The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Martyrs are those who die because of drowning, plague, an Abdominal disease, or
of being buried alive by a falling building." And then he added, "If the people knew the Reward for
the Zuhr prayer in its early time, they would race for it. If they knew the reward for the `Isha' and the
Fajr prayers in congregation, they would join them even if they had to crawl. If they knew the reward
for the first row, they would draw lots for it."
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 1, Book 11, Hadith 688
Hadith 722
Chapter 74: The straightening of the rows is amongst those obligatory and good things which make your As-Salat (the prayer) a correct and perfect one. - كتاب الأذان
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The Imam is (appointed) to be followed. So do not differ from him, bow when he
bows, and say, "Rabbana-lakal hamd" if he says "Sami`a l-lahu liman hamidah"; and if he prostrates,
prostrate (after him), and if he prays sitting, pray sitting all together, and straighten the rows for the
prayer, as the straightening of the rows is amongst those things which make your prayer a correct and
perfect one. (See Hadith No. 657).
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 1, Book 11, Hadith 689
Hadith 723
Chapter 74: The straightening of the rows is amongst those obligatory and good things which make your As-Salat (the prayer) a correct and perfect one. - كتاب الأذان
Narrated Anas bin Malik:
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْوَلِيدِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ
" سَوُّوا صُفُوفَكُمْ فَإِنَّ تَسْوِيَةَ الصُّفُوفِ مِنْ إِقَامَةِ الصَّلاَةِ ".
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Straighten your rows as the straightening of rows is essential for a perfect and
correct prayer. "
I arrived at Medina and was asked whether I found any change since the days of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). I
said, "I have not found any change except that you do not stand in alignment in your prayers."
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 1, Book 11, Hadith 691
Hadith 725
Chapter 76: To stand shoulder to shoulder and foot to foot in a row - كتاب الأذان
Narrated Anas bin Malik:
حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ خَالِدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرٌ، عَنْ حُمَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ
" أَقِيمُوا صُفُوفَكُمْ فَإِنِّي أَرَاكُمْ مِنْ وَرَاءِ ظَهْرِي ". وَكَانَ أَحَدُنَا يُلْزِقُ مَنْكِبَهُ بِمَنْكِبِ صَاحِبِهِ وَقَدَمَهُ بِقَدَمِهِ.
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Straighten your rows for I see you from behind my back." Anas added, "Everyone
of us used to put his shoulder with the shoulder of his companion and his foot with the foot of his
companion."
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 1, Book 11, Hadith 692
Hadith 726
Chapter 77: If a person stands by the left side of the Imam, and the Imam dress him to the right from behind, the Salat (prayer) is correct. - كتاب الأذان
Narrated Ibn `Abbas:
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا دَاوُدُ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ دِينَارٍ، عَنْ كُرَيْبٍ، مَوْلَى ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ صَلَّيْتُ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ فَقُمْتُ عَنْ يَسَارِهِ، فَأَخَذَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِرَأْسِي مِنْ وَرَائِي، فَجَعَلَنِي عَنْ يَمِينِهِ، فَصَلَّى وَرَقَدَ فَجَاءَهُ الْمُؤَذِّنُ، فَقَامَ وَصَلَّى وَلَمْ يَتَوَضَّأْ.
I prayed with the Prophet (ﷺ) one night and stood on his left side. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) caught hold of my head
from behind and drew me to his right and then offered the prayer and slept. Later the Mu'adh-dhin
came and the Prophet (ﷺ) stood up for prayer without performing ablution.
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 1, Book 11, Hadith 693
Hadith 727
Chapter 78: One woman can form a row - كتاب الأذان
Narrated Anas bin Malik:
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ صَلَّيْتُ أَنَا وَيَتِيمٌ، فِي بَيْتِنَا خَلْفَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأُمِّي أُمُّ سُلَيْمٍ خَلْفَنَا.
One night an orphan and I offered the prayers behind the Prophet (ﷺ) in my house and my mother (Um
Sulaim) was standing behind us (by herself forming a row).
