Call to Prayers (Adhaan)

Mahmud ibn al-Rabi reported: I heard Itban ibn Malik al-Ansari say: The Prophet asked permission to enter, and I gave him permission. He said, Where in your house would you like me to pray? I pointed out the place where I wished him to pray. He stood there, and we formed rows behind him. Then he concluded the prayer with salutation, and we did the same.

Ubayd Allah ibn Abd Allah ibn Utba reported: I visited Aisha and asked her to tell me about the illness of the Messenger of Allah. She said: The Prophet became very ill and asked, Have the people prayed? We said, No, they are waiting for you. He said, Put water in a basin for me. We did so, and he performed a bath. As he tried to rise, he fainted. When he regained consciousness, he asked again whether the people had prayed. We said they were waiting for him. He asked for water again, bathed, and fainted as he tried to rise. This happened a third time. When he regained consciousness, the people were still waiting in the mosque for the night prayer. The Prophet sent for Abu Bakr, instructing him to lead the people. The messenger told Abu Bakr that the Messenger of Allah had ordered him to lead. Abu Bakr, a tender-hearted man, said to Umar, Lead the people. Umar replied, You have more right to do so. Abu Bakr led them during those days. Then the Prophet felt some relief and came out for the noon prayer, supported by two men, one of whom was al-Abbas. Abu Bakr was leading the people. When Abu Bakr saw him, he started to step back, but the Prophet gestured for him not to. He said, Seat me beside him. They seated him beside Abu Bakr. Abu Bakr continued praying while following the prayer of the Prophet, who was seated, and the people followed Abu Bakr. Ubayd Allah said: I visited Ibn Abbas and asked whether I should recount what Aisha had told me about the Prophet illness. He said, Go ahead. I told him her report, and he did not dispute any of it. He only asked whether she had named the man who was with al-Abbas. I said no. He said, It was Ali.

Aisha, the Mother of the Believers, reported: The Messenger of Allah prayed in his house while ill. He prayed seated, while some people behind him prayed standing. He gestured to them to sit. When he finished, he said, The imam is appointed to be followed. When he bows, bow; when he rises, rise. If he prays seated, then pray seated.

Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah rode a horse and fell from it, injuring his right side. He prayed one of the prayers seated, and we prayed seated behind him. When he finished, he said, The imam is appointed to be followed. If he prays standing, pray standing. When he bows, bow; when he rises, rise. When he says, Allah hears whoever praises Him, say, Our Lord, to You is praise. If he prays standing, pray standing; if he prays seated, all of you pray seated. Abu Abd Allah said: Al-Humaydi explained that the instruction, If he prays seated, pray seated, referred to the Prophet earlier illness. Later, the Prophet prayed seated while the people behind him stood, and he did not tell them to sit. The later practice of the Prophet is the one to follow.

Al-Bara reported: When the Messenger of Allah said, Allah hears whoever praises Him, none of us bent his back until the Prophet had gone down into prostration. Then we went down into prostration after him.

A similar report was narrated through Abu Nuaym, from Sufyan, from Abu Ishaq.

Abu Huraira reported that the Prophet said: Does one of you not fear, or should he not fear, that if he raises his head before the imam, Allah may turn his head into the head of a donkey or make his appearance like that of a donkey?

Ibn Umar reported: When the first emigrants arrived at al-Usba, a place near Quba, before the Messenger of Allah arrived, Salim, the freedman of Abu Hudhayfa, used to lead them in prayer. He had memorized more of the Quran than the others.

Anas reported that the Prophet said: Listen and obey, even if a black Abyssinian slave is appointed over you, whose head is like a raisin.

Abu Huraira reported that the Messenger of Allah said: They lead you in prayer. If they do it correctly, the reward is yours; if they make a mistake, the reward is yours and the responsibility is theirs.

Ubayd Allah ibn Adi ibn Khiyar visited Uthman ibn Affan while he was under siege and said, You are the leader of the community, and you are facing what you see. Yet an instigator leads us in prayer, and we feel uneasy. Uthman replied, Prayer is among the best things people do. When people do good, do good with them; when they do wrong, avoid their wrongdoing. Al-Zuhri said, We do not consider it permissible to pray behind an effeminate man except in a dire necessity.

Anas ibn Malik reported that the Prophet said to Abu Dharr: Listen and obey, even if the one appointed over you is an Abyssinian whose head is like a raisin.

Ibn Abbas reported: I stayed overnight at the home of my maternal aunt, Maymuna. The Messenger of Allah prayed the night prayer, then came and prayed four rakas and slept. Then he got up. I came and stood to his left, but he moved me to his right. He prayed five rakas, then two rakas, then slept until I heard his breathing, or snoring. Then he went out to pray.

Ibn Abbas reported: I slept at Maymuna house one night while the Prophet was there. He performed ablution, then stood to pray. I stood to his left, but he took hold of me and moved me to his right. He prayed thirteen rakas, then slept until he breathed loudly; whenever he slept, he breathed loudly. Then the caller came to him, and he went out and prayed without performing ablution. Amr said: I related this to Bukayr, who said, Kurayb told me the same.

Ibn Abbas reported: I stayed overnight at my maternal aunt home. The Prophet got up to pray during the night. I stood and prayed with him, taking my place to his left. He took hold of my head and moved me to his right.

Jabir ibn Abd Allah reported: Muadh ibn Jabal used to pray with the Prophet, then return and lead his own people in prayer.

Jabir ibn Abd Allah reported: Muadh ibn Jabal used to pray with the Prophet, then return and lead his people in prayer. One night he led the evening prayer and recited Surat al-Baqara. A man left the prayer, and Muadh spoke harshly to him. When this was reported to the Prophet, he said three times, You cause hardship, you cause hardship, you cause hardship, or, You are causing hardship. He instructed Muadh to recite two of the medium-length surahs from al-Mufassal. Amr said: I do not remember which two.

Abu Masud reported that a man said: By Allah, Messenger of Allah, I sometimes arrive late for the dawn prayer because so-and-so makes it too long for us. I never saw the Messenger of Allah more angry while giving admonition than he was that day. He said, Some of you drive people away. Whoever leads the people in prayer should keep it brief, for among them are the weak, the elderly, and those with needs.

Abu Huraira reported that the Messenger of Allah said: When one of you leads people in prayer, let him keep it brief, for among them are the weak, the sick, and the elderly. When one of you prays alone, let him make it as long as he wishes.

Abu Masud reported that a man said: Messenger of Allah, I sometimes arrive late for the dawn prayer because so-and-so makes it too long for us. The Messenger of Allah became angrier than I had ever seen him on any occasion. He said, People, some of you drive others away. Whoever leads the people in prayer should keep it brief, for behind him are the weak, the elderly, and those with needs.