Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat)

Abu Ishaq said: I heard ʿAbdullah ibn Yazid al-Khatmi addressing the people. He said: Al-Bara’, who was no liar, reported to us that when they raised their heads from bowing with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), they stood upright, and when they saw that he had prostrated, they prostrated.

Al-Bara’ said: We used to pray with the Prophet (ﷺ), and none of us would bend his back until he saw the Prophet begin to do so.

Abu Dawud noted that Zuhayr said: ‘The Kufans—Aban and others—related it to us.’

Al-Bara’ reported that they used to pray with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). When he bowed, they bowed. When he said, ‘Allah hears whoever praises Him,’ they remained standing until they saw that he had placed his forehead on the ground, then they followed him.

Abu Hurayrah reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Does one of you not fear—or should one of you not fear—that when he raises his head while the imam is prostrating, Allah may turn his head into a donkey’s head, or his form into a donkey’s form?’

Anas reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) urged them to pray and forbade them to leave before he had finished the prayer.

Abu Hurayrah reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was asked about praying in a single garment. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: ‘Does each of you have two garments?’

Abu Hurayrah reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘None of you should pray in a single garment with none of it over his shoulders.’

Abu Hurayrah reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘When one of you prays in a garment, let him cross its two ends over his shoulders.’

ʿUmar ibn Abi Salamah said: I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) praying with a single garment wrapped around him, its two ends crossed over his shoulders.

Talq ibn ʿAli said: We came to the Prophet of Allah (ﷺ). A man came and asked: ‘Prophet of Allah, what do you say about praying in a single garment?’ The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) loosened his lower wrap, laid it across his upper wrap, and wrapped himself in both. Then he stood and led us in prayer. When he had finished, he said: ‘Does each of you have two garments?’

Sahl ibn Saʿd said: I saw men behind the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) during prayer, their waist wraps tied around their necks because the wraps were narrow, like little boys. Someone called out: ‘O women, do not raise your heads until the men have raised theirs.’

ʿA’ishah said: The Prophet (ﷺ) prayed in a single garment, part of which was over me.

Salamah ibn al-Akwaʿ said: I asked, ‘Messenger of Allah, I am a man who hunts; may I pray in a single shirt?’ He replied: ‘Yes. Fasten it, even with a thorn.’

Abu Dawud noted: ‘He said Abu Hawmal; the correct form is Abu Harmal.’ The report is transmitted from Muhammad ibn ʿAbd al-Rahman ibn Abi Bakr, from his father, who said: Jabir ibn ʿAbdullah led us in prayer wearing a shirt with no upper wrap over it. When he finished, he said: ‘I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) praying in a shirt.’

ʿUbadah ibn al-Walid ibn ʿUbadah ibn al-Samit said: We came to Jabir, meaning Ibn ʿAbdullah. He said: I traveled with the Prophet (ﷺ) on a campaign. He stood to pray, and I had a mantle. I tried to cross its two ends, but it was too short for me. It had fringes, so I turned it inside out, crossed its two ends, and crouched over it so it would not fall. Then I came and stood to the left of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He took my hand, turned me around, and placed me on his right. Ibn Sakhr came and stood to his left. He took both of us by our hands and placed us behind him. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) kept glancing at me, but I did not notice. Then I realized, and he gestured for me to wrap it around my waist. When he finished praying, he said: ‘Jabir!’ I replied: ‘At your service, Messenger of Allah.’ He said: ‘If it is wide, cross its two ends; if it is narrow, tie it around your waist.’

Ibn ʿUmar reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said—or that ʿUmar said: ‘If one of you has two garments, let him pray in them. If he has only one garment, let him wear it as a lower wrap and not drape himself in the Jewish manner.’

Buraydah ibn al-Hasib reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade praying in a mantle unless it is draped around the body, and praying in trousers without an upper wrap.

ʿAbdullah ibn Masʿud said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: ‘Whoever lets his lower garment trail in prayer out of pride is not under Allah’s protection or covenant, in matters lawful or unlawful.’

Abu Dawud said: A group of transmitters reported this from ʿAsim as a statement of Ibn Masʿud, not as a saying of the Prophet. They include Hammad ibn Salamah, Hammad ibn Zayd, Abu al-Ahwas, and Abu Muʿawiyah.

Abu Hurayrah said: While a man was praying with his lower garment trailing, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to him: ‘Go and perform ablution.’ He went and performed ablution, then returned. He again said: ‘Go and perform ablution.’ The man went and performed ablution, then returned. A man asked: ‘Messenger of Allah, why did you tell him to perform ablution?’ He replied: ‘He was praying with his lower garment trailing, and Allah Most High does not accept the prayer of a man who lets his lower garment trail.’

Muhammad ibn Zayd ibn Qunfudh reported from his mother that she asked Umm Salamah: ‘What clothes should a woman pray in?’ She replied: ‘She should pray in a head covering and a long garment that conceals the tops of her feet.’