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 1, Book 11, Hadith 694
Hadith 728
Chapter 79: The right side of the mosque and the place to the right of the Imam - كتاب الأذان
Narrated Ibn `Abbas:
حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى، حَدَّثَنَا ثَابِتُ بْنُ يَزِيدَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَاصِمٌ، عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ قُمْتُ لَيْلَةً أُصَلِّي عَنْ يَسَارِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَخَذَ بِيَدِي أَوْ بِعَضُدِي حَتَّى أَقَامَنِي عَنْ يَمِينِهِ، وَقَالَ بِيَدِهِ مِنْ وَرَائِي.
One night I stood to the left of the Prophet (ﷺ) in the prayer but he caught hold of me by the hand or by
the shoulder (arm) till he made me stand on his right and beckoned with his hand (for me) to go from
behind (him). (Al-Kashmaihani [??] , Fath-ul-Bari).
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 1, Book 11, Hadith 695
Hadith 729
Chapter 80: If there is a wall or a Sutra between the Imam and followers - كتاب الأذان
Narrated `Aisha:
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدٌ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدَةُ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدٍ الأَنْصَارِيِّ، عَنْ عَمْرَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فِي حُجْرَتِهِ، وَجِدَارُ الْحُجْرَةِ قَصِيرٌ، فَرَأَى النَّاسُ شَخْصَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَامَ أُنَاسٌ يُصَلُّونَ بِصَلاَتِهِ، فَأَصْبَحُوا فَتَحَدَّثُوا بِذَلِكَ، فَقَامَ لَيْلَةَ الثَّانِيَةِ، فَقَامَ مَعَهُ أُنَاسٌ يُصَلُّونَ بِصَلاَتِهِ، صَنَعُوا ذَلِكَ لَيْلَتَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلاَثَةً، حَتَّى إِذَا كَانَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ جَلَسَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلَمْ يَخْرُجْ، فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحَ ذَكَرَ ذَلِكَ النَّاسُ فَقَالَ
" إِنِّي خَشِيتُ أَنْ تُكْتَبَ عَلَيْكُمْ صَلاَةُ اللَّيْلِ ".
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to pray in his room at night. As the wall of the room was LOW, the people saw
him and some of them stood up to follow him in the prayer. In the morning they spread the news. The
following night the Prophet (ﷺ) stood for the prayer and the people followed him. This went on for two or
three nights. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) did not stand for the prayer the following night, and did not
come out. In the morning, the people asked him about it. He replied, that he way afraid that the night
prayer might become compulsory.
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 1, Book 11, Hadith 696
Hadith 730
Chapter 81: The night prayer. - كتاب الأذان
Narrated `Aisha:
حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ الْمُنْذِرِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي فُدَيْكٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي ذِئْبٍ، عَنِ الْمَقْبُرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ لَهُ حَصِيرٌ يَبْسُطُهُ بِالنَّهَارِ، وَيَحْتَجِرُهُ بِاللَّيْلِ، فَثَابَ إِلَيْهِ نَاسٌ، فَصَلَّوْا وَرَاءَهُ.
The Prophet (ﷺ) had a mat which he used to spread during the day and use as a curtain at night. So a
number of people gathered at night facing it and prayed behind him.
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) made a small room in the month of Ramadan (Sa`id said, "I think that Zaid bin Thabit
said that it was made of a mat") and he prayed there for a few nights, and so some of his companions
prayed behind him. When he came to know about it, he kept on sitting. In the morning, he went out to
them and said, "I have seen and understood what you did. You should pray in your houses, for the best
prayer of a person is that which he prays in his house except the compulsory prayers."
