Establishing the Prayer and the Sunnah Regarding Them

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Ali bin Muhammad narrated to us: Waki narrated to us, from Ibrahim bin Tahman, from Husain Al-Muallim, from Ibn Buraidah, from Imran bin Husain, who said: I was afflicted with al-nasur, so I asked the Prophet (ﷺ) about prayer. He said: Pray standing; if you cannot, then seated; and if you cannot, then on your side.

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Abdul-Hamid bin Bayan Al-Wasiti narrated to us: Ishaq Al-Azraq narrated to us, from Sufyan, from Jabir, from Abu Hariz, from Wail bin Hujr, who said: I saw the Prophet (ﷺ) praying while seated on his right side when he was ill.

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Abu Bakr bin Abu Shaibah narrated to us: Abu Al-Ahwas narrated to us, from Abu Ishaq, from Abu Salamah, from Umm Salamah, who said: By the One who took his soul (ﷺ), he did not die until most of his prayers were performed while seated. The deeds most beloved to him were righteous deeds that a servant performs consistently, even if they are few.

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Abu Bakr bin Abu Shaibah narrated to us: Ismail bin Ulayyah narrated to us, from Al-Walid bin Abu Hisham, from Abu Bakr bin Muhammad, from Amrah, from Aishah, who said: The Prophet (ﷺ) would recite while seated. When he wished to bow, he would stand for the time it takes a person to recite forty verses.

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Abu Marwan Al-Uthmani narrated to us: Abdul-Aziz bin Abu Hazim narrated to us, from Hisham bin Urwah, from his father, from Aishah, who said: I never saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) perform any of the night prayer except standing until he grew old. Then he began praying seated. When forty or thirty verses remained of his recitation, he would stand, recite them, and prostrate.

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Abu Bakr bin Abu Shaibah narrated to us: Muadh bin Muadh narrated to us, from Humaid, from Abdullah bin Shaqiq Al-Uqaili, who said: I asked Aishah about the night prayer of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). She said: He would pray for a long time at night standing and for a long time at night seated. When he recited standing, he bowed standing; and when he recited seated, he bowed seated.

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Uthman bin Abu Shaibah narrated to us: Yahya bin Adam narrated to us: Qutbah narrated to us, from Al-Amash, from Habib bin Abu Thabit, from Abdullah bin Babah, from Abdullah bin Amr, that the Prophet (ﷺ) passed by him while he was praying seated and said: The prayer of one who prays seated is half of the prayer of one who prays standing.

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Nasr bin Ali Al-Jahdami narrated to us: Bishr bin Umar narrated to us: Abdullah bin Jafar narrated to us: Ismail bin Muhammad bin Sad narrated to me, from Anas bin Malik, that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) went out and saw some people praying seated. He said: The prayer of one who prays seated is half of the prayer of one who prays standing.

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Bishr bin Hilal As-Sawwaf narrated to us: Yazid bin Zurai narrated to us, from Husain Al-Muallim, from Abdullah bin Buraidah, from Imran bin Husain, that he asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) about a man praying seated. He said: Whoever prays standing, that is better. Whoever prays seated will have half the reward of one who prays standing. Whoever prays lying down will have half the reward of one who prays seated.

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Abu Bakr bin Abu Shaibah narrated to us: Abu Muawiyah and Waki narrated to us, from Al-Amash. Another chain: Ali bin Muhammad narrated to us: Waki narrated to us, from Al-Amash, from Ibrahim, from Al-Aswad, from Aishah, who said: When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) fell ill with the illness from which he died—and Abu Muawiyah said: when he became severely ill—Bilal came to inform him that it was time for prayer. He said: Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer. We said: Messenger of Allah, Abu Bakr is a tender-hearted man; when he stands in your place, he will weep and be unable. If only you would command Umar to lead the people in prayer. He said: Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer, for you are like the women of Joseph. Aishah said: So we sent for Abu Bakr, and he led the people in prayer. Then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) felt some relief and came out to the prayer, supported between two men, his feet dragging along the ground. When Abu Bakr sensed his presence, he began to step back, but the Prophet (ﷺ) gestured to him to stay in his place. They brought him until they seated him beside Abu Bakr. Abu Bakr followed the Prophet (ﷺ) in prayer, and the people followed Abu Bakr.

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Abu Bakr bin Abu Shaibah narrated to us: Abdullah bin Numair narrated to us, from Hisham bin Urwah, from his father, from Aishah, who said: During his illness, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) instructed Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer, and he did so. Then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) felt some relief and came out, finding Abu Bakr leading the people. When Abu Bakr saw him, he stepped back, but the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) gestured to him to remain where he was. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sat beside Abu Bakr. Abu Bakr followed the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and the people followed the prayer of Abu Bakr.

