Actions while Praying

Muhammad ibn Kathir narrated to us; Sufyan informed us, from Abu Hazim, from Sahl ibn Sa'd (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: The people used to pray with the Prophet (ﷺ) with their waist wraps tied around their necks because the garments were short. The women were told, ‘Do not raise your heads until the men are seated upright.’

'Abdullah ibn Abi Shaybah narrated to us; Ibn Fudayl narrated to us, from al-A'mash, from Ibrahim, from 'Alqamah, from 'Abdullah, who said: I used to greet the Prophet (ﷺ) while he was praying, and he would return my greeting. When we returned, I greeted him, but he did not return my greeting. He said: ‘Prayer is an occupation.’

Abu Ma'mar narrated to us; 'Abd al-Warith narrated to us; Kathir ibn Shinzher narrated to us, from 'Ata ibn Abi Rabah, from Jabir ibn 'Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with them both), who said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sent me on an errand, so I went and completed it. I returned to the Prophet (ﷺ) and greeted him, but he did not return my greeting. I felt something in my heart that Allah knows best, and thought to myself: Perhaps the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) is displeased with me because I was slow. I greeted him again, but he did not return my greeting, and I felt even more troubled than the first time. Then I greeted him again, and he returned my greeting and said: ‘What prevented me from returning your greeting was that I was praying.’ He was riding his mount, facing away from the qiblah.

Qutaybah narrated to us; 'Abd al-'Aziz narrated to us, from Abu Hazim, from Sahl ibn Sa'd (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) learned that there had been a dispute among Banu 'Amr ibn 'Awf at Quba. He went out with some of his Companions to reconcile them. The Messenger of Allah was delayed, and the time for prayer arrived. Bilal came to Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with them both) and said: ‘Abu Bakr, the Messenger of Allah has been delayed and the time for prayer has arrived. Will you lead the people in prayer?’ He said: ‘Yes, if you wish.’ Bilal gave the call to begin the prayer, and Abu Bakr went forward and said the takbir for the people. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came walking through the rows until he stood in a row, and the people began clapping. Sahl said: Tasfih means clapping. Abu Bakr did not turn around during prayer, but when the people clapped repeatedly, he turned and saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), who gestured to him to continue leading. Abu Bakr raised his hand, praised Allah, then stepped backward until he stood in the row. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) went forward and led the people in prayer. When he finished, he turned to the people and said: ‘People, why, when something happens to you during prayer, do you clap? Clapping is for women. If something happens to someone during prayer, let him say, “Glory be to Allah.”’ Then he turned to Abu Bakr and said: ‘Abu Bakr, what prevented you from leading the people in prayer when I gestured to you?’ Abu Bakr said: ‘It would not be fitting for Ibn Abi Quhafah to lead the prayer in front of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).’

Abu al-Nu'man narrated to us; Hammad narrated to us, from Ayyub, from Muhammad, from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: It was forbidden to rest one's hands on one's hips during prayer.

Hisham and Abu Hilal narrated from Ibn Sirin, from Abu Hurayrah, from the Prophet (ﷺ).

'Amr ibn 'Ali narrated to us; Yahya narrated to us; Hisham narrated to us; Muhammad narrated to us, from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: A man was forbidden to pray with his hands on his hips.

Ishaq ibn Mansur narrated to us; Rawh narrated to us; 'Umar (meaning Ibn Sa'id) narrated to us, saying: Ibn Abi Mulaykah informed me, from 'Uqbah ibn al-Harith (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: I prayed the 'Asr prayer with the Prophet (ﷺ). When he said the taslim, he stood quickly and went in to one of his wives. Then he came out and saw the people's astonishment at how quickly he had gone. He said: ‘While I was praying, I remembered that we had some gold, and I disliked its remaining with us into the evening or overnight, so I ordered that it be distributed.’

Yahya ibn Bukayr narrated to us; al-Layth narrated to us, from Ja'far, from al-A'raj, who said: Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘When the call to prayer is given, Satan turns away, passing wind so that he will not hear the call. When the caller falls silent, he returns. When the prayer is announced, he turns away; when it ends, he returns. He continues whispering to a person, saying, “Remember this and that,” until the person no longer knows how much he has prayed.’

Abu Salamah ibn 'Abd al-Rahman said: ‘If this happens to one of you, let him perform two prostrations while seated.’ Abu Salamah heard this from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him).

Muhammad ibn al-Muthanna narrated to us; 'Uthman ibn 'Umar narrated to us, saying: Ibn Abi Dhi'b informed me, from Sa'id al-Maqburi, who said: Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) used to say: ‘People say that Abu Hurayrah narrates too much.’ I met a man and asked him: ‘What did the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) recite last night in the 'Isha prayer?’ He said: ‘I don't know.’ I asked: ‘Were you not present for it?’ He said: ‘Yes.’ I said: ‘But I know: he recited such-and-such surah.’