Shortening the Prayer

Yahya related to me from Malik that he had heard that Said ibnal-Musayyab said, "It is said that no-one except a hypocrite leavesthe mosque after the call to prayer, except for someone who intends toreturn."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Amir ibn Abdullah ibn az-Zubayr from Amr ibn Sulaymaz-Zuraqi from Abu Qatadaal-Ansari that theMessenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said,"When you enter the mosque, you should pray two rakas before you sitdown."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Abu'nNadr, the mawla of Umaribn Ubaydullah, that Abu Salama ibn Abd ar-Rahman asked him, "Didn't Isee your master sit down before praying after he had entered themosque?"

Abu'n-Nadr said, "By that he meant Umar ibnUbaydullah, and he was finding fault with him for sitting down beforepraying after he had come into the mosque."

Yahya said thatMalik said, "It is good to do that but not obligatory."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Nafi that Abdullah ibn Umarused to place his palms flat on the surface where he put his forehead.Nafi said, "I have seen him take his hands out from under his burnuson a very cold day and place them on the ground."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Nafi that Abdullah ibn Umarused to say, "When one of you puts his forehead on the ground heshould put his palms on the place where he puts his forehead. Then,when he rises, he should raise them, for the hands prostrate just asthe face prostrates."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Abu Hazim Salama ibn Dinarfrom Sahl ibn Said as-Saidi that the Messenger of Allah, may Allahbless him and grant him peace, went to the tribe of Bani Amr ibn Awfto settle their disputes .The time for the prayer came and themuadhdhin came to Abu Bakr as-Siddiq and said, "Could you lead thepeople in prayer and I will say the iqama?" He said, "Yes," and AbuBakr prayed. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant himpeace, came back while the people were praying, and approached andjoined the row. People clapped, but Abu Bakr did not turn round. Thepeople increased their clapping, and Abu Bakr turned round and saw theMessenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and theMessenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, indicatedto him to stay in his place. Abu Bakr raised his hands and praisedAllah that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant himpeace, had told him to do that. Then he drew back until he was in therow, and the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant himpeace, stepped forward and led the prayer. When he had finished hesaid, "Abu Bakr, what stopped you from staying put like I told you?"Abu Bakr said, "It is not for Ibn Abi Quhafa to pray in front of theMessenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace."

The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said,"Why did I see you all clapping so much? If something happens to youin the prayer you should say 'Subhana-llah' (Glory be to Allah), andwhen you say 'Subhana-llah' you will be heard. Clapping is only forwomen."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Nafi that Ibn Umar wouldnever turn around when praying.

Yahya related to me from Malik that Abu Jafar al-Qari said, "Iwas praying, and Abdullah ibn Umar was behind me and I was not awareof it. Then I turned round and he prodded me (in disapproval)."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Ibn Shihab that Abu Umama ibnSahl ibn Hunayf said, "Zayd ibn Thabit entered the mosque and foundthe people in ruku, so he went into ruku and then moved slowly forwarduntil he reached the row."

Yahya related to me