"When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ passed away, the Ansar said: 'Let there be an Amir from among us and an Amir from among you.' Then 'Umar came to them and said: 'Do you not know that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer? Who mong you could accept to put himself ahead of Abu Bakr?' They said: 'We seek refuge with Allah from putting ourselves ahead of Abu Bakr."'  

لَمَّا قُبِضَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَتِ الأَنْصَارُ مِنَّا أَمِيرٌ وَمِنْكُمْ أَمِيرٌ فَأَتَاهُمْ عُمَرُ فَقَالَ أَلَسْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَدْ أَمَرَ أَبَا بَكْرٍ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ بِالنَّاسِ فَأَيُّكُمْ تَطِيبُ نَفْسُهُ أَنْ يَتَقَدَّمَ أَبَا بَكْرٍ قَالُوا نَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ أَنْ نَتَقَدَّمَ أَبَا بَكْرٍ  

"Ziyad delayed the prayer, then Ibn Samit came to me and I gave him a chair and he sat on it. I told him what Ziyad had done and he bit his lip (in disapproval), and he struck me on the thigh and said: 'I asked Abu Dharr the same question you asked me, and he struck me on the thigh as I struck you on the thigh and said: I asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ the same question as you have asked me and he struck me on the thigh as I have struck you on the thigh and said: Offer the prayer on time, and if you catch up with them, then pray with them, and do not say: 'I have already prayed so I will not pray(now)."'  

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 فَقَالَ عَلَيْهِ الصَّلاَةُ وَالسَّلاَمُ صَلِّ الصَّلاَةَ لِوَقْتِهَا فَإِنْ أَدْرَكْتَ مَعَهُمْ فَصَلِّ وَلاَ تَقُلْ إِنِّي صَلَّيْتُ فَلاَ أُصَلِّي  

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'You may live to meet people who will be offering the prayer outside its (prayer) time. If you meet them, then offer the prayer on time, then pray with them and make that a voluntary prayer."'  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لَعَلَّكُمْ سَتُدْرِكُونَ أَقْوَامًا يُصَلُّونَ الصَّلاَةَ لِغَيْرِ وَقْتِهَا فَإِنْ أَدْرَكْتُمُوهُمْ فَصَلُّوا الصَّلاَةَ لِوَقْتِهَا وَصَلُّوا مَعَهُمْ وَاجْعَلُوهَا سُبْحَةً  

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺsaid: 'Let the one who has most knowledge of the Book of Allah lead the people in prayer. If they are equal in terms of knowledge of the Qur'h, let the one who emigrated first (lead them). If they are equal in terms of emigration, let the one who has more knowledge of the Sunnah, (lead them). If they are equal in terms of knowledge of the Sunnah, let the one who is oldest (lead them). Do not lead a man in prayer in his place of authority, and do not sit in his place of honor, unless he gives you permission."'  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَؤُمُّ الْقَوْمَ أَقْرَؤُهُمْ لِكِتَابِ اللَّهِ فَإِنْ كَانُوا فِي الْقِرَاءَةِ سَوَاءً فَأَقْدَمُهُمْ فِي الْهِجْرَةِ فَإِنْ كَانُوا فِي الْهِجْرَةِ سَوَاءً فَأَعْلَمُهُمْ بِالسُّنَّةِ فَإِنْ كَانُوا فِي السُّنَّةِ سَوَاءً فَأَقْدَمُهُمْ سِنًّا وَلاَ تَؤُمَّ الرَّجُلَ فِي سُلْطَانِهِ وَلاَ تَقْعُدْ عَلَى تَكْرِمَتِهِ إِلاَّ أَنْ يَأْذَنَ لَكَ  

"I came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ with a cousin of mine" - once he said, "with a friend of mine" - and he said: 'When you travel, call the Adhan and Iqamah, and let the older of you lead the prayer.'"  

أَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنَا وَابْنُ عَمٍّ لِي وَقَالَ مَرَّةً أَنَا وَصَاحِبٌ لِي فَقَالَ إِذَا سَافَرْتُمَا فَأَذِّنَا وَأَقِيمَا وَلْيَؤُمَّكُمَا أَكْبَرُكُمَا  

"when there are three people let one of them lead the prayer, and the one who is most entitled to lead the prayer is the one who has most knowledge of the Qur'an."  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ إِذَا كَانُوا ثَلاَثَةً فَلْيَؤُمَّهُمْ أَحَدُهُمْ وَأَحَقُّهُمْ بِالإِمَامَةِ أَقْرَؤُهُمْ  

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'A man should not be led in prayer in his place of authority, and no one should sit in his place of honor except with his permission."'  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لاَ يُؤَمُّ الرَّجُلُ فِي سُلْطَانِهِ وَلاَ يُجْلَسُ عَلَى تَكْرِمَتِهِ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِهِ  

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ has been delayed (there) and the time for prayer has come, will you lead the people in prayer?" Abu Bakr said: 'Yes, if you wish.' Bilal said the Iqamah and Abu Bakr went forward and said the Takbir for the people. Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came, passing through the rows (of praying people) and stood in the (first) row and the people started clapping. Abu Bakr would never glance sideways in his prayer but when the people clapped so much he looked back and ﷺMessenger of Allah ﷺ. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ gestured to him to carry on praying. Aha Bakr raised his hands praising Allah the Mighty and Sublime, and retreated till he reached the (first) row. Then the Messenger ofAllah ﷺ went forward and led the people in the prayer. When he completed the prayer he turned to face the people and said: '0 people, why did you start clapping when something unusual happened to you in the prayer? Clapping is only for women. So whoever among you comes across something in the prayer should say: 'Subhan Allah' for there is none who will not turn round when they hear him saying Subhan Allah. 0 Abu Bakr! What prevented you from leading the people in the prayer when I gestured to you to do so?' Abu Bakr replied: 'It is not fitting for the son of Abu Quhafah to lead the prayer in the presence of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.'"  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ بَلَغَهُ أَنَّ بَنِي عَمْرِو بْنِ عَوْفٍ كَانَ بَيْنَهُمْ شَىْءٌ فَخَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لِيُصْلِحَ بَيْنَهُمْ فِي أُنَاسٍ مَعَهُ فَحُبِسَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَحَانَتِ الأُولَى فَجَاءَ بِلاَلٌ إِلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَدْ حُبِسَ وَقَدْ حَانَتِ الصَّلاَةُ فَهَلْ لَكَ أَنْ تَؤُمَّ النَّاسَ قَالَ نَعَمْ إِنْ شِئْتَ فَأَقَامَ بِلاَلٌ وَتَقَدَّمَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَكَبَّرَ بِالنَّاسِ وَجَاءَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَمْشِي فِي الصُّفُوفِ حَتَّى قَامَ فِي الصَّفِّ وَأَخَذَ النَّاسُ فِي التَّصْفِيقِ وَكَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ لاَ يَلْتَفِتُ فِي صَلاَتِهِ فَلَمَّا أَكْثَرَ النَّاسُ الْتَفَتَ فَإِذَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَأَشَارَ إِلَيْهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَأْمُرُهُ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ فَرَفَعَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يَدَيْهِ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ ﷻ وَرَجَعَ الْقَهْقَرَى وَرَاءَهُ حَتَّى قَامَ فِي الصَّفِّ فَتَقَدَّمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَصَلَّى بِالنَّاسِ فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ أَقْبَلَ عَلَى النَّاسِ فَقَالَ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ مَا لَكُمْ حِينَ نَابَكُمْ شَىْءٌ فِي الصَّلاَةِ أَخَذْتُمْ فِي التَّصْفِيقِ إِنَّمَا التَّصْفِيقُ لِلنِّسَاءِ مَنْ نَابَهُ شَىْءٌ فِي صَلاَتِهِ فَلْيَقُلْ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ فَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَسْمَعُهُ أَحَدٌ حِينَ يَقُولُ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ إِلاَّ الْتَفَتَ إِلَيْهِ يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَنْ تُصَلِّيَ لِلنَّاسِ حِينَ أَشَرْتُ إِلَيْكَ قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ مَا كَانَ يَنْبَغِي لاِبْنِ أَبِي قُحَافَةَ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ بَيْنَ يَدَىْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ  

"In the last prayer that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ prayed with the people, he prayed wrapped up in a single garment, behind Abu Bakr."  

آخِرُ صَلاَةٍ صَلاَّهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَعَ الْقَوْمِ صَلَّى فِي ثَوْبٍ وَاحِدٍ مُتَوَشِّحًا خَلْفَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ  

It was narrated from Aisha that Abu Bakr led the people in prayer and the Messenger of Allah ﷺwas in the row.  

أَنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ صَلَّى لِلنَّاسِ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي الصَّفِّ  

"I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: 'When any one of you visits some people,he should not lead them in prayer."'  

سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ إِذَا زَارَ أَحَدُكُمْ قَوْمًا فَلاَ يُصَلِّيَنَّ بِهِمْ  

"Sometimes it is dark or rainy or there is a flood, and I am a blind man; 0 Messenger of Allah ﷺ, (come and) pray in a place in my house that I may take as a prayer-place." He said: "Where would you like me to pray for you?" He showed him a place in his house, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ prayed there.  

وَأَنَّهُ قَالَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِنَّهَا تَكُونُ الظُّلْمَةُ وَالْمَطَرُ وَالسَّيْلُ وَأَنَا رَجُلٌ ضَرِيرُ الْبَصَرِ فَصَلِّ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فِي بَيْتِي مَكَانًا أَتَّخِذُهُ مُصَلًّى فَجَاءَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ أَيْنَ تُحِبُّ أَنْ أُصَلِّيَ لَكَ فَأَشَارَ إِلَى مَكَانٍ مِنَ الْبَيْتِ فَصَلَّى فِيهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ  

"Riders used to pass by us and we would leam the Qur'an from them. My father came to the Prophet ﷺ and he said: 'Let the one of you who knows most Qur'an leads the prayer.' My father came and said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had said: 'Let the one of you who knows most Quran lead you in prayer.' They looked and found that I was the one who knew most Qur'an, so I used to lead them in prayer when I was eight years old.'  

كَانَ يَمُرُّ عَلَيْنَا الرُّكْبَانُ فَنَتَعَلَّمُ مِنْهُمُ الْقُرْآنَ فَأَتَى أَبِي النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقَالَ لِيَؤُمَّكُمْ أَكْثَرُكُمْ قُرْآنًا فَجَاءَ أَبِي فَقَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ لِيَؤُمَّكُمْ أَكْثَرُكُمْ قُرْآنًا فَنَظَرُوا فَكُنْتُ أَكْثَرَهُمْ قُرْآنًا فَكُنْتُ أَؤُمُّهُمْ وَأَنَا ابْنُ ثَمَانِ سِنِينَ  

"The messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'When the call to prayer is given, do not stand up until you see me.'"  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلاَةِ فَلاَ تَقُومُوا حَتَّى تَرَوْنِي  

"The Iqamah for prayer was said, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was conversing privately with a man, and did not commence the prayer until the people slept."  

أُقِيمَتِ الصَّلاَةُ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ نَجِيٌّ لِرَجُلٍ فَمَا قَامَ إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ حَتَّى نَامَ الْقَوْمُ  

"The Iqamah for prayer was said and the people stood in rows, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came out. Then when he stood in the place where he prayed, he remembered that he had not performed Ghusl. He said to the people: 'Stay where you are.' Then he went back to his house, then he came out with his head dripping with water. He performed Ghusl while we were standing in our rows."  

أُقِيمَتِ الصَّلاَةُ فَصَفَّ النَّاسُ صُفُوفَهُمْ وَخَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ حَتَّى إِذَا قَامَ فِي مُصَلاَّهُ ذَكَرَ أَنَّهُ لَمْ يَغْتَسِلْ فَقَالَ لِلنَّاسِ مَكَانَكُمْ ثُمَّ رَجَعَ إِلَى بَيْتِهِ فَخَرَجَ عَلَيْنَا يَنْطِفُ رَأْسُهُ فَاغْتَسَلَ وَنَحْنُ صُفُوفٌ  

"There was some fighting among Banu 'Amr bin 'Awf, and news of that reached the Prophet ﷺ. He prayed Zuhr, then he went to them to reconcile between them. Then he said to Bilal: 'O Bilal, if the time for Asr comes and I have not come back, then tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer.' When the time (for Asr) came, Bilal called the Adhan, then the Iqamah, then he said to Abu Bakr: 'Go forward. So Abu Bakr went forward and started to pray. Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came and started passing through the rows of people until he stood behind Abu Bakr, and the people clapped. Abu Bakr was such that whenever he started praying, he would never glance sideways, but when he noticed that the clapping persisted he turned around. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ gestured to him to carry on praying. Abu Bakr praised Allah the Mighty and Sublime for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ having told him to continue. Then Abu Bakr moved backward on his heels, and when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saw that, he came forward and led the people in prayer. When he completed the prayer he said: 'O Abu Bakr, when I gestured to you, what kept you from continuing (to lead the people)?' He said: 'It does not befit the son of Abu Quhafah to lead the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in prayer.' And he (the Prophet) said to the people: 'If you notice something (during the prayer), men should say Subhan Allah and women should clap.'"  

سَهْلُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ كَانَ قِتَالٌ بَيْنَ بَنِي عَمْرِو بْنِ عَوْفٍ فَبَلَغَ ذَلِكَ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَصَلَّى الظُّهْرَ ثُمَّ أَتَاهُمْ لِيُصْلِحَ بَيْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِبِلاَلٍ يَا بِلاَلُ إِذَا حَضَرَ الْعَصْرُ وَلَمْ آتِ فَمُرْ أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ فَلَمَّا حَضَرَتْ أَذَّنَ بِلاَلٌ ثُمَّ أَقَامَ فَقَالَ لأَبِي بَكْرٍ ؓ تَقَدَّمْ فَتَقَدَّمَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَدَخَلَ فِي الصَّلاَةِ ثُمَّ جَاءَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَجَعَلَ يَشُقُّ النَّاسَ حَتَّى قَامَ خَلْفَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَصَفَّحَ الْقَوْمُ وَكَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ إِذَا دَخَلَ فِي الصَّلاَةِ لَمْ يَلْتَفِتْ فَلَمَّا رَأَى أَبُو بَكْرٍ التَّصْفِيحَ لاَ يُمْسَكُ عَنْهُ الْتَفَتَ فَأَوْمَأَ إِلَيْهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِيَدِهِ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ ﷻ عَلَى قَوْلِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ لَهُ امْضِهْ ثُمَّ مَشَى أَبُو بَكْرٍ الْقَهْقَرَى عَلَى عَقِبَيْهِ فَتَأَخَّرَ فَلَمَّا رَأَى ذَلِكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ تَقَدَّمَ فَصَلَّى بِالنَّاسِ فَلَمَّا قَضَى صَلاَتَهُ قَالَ يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ مَا مَنَعَكَ إِذْ أَوْمَأْتُ إِلَيْكَ أَنْ لاَ تَكُونَ مَضَيْتَ فَقَالَ لَمْ يَكُنْ لاِبْنِ أَبِي قُحَافَةَ أَنْ يَؤُمَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَقَالَ لِلنَّاسِ إِذَا نَابَكُمْ شَىْءٌ فَلْيُسَبِّحِ الرِّجَالُ وَلْيُصَفِّحِ النِّسَاءُ  

"The Imam is appointed to be followed. When he bows, then bow, when he stands up, then stand up, when he prostrates, then prostrate, and when he says Sami' Alldhu liman hamidah (Allah hears the one who praises Him), then say, Rabbanri lakal-hamd (Our Lord, to You be the praise)."  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ سَقَطَ مِنْ فَرَسٍ عَلَى شِقِّهِ الأَيْمَنِ فَدَخَلُوا عَلَيْهِ يَعُودُونَهُ فَحَضَرَتِ الصَّلاَةُ فَلَمَّا قَضَى الصَّلاَةَ قَالَ إِنَّمَا جُعِلَ الإِمَامُ لِيُؤْتَمَّ بِهِ فَإِذَا رَكَعَ فَارْكَعُوا وَإِذَا رَفَعَ فَارْفَعُوا وَإِذَا سَجَدَ فَاسْجُدُوا وَإِذَا قَالَ سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ فَقُولُوا رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ  

"Come forward and follow me, and let those who are behind you follow your lead. If people continue to lag behind, Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, will put them back."  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ رَأَى فِي أَصْحَابِهِ تَأَخُّرًا فَقَالَ تَقَدَّمُوا فَأْتَمُّوا بِي وَلْيَأْتَمَّ بِكُمْ مَنْ بَعْدَكُمْ وَلاَ يَزَالُ قَوْمٌ يَتَأَخَّرُونَ حَتَّى يُؤَخِّرَهُمُ اللَّهُ ﷻ  

(Another chain) from Abu Nadrah (from Abu Sa'eed) with similar narration.  

