The Messenger of Allah ﷺ struck my thigh and said: How would you act if you survive among the people who would delay prayers beyond their (prescribed) time? He (Abu Dharr) said: What do you command (under this situation)? He (the Holy Prophet) slid: Observe prayer at its prescribed time, then go (to meet) your needs, and if the Iqama is pronounced, and you are present in the mosque, then observe prayer (along with the Jama'at).  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَضَرَبَ فَخِذِي كَيْفَ أَنْتَ إِذَا بَقِيتَ فِي قَوْمٍ يُؤَخِّرُونَ الصَّلاَةَ عَنْ وَقْتِهَا قَالَ قَالَ مَا تَأْمُرُ قَالَ صَلِّ الصَّلاَةَ لِوَقْتِهَا ثُمَّ اذْهَبْ لِحَاجَتِكَ فَإِنْ أُقِيمَتِ الصَّلاَةُ وَأَنْتَ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَصَلِّ  

Ibn Ziyad delayed the prayer. 'Abdullah b. Samit came to me and I placed a chair for him and he sat in it and I made a mention of whit Ibn Ziyad had done. He bit hit lips (as a sign of extreme anger and annoyance) and struck at my thigh and said: I asked Abu Dharr as you have asked me, and he struck my thigh just as I have struck your thigh, and said: I asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ as you have asked me and he struck my thigh just as I have struck your thigh, and he (the Holy Prophet) said: Observe prayer at its prescribed time, and if you can say prayer along with them. do so, and do not say." I have observed prayer and so I shall not pray."  

وَقَالَ إِنِّي سَأَلْتُ أَبَا ذَرٍّ كَمَا سَأَلْتَنِي فَضَرَبَ فَخِذِي كَمَا ضَرَبْتُ فَخِذَكَ وَقَالَ إِنِّي سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَمَا سَأَلْتَنِي فَضَرَبَ فَخِذِي كَمَا ضَرَبْتُ فَخِذَكَ وَقَالَ صَلِّ الصَّلاَةَ لِوَقْتِهَا فَإِنْ أَدْرَكَتْكَ الصَّلاَةُ مَعَهُمْ فَصَلِّ وَلاَ تَقُلْ إِنِّي قَدْ صَلَّيْتُ فَلاَ أُصَلِّي  

(The Messenger of Allah) said: How would you, or how would thou, act if you survive to live among people who defer prayer beyond the (prescribed) time? (The narrator said: Allah and His Messenger know best). whereupon he said: Observe prayer at its prescribed time, but if the Iqama is pronounced for (congregational) prayer, then observe prayer along with them. for herein is an excess of virtue.  

كَيْفَ أَنْتَ إِذَا بَقِيتَ فِي قَوْمٍ يُؤَخِّرُونَ الصَّلاَةَ عَنْ وَقْتِهَا فَصَلِّ الصَّلاَةَ لِوَقْتِهَا ثُمَّ إِنْ أُقِيمَتِ الصَّلاَةُ فَصَلِّ مَعَهُمْ فَإِنَّهَا زِيَادَةُ خَيْرٍ  

I said to 'Abdullah b. Samit: We say our Jumu'a prayer behind those rulers who defer the prayer. He ('Abdullah b. Samit), struck. my thigh that I felt pain and said: I asked Abu Dharr about it, he struck my thigh and said: I asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about it. Upon this he said: Observe prayer at its prescribed time, and treat prayer along with them (along with those Imams who deter prayer) as Nafl. 'Abdullah said: It was narrated to me that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ struck the thigh of Abd Dharr.  

وَقَالَ سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ صَلُّوا الصَّلاَةَ لِوَقْتِهَا وَاجْعَلُوا صَلاَتَكُمْ مَعَهُمْ نَافِلَةً قَالَ وَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ ذُكِرَ لِي أَنَّ نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ ﷺ ضَرَبَ فَخِذَ أَبِي ذَرٍّ  

Prayer said in a congregation is twenty-five degrees more excellent than prayer said by a single person.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ صَلاَةُ الْجَمَاعَةِ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ صَلاَةِ أَحَدِكُمْ وَحْدَهُ بِخَمْسَةٍ وَعِشْرِينَ جُزْءًا  

Prayer said in a congregation is twenty-five degrees more excellent than prayer said by a single person. He (Abu Huraira further) said: The angels of the night and the angels of the day meet together. Abu Huraira said: Recite it you like:" Surely the recital of the Qur'an at dawn is witnessed" (al-Qur'an, xvii. 78).  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ تَفْضُلُ صَلاَةٌ فِي الْجَمِيعِ عَلَى صَلاَةِ الرَّجُلِ وَحْدَهُ خَمْسًا وَعِشْرِينَ دَرَجَةً قَالَ وَتَجْتَمِعُ مَلاَئِكَةُ اللَّيْلِ وَمَلاَئِكَةُ النَّهَارِ فِي صَلاَةِ الْفَجْرِ قَالَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ اقْرَءُوا إِنْ شِئْتُمْ { وَقُرْآنَ الْفَجْرِ إِنَّ قُرْآنَ الْفَجْرِ كَانَ مَشْهُودًا}  

A hadith like this has been narrated by Abu Huraira with another chain of transmitters with a very slight change of words.  

سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ يَقُولُ بِمِثْلِ حَدِيثِ عَبْدِ الأَعْلَى عَنْ مَعْمَرٍ إِلاَّ أَنَّهُ قَالَ بِخَمْسٍ وَعِشْرِينَ جُزْءًا  

Prayer said in a congregation is equivalent to twenty-five (prayers) as compared with the prayer said by a single person.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ صَلاَةُ الْجَمَاعَةِ تَعْدِلُ خَمْسًا وَعِشْرِينَ مِنْ صَلاَةِ الْفَذِّ  

The Messenger of Allah (way peace be upon him) said: Prayer along with the Imam is twenty-five times more excellent than prayer said by a single person.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ صَلاَةٌ مَعَ الإِمَامِ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ خَمْسٍ وَعِشْرِينَ صَلاَةً يُصَلِّيهَا وَحْدَهُ  

Prayer said in a congregation is twenty-seven degrees more excellent than prayer said by a single person.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ صَلاَةُ الْجَمَاعَةِ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ صَلاَةِ الْفَذِّ بِسَبْعٍ وَعِشْرِينَ دَرَجَةً  

The prayer of a person in congregation is twenty-seven times in excess to the prayer said alone.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ صَلاَةُ الرَّجُلِ فِي الْجَمَاعَةِ تَزِيدُ عَلَى صَلاَتِهِ وَحْدَهُ سَبْعًا وَعِشْرِينَ  

Ibn Numair reported it on the authority of his father (a preference of) more than twenty (degrees) and Abu Bakr in his narration (has narrated it) twenty- seven degrees.  

عَنْ أَبِيهِ بِضْعًا وَعِشْرِينَ وَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فِي رِوَايَتِهِ سَبْعًا وَعِشْرِينَ دَرَجَةً  

Ibn 'Umar reported from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ as some and twenty (degrees).  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ بِضْعًا وَعِشْرِينَ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ found some people absenting from certain prayers and he said: I intend that I order (a) person to lead people in prayer, and then go to the persons who do not join the (congregational prayer) and then order their houses to be burnt by the bundles of fuel. If one amongst them were to know that he would find a fat fleshy bone he would attend the night prayer.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَدَ نَاسًا فِي بَعْضِ الصَّلَوَاتِ فَقَالَ لَقَدْ هَمَمْتُ أَنْ آمُرَ رَجُلاً يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ ثُمَّ أُخَالِفَ إِلَى رِجَالٍ يَتَخَلَّفُونَ عَنْهَا فَآمُرَ بِهِمْ فَيُحَرِّقُوا عَلَيْهِمْ بِحُزَمِ الْحَطَبِ بُيُوتَهُمْ وَلَوْ عَلِمَ أَحَدُهُمْ أَنَّهُ يَجِدُ عَظْمًا سَمِينًا لَشَهِدَهَا يَعْنِي صَلاَةَ الْعِشَاءِ  

The most burdensome prayers for the hypocrites are the night prayer and the morning prayer. If they were to know the blessings they have in store, they would have come to them, even though crawling, and I thought that I should order the prayer to be commenced and command a person to lead people in prayer, and I should then go along with some persons having a fagot of fuel with them to the people who have not attended the prayer (in congregation) and would burn their houses with fire.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِنَّ أَثْقَلَ صَلاَةٍ عَلَى الْمُنَافِقِينَ صَلاَةُ الْعِشَاءِ وَصَلاَةُ الْفَجْرِ وَلَوْ يَعْلَمُونَ مَا فِيهِمَا لأَتَوْهُمَا وَلَوْ حَبْوًا وَلَقَدْ هَمَمْتُ أَنْ آمُرَ بِالصَّلاَةِ فَتُقَامَ ثُمَّ آمُرَ رَجُلاً فَيُصَلِّيَ بِالنَّاسِ ثُمَّ أَنْطَلِقَ مَعِي بِرِجَالٍ مَعَهُمْ حُزَمٌ مِنْ حَطَبٍ إِلَى قَوْمٍ لاَ يَشْهَدُونَ الصَّلاَةَ فَأُحَرِّقَ عَلَيْهِمْ بُيُوتَهُمْ بِالنَّارِ  

This is what Abu Huraira reported to us from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and (in this connection) he narrated some ahadith, one of them is: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: I intend that I should command my young men to gather bundles fuel for me, and then order a person to lead people in prayer, and then burn the houses with their inmates (who have not joined the congregation).  

عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَذَكَرَ أَحَادِيثَ مِنْهَا وَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لَقَدْ هَمَمْتُ أَنْ آمُرَ فِتْيَانِي أَنْ يَسْتَعِدُّوا لِي بِحُزَمٍ مِنْ حَطَبٍ ثُمَّ آمُرَ رَجُلاً يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ ثُمَّ تُحَرَّقُ بُيُوتٌ عَلَى مَنْ فِيهَا  

A hadith like this has been narrated by Abu Huraira.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ بِنَحْوِهِ  

I intend that I should command a person to lead people in prayer, and then burn those persons who absent themselves from Jumu'a prayer in their houses.  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَالَ لِقَوْمٍ يَتَخَلَّفُونَ عَنِ الْجُمُعَةِ لَقَدْ هَمَمْتُ أَنْ آمُرَ رَجُلاً يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ ثُمَّ أُحَرِّقَ عَلَى رِجَالٍ يَتَخَلَّفُونَ عَنِ الْجُمُعَةِ بُيُوتَهُمْ  

There came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ a blind man and said: Messenger of Allah, I have no one to guide me to the mosque. He, therefore, asked. Messenger of Allah ﷺ permission to say prayer in his house. He (tee Holy Prophet) granted him permission. Then when the man turned away he called him and said: Do you hear the call to prayer? He said: Yes. He (the Prophet then) said: Respond to it.  

أَتَى النَّبِيَّ ﷺ رَجُلٌ أَعْمَى فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ لِي قَائِدٌ يَقُودُنِي إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ فَسَأَلَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنْ يُرَخِّصَ لَهُ فَيُصَلِّيَ فِي بَيْتِهِ فَرَخَّصَ لَهُ فَلَمَّا وَلَّى دَعَاهُ فَقَالَ هَلْ تَسْمَعُ النِّدَاءَ بِالصَّلاَةِ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَأَجِبْ  

I have seen the time when no one stayed away from prayer except a hypocrite, whose hypocrisy was well known, or a sick man, but if a sick man could walk between two persons (i.e. with the help of two persons with one on each side) he would come to prayer. And (further) said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ taught us the paths of right guidance, among which is prayer in the mosque in which the Adhan is called.  

عَبْدُ اللَّهِ لَقَدْ رَأَيْتُنَا وَمَا يَتَخَلَّفُ عَنِ الصَّلاَةِ إِلاَّ مُنَافِقٌ قَدْ عُلِمَ نِفَاقُهُ أَوْ مَرِيضٌ إِنْ كَانَ الْمَرِيضُ لَيَمْشِي بَيْنَ رَجُلَيْنِ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَ الصَّلاَةَ وَقَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَلَّمَنَا سُنَنَ الْهُدَى وَإِنَّ مِنْ سُنَنِ الْهُدَى الصَّلاَةَ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ الَّذِي يُؤَذَّنُ فِيهِ  

He who likes to meet Allah tomorrow as Muslim, he should persevere in observing these prayers, when a call is announced for them, for Allah has laid down for your Prophet the paths of right guidance, and these (prayers) are among the paths of right guidance. If you were to pray in your houses as this man why stays away (from the mosque) prays in his house, you would abandon the practice of your Prophet, and if you were to abandon the practice of your Prophet, you would go astray. No man purifies himself, doing it well, then makes for one of those mosques without Allah recording a blessing for him for every step he takes raising him a degree for it, and effacing a sin from him for it. I have seen the time when no one stayed away from it, except a hypocrite, who was well known for his hypocrisy, whereas a man would be brought swaying (due to weakness) between two men till he was set up in a row.  

أَنْ يَلْقَى اللَّهَ غَدًا مُسْلِمًا فَلْيُحَافِظْ عَلَى هَؤُلاَءِ الصَّلَوَاتِ حَيْثُ يُنَادَى بِهِنَّ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ شَرَعَ لِنَبِيِّكُمْ ﷺ سُنَنَ الْهُدَى وَإِنَّهُنَّ مِنْ سُنَنِ الْهُدَى وَلَوْ أَنَّكُمْ صَلَّيْتُمْ فِي بُيُوتِكُمْ كَمَا يُصَلِّي هَذَا الْمُتَخَلِّفُ فِي بَيْتِهِ لَتَرَكْتُمْ سُنَّةَ نَبِيِّكُمْ وَلَوْ تَرَكْتُمْ سُنَّةَ نَبِيِّكُمْ لَضَلَلْتُمْ وَمَا مِنْ رَجُلٍ يَتَطَهَّرُ فَيُحْسِنُ الطُّهُورَ ثُمَّ يَعْمِدُ إِلَى مَسْجِدٍ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْمَسَاجِدِ إِلاَّ كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ بِكُلِّ خَطْوَةٍ يَخْطُوهَا حَسَنَةً وَيَرْفَعُهُ بِهَا دَرَجَةً وَيَحُطُّ عَنْهُ بِهَا سَيِّئَةً وَلَقَدْ رَأَيْتُنَا وَمَا يَتَخَلَّفُ عَنْهَا إِلاَّ مُنَافِقٌ مَعْلُومُ النِّفَاقِ وَلَقَدْ كَانَ الرَّجُلُ يُؤْتَى بِهِ يُهَادَى بَيْنَ الرَّجُلَيْنِ حَتَّى يُقَامَ فِي الصَّفِّ  

While we were sitting with Abu Huraira in a mosque a man went out of the mosque after the call to prayer had been announced. (A man stood up in the mosque and set off.) Abu Huraira's eyes followed him till he went out of the mosque. Upon this Abu Huraira said: This man has disobeyed Abu'l- Qasim (Muhammad) ﷺ.  

