I was in the company of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) in the expedition of Tabuk. He abandoned the main road before the dawn prayer, and I also did the same along with him. The Prophet (ﷺ) made his camel kneel down and (went to ) relieve himself. He then came back and I poured water upon his hands from the skin-vessel. He then washed his hands and face. He tried to get his forearms out (of the gown), but the sleeves of the gown were too narrow, so he entered back both his hands, and brought them out from beneath the gown. He washed his forearms up to the elbows and wiped his head and wiped over his socks.80 He then mounted (his camel) and we began to proceed until we found people offering the prayer. They brought forward ‘Abd al-Rahman b. ‘Awf who was leading them in prayer. The Prophet(ﷺ) stood in the row side by side with other Muslims. He performed the second rak’ah of the prayer behind ‘Abd al-Rahman b. ‘Awf. Then ‘Abd al-Rahman uttered salutation. The Prophet(ﷺ) stood to perform the remaining rak’ah of the prayer. The Muslims were alarmed. They began to utter tasbih (Subhan Allah) presuming that they had offered prayer before the Prophet (ﷺ) had done. When he uttered the salutation (i.e. finished his prayer), he said: You were right, or (he said) you did well.
Hadith Text & Context
Narrated from Al-Mughirah ibn Shu'bah: "I was in the company of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) in the expedition of Tabuk. He abandoned the main road before the dawn prayer... When he uttered the salutation, he said: 'You were right,' or he said: 'You did well.'" (Sunan Abi Dawud 149)
Purification Rulings
The Prophet's washing of hands before face-washing demonstrates the recommended order in wudu. His difficulty with sleeves shows garments don't invalidate wudu if water reaches skin.
Wiping over socks (khuffayn) is established here as permissible during travel, confirming this concession remains valid until removal.
Prayer Leadership Principles
The Prophet praying behind Ibn 'Awf demonstrates a qualified imam remains valid even if more knowledgeable person joins later.
Completing missed rak'ahs shows whoever joins prayer late should complete what they missed after imam's salam.
Scholarly Commentary
Imam Nawawi states this hadith proves the legitimacy of making up missed rak'ahs and that joining prayer late doesn't nullify one's prayer.
Ibn Qudamah notes the Companions' tasbih indicates correcting prayer errors through dhikr, while the Prophet's approval shows flexibility in prayer scenarios.