We met Anas b. Malik as he came to Syria at a place known as 'Ain-al-Tamar and saw him observing prayer on the back of his donkey with his face turned in that direction. (Hammam one of the narrators) pointed towards the left of Qibla, so I said to him: I find you observing prayer towards the side other than that of Qibla. Upon this he said: Had I not seen the Messenger of Allah ﷺ doing like this, I would not have done so at all.  

عَنْ يَسَارِ الْقِبْلَةِ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ رَأَيْتُكَ تُصَلِّي لِغَيْرِ الْقِبْلَةِ قَالَ لَوْلاَ أَنِّي رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَفْعَلُهُ لَمْ أَفْعَلْهُ  

When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was in a state of hurry on a journey, he combined the sunset and 'Isha' prayers.  

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذَا عَجِلَ بِهِ السَّيْرُ جَمَعَ بَيْنَ الْمَغْرِبِ وَالْعِشَاءِ  

Nafi' reported that when Ibn 'Umar was in a state of hurry on a journey, he combined the sunset and 'Isha' prayers after the twilight had disappeared, and he would say that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was in a state of hurry on a journey, he combined the sunset and 'Isha' prayers.  

أَنْ يَغِيبَ الشَّفَقُ وَيَقُولُ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَانَ إِذَا جَدَّ بِهِ السَّيْرُ جَمَعَ بَيْنَ الْمَغْرِبِ وَالْعِشَاءِ  

I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ combining the sunset and Isha' prayers when he was in a hurry on a journey.  

عَنْ أَبِيهِ رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَجْمَعُ بَيْنَ الْمَغْرِبِ وَالْعِشَاءِ إِذَا جَدَّ بِهِ السَّيْرُ  

I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ delaying the sunset prayer till he would combine it with the 'Isha' when he hastened to set out on a journey.  

رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذَا أَعْجَلَهُ السَّيْرُ فِي السَّفَرِ يُؤَخِّرُ صَلاَةَ الْمَغْرِبِ حَتَّى يَجْمَعَ بَيْنَهَا وَبَيْنَ صَلاَةِ الْعِشَاءِ  

When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ set out on a journey before the sun declined (from the meridian), he delayed the noon prayer till the afternoon prayer, and then dismounted (his ride) and combined them (noon and afternoon prayers), but if the sun had declined before his setting out on a journey, he observed the noon prayer and then mounted (the ride).  

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذَا ارْتَحَلَ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَزِيغَ الشَّمْسُ أَخَّرَ الظُّهْرَ إِلَى وَقْتِ الْعَصْرِ ثُمَّ نَزَلَ فَجَمَعَ بَيْنَهُمَا فَإِنْ زَاغَتِ الشَّمْسُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَرْتَحِلَ صَلَّى الظُّهْرَ ثُمَّ رَكِبَ  

When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ intended to combine two prayers on a journey, he delayed the noon prayer till came the early time of the afternoon prayer, and then combined the two.  

كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ إِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَجْمَعَ بَيْنَ الصَّلاَتَيْنِ فِي السَّفَرِ أَخَّرَ الظُّهْرَ حَتَّى يَدْخُلَ أَوَّلُ وَقْتِ الْعَصْرِ ثُمَّ يَجْمَعُ بَيْنَهُمَا  

Anas reported that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had to set out on a journey hurriedly, he delayed the noon prayer to the earlier time for the afternoon prayer, and then he would combine them, and he would delay the sunset prayer to the time when the twilight would disappear and then combine it with the 'Isha' prayer.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ إِذَا عَجِلَ عَلَيْهِ السَّفَرُ يُؤَخِّرُ الظُّهْرَ إِلَى أَوَّلِ وَقْتِ الْعَصْرِ فَيَجْمَعُ بَيْنَهُمَا وَيُؤَخِّرُ الْمَغْرِبَ حَتَّى يَجْمَعَ بَيْنَهَا وَبَيْنَ الْعِشَاءِ حِينَ يَغِيبُ الشَّفَقُ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ observed the noon and afternoon prayers together, and the sunset and Isha' prayers together without being in a state of fear or in a state of journey.  

صَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الظُّهْرَ وَالْعَصْرَ جَمِيعًا وَالْمَغْرِبَ وَالْعِشَاءَ جَمِيعًا فِي غَيْرِ خَوْفٍ وَلاَ سَفَرٍ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ observed the noon and afternoon prayers together in Medina without being in a state of fear or in a state of journey. (Abu Zubair said: I asked Sa'id [one of the narrators] why he did that. He said: I asked Ibn 'Abbas as you have asked me, and he replied that he [the Holy Prophet] wanted that no one among his Ummah should be put to [unnecessary] hardship.)  

صَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الظُّهْرَ وَالْعَصْرَ جَمِيعًا بِالْمَدِينَةِ فِي غَيْرِ خَوْفٍ وَلاَ سَفَرٍ قَالَ أَبُو الزُّبَيْرِ فَسَأَلْتُ سَعِيدًا لِمَ فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ سَأَلْتُ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ كَمَا سَأَلْتَنِي فَقَالَ أَرَادَ أَنْ لاَ يُحْرِجَ أَحَدًا مِنْ أُمَّتِهِ  

What prompted him to do this? He said: He wanted that his Ummah should not be put to (unnecessary) hardship.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ جَمَعَ بَيْنَ الصَّلاَةِ فِي سَفْرَةٍ سَافَرَهَا فِي غَزْوَةِ تَبُوكَ فَجَمَعَ بَيْنَ الظُّهْرِ وَالْعَصْرِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ وَالْعِشَاءِ قَالَ سَعِيدٌ فَقُلْتُ لاِبْنِ عَبَّاسٍ مَا حَمَلَهُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ قَالَ أَرَادَ أَنْ لاَ يُحْرِجَ أُمَّتَهُ  

" I said to Ibn 'Abbas: What prompted him to do that? He said: So that his (Prophet's) Ummah should not be put to (unnecessary) hardship." And in the hadith transmitted by Mu'awiya (the words are):" It was said to Ibn 'Abbas: What did he intend thereby? He said he wanted that his Ummah should not be put to unnecessary hardship."  

وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ وَأَبُو سَعِيدٍ الأَشَجُّ وَاللَّفْظُ لأَبِي كُرَيْبٍ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ كِلاَهُمَا عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ عَنْ حَبِيبِ بْنِ أَبِي ثَابِتٍ عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ جَمَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بَيْنَ الظُّهْرِ وَالْعَصْرِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ وَالْعِشَاءِ بِالْمَدِينَةِ فِي غَيْرِ خَوْفٍ وَلاَ مَطَرٍ فِي حَدِيثِ وَكِيعٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لاِبْنِ عَبَّاسٍ لِمَ فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ قَالَ كَىْ لاَ يُحْرِجَ أُمَّتَهُ وَفِي حَدِيثِ أَبِي مُعَاوِيَةَ قِيلَ لاِبْنِ عَبَّاسٍ مَا أَرَادَ إِلَى ذَلِكَ قَالَ أَرَادَ أَنْ لاَ يُحْرِجَ أُمَّتَهُ  

I observed with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ eight (rak'ahs) in combination, and seven rak'ahs in combination. I (one of the narrators) said: O Abd Sha'tha', I think that he (the Holy Prophet) had delayed the noon prayer and hastened the afternoon prayer, and he delayed the sunset prayer and hastened the 'Isha' prayer. He said: I also think so.  

صَلَّيْتُ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ ثَمَانِيًا جَمِيعًا وَسَبْعًا جَمِيعًا قُلْتُ يَا أَبَا الشَّعْثَاءِ أَظُنُّهُ أَخَّرَ الظُّهْرَ وَعَجَّلَ الْعَصْرَ وَأَخَّرَ الْمَغْرِبَ وَعَجَّلَ الْعِشَاءَ قَالَ وَأَنَا أَظُنُّ ذَاكَ  

Ibn 'Abbas reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ observed in Medina seven (rak'ahs) and eight (rak'ahs), i. e. (be combined) the noon and afternoon prayers (eight rak'ahs) and the sunset and 'Isha' prayers (seven rak'ahs).  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ صَلَّى بِالْمَدِينَةِ سَبْعًا وَثَمَانِيًا الظُّهْرَ وَالْعَصْرَ وَالْمَغْرِبَ وَالْعِشَاءَ  

Ibn 'Abbas one day addressed us in the afternoon (after the afternoon prayer) till the sun disappeared and the stars appeared, and the people began to say: Prayer, prayer. A person from Banu Tamim came there. He neither slackened nor turned away, but (continued crying): Prayer, prayer. Ibn 'Abbas said: May you be deprived of your mother, do you teach me Sunnah? And then he said: I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ combining the noon and afternoon prayers and the sunset and 'Isha' prayers. 'Abdullah b. Shaqiq said: Some doubt was created in my mind about it. So I came to Abu Huraira and asked him (about it) and he testified his assertion.  

فَجَاءَهُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَنِي تَمِيمٍ لاَ يَفْتُرُ وَلاَ يَنْثَنِي الصَّلاَةَ الصَّلاَةَ فَقَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ أَتُعَلِّمُنِي بِالسُّنَّةِ لاَ أُمَّ لَكَ ثُمَّ قَالَ رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ جَمَعَ بَيْنَ الظُّهْرِ وَالْعَصْرِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ وَالْعِشَاءِ قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ شَقِيقٍ فَحَاكَ فِي صَدْرِي مِنْ ذَلِكَ شَىْءٌ فَأَتَيْتُ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ فَسَأَلْتُهُ فَصَدَّقَ مَقَالَتَهُ  

A person said to Ibn 'Abbas (as he delayed the prayer): Prayer. He kept silence. He again said: Prayer. He again kept silence, and he again cried: Prayer. He again kept silence and said: May you be deprived of your mother, do you teach us about prayer? We used to combine two prayers during the life of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.  

رَجُلٌ لاِبْنِ عَبَّاسٍ الصَّلاَةَ فَسَكَتَ ثُمَّ قَالَ الصَّلاَةَ فَسَكَتَ ثُمَّ قَالَ الصَّلاَةَ فَسَكَتَ ثُمَّ قَالَ لاَ أُمَّ لَكَ أَتُعَلِّمُنَا بِالصَّلاَةِ وَكُنَّا نَجْمَعُ بَيْنَ الصَّلاَتَيْنِ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ  

We set out with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ on the Tabuk expedition, and he observed the noon and afternoon prayers together and the sunset and 'Isha' prayers together.  

خَرَجْنَا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي غَزْوَةِ تَبُوكَ فَكَانَ يُصَلِّي الظُّهْرَ وَالْعَصْرَ جَمِيعًا وَالْمَغْرِبَ وَالْعِشَاءَ جَمِيعًا  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ combined in the expedition to Tabuk the noon prayer with the afternoon prayer and the sunset prayer with the 'Isha' prayer. He (one of the narrators) said: What prompted him to do that? He (Mu'adh) replied that he (the Holy Prophet) wanted that his Ummah should not be put to (unnecessary) hardship.  

جَمَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي غَزْوَةِ تَبُوكَ بَيْنَ الظُّهْرِ وَالْعَصْرِ وَبَيْنَ الْمَغْرِبِ وَالْعِشَاءِ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ مَا حَمَلَهُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ قَالَ فَقَالَ أَرَادَ أَنْ لاَ يُحْرِجَ أُمَّتَهُ  

None of you should give a share to Satan out of your self. He should not deem that it is necessary for him to turn but to the right only (after prayer). I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ turning to the left.  

لاَ يَجْعَلَنَّ أَحَدُكُمْ لِلشَّيْطَانِ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ جُزْءًا لاَ يَرَى إِلاَّ أَنَّ حَقًّا عَلَيْهِ أَنْ لاَ يَنْصَرِفَ إِلاَّ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ أَكْثَرُ مَا رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَنْصَرِفُ عَنْ شِمَالِهِ  

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

عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ مِثْلَهُ  

I asked Anas how I should turn-to the right or to the left-when I say my prayers. He said: I have very often seen the Messenger of Allah ﷺ turning to the right.  