كُنَّا قُعُودًا فِي الْمَسْجِدِ مَعَ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ فَأَذَّنَ الْمُؤَذِّنُ فَقَامَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ يَمْشِي فَأَتْبَعَهُ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ بَصَرَهُ حَتَّى خَرَجَ مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ فَقَالَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ أَمَّا هَذَا فَقَدْ عَصَى أَبَا الْقَاسِمِ ﷺ  

I heard it from Abu Huraira that he saw a person getting out of the mosque after the call to prayer had been announced. Upon this he remarked: This (man) disobeyed Abu'l-Qasim ﷺ.  

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ وَرَأَى رَجُلاً يَجْتَازُ الْمَسْجِدَ خَارِجًا بَعْدَ الأَذَانِ فَقَالَ أَمَّا هَذَا فَقَدْ عَصَى أَبَا الْقَاسِمِ ﷺ  

'Uthman b. 'Affan (narrated the mosque after evening prayer and sat alone. I also sat alone with him, so he said: 0, son of my brother, I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: He who observed the 'Isha' prayer in congregation, it was as if he prayed up to midnight, and he who prayed the morning prayer in congregation, it was as if he prayed the whole night.  

سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ مَنْ صَلَّى الْعِشَاءَ فِي جَمَاعَةٍ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَامَ نِصْفَ اللَّيْلِ وَمَنْ صَلَّى الصُّبْحَ فِي جَمَاعَةٍ فَكَأَنَّمَا صَلَّى اللَّيْلَ كُلَّهُ  

This hadith has been narrated by the chain of transmitters by Abu Sahl 'Uthman b. Hakim.  

عَنْ أَبِي سَهْلٍ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ حَكِيمٍ بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ مِثْلَهُ  

He who prayed the morning prayer (in congregation) he is in fact under the protection of Allah. And it can never happen that Allah should demand anything from you in connection with the protection (that He guarantees) and one should not get it. He would then throw him in the fire of Hell.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَنْ صَلَّى الصُّبْحَ فَهُوَ فِي ذِمَّةِ اللَّهِ فَلاَ يَطْلُبَنَّكُمُ اللَّهُ مِنْ ذِمَّتِهِ بِشَىْءٍ فَيُدْرِكَهُ فَيَكُبَّهُ فِي نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ  

I heard Jundab b. Qasri saying that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: He who observed the morning prayer (in congregation), he is in fact under the protection of Allah and it never happens that Allah should make a demand in connection with the protection (that He guarantees and should not get it) for when he asks for anything in relation to His protection, he definitely secures it. He then throws him flatly in the Hell-fire.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَنْ صَلَّى صَلاَةَ الصُّبْحِ فَهْوَ فِي ذِمَّةِ اللَّهِ فَلاَ يَطْلُبَنَّكُمُ اللَّهُ مِنْ ذِمَّتِهِ بِشَىْءٍ فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ يَطْلُبْهُ مِنْ ذِمَّتِهِ بِشَىْءٍ يُدْرِكْهُ ثُمَّ يَكُبَّهُ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ فِي نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ  

" He would throw him in fire."  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ بِهَذَا وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ فَيَكُبَّهُ فِي نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ  

Messenger of Allah, I have lost my eyesight and I lead my people in prayer. When there is a downpour there is then a current (of water) in the valley that stands between me and them and I find it impossible to go to their mosque and lead them in prayer. Messenger of Allah, I earnestly beg of you that you should come and observe prayer at a place of worship (in my house) so that I should then use it as a place of worship. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Well, it God so wills. I would soon do so. 'Itban said: On the following day when the day dawned, the Messenger of Allah (may peace he upon him) came along with Abu Bakr at-Siddiq, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked permission (to get into the house). I gave him the permission, and be did not sit after entering the house, when he said: At what place in your house you desire me to say prayer? I ('Itban b. Malik) said: I pointed to a corner in the house, The Messenger of Allah ﷺ stood (at that place for prayer) and pronounced Allah-o-Akbar (Allah is the Greatest) (as an expression for the commencement of prayer). We too stood behind him, and he said two rak'ahs and then pronounced salutation (marking the end of the prayer). We detained him (the Holy Prophet) for the meat curry we had prepared for, him. The people of the neighbouring houses came and thus there was a good gathering in (our house). One of them said: Where is Malik b. Dukhshun? Upon this one of them remarked: He is a hypocrite; he does not love Allah and His Messenger. Thereupon the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Do not say so about him. Don't you see that he utters La ilaha ill-Allah (There is no god but Allah) and seeks the pleasure of Allah through it? They said: Allah and His Messenger know beet. One (among the audience) said: We see his inclination and wellwishing for hypocrites only. Upon this the Messenger of Allah' ﷺ again said: Verily Allah has forbidden the Fire for one who says: There is no god but Allah, thereby seeking Allah's pleasure. Ibn Shihab said: I asked Husain b. Muhammad al-Ansar (he was one of the leaders of Banu Salim) about the hadith transmitted by Mahmud b. Rabi' and he testified it.  

