah have mercy on you! The people stared at me with disapproving looks, so I said: Woe be upon me, why is it that you stare at me? They began to strike their hands on their thighs, and when I saw them urging me to observe silence (I became angry) but I said nothing. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had said the prayer (and I declare that neither before him nor after him have I seen a leader who gave better instruction than he for whom I would give my father and mother as ransom). I swear that he did not scold, beat or revile me but said: Talking to persons is not fitting during the prayer, for it consists of glorifying Allah, declaring his Greatness. and recitation of the Qur'an or words to that effect. I said: Messenger of Allah. I was till recently a pagan, but Allah has brought Islam to us; among us there are men who have recourse to Kahins. He said, Do not have recourse to them. I said. There are men who take omens. That is something which they find in their breasts, but let it not turn their way (from freedom of action). I said: Among us there are men who draw lines. He said: There was a prophet who drew lines, so if they do it as they did, that is allowable. I had a maid-servant who tended goats by the side of Uhud and Jawwaniya. One day I happened to pass that way and found that a wolf had carried a goat from her flock. I am after all a man from the posterity of Adam. I felt sorry as they (human beings) feel sorry. So I slapped her. I came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and felt (this act of mine) as something grievous I said: Messenger of Allah, should I not grant her freedom? He (the Holy Prophet) said: Bring her to me. So I brought her to him. He said to her: Where is Allah? She said: He is in the heaven. He said: Who am I? She said: Thou art the Messenger of Allah. He said: Grant her freedom, she is a believing woman.  

بَيْنَا أَنَا أُصَلِّي مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذْ عَطَسَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ فَقُلْتُ يَرْحَمُكَ اللَّهُ فَرَمَانِي الْقَوْمُ بِأَبْصَارِهِمْ فَقُلْتُ وَاثُكْلَ أُمِّيَاهْ مَا شَأْنُكُمْ تَنْظُرُونَ إِلَىَّ فَجَعَلُوا يَضْرِبُونَ بِأَيْدِيهِمْ عَلَى أَفْخَاذِهِمْ فَلَمَّا رَأَيْتُهُمْ يُصَمِّتُونَنِي لَكِنِّي سَكَتُّ فَلَمَّا صَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَبِأَبِي هُوَ وَأُمِّي مَا رَأَيْتُ مُعَلِّمًا قَبْلَهُ وَلاَ بَعْدَهُ أَحْسَنَ تَعْلِيمًا مِنْهُ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا كَهَرَنِي وَلاَ ضَرَبَنِي وَلاَ شَتَمَنِي قَالَ إِنَّ هَذِهِ الصَّلاَةَ لاَ يَصْلُحُ فِيهَا شَىْءٌ مِنْ كَلاَمِ النَّاسِ إِنَّمَا هُوَ التَّسْبِيحُ وَالتَّكْبِيرُ وَقِرَاءَةُ الْقُرْآنِ أَوْ كَمَا قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ

قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي حَدِيثُ عَهْدٍ بِجَاهِلِيَّةٍ وَقَدْ جَاءَ اللَّهُ بِالإِسْلاَمِ وَإِنَّ مِنَّا رِجَالاً يَأْتُونَ الْكُهَّانَ قَالَ فَلاَ تَأْتِهِمْ قَالَ وَمِنَّا رِجَالٌ يَتَطَيَّرُونَ قَالَ ذَاكَ شَىْءٌ يَجِدُونَهُ فِي صُدُورِهِمْ فَلاَ يَصُدَّنَّهُمْ قَالَ ابْنُ الصَّبَّاحِ فَلاَ يَصُدَّنَّكُمْ قَالَ قُلْتُ وَمِنَّا رِجَالٌ يَخُطُّونَ قَالَ كَانَ نَبِيٌّ مِنَ الأَنْبِيَاءِ يَخُطُّ فَمَنْ وَافَقَ خَطَّهُ فَذَاكَ قَالَ وَكَانَتْ لِي جَارِيَةٌ تَرْعَى غَنَمًا لِي قِبَلَ أُحُدٍ وَالْجَوَّانِيَّةِ فَاطَّلَعْتُ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ فَإِذَا الذِّيبُ قَدْ ذَهَبَ بِشَاةٍ مِنْ غَنَمِهَا وَأَنَا رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَنِي آدَمَ آسَفُ كَمَا يَأْسَفُونَ لَكِنِّي صَكَكْتُهَا صَكَّةً فَأَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَعَظَّمَ ذَلِكَ عَلَىَّ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَفَلاَ أُعْتِقُهَا قَالَ ائْتِنِي بِهَا فَأَتَيْتُهُ بِهَا فَقَالَ لَهَا أَيْنَ اللَّهُ قَالَتْ فِي السَّمَاءِ قَالَ مَنْ أَنَا قَالَتْ أَنْتَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ قَالَ أَعْتِقْهَا فَإِنَّهَا مُؤْمِنَةٌ  