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 1, Book 11, Hadith 698
Hadith 732
Chapter 82: The necessity of saying the Takbir, i.e., Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Most Great) and the commencement of As-Salat (the prayer) - كتاب الأذان
Narrated Anas bin Malik Al-Ansari:
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي أَنَسُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ الأَنْصَارِيُّ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم رَكِبَ فَرَسًا، فَجُحِشَ شِقُّهُ الأَيْمَنُ، قَالَ أَنَسٌ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ فَصَلَّى لَنَا يَوْمَئِذٍ صَلاَةً مِنَ الصَّلَوَاتِ وَهْوَ قَاعِدٌ، فَصَلَّيْنَا وَرَاءَهُ قُعُودًا، ثُمَّ قَالَ لَمَّا سَلَّمَ
" إِنَّمَا جُعِلَ الإِمَامُ لِيُؤْتَمَّ بِهِ، فَإِذَا صَلَّى قَائِمًا فَصَلُّوا قِيَامًا، وَإِذَا رَكَعَ فَارْكَعُوا، وَإِذَا رَفَعَ فَارْفَعُوا، وَإِذَا سَجَدَ فَاسْجُدُوا وَإِذَا قَالَ سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ. فَقُولُوا رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ ".
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) rode a horse and fell down and the right side of his body was injured. On that day he
prayed one of the prayers sitting and we also prayed behind him sitting. When the Prophet (ﷺ) finished the
prayer with Taslim, he said, "The Imam is to be followed and if he prays standing then pray standing,
and bow when he bows, and raise your heads when he raises his head; prostrate when he prostrates;
and if he says "Sami`a l-lahu liman hamidah", you should say, "Rabbana wa laka l-hamd.:
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 1, Book 12, Hadith 699
Hadith 733
Chapter 82: The necessity of saying the Takbir, i.e., Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Most Great) and the commencement of As-Salat (the prayer) - كتاب الأذان
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) fell from a horse and got injured so he led the prayer sitting and we also prayed
sitting. When he completed the prayer he said, "The Imam is to be followed; if he says Takbir then say
Takbir, bow if he bows; raise your heads when he raises his head, when he says, 'Sami`a l-lahu liman
hamidah say, 'Rabbana laka l-hamd', and prostrate when he prostrates."
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 1, Book 12, Hadith 700
Hadith 734
Chapter 82: The necessity of saying the Takbir, i.e., Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Most Great) and the commencement of As-Salat (the prayer) - كتاب الأذان
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The Imam is to be followed. Say the Takbir when he says it; bow if he bows; if he
says 'Sami`a l-lahu liman hamidah', say, ' Rabbana wa laka l-hamd', prostrate if he prostrates and pray
sitting altogether if he prays sitting."
My father said, "Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to raise both his hands up to the level of his shoulders when
opening the prayer; and on saying the Takbir for bowing. And on raising his head from bowing he
used to do the same and then say "Sami`a l-lahu liman hamidah, Rabbana wa laka l-hamd." And he
did not do that (i.e. raising his hands) in prostrations.
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 1, Book 12, Hadith 702
Hadith 736
Chapter 84: To raise both hands while saying the Takbir [on opening As-Salat (the prayer)], and while bowing and on raising up the head (after bowing) - كتاب الأذان
I saw that whenever Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) stood for the prayer, he used to raise both his hands up to the
shoulders, and used to do the same on saying the Takbir for bowing and on raising his head from it
and used to say, "Sami`a l-lahu liman hamidah". But he did not do that (i.e. raising his hands) in
prostrations.
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 1, Book 12, Hadith 703
Hadith 737
Chapter 84: To raise both hands while saying the Takbir [on opening As-Salat (the prayer)], and while bowing and on raising up the head (after bowing) - كتاب الأذان
I saw Malik bin Huwairith saying Takbir and raising both his hands (on starting the prayers and
raising his hands on bowing and also on raising his head after bowing. Malik bin Huwairith said,
"Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) did the same."
I saw Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) opening the prayer with the Takbir and raising his hands to the level of his
shoulders at the time of saying the Takbir, and on saying the Takbir for bowing he did the same; and
when he said, "Sami`a l-lahu liman hamidah ", he did the same and then said, "Rabbana wa laka lhamd."