أَنَّ عِتْبَانَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ وَهُوَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ مِمَّنْ شَهِدَ بَدْرًا مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ أَنَّهُ أَتَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي قَدْ أَنْكَرْتُ بَصَرِي وَأَنَا أُصَلِّي لِقَوْمِي وَإِذَا كَانَتِ الأَمْطَارُ سَالَ الْوَادِي الَّذِي بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَهُمْ وَلَمْ أَسْتَطِعْ أَنْ آتِيَ مَسْجِدَهُمْ فَأُصَلِّيَ لَهُمْ وَدِدْتُ أَنَّكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ تَأْتِي فَتُصَلِّي فِي مُصَلًّى فَأَتَّخِذَهُ مُصَلًّى قَالَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ سَأَفْعَلُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ قَالَ عِتْبَانُ فَغَدَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيقُ حِينَ ارْتَفَعَ النَّهَارُ فَاسْتَأْذَنَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَأَذِنْتُ لَهُ فَلَمْ يَجْلِسْ حَتَّى دَخَلَ الْبَيْتَ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَيْنَ تُحِبُّ أَنْ أُصَلِّيَ مِنْ بَيْتِكِ قَالَ فَأَشَرْتُ إِلَى نَاحِيَةٍ مِنَ الْبَيْتِ فَقَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَكَبَّرَ فَقُمْنَا وَرَاءَهُ فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ سَلَّمَ قَالَ وَحَبَسْنَاهُ عَلَى خَزِيرٍ صَنَعْنَاهُ لَهُ قَالَ فَثَابَ رِجَالٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الدَّارِ حَوْلَنَا حَتَّى اجْتَمَعَ فِي الْبَيْتِ رِجَالٌ ذَوُو عَدَدٍ فَقَالَ قَائِلٌ مِنْهُمْ أَيْنَ مَالِكُ بْنُ الدُّخْشُنِ فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ ذَلِكَ مُنَافِقٌ لاَ يُحِبُّ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لاَ تَقُلْ لَهُ ذَلِكَ أَلاَ تَرَاهُ قَدْ قَالَ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ يُرِيدُ بِذَلِكَ وَجْهَ اللَّهِ قَالَ قَالُوا اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ قَالَ فَإِنَّمَا نَرَى وَجْهَهُ وَنَصِيحَتَهُ لِلْمُنَافِقِينَ قَالَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ حَرَّمَ عَلَى النَّارِ مَنْ قَالَ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ يَبْتَغِي بِذَلِكَ وَجْهَ اللَّهِ قَالَ ابْنُ شِهَابٍ ثُمَّ سَأَلْتُ الْحُصَيْنَ بْنَ مُحَمَّدٍ الأَنْصَارِيَّ وَهُوَ أَحَدُ بَنِي سَالِمٍ وَهُوَ مِنْ سَرَاتِهِمْ عَنْ حَدِيثِ مَحْمُودِ بْنِ الرَّبِيعِ فَصَدَّقَهُ بِذَلِكَ  

I came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and the rest of the hadith is the same as narrated (above) except this that a man said: Where is Malik b. Dukhshun or Dukhaishin, and also made this addition that Mahmud said: I narrated this ver hadith to many people and among them was Abu Ayyub al-Ansari who said: I cannot think that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ could have said so as you say. He (the narrator) said: I took an oath that if I ever go to 'Itban. I would ask him about it. So I went to him and found him to be a very aged man, having lost his eyesight, but he was the Imam of the people. I sat by his side and asked about this hadith and he narrated it In the same way as he had narrated it for the first time. Then so many other obligatory acts and commands were revealed which we see having been completed. So he who wants that he should not be deceived would not be deceived.  

أَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَسَاقَ الْحَدِيثَ بِمَعْنَى حَدِيثِ يُونُسَ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ أَيْنَ مَالِكُ بْنُ الدُّخْشُنِ أَوِ الدُّخَيْشِنِ وَزَادَ فِي الْحَدِيثِ قَالَ مَحْمُودٌ فَحَدَّثْتُ بِهَذَا الْحَدِيثِ نَفَرًا فِيهِمْ أَبُو أَيُّوبَ الأَنْصَارِيُّ فَقَالَ مَا أَظُنُّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ مَا قُلْتَ قَالَ فَحَلَفْتُ إِنْ رَجَعْتُ إِلَى عِتْبَانَ أَنْ أَسْأَلَهُ قَالَ فَرَجَعْتُ إِلَيْهِ فَوَجَدْتُهُ شَيْخًا كَبِيرًا قَدْ ذَهَبَ بَصَرُهُ وَهُوَ إِمَامُ قَوْمِهِ فَجَلَسْتُ إِلَى جَنْبِهِ فَسَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ فَحَدَّثَنِيهِ كَمَا حَدَّثَنِيهِ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ قَالَ الزُّهْرِيُّ ثُمَّ نَزَلَتْ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فَرَائِضُ وَأُمُورٌ نُرَى أَنَّ الأَمْرَ انْتَهَى إِلَيْهَا فَمَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ أَنْ لاَ يَغْتَرَّ فَلاَ يَغْتَرَّ  

I well remember the disgorge of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ that he did (with water) from a bucket of our house. Mahmud said: 'Itban b. Malik narrated it to me that he had said: Messenger of Allah, I have lost my eyesight, and the rest of the hadith is the same up to these words:" He led us in two rak'ahs of prayer and we detained the Messenger of Allah ﷺ for serving him the pudding that we had prepared for him," and no mention has been made of what follows next from the addition made by Yunus and Ma'mar.  