سَأَلْتُ أَنَسًا كَيْفَ أَنْصَرِفُ إِذَا صَلَّيْتُ عَنْ يَمِينِي أَوْ عَنْ يَسَارِي قَالَ أَمَّا أَنَا فَأَكْثَرُ مَا رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَنْصَرِفُ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ  

The Apostle of Allah ﷺ used to turn to the right (at the end of the prayer).  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ كَانَ يَنْصَرِفُ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ  

When we prayed behind the Messenger of Allah ﷺ we cherished to be on his right side so that his face would turn towards us (at the end of the prayer), and he (the narrator) said: I heard him say: O my Lord! save me from Thy torment on the Day when Thoil, wouldst raise or gather Thy servants.  

كُنَّا إِذَا صَلَّيْنَا خَلْفَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَحْبَبْنَا أَنْ نَكُونَ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ يُقْبِلُ عَلَيْنَا بِوَجْهِهِ قَالَ فَسَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ رَبِّ قِنِي عَذَابَكَ يَوْمَ تَبْعَثُ أَوْ تَجْمَعُ عِبَادَكَ  

" His face would turn towards us."  

عَنْ مِسْعَرٍ بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ يُقْبِلُ عَلَيْنَا بِوَجْهِهِ  

When the prayer commences then there is no prayer (valid), but the obligatory prayer. This hadith has been narrated by Warqa' with the same chain of transmitters.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ إِذَا أُقِيمَتِ الصَّلاَةُ فَلاَ صَلاَةَ إِلاَّ الْمَكْتُوبَةُ وَحَدَّثَنِيهِ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَاتِمٍ وَابْنُ رَافِعٍ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا شَبَابَةُ حَدَّثَنِي وَرْقَاءُ بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ  

When the prayer commences, there is no prayer but the obligatory one.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ أَنَّهُ قَالَ إِذَا أُقِيمَتِ الصَّلاَةُ فَلاَ صَلاَةَ إِلاَّ الْمَكْتُوبَةُ  

A hadith like this has been reported by Ishaq with the same chain of transmitters.  

أَخْبَرَنَا زَكَرِيَّاءُ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ مِثْلَهُ  

I then met 'Amr (the other narrator) and he narrated it to me, but it was not transmitted directly from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ بِمِثْلِهِ قَالَ حَمَّادٌ ثُمَّ لَقِيتُ عَمْرًا فَحَدَّثَنِي بِهِ وَلَمْ يَرْفَعْهُ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ happened to pass by a person who was busy in praying while the (Fard of the) dawn prayer had commenced. He said something to him, which we do not know what it was. When we turned back we surrounded him and said: What is it that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to you? He replied: He (the Holy Prophet) had said to me that he perceived as if one of them was about to observe four (rak'ahs) of the dawn prayer. Qa'nabi reported that 'Abdullah b. Malik b. Buhaina narrated it on the authority of his father. (Abu'l-Husain Muslim said): His assertion that he has narrated this hadith on the authority of his father is not correct.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَرَّ بِرَجُلٍ يُصَلِّي وَقَدْ أُقِيمَتْ صَلاَةُ الصُّبْحِ فَكَلَّمَهُ بِشَىْءٍ لاَ نَدْرِي مَا هُوَ فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفْنَا أَحَطْنَا نَقُولُ مَاذَا قَالَ لَكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ قَالَ لِي يُوشِكُ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ أَحَدُكُمُ الصُّبْحَ أَرْبَعًا قَالَ الْقَعْنَبِيُّ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَالِكٍ ابْنُ بُحَيْنَةَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ أَبُو الْحُسَيْنِ مُسْلِمٌ وَقَوْلُهُ عَنْ أَبِيهِ فِي هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ خَطَأٌ  

The dawn prayer had commenced when the Messen- ger of Allah ﷺ saw a person observing prayer, whereas the Mu'adhdhin had pronounced the Iqama. Upon this he (the Holy Prophet) remarked: Do you say four (rak'ahs) of Fard in the dawn prayer?  

أُقِيمَتْ صَلاَةُ الصُّبْحِ فَرَأَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ رَجُلاً يُصَلِّي وَالْمُؤَذِّنُ يُقِيمُ فَقَالَ أَتُصَلِّي الصُّبْحَ أَرْبَعًا  

A person entered the mosque, while the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was leading the dawn prayer. He observed two rak'ahs in a corner of the mosque, and then joined the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in prayer. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had pronounced salutations (he had concluded the prayer), he said: O, so and so, which one out of these two prayers did you count (as your Fard prayer), the one that you observed alone or the prayer that you observed with us?  