عَنْ أَبِي نَضْرَةَ نَحْوَهُ  

"The Prophet was in front of Abu Bakr and he prayed sitting down, and Abu Bakr was leading the people in prayer, and the people were behind Abu Bakr."  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَمَرَ أَبَا بَكْرٍ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ بِالنَّاسِ قَالَتْ وَكَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ بَيْنَ يَدَىْ أَبِي بَكْرٍ فَصَلَّى قَاعِدًا وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ وَالنَّاسُ خَلْفَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ  

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ led us in Zuhr prayer and Abu Bakr was behind him. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said the Takbir, Abu Bakr said the Takbir so that the people could hear."  

صَلَّى بِنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الظُّهْرَ وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ خَلْفَهُ فَإِذَا كَبَّرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَبَّرَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يُسْمِعُنَا  

"We entered upon 'Abdullah at midday and he said: 'There will be rulers who would be distracted from praying on time, so pray on time.' Then he stood up and prayed between him and I, and said: 'This is what I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ do."'  

عَنِ الأَسْوَدِ وَعَلْقَمَةَ قَالاَ دَخَلْنَا عَلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ نِصْفَ النَّهَارِ فَقَالَ إِنَّهُ سَيَكُونُ أُمَرَاءُ يَشْتَغِلُونَ عَنْ وَقْتِ الصَّلاَةَ فَصَلُّوا لِوَقْتِهَا ثُمَّ قَامَ فَصَلَّى بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَهُ فَقَالَ هَكَذَا رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَعَلَ  

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ and Abu Bakr passed by me and Abu Bakr said to me: '0 Mas'ud, go to Abu Tamim' - meaning the man from whom he had been freed - 'and tell him to give us a camel so that we could ride, and let him send us some food and a guide to show us the way.' So I went to my former master and told him the same, and he sent with me a camel and vessels of milk, and I brought them via a secret route. Then the time for prayer came and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ stood up and prayed, and Abu Bakr stood to his right. I had come to know about Islam and I was with them, so I came and stood behind them. So the Messenger of Allah ﷺ pushed Abu Bakr on the chest (to make him move backward) and we stood behind him." Abu 'Abdur-Rahman (An-Nasai)said: (This) Buraidah is not a reliable narrator of Hadith.  

مَرَّ بِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ فَقَالَ لِي أَبُو بَكْرٍ يَا مَسْعُودُ ائْتِ أَبَا تَمِيمٍ يَعْنِي مَوْلاَهُ فَقُلْ لَهُ يَحْمِلْنَا عَلَى بَعِيرٍ وَيَبْعَثْ إِلَيْنَا بِزَادٍ وَدَلِيلٍ يَدُلُّنَا فَجِئْتُ إِلَى مَوْلاَىَ فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ فَبَعَثَ مَعِي بِبَعِيرٍ وَوَطْبٍ مِنْ لَبَنٍ فَجَعَلْتُ آخُذُ بِهِمْ فِي إِخْفَاءِ الطَّرِيقِ وَحَضَرَتِ الصَّلاَةُ فَقَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُصَلِّي وَقَامَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ وَقَدْ عَرَفْتُ الإِسْلاَمَ وَأَنَا مَعَهُمَا فَجِئْتُ فَقُمْتُ خَلْفَهُمَا فَدَفَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي صَدْرِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ فَقُمْنَا خَلْفَهُ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بُرَيْدَةُ هَذَا لَيْسَ بِالْقَوِيِّ فِي الْحَدِيثِ  

"Get up and I will lead you in prayer." Anas said: "So I got up and brought a reed mat of ours that had turned black from long use, and spreaded some water on it. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ stood and the orphan and I stood in a row behind him, and the old woman stood behind us, and he led us in praying two Rak'ahs, then he left."  

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

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ entered upon us and the only people present were myself, my mother, the orphan and Umm Harh, my maternal aunt. He said: 'Stand up and I will lead you in prayer.' It was not the time for a (prescribed) prayer. And he led us in prayer."  