إِنِّي لأَعْقِلُ مَجَّةً مَجَّهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مِنْ دَلْوٍ فِي دَارِنَا قَالَ مَحْمُودٌ فَحَدَّثَنِي عِتْبَانُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ بَصَرِي قَدْ سَاءَ وَسَاقَ الْحَدِيثَ إِلَى قَوْلِهِ فَصَلَّى بِنَا رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَحَبَسْنَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَلَى جَشِيشَةٍ صَنَعْنَاهَا لَهُ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ مَا بَعْدَهُ مِنْ زِيَادَةِ يُونُسَ وَمَعْمَرٍ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said prayer while I was by his side, and at times when he prostrated his cloth touched me, and he prayed on a small mat.  

حَدَّثَتْنِي مَيْمُونَةُ زَوْجُ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَتْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُصَلِّي وَأَنَا حِذَاءَهُ وَرُبَّمَا أَصَابَنِي ثَوْبُهُ إِذَا سَجَدَ وَكَانَ يُصَلِّي عَلَى خُمْرَةٍ  

Stand up so that I should observe prayer (in order to bless) you Anas b. Malik said: I stood up on a mat (belonging to us) which had turned dark on account of its long use. I sprinkled water over it (in order to soften it), and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ stood upon it, and I and an orphan formed a row behind him (the Holy Prophet) and the old woman was behind us, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ led us in two rak'ahs of prayer and then went back.  

أَنَّ جَدَّتَهُ مُلَيْكَةَ دَعَتْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ لِطَعَامٍ صَنَعَتْهُ فَأَكَلَ مِنْهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ قُومُوا فَأُصَلِّيَ لَكُمْ قَالَ أَنَسُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ فَقُمْتُ إِلَى حَصِيرٍ لَنَا قَدِ اسْوَدَّ مِنْ طُولِ مَا لُبِسَ فَنَضَحْتُهُ بِمَاءٍ فَقَامَ عَلَيْهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَصَفَفْتُ أَنَا وَالْيَتِيمُ وَرَاءَهُ وَالْعَجُوزُ مِنْ وَرَائِنَا فَصَلَّى لَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ  

Anas b. Malik reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ wits the best among people in character. On occasions, the time of prayer would come while he was in our house. He would then order to spread the mat lying under him. That was dusted and then water was sprinkled over it. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ then led the prayer and we stood behind him, and that mat was made of the leaves of date-palm.  

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَحْسَنَ النَّاسِ خُلُقًا فَرُبَّمَا تَحْضُرُ الصَّلاَةُ وَهْوَ فِي بَيْتِنَا فَيَأْمُرُ بِالْبِسَاطِ الَّذِي تَحْتَهُ فَيُكْنَسُ ثُمَّ يُنْضَحُ ثُمَّ يَؤُمُّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَنَقُومُ خَلْفَهُ فَيُصَلِّي بِنَا وَكَانَ بِسَاطُهُمْ مِنْ جَرِيدِ النَّخْلِ  

The Apostle of Allah ﷺ came to us and there was none in our house but I, my mother and my aunt Umm Haram. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Stand up so that I may lead you in prayer (and there was no time for prescribed prayer). He led us in prayer. A person said to Thabit: Where stood Anas with him (the Holy Prophet)? He replied: He was on the right side. He then blessed us, the members of the household with every good of this world and of the Hereafter. My mother said: Messenger of Allah (and then, pointing towards Anas, said), here is your little servant, invoke the blessing of Allah upon him too. He then blessed me with every good, and he concluded his blessings for me (with these words): Allah! increase his wealth, and his children and make (them the source of) blessing for him.  

دَخَلَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ عَلَيْنَا وَمَا هُوَ إِلاَّ أَنَا وَأُمِّي وَأُمُّ حَرَامٍ خَالَتِي فَقَالَ قُومُوا فَلأُصَلِّيَ بِكُمْ فِي غَيْرِ وَقْتِ صَلاَةٍ فَصَلَّى بِنَا فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ لِثَابِتٍ أَيْنَ جَعَلَ أَنَسًا مِنْهُ قَالَ جَعَلَهُ عَلَى يَمِينِهِ ثُمَّ دَعَا لَنَا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ بِكُلِّ خَيْرٍ مِنْ خَيْرِ الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ فَقَالَتْ أُمِّي يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ خُوَيْدِمُكَ ادْعُ اللَّهَ لَهُ قَالَ فَدَعَا لِي بِكُلِّ خَيْرٍ وَكَانَ فِي آخِرِ مَا دَعَا لِي بِهِ أَنْ قَالَ اللَّهُمَّ أَكْثِرْ مَالَهُ وَوَلَدَهُ وَبَارِكْ لَهُ فِيهِ  

Abdullah b. al-Mukhtar heard Musa b. Anas narrating on the authority of Anas b. Malik that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ led him, his mother or his aunt in prayer. He made me, stand on his right side and made the woman stand, behind us.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ صَلَّى بِهِ وَبِأُمِّهِ أَوْ خَالَتِهِ قَالَ فَأَقَامَنِي عَنْ يَمِينِهِ وَأَقَامَ الْمَرْأَةَ خَلْفَنَا  

This hadith has also been narrated by Shu'ba with this chain of transmitters.  

حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ  

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported that he went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and found him observing prayer on a mat and prostrating on that.  

أَنَّهُ دَخَلَ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَوَجَدَهُ يُصَلِّي عَلَى حَصِيرٍ يَسْجُدُ عَلَيْهِ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "The reward for prayer performed by a person in congregation is more than twenty times greater than that of the prayer performed in one’s house or the marketplace. When one performs wuḍūʾ perfectly and then proceeds to the mosque with the sole intention of performing prayer, then for every step he takes towards the mosque, he is upgraded one degree in reward and one of his sins is eliminated until he enters the mosque."

"And when he enters the mosque, he is considered as performing prayer as long as it is the prayer which stops him ˹from leaving the mosque˺; and the angels keep on supplicating Allah for him as long as he remains in his place of prayer. They say: ‘O Allah! Have mercy on him; O Allah! forgive his sins; O Allah! accept his repentance.' ˹This continues, so long as he does cause harm ˹upon anyone˺ in it, or pass wind in it ˹breaking his wuḍūʾ˺ (in a different wording: or speak ˹to anyone˺).”  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «صَلاَةُ الرَّجُلِ فِي جَمَاعَةٍ تَزِيدُ عَلَى صَلاَتِهِ فِي بَيْتِهِ وَصَلاَتِهِ فِي سُوقِهِ بِضْعًا وَعِشْرِينَ دَرَجَةً، وَذَلِكَ أَنَّ أَحَدَهُمْ إِذَا تَوَضَّأَ فَأَحْسَنَ الْوُضُوءَ، ثُمَّ أَتَى الْمَسْجِدَ لاَ يَنْهَزُهُ إِلاَّ الصَّلاَةُ لاَ يُرِيدُ إِلاَّ الصَّلاَةَ، فَلَمْ يَخْطُ خَطْوَةً إِلاَّ رُفِعَ لَهُ بِهَا دَرَجَةٌ وَحُطَّ عَنْهُ بِهَا خَطِيئَةٌ، حَتَّى يَدْخُلَ الْمَسْجِدَ۔»

«فَإِذَا دَخَلَ الْمَسْجِدَ كَانَ فِي الصَّلاَةِ مَا كَانَتِ الصَّلاَةُ هِيَ تَحْبِسُهُ وَالْمَلاَئِكَةُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى أَحَدِكُمْ مَا دَامَ فِي مَجْلِسِهِ الَّذِي صَلَّى فِيهِ، يَقُولُونَ اللَّهُمَّ ارْحَمْهُ، اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهُ، اللَّهُمَّ تُبْ عَلَيْهِ، مَا لَمْ يُؤْذِ فِيهِ مَا لَمْ يُحْدِثْ فِيهِ۔»  

A hadith having the same meaning (as mentioned above) has been transmitted by A'mash.  

عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ فِي هَذَا الإِسْنَادِ بِمِثْلِ مَعْنَاهُ  

The angels invoke blessings on everyone among you so long as he is in a place of worship with these words: O Allah! pardon him, O Allah, have mercy upon him, (and they continue to do so) as long as, he ablution (of the worshipper) is not broken, and one among you is in prayer and so long as he is detained for the prayer.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِنَّ الْمَلاَئِكَةَ تُصَلِّي عَلَى أَحَدِكُمْ مَا دَامَ فِي مَجْلِسِهِ تَقُولُ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهُ اللَّهُمَّ ارْحَمْهُ مَا لَمْ يُحْدِثْ وَأَحَدُكُمْ فِي صَلاَةٍ مَا كَانَتِ الصَّلاَةُ تَحْبِسُهُ  

The servant is constantly in prayer so long as he is in a place of worship waiting for the prayer (to be observed in congregation), and the angels invoke (blessings upon him in these words): O Allah! pardon him. O Allah! show mercy to him, (and they continue to do so) till he returns (from the mosque having completed the prayer) or his ablution breaks. I said: How is the ablution broken? He said: By breaking of the wind noiselessly or with noise.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ لاَ يَزَالُ الْعَبْدُ فِي صَلاَةٍ مَا كَانَ فِي مُصَلاَّهُ يَنْتَظِرُ الصَّلاَةَ وَتَقُولُ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهُ اللَّهُمَّ ارْحَمْهُ حَتَّى يَنْصَرِفَ أَوْ يُحْدِثَ قُلْتُ مَا يُحْدِثُ قَالَ يَفْسُو أَوْ يَضْرِطُ  