دَخَلَ رَجُلٌ الْمَسْجِدَ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي صَلاَةِ الْغَدَاةِ فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ فِي جَانِبِ الْمَسْجِدِ ثُمَّ دَخَلَ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَلَمَّا سَلَّمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ يَا فُلاَنُ بِأَىِّ الصَّلاَتَيْنِ اعْتَدَدْتَ أَبِصَلاَتِكَ وَحْدَكَ أَمْ بِصَلاَتِكَ مَعَنَا  

When any one of you enters the mosque, he should say:" O Allah! open for me the doors of Thy mercy" ; and when he steps out he should say: 'O Allah! I beg of Thee Thy Grace." (Imam Muslim said: I heard Yahya saying: I transcribed this hadith from the compilation of Sulaiman b. Bilal.)  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذَا دَخَلَ أَحَدُكُمُ الْمَسْجِدَ فَلْيَقُلِ اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ وَإِذَا خَرَجَ فَلْيَقُلِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ قَالَ مُسْلِمٌ سَمِعْتُ يَحْيَى بْنَ يَحْيَى يَقُولُ كَتَبْتُ هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ مِنْ كِتَابِ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ بِلاَلٍ قَالَ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّ يَحْيَى الْحِمَّانِيَّ يَقُولُ وَأَبِي أُسَيْدٍ  

A hadith like this has been narrated from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ by Abu Usaid.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ بِمِثْلِهِ  

When any one of you enters the mosque, he should observe two rak'ahs (of Nafl prayer) before sitting.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ إِذَا دَخَلَ أَحَدُكُمُ الْمَسْجِدَ فَلْيَرْكَعْ رَكْعَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَجْلِسَ  

I entered the mosque, when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had been sitting among people, and I also sat down among them. Upon this the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: What prevented you from offering two rak'ahs (of Nafl prayer) before sitting down? I said: Messenger of Allah, I saw you sitting and people sitting (around you and I, therefore, sat in your company). He (the Holy Prophet) then said: When anyone among you enters the mosque, he should not sit till he has observed two rak'ahs.  

عَنْ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ صَاحِبِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ دَخَلْتُ الْمَسْجِدَ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ جَالِسٌ بَيْنَ ظَهْرَانَىِ النَّاسِ قَالَ فَجَلَسْتُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَنْ تَرْكَعَ رَكْعَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَجْلِسَ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ رَأَيْتُكَ جَالِسًا وَالنَّاسُ جُلُوسٌ قَالَ فَإِذَا دَخَلَ أَحَدُكُمُ الْمَسْجِدَ فَلاَ يَجْلِسْ حَتَّى يَرْكَعَ رَكْعَتَيْنِ  

The Apostle of Allah ﷺ owed me a debt; he paid me back and made an addition (of this). I entered the mosque and he (the Holy Prophet) said to me: Observe two rak'ahs of prayer.  

كَانَ لِي عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ دَيْنٌ فَقَضَانِي وَزَادَنِي وَدَخَلْتُ عَلَيْهِ الْمَسْجِدَ فَقَالَ لِي صَلِّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ bought a camel from me. When he came back to Medina, he ordered me to come to the mosque and observed two rak'ahs of prayer.  

سَمِعَ جَابِرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ يَقُولُ اشْتَرَى مِنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بَعِيرًا فَلَمَّا قَدِمَ الْمَدِينَةَ أَمَرَنِي أَنْ آتِيَ الْمَسْجِدَ فَأُصَلِّيَ رَكْعَتَيْنِ  

I went with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ on an expedition and my camel delayed me and I was exhausted. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ thus came earlier than I, whereas I came on the next day and went to the mosque and found him (the Holy Prophet) at the gate of the mosque. He said: It is now that you have come. I said. Yes. He said: Leave your camel and enter (the mosque) and observe two rak'ahs. He (the narrator) said: So I entered and observed (two rak'ahs) of prayer and then went back.  

خَرَجْتُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي غَزَاةٍ فَأَبْطَأَ بِي جَمَلِي وَأَعْيَى ثُمَّ قَدِمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَبْلِي وَقَدِمْتُ بِالْغَدَاةِ فَجِئْتُ الْمَسْجِدَ فَوَجَدْتُهُ عَلَى بَابِ الْمَسْجِدِ قَالَ الآنَ حِينَ قَدِمْتَ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَدَعْ جَمَلَكَ وَادْخُلْ فَصَلِّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ قَالَ فَدَخَلْتُ فَصَلَّيْتُ ثُمَّ رَجَعْتُ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not come back from the journey but by day in the forenoon, and when he arrived, he went first to the mosque, and having prayed two rak'ahs in it he sat down in it.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَانَ لاَ يَقْدَمُ مِنْ سَفَرٍ إِلاَّ نَهَارًا فِي الضُّحَى فَإِذَا قَدِمَ بَدَأَ بِالْمَسْجِدِ فَصَلَّى فِيهِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ جَلَسَ فِيهِ  

No one has ever narrated to me that he saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ observing the forenoon prayer, except Umm Hani. She, however, narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ entered her house on the day of the Conquest of Mecca and prayed eight rak'ahs (adding): I never saw a shorter prayer than it except that he performed the bowing and prostration completely. But (one of the narrators) Ibn Bashshar in his narration made no mention of the word:" Never".  

مَا أَخْبَرَنِي أَحَدٌ أَنَّهُ رَأَى النَّبِيَّ ﷺ يُصَلِّي الضُّحَى إِلاَّ أُمُّ هَانِئٍ فَإِنَّهَا حَدَّثَتْ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ دَخَلَ بَيْتَهَا يَوْمَ فَتْحِ مَكَّةَ فَصَلَّى ثَمَانِيَ رَكَعَاتٍ مَا رَأَيْتُهُ صَلَّى صَلاَةً قَطُّ أَخَفَّ مِنْهَا غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ كَانَ يُتِمُّ الرُّكُوعَ وَالسُّجُودَ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرِ ابْنُ بَشَّارٍ فِي حَدِيثِهِ قَوْلَهُ قَطُّ  

I had been asking about, as I was desirous to find one among people who should inform me, whether the Messenger of Allah ﷺ observed the forenoon prayer, but I found none to narrate that to me except Umm Hani, daughter of Abu Talib (the real sister of Hadrat 'Ali), who told me that on the day of the Conquest the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came (to our house) after the dawn had (sufficiently) arisen. A cloth was brought and privacy was provided for him (the Holy Prophet). He took a bath and then stood up and observed eight rak'ahs. I do not know whether his Qiyam (standing posture) was longer, or bending or prostration or all of them were of equal duration. She (Umm Hani) further said: I never saw him saying this Nafl prayer prior to it or subsequently. (Al-Muradi narrated on the authority of Yunus that he made no mention of the words:" He informed me." )  

سَأَلْتُ وَحَرَصْتُ عَلَى أَنْ أَجِدَ أَحَدًا مِنَ النَّاسِ يُخْبِرُنِي أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ سَبَّحَ سُبْحَةَ الضُّحَى فَلَمْ أَجِدْ أَحَدًا يُحَدِّثُنِي ذَلِكَ غَيْرَ أَنَّ أُمَّ هَانِئٍ بِنْتَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ أَخْبَرَتْنِي أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَتَى بَعْدَ مَا ارْتَفَعَ النَّهَارُ يَوْمَ الْفَتْحِ فَأُتِيَ بِثَوْبٍ فَسُتِرَ عَلَيْهِ فَاغْتَسَلَ ثُمَّ قَامَ فَرَكَعَ ثَمَانِيَ رَكَعَاتٍ لاَ أَدْرِي أَقِيَامُهُ فِيهَا أَطْوَلُ أَمْ رُكُوعُهُ أَمْ سُجُودُهُ كُلُّ ذَلِكَ مِنْهُ مُتَقَارِبٌ قَالَتْ فَلَمْ أَرَهُ سَبَّحَهَا قَبْلُ وَلاَ بَعْدُ قَالَ الْمُرَادِيُّ عَنْ يُونُسَ وَلَمْ يَقُلْ أَخْبَرَنِي  

I went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ on the day of the Conquest of Mecca and found him taking a bath, and Fatimah, his daughter, had provided him privacy with the help of a cloth. I gave him salutation and he said: Who is she? I said: It is Umm Hani, daughter of Abu Talib. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Greeting for Umm Hani. When he had completed the bath, he stood up and observed eight rak'ahs wrapped up in one cloth. When he turned back (after the prayer), I said to him: Messenger of Allah, the son of my mother 'Ali b. Abu Talib is going to kill a person, Fulan b. Hubaira whom I have given protection. Upon this the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: We too have given protection whom you have given protection, O Umm Hani. Umm Hani said: It was the forenoon (prayer).  

ذَهَبْتُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَامَ الْفَتْحِ فَوَجَدْتُهُ يَغْتَسِلُ وَفَاطِمَةُ ابْنَتُهُ تَسْتُرُهُ بِثَوْبٍ قَالَتْ فَسَلَّمْتُ فَقَالَ مَنْ هَذِهِ قُلْتُ أُمُّ هَانِئٍ بِنْتُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ قَالَ مَرْحَبًا بِأُمِّ هَانِئٍ فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ مِنْ غُسْلِهِ قَامَ فَصَلَّى ثَمَانِيَ رَكَعَاتٍ مُلْتَحِفًا فِي ثَوْبٍ وَاحِدٍ فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ زَعَمَ ابْنُ أُمِّي عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ أَنَّهُ قَاتِلٌ رَجُلاً أَجَرْتُهُ فُلاَنُ بْنُ هُبَيْرَةَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَدْ أَجَرْنَا مَنْ أَجَرْتِ يَا أُمَّ هَانِئٍ قَالَتْ أُمُّ هَانِئٍ وَذَلِكَ ضُحًى  

Abu Murra narrated on the authority of Umm Hani that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ on the day of the Conquest of Mecca observed in her house eight rak'ahs of prayer in one cloth, its opposite corners having been tied from the opposite sides.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ صَلَّى فِي بَيْتِهَا عَامَ الْفَتْحِ ثَمَانِيَ رَكَعَاتٍ فِي ثَوْبٍ وَاحِدٍ قَدْ خَالَفَ بَيْنَ طَرَفَيْهِ  

I asked 'A'isha whether the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to observe the forenoon prayer. She said: No, but when he came back from the journey.  

قُلْتُ لِعَائِشَةَ هَلْ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يُصَلِّي الضُّحَى قَالَتْ لاَ إِلاَّ أَنْ يَجِيءَ مِنْ مَغِيبِهِ  

I aksed 'A'isha whether the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to observe the forenoon prayer. She said: No, except when he came back from a journey.  

قُلْتُ لِعَائِشَةَ أَكَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يُصَلِّي الضُّحَى قَالَتْ لاَ إِلاَّ أَنْ يَجِيءَ مِنْ مَغِيبِهِ  

I have never seen the Messenger of Allah ﷺ observing the supererogatory prayer of the forenoon, but I observed it. And if the Messenger of Allah ﷺ abandoned any act which he in fact loved to do, it was out of fear that if the people practised it constantly, it might become obligatory for them.  

أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ مَا رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُصَلِّي سُبْحَةَ الضُّحَى قَطُّ وَإِنِّي لأُسَبِّحُهَا وَإِنْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لَيَدَعُ الْعَمَلَ وَهُوَ يُحِبُّ أَنْ يَعْمَلَ بِهِ خَشْيَةَ أَنْ يَعْمَلَ بِهِ النَّاسُ فَيُفْرَضَ عَلَيْهِمْ  

that he asked 'A'isha ؓ how many rak'ahs Messenger of Allah ﷺ prayed at the forenoon prayer. She replied: Four rak'ahs, but sometimes more as he pleased.  

أَنَّهَا سَأَلَتْ عَائِشَةَ ؓ كَمْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُصَلِّي صَلاَةَ الضُّحَى قَالَتْ أَرْبَعَ رَكَعَاتٍ وَيَزِيدُ مَا شَاءَ  

" As Allah pleased."  

وَقَالَ يَزِيدُ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to observe four rak'ahs in the forenoon prayer and he sometimes observed more as Allah pleased.  

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُصَلِّي الضُّحَى أَرْبَعًا وَيَزِيدُ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ  

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

عَنْ قَتَادَةَ بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ مِثْلَهُ