This hadith has been narrated by Yahya b. Abu Kathir with the same chain of transmitters.  

عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ نَحْوَهُ  

We used to greet the Messenger of Allah ﷺ while he was engaged in prayer and he would respond to our greeting. But when we returned from the Negus we greeted him and he did not respond to us; so we said: Messenger of Allah. we used to greet you when you were engaged in prayer and you would respond to us. He replied: Prayer demands whole attention.  

كُنَّا نُسَلِّمُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَهُوَ فِي الصَّلاَةِ فَيَرُدُّ عَلَيْنَا فَلَمَّا رَجَعْنَا مِنْ عِنْدِ النَّجَاشِي سَلَّمْنَا عَلَيْهِ فَلَمْ يَرُدَّ عَلَيْنَا فَقُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ كُنَّا نُسَلِّمُ عَلَيْكَ فِي الصَّلاَةِ فَتَرُدُّ عَلَيْنَا فَقَالَ إِنَّ فِي الصَّلاَةِ شُغُلاً  

This hadith has been reported by A'mash with the same chain of transmitters.  

عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ نَحْوَهُ  

We used to talk while engaged in prayer and a person talked with a companion on his side in prayer till (this verse) was revealed:" And stand before Allah in devout obedience" (ii, 238) and we were commanded to observe silence (in prayer) and were forbidden to speak.  

كُنَّا نَتَكَلَّمُ فِي الصَّلاَةِ يُكَلِّمُ الرَّجُلُ صَاحِبَهُ وَهُوَ إِلَى جَنْبِهِ فِي الصَّلاَةِ حَتَّى نَزَلَتْ { وَقُومُوا لِلَّهِ قَانِتِينَ} فَأُمِرْنَا بِالسُّكُوتِ وَنُهِينَا عَنِ الْكَلاَمِ  

A hadith like this has been transmitted by Isma'il b. Abu Khalid.  

عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ أَبِي خَالِدٍ بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ نَحْوَهُ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent me on an errand. I (having done the business assigned to me came back and) joined him as he was going (on a ride). Qutaiba said that he was saying prayer while he rode. I greeted him. He gestured to me. When he completed the prayer. he called me and said: You greeted me just now while I was engaged in prayer. (Qutaiba said): His (Prophet's face) was towards the east, as he was praying.  

أَنَّهُ قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ بَعَثَنِي لِحَاجَةٍ ثُمَّ أَدْرَكْتُهُ وَهُوَ يَسِيرُ قَالَ قُتَيْبَةُ يُصَلِّي فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَأَشَارَ إِلَىَّ فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ دَعَانِي فَقَالَ إِنَّكَ سَلَّمْتَ آنِفًا وَأَنَا أُصَلِّي وَهُوَ مُوَجِّهٌ حِينَئِذٍ قِبَلَ الْمَشْرِقِ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent me (on an errand) while he was going to Banu Mustaliq. I came to him and he was engaged in prayer on the back of his camel. I talked to him and he gestured to me With his hand, and Zuhair gestured with his hand. I then again talked and he again (gestured to me with his hand). Zuhair pointed with his hand towards the ground. I heard him (the Holy Prophet) reciting the Qur'an and making a sign with his head. When he com- pleted the prayer he sa'id: What have you done (with regard to that business) for which I sent you? I could not talk with you but for the fact that I was engaged in prayer. Zuhair told that Abu Zubair was sitting with his face turned towards Qibla (as he transmitted this hadith). Abu Zuhair pointed towards Banu Mustaliq with his hand and the direction to which he pointed with his hand was not towards the Ka'ba.  

أَرْسَلَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَهُوَ مُنْطَلِقٌ إِلَى بَنِي الْمُصْطَلِقِ فَأَتَيْتُهُ وَهُوَ يُصَلِّي عَلَى بَعِيرِهِ فَكَلَّمْتُهُ فَقَالَ لِي بِيَدِهِ هَكَذَا وَأَوْمَأَ زُهَيْرٌ بِيَدِهِ ثُمَّ كَلَّمْتُهُ فَقَالَ لِي هَكَذَا فَأَوْمَأَ زُهَيْرٌ أَيْضًا بِيَدِهِ نَحْوَ الأَرْضِ وَأَنَا أَسْمَعُهُ يَقْرَأُ يُومِئُ بِرَأْسِهِ فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ قَالَ مَا فَعَلْتَ فِي الَّذِي أَرْسَلْتُكَ لَهُ فَإِنَّهُ لَمْ يَمْنَعْنِي أَنْ أُكَلِّمَكَ إِلاَّ أَنِّي كُنْتُ أُصَلِّي قَالَ زُهَيْرٌ وَأَبُو الزُّبَيْرِ جَالِسٌ مُسْتَقْبِلَ الْكَعْبَةِ فَقَالَ بِيَدِهِ أَبُو الزُّبَيْرِ إِلَى بَنِي الْمُصْطَلِقِ فَقَالَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى غَيْرِ الْكَعْبَةِ  

We were in the company of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and he sent me on an errand, and when I came back (I saw him) saying prayer on his ride and his face was not turned towards Qibla. I greeted him but he did not respond to me. As he completed the prayer, he said: Nothing prevented me from responding to your greeting but the fact that I was praying.  

كُنَّا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَبَعَثَنِي فِي حَاجَةٍ فَرَجَعْتُ وَهُوَ يُصَلِّي عَلَى رَاحِلَتِهِ وَوَجْهُهُ عَلَى غَيْرِ الْقِبْلَةِ فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَلَمْ يَرُدَّ عَلَىَّ فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَ قَالَ إِنَّهُ لَمْ يَمْنَعْنِي أَنْ أَرُدَّ عَلَيْكَ إِلاَّ أَنِّي كُنْتُ أُصَلِّي  

This hadith that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent Jabir on an errand has been reported by him through another chain of transmitters.  

بَعَثَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي حَاجَةٍ بِمَعْنَى حَدِيثِ حَمَّادٍ  

A highly wicked one amongst the Jinn escaped yesternight to interrupt my prayer, but Allah gave me power over him, so I seized him and intended to tie him to one of the pillars of the mosque in order that you, all together or all, might look at him, but I remembered the supplication of my brother Sulaiman:" My Lord, forgive me, give me such a kingdom as will not be possible for anyone after me" (Qur'an, xxxvii. 35).  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِنَّ عِفْرِيتًا مِنَ الْجِنِّ جَعَلَ يَفْتِكُ عَلَىَّ الْبَارِحَةَ لِيَقْطَعَ عَلَىَّ الصَّلاَةَ وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ أَمْكَنَنِي مِنْهُ فَذَعَتُّهُ فَلَقَدْ هَمَمْتُ أَنْ أَرْبِطَهُ إِلَى جَنْبِ سَارِيَةٍ مِنْ سَوَارِي الْمَسْجِدِ حَتَّى تُصْبِحُوا تَنْظُرُونَ إِلَيْهِ أَجْمَعُونَ أَوْ كُلُّكُمْ ثُمَّ ذَكَرْتُ قَوْلَ أَخِي سُلَيْمَانَ رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَهَبْ لِي مُلْكًا لاَ يَنْبَغِي لأَحَدٍ مِنْ بَعْدِي فَرَدَّهُ اللَّهُ خَاسِئًا وَقَالَ ابْنُ مَنْصُورٍ شُعْبَةُ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ  

This hadith has been transmitted by Ibn Abi Shaiba.  

فِي رِوَايَتِهِ فَدَعَتُّهُ