دَخَلَ عَلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَمَا هُوَ إِلاَّ أَنَا وَأُمِّي وَالْيَتِيمُ وَأُمُّ حَرَامٍ خَالَتِي فَقَالَ قُومُوا فَلأُصَلِّيَ بِكُمْ قَالَ فِي غَيْرِ وَقْتِ صَلاَةٍ قَالَ فَصَلَّى بِنَا  

It was narrated from Anas that he and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and his mother, and his maternal aunt (were together). The Messenger of Allah ﷺ prayed, and he told Anas to stand on his right and his mother and maternal aunt behind them.  

أَنَّهُ كَانَ هُوَ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَأُمُّهُ وَخَالَتُهُ فَصَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَجَعَلَ أَنَسًا عَنْ يَمِينِهِ وَأُمَّهُ وَخَالَتَهُ خَلْفَهُمَا  

"I prayed beside the Prophet ﷺ and Ayesha was behind us praying with us, and I was beside the Prophet ﷺ praying with him."  

ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ صَلَّيْتُ إِلَى جَنْبِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ وَعَائِشَةُ خَلْفَنَا تُصَلِّي مَعَنَا وَأَنَا إِلَى جَنْبِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ أُصَلِّي مَعَهُ  

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ led me and a woman from my family in prayer. He made me to stand on his right and the woman to stand behind us."  

صَلَّى بِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَبِامْرَأَةٍ مِنْ أَهْلِي فَأَقَامَنِي عَنْ يَمِينِهِ وَالْمَرْأَةُ خَلْفَنَا  

"I stayed overnight with my maternal aunt Maimunah, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ got up to pray at night. I stood on his left, so he did this to me: He took me by the head and made me stand on his right."  

بِتُّ عِنْدَ خَالَتِي مَيْمُونَةَ فَقَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَقُمْتُ عَنْ شِمَالِهِ فَقَالَ بِي هَكَذَا فَأَخَذَ بِرَأْسِي فَأَقَامَنِي عَنْ يَمِينِهِ  

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to gently pat our shoulders (to make sure the row was straight) at the time of prayer, and he-would say:'Keep (the rows) straight; do not differ from one another lest your hearts would be afflicted with discord. Let those who are mature and wise stand closest to me, then those who are next to them, then those who are next to them."' Abu Mas'ud said: Today, there is much disharmony among you. ,Abu 'Abdur-Rabin (An-Nasai)said: (One of the narrators) Abu Ma'mar's name is 'Abdullah bin Sakhbarah.  

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَمْسَحُ مَنَاكِبَنَا فِي الصَّلاَةِ وَيَقُولُ لاَ تَخْتَلِفُوا فَتَخْتَلِفَ قُلُوبُكُمْ لِيَلِيَنِّي مِنْكُمْ أُولُو الأَحْلاَمِ وَالنُّهَى ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ قَالَ أَبُو مَسْعُودٍ فَأَنْتُمُ الْيَوْمَ أَشَدُّ اخْتِلاَفًا قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ أَبُو مَعْمَرٍ اسْمُهُ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ سَخْبَرَةَ  

"While I was in the Masjid in the first row, a man pulled me from behind and moved me aside, and took my place. By Allah, I could not focus on my prayer, then when he left I saw that it was Ubayy bin Ka'b. He said: '0 boy, may Allah protect you from harm. This is what the Prophet instructed us to do, to stand directly behind him.' Then he (Ubayy) turned to face the Qiblah and said: 'Doomed are Ah1 Al-'Uqd, by the Lord of the Ka'bah! - three times.'Then he said: 'By Allah, I am not sad for them, but I am sad for the people whom they have misled.' I said: '0 Abu Ya'qub, what do you mean by Ah1 Al-'Uqd?' He said: 'The rulers."'  

يَا فَتَى لاَ يَسُؤْكَ اللَّهُ إِنَّ هَذَا عَهْدٌ مِنَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ إِلَيْنَا أَنْ نَلِيَهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقْبَلَ الْقِبْلَةَ فَقَالَ هَلَكَ أَهْلُ الْعُقَدِ وَرَبِّ الْكَعْبَةِ ثَلاَثًا ثُمَّ قَالَ وَاللَّهِ مَا عَلَيْهِمْ آسَى وَلَكِنْ آسَى عَلَى مَنْ أَضَلُّوا قُلْتُ يَا أَبَا يَعْقُوبَ مَا يَعْنِي بِأَهْلِ الْعُقَدِ قَالَ الأُمَرَاءُ  

"The Iqamah for prayer was said, and we stood up and the rows were straightened, before the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came out to us. Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to us and stood in the place where he prayed, before he said the Takbir he paused and said to us: 'Stay where you are.' So we stayed there, waiting for him, until he came out to us; he had performed Ghusl and his head was dripping with water. Then he said the Takbir and prayed."  

أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ يَقُولُ أُقِيمَتِ الصَّلاَةُ فَقُمْنَا فَعُدِّلَتِ الصُّفُوفُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَخْرُجَ إِلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَأَتَانَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ حَتَّى إِذَا قَامَ فِي مُصَلاَّهُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُكَبِّرَ فَانْصَرَفَ فَقَالَ لَنَا مَكَانَكُمْ فَلَمْ نَزَلْ قِيَامًا نَنْتَظِرُهُ حَتَّى خَرَجَ إِلَيْنَا قَدِ اغْتَسَلَ يَنْطِفُ رَأْسُهُ مَاءً فَكَبَّرَ وَصَلَّى  

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to straighten the rows like shaft of an arrow is straightened before the head is attached to it. He saw a man whose chest was sticking out from the row. I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: 'Make your rows straight or Allah will cause your faces to be deformed."  

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُقَوِّمُ الصُّفُوفَ كَمَا تُقَوَّمُ الْقِدَاحُ فَأَبْصَرَ رَجُلاً خَارِجًا صَدْرُهُ مِنَ الصَّفِّ فَلَقَدْ رَأَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ يَقُولُ لَتُقِيمُنَّ صُفُوفَكُمْ أَوْ لَيُخَالِفَنَّ اللَّهُ بَيْنَ وُجُوهِكُمْ  

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to go between the rows from one side to another, patting our shoulders and chests and saying: 'Do not make your rows ragged or your hearts will be filled with enmity toward one another.' And he used to say: 'Allah and His angels send Salah upon the front rows."'  

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَتَخَلَّلُ الصُّفُوفَ مِنْ نَاحِيَةٍ إِلَى نَاحِيَةٍ يَمْسَحُ مَنَاكِبَنَا وَصُدُورَنَا وَيَقُولُ لاَ تَخْتَلِفُوا فَتَخْتَلِفَ قُلُوبُكُمْ وَكَانَ يَقُولُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلاَئِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى الصُّفُوفِ الْمُتَقَدِّمَةِ  

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to gently pat our shoulders (to make sure the row was straight) at the time of prayer, and he would say: 'Keep (the rows) straight; do not differ from one another lest your hearts should suffer from discord. Let those who are mature and wise stand closest to me, then those who are next to them, then those who are next to them."'  

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَمْسَحُ عَوَاتِقَنَا وَيَقُولُ اسْتَوُوا وَلاَ تَخْتَلِفُوا فَتَخْتَلِفَ قُلُوبُكُمْ وَلْيَلِيَنِّي مِنْكُمْ أُولُو الأَحْلاَمِ وَالنُّهَى ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ  

"Make your rows straight, make your rows straight, make your rows straight. By the One in Whose Hand is my soul! I can see you behind me as I can see you in front of me."  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ كَانَ يَقُولُ اسْتَوُوا اسْتَوُوا اسْتَوُوا فَوَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ إِنِّي لأَرَاكُمْ مِنْ خَلْفِي كَمَا أَرَاكُمْ مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَىَّ  

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺturned to face us when he stood up to pray, before he said the Takbir and said: 'Make your rows straight and come close to one another, for I can see you behind my back."'  

أَقْبَلَ عَلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِوَجْهِهِ حِينَ قَامَ إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُكَبِّرَ فَقَالَ أَقِيمُوا صُفُوفَكُمْ وَتَرَاصُّوا فَإِنِّي أَرَاكُمْ مِنْ وَرَاءِ ظَهْرِي  

"Make your rows solid and close together, and keep your necks in line. By the One in Whose Hand is the soul of Muhammad! I can see the shaitan entering through the gaps in the rows as if they are small sheep."  