But he did not do the same on prostrating and on lifting the head from it."
Whenever Ibn `Umar started the prayer with Takbir, he used to raise his hands: whenever he bowed,
he used to raise his hands (before bowing) and also used to raise his hands on saying, "Sami`a l-lahu
liman hamidah", and he used to do the same on rising from the second rak`a (for the 3rd rak`a). Ibn
`Umar said: "The Prophet (ﷺ) used to do the same."
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 1, Book 12, Hadith 707
Hadith 741
Chapter 88: Submissiveness in As-Salat (the prayer) - كتاب الأذان
Narrated Abu Huraira:
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مَالِكٌ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ
" هَلْ تَرَوْنَ قِبْلَتِي هَا هُنَا وَاللَّهِ مَا يَخْفَى عَلَىَّ رُكُوعُكُمْ وَلاَ خُشُوعُكُمْ، وَإِنِّي لأَرَاكُمْ وَرَاءَ ظَهْرِي ".
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "You see me facing the Qibla; but, by Allah, nothing is hidden from me
regarding your bowing and submissiveness and I see you from behind my back."
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 1, Book 12, Hadith 708
Hadith 742
Chapter 88: Submissiveness in As-Salat (the prayer) - كتاب الأذان
Narrated Anas bin Malik:
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا غُنْدَرٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ
" أَقِيمُوا الرُّكُوعَ وَالسُّجُودَ، فَوَاللَّهِ إِنِّي لأَرَاكُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِي ـ وَرُبَّمَا قَالَ مِنْ بَعْدِ ظَهْرِي ـ إِذَا رَكَعْتُمْ وَسَجَدْتُمْ ".
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Perform the bowing and the prostrations properly. By Allah, I see you from behind
me (or from behind my back) when you bow or prostrate."
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 1, Book 12, Hadith 709
Hadith 743
Chapter 89: What to say after the Takbir - كتاب الأذان
Narrated Anas bin Malik:
حَدَّثَنَا حَفْصُ بْنُ عُمَرَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَبَا بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ كَانُوا يَفْتَتِحُونَ الصَّلاَةَ بِ ـ {الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ}
The Prophet, Abu Bakr and `Umar used to start the prayer with "Al hamdu li l-lahi Rabbi l-`alamin
(All praise is but to Allah, Lord of the Worlds).
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to keep silent between the Takbir and the recitation of Qur'an and that interval of
silence used to be a short one. I said to the Prophet (ﷺ) "May my parents be sacrificed for you! What do
you say in the pause between Takbir and recitation?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "I say, 'Allahumma, baa`id
baini wa baina khatayaya kama baa`adta baina l-mashriqi wa l-maghrib. Allahumma, naqqini min
khatayaya kama yunaqqa th-thawbu l-abyadu mina d-danas. Allahumma, ighsil khatayaya bi l-maa'i
wa th-thalji wa l-barad (O Allah! Set me apart from my sins (faults) as the East and West are set apart
from each other and clean me from sins as a white garment is cleaned of dirt (after thorough washing).
O Allah! Wash off my sins with water, snow and hail.)"
The Prophet (ﷺ) once offered the eclipse prayer. He stood for a long time and then did a prolonged
bowing. He stood up straight again and kept on standing for a long time, then bowed a long bowing
and then stood up straight and then prostrated a prolonged prostration and then lifted his head and
prostrated a prolonged prostration. And then he stood up for a long time and then did a prolonged
bowing and then stood up straight again and kept on standing for a long time. Then he bowed a long
bowing and then stood up straight and then prostrated a prolonged prostration and then lifted his head
and went for a prolonged prostration. On completion o the prayer, he said, "Paradise became s near to
me that if I had dared, I would have plucked one of its bunches for you and Hell became so near to me
that said, 'O my Lord will I be among those people?' Then suddenly I saw a woman and a cat was
lacerating her with it claws. On inquiring, it was said that the woman had imprisoned the cat till it died
of starvation and she neither fed it no freed it so that it could feed itself."