Everyone among you is constantly in prayer so long as the prayer detains him (for this noble objective) and nothing prevents him to return to his family but the prayer.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ لاَ يَزَالُ أَحَدُكُمْ فِي صَلاَةٍ مَا دَامَتِ الصَّلاَةُ تَحْبِسُهُ لاَ يَمْنَعُهُ أَنْ يَنْقَلِبَ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ إِلاَّ الصَّلاَةُ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Anyone amongst you who sat in a place of worship waiting for the prayer is in prayer and his ablution is not broken, the angels invoke blessing upon him (in these words): O Allah! pardon him. O Allah! have mercy upon him.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ أَحَدُكُمْ مَا قَعَدَ يَنْتَظِرُ الصَّلاَةَ فِي صَلاَةٍ مَا لَمْ يُحْدِثْ تَدْعُو لَهُ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهُ اللَّهُمَّ ارْحَمْهُ  

A hadith like this has been narrated by Hammam b. Munabbih on the authority of Abu Huraira.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ بِنَحْوِ هَذَا  

The most eminent among human beings (as a recipient of) reward (is one) who lives farthest away, and who has to walk the farthest distance, and he who waits for the prayer to observe it along with the Imam, his reward is greater than one who prays (alone) and then goes to sleep. In the narration of Abu Kuraib (the words are):" (He waits) till he prays along with the Imam in congregation."  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِنَّ أَعْظَمَ النَّاسِ أَجْرًا فِي الصَّلاَةِ أَبْعَدُهُمْ إِلَيْهَا مَمْشًى فَأَبْعَدُهُمْ وَالَّذِي يَنْتَظِرُ الصَّلاَةَ حَتَّى يُصَلِّيَهَا مَعَ الإِمَامِ أَعْظَمُ أَجْرًا مِنَ الَّذِي يُصَلِّيهَا ثُمَّ يَنَامُ وَفِي رِوَايَةِ أَبِي كُرَيْبٍ حَتَّى يُصَلِّيَهَا مَعَ الإِمَامِ فِي جَمَاعَةٍ  

There was a man, and I do not know of any other man, whose house was farther than his from the mosque and he never missed the prayer (in congregation). It was said to him or I said to him: It you were to buy a donkey you could ride upon it In the dark nights and in the burning sand. He said: I do not like my house to be situated by the side of the mosque, for I (eagerly) desire that my steps towards the mosque and back from it, should be recorded when I return to my family. Upon this the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Allah has gathered all (rewards) for you.  

كَانَ رَجُلٌ لاَ أَعْلَمُ رَجُلاً أَبْعَدَ مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ مِنْهُ وَكَانَ لاَ تُخْطِئُهُ صَلاَةٌ قَالَ فَقِيلَ لَهُ أَوْ قُلْتُ لَهُ لَوِ اشْتَرَيْتَ حِمَارًا تَرْكَبُهُ فِي الظَّلْمَاءِ وَفِي الرَّمْضَاءِ قَالَ مَا يَسُرُّنِي أَنَّ مَنْزِلِي إِلَى جَنْبِ الْمَسْجِدِ إِنِّي أُرِيدُ أَنْ يُكْتَبَ لِي مَمْشَاىَ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ وَرُجُوعِي إِذَا رَجَعْتُ إِلَى أَهْلِي فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَدْ جَمَعَ اللَّهُ لَكَ ذَلِكَ كُلَّهُ  

This hadith has been transmitted by Taimi with the same chain of narrators.  

عَنِ التَّيْمِيِّ بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ بِنَحْوِهِ  

There was a person among the Ansar whose house was situated at the farthest end of Medina, but he never in missed any prayer along with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. We felt pity for him and said to him: O, so and so, had you bought a donkey it would have saved you from the burning sand and would have saved you from the reptiles of the earth. He said: Listen I by Allah, I do not like my house to be situated by the side of Muhammad ﷺ. I took (these words of his) ill and came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and informed him about (these words). He (the Holy Prophet) called him and he said exactly like that (which he had mentioned to Ubbay b. Ka'b), but made a mention of this (also) that he wanted a reward for his steps. Upon this the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: In fact for you is the reward which you expect.  

كَانَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ بَيْتُهُ أَقْصَى بَيْتٍ فِي الْمَدِينَةِ فَكَانَ لاَ تُخْطِئُهُ الصَّلاَةُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ فَتَوَجَّعْنَا لَهُ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ يَا فُلاَنُ لَوْ أَنَّكَ اشْتَرَيْتَ حِمَارًا يَقِيكَ مِنَ الرَّمْضَاءِ وَيَقِيكَ مِنْ هَوَامِّ الأَرْضِ قَالَ أَمَا وَاللَّهِ مَا أُحِبُّ أَنَّ بَيْتِي مُطَنَّبٌ بِبَيْتِ مُحَمَّدٍ ﷺ قَالَ فَحَمَلْتُ بِهِ حِمْلاً حَتَّى أَتَيْتُ نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ قَالَ فَدَعَاهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ وَذَكَرَ لَهُ أَنَّهُ يَرْجُو فِي أَثَرِهِ الأَجْرَ فَقَالَ لَهُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ إِنَّ لَكَ مَا احْتَسَبْتَ  

A hadith like this has been narrated by 'Asim with the same chain of transmitters.  

عَنْ عَاصِمٍ بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ نَحْوَهُ