أَنَّ نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ رَاصُّوا صُفُوفَكُمْ وَقَارِبُوا بَيْنَهَا وَحَاذُوا بِالأَعْنَاقِ فَوَالَّذِي نَفْسُ مُحَمَّدٍ بِيَدِهِ إِنِّي لأَرَى الشَّيَاطِينَ تَدْخُلُ مِنْ خَلَلِ الصَّفِّ كَأَنَّهَا الْحَذَفُ  

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ came out to us and said:'Will you not form rows as the angels form rows before their Lord? They said: 'How do the angels form rows before their lord? He said: 'They complete the first row and fill the gaps in the rows."'  

خَرَجَ إِلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ أَلاَ تَصُفُّونَ كَمَا تَصُفُّ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ قَالُوا وَكَيْفَ تَصُفُّ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ قَالَ يُتِمُّونَ الصَّفَّ الأَوَّلَ ثُمَّ يَتَرَاصُّونَ فِي الصَّفِّ  

It was narrated from Al'Irbad bin Sariyah that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to send Salah on the first row three times and on the second row once.  

عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَانَ يُصَلِّي عَلَى الصَّفِّ الأَوَّلِ ثَلاَثًا وَعَلَى الثَّانِي وَاحِدَةً  

"Complete the first row, then the one behind it, and if any row is to be left incomplete let it be the last row."  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ أَتِمُّوا الصَّفَّ الأَوَّلَ ثُمَّ الَّذِي يَلِيهِ وَإِنْ كَانَ نَقْصٌ فَلْيَكُنْ فِي الصَّفِّ الْمُؤَخَّرِ  

"Whoever completes a row, may Allah be generous to him, and whoever cuts a row, may Allah cut him off."  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ مَنْ وَصَلَ صَفًّا وَصَلَهُ اللَّهُ وَمَنْ قَطَعَ صَفًّا قَطَعَهُ اللَّهُ ﷻ  

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'The best rows for men are the front rows and the worst are the last, and the best rows for women are the back rows and the worst are those in the front."'  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ خَيْرُ صُفُوفِ الرِّجَالِ أَوَّلُهَا وَشَرُّهَا آخِرُهَا وَخَيْرُ صُفُوفِ النِّسَاءِ آخِرُهَا وَشَرُّهَا أَوَّلُهَا  

"We were with Anas and we prayed with one of the Amirs. They pushed us until we stood and prayed between two rows, and Anas started moving backward and said: 'We used to avoid this at the time of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ."  

كُنَّا مَعَ أَنَسٍ فَصَلَّيْنَا مَعَ أَمِيرٍ مِنَ الأُمَرَاءِ فَدَفَعُونَا حَتَّى قُمْنَا وَصَلَّيْنَا بَيْنَ السَّارِيَتَيْنِ فَجَعَلَ أَنَسٌ يَتَأَخَّرُ وَقَالَ قَدْ كُنَّا نَتَّقِي هَذَا عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ  

"When we prayed behind the Messenger of Allah ﷺ I liked to be to his right."  

كُنَّا إِذَا صَلَّيْنَا خَلْفَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَحْبَبْتُ أَنْ أَكُونَ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ  

"When any one of you leads the people in prayer, let him make it short, for among them are the sick, the weak and the elderly. And when any one of you prays by himself, let him make it as long as he wishes."  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ إِذَا صَلَّى أَحَدُكُمْ بِالنَّاسِ فَلْيُخَفِّفْ فَإِنَّ فِيهِمُ السَّقِيمَ وَالضَّعِيفَ وَالْكَبِيرَ فَإِذَا صَلَّى أَحَدُكُمْ لِنَفْسِهِ فَلْيُطَوِّلْ مَا شَاءَ  

It was narrated from Anas that the Prophet ﷺ used to make his prayer very brief but still complete when leading people.  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ كَانَ أَخَفَّ النَّاسِ صَلاَةً فِي تَمَامٍ  

"I stand in prayer, then I hear a child crying, so I make my prayer brief, because I do not want to cause hardship for his mother."  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ إِنِّي لأَقُومُ فِي الصَّلاَةِ فَأَسْمَعُ بُكَاءَ الصَّبِيِّ فَأُوجِزُ فِي صَلاَتِي كَرَاهِيَةَ أَنْ أَشُقَّ عَلَى أُمِّهِ  

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to enjoin upon us to make the prayer short, but he would lead us in prayer and recite As-Saffat."  

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَأْمُرُ بِالتَّخْفِيفِ وَيَؤُمُّنَا بِالصَّافَّاتِ