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Nasr bin Ali Al-Jahdami narrated to us: Abdullah bin Dawud informed us from his book, in his home. Salamah bin Nubait said: Nuaym bin Abu Hind narrated to us, from Nubait bin Sharit, from Salim bin Ubaid, who said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) fainted during his illness, then regained consciousness and said: Has the time for prayer come? They said: Yes. He said: Tell Bilal to call the adhan, and tell Abu Bakr to lead the people—or to pray for the people. Then he fainted again, regained consciousness, and said: Has the time for prayer come? They said: Yes. He said: Tell Bilal to call the adhan, and tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer. Then he fainted again, regained consciousness, and said: Has the time for prayer come? They said: Yes. He said: Tell Bilal to call the adhan, and tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer. Aishah said: My father is a tender-hearted man; when he stands in that place, he will weep and be unable. If only you would appoint someone else. Then he fainted again, regained consciousness, and said: Tell Bilal to call the adhan, and tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer, for you are the companions of Joseph—or the women companions of Joseph. Bilal was instructed to call the adhan, and Abu Bakr was instructed to lead the people in prayer. Then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) felt some relief and said: Find someone for me to lean on. Barirah and another man came, and he leaned on them. When Abu Bakr saw him, he began to step back, but he gestured to him: Stay where you are. Then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came and sat beside Abu Bakr until Abu Bakr completed his prayer. Then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) passed away. Abu Abdullah said: This is an uncommon hadith; no one narrated it except Nasr bin Ali.

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Ali bin Muhammad narrated to us: Waki narrated to us, from Israil, from Abu Ishaq, from Al-Arqam bin Shurahbil, from Ibn Abbas, who said: When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) fell ill with the illness in which he died, he was in Aishah house. He said: Call Ali for me. Aishah said: Messenger of Allah, shall we call Abu Bakr for you? He said: Call him. Hafsah said: Messenger of Allah, shall we call Umar for you? He said: Call him. Umm Al-Fadl said: Messenger of Allah, shall we call Al-Abbas for you? He said: Yes. When they had gathered, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) raised his head, looked, and fell silent. Umar said: Get up and leave the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). Then Bilal came to inform him that it was time for prayer. He said: Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer. Aishah said: Messenger of Allah, Abu Bakr is a tender-hearted and restrained man; when he does not see you, he will weep, and the people will weep. If only you would command Umar to lead the people in prayer. Abu Bakr went out and led the people in prayer. Then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) felt some relief and came out, supported between two men, his feet dragging on the ground. When the people saw him, they glorified Allah to alert Abu Bakr. Abu Bakr began to step back, but the Prophet (ﷺ) gestured to him: Stay where you are. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came and sat to Abu Bakr right, and Abu Bakr stood. Abu Bakr followed the Prophet (ﷺ) in prayer, while the people followed Abu Bakr. Ibn Abbas said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) continued the recitation from the point Abu Bakr had reached. Waki said: This is likewise the Sunnah. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) died during that illness.

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Muhammad bin Al-Muthanna narrated to us: Ibn Abu Adi narrated to us, from Humaid, from Bakr bin Abdullah, from Hamzah bin Al-Mughirah bin Shubah, from his father, who said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) lagged behind, and we came to the people when Abdur-Rahman bin Awf had led them in one rakah of the prayer. When he sensed the Prophet (ﷺ), he began to step back, but the Prophet gestured to him to complete the prayer. He said: You have done well; continue doing it this way.

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Abu Bakr bin Abu Shaibah narrated to us: Abdah bin Sulaiman narrated to us, from Hisham bin Urwah, from his father, from Aishah, who said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) fell ill, and some of his Companions came to visit him. The Prophet (ﷺ) prayed seated, while they prayed behind him standing. He gestured to them to sit. When he finished, he said: The imam was appointed to be followed. When he bows, bow; when he rises, rise. If he prays seated, then pray seated.

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Hisham bin Ammar narrated to us: Sufyan bin Uyaynah narrated to us, from Az-Zuhri, from Anas bin Malik, that the Prophet (ﷺ) fell from a horse and scraped his right side. We went to visit him, and the time for prayer came. He led us in prayer while seated, and we prayed behind him seated. When he had finished, he said: The imam was appointed to be followed. When he says the takbir, say the takbir; when he bows, bow; when he says Allah hears whoever praises Him, say: Our Lord, to You is praise; when he prostrates, prostrate; and if he prays seated, then all of you pray seated.

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Abu Bakr bin Abu Shaibah narrated to us: Hushaym bin Bashir narrated to us, from Umar bin Abu Salamah, from his father, from Abu Hurairah, who said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: The imam was appointed to be followed. When he says the takbir, say the takbir; when he bows, bow; when he says Allah hears whoever praises Him, say: Our Lord, to You is praise. If he prays standing, pray standing; and if he prays seated, pray seated.

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Muhammad bin Ramh Al-Misri narrated to us: Al-Laith bin Sad informed us, from Abu Az-Zubair, from Jabir, who said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) fell ill, and we prayed behind him while he was seated. Abu Bakr said the takbir so that the people could hear it. He turned toward us, saw us standing, and gestured for us to sit. We prayed following him while seated. When he gave the taslim, he said: You were nearly doing what the Persians and Romans do: they stand while their kings are seated. Do not do that. Follow your imams. If he prays standing, pray standing; and if he prays seated, pray seated.

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Abu Bakr bin Abu Shaibah narrated to us: Abdullah bin Idris, Hafs bin Ghiyath, and Yazid bin Harun narrated to us, from Abu Malik Al-Ashjai, Sad bin Tariq, who said: I said to my father: Father, you prayed behind the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and behind Abu Bakr, Umar, and Uthman, and behind Ali here in Kufa for about five years. Did they recite Qunut in Fajr? He said: My son, that is something newly introduced.

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Hatim bin Bakr Ad-Dabbi narrated to us: Muhammad bin Yala, Zunbur, narrated to us: Anbasah bin Abdur-Rahman narrated to us, from Abdullah bin Nafi, from his father, from Umm Salamah, who said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade Qunut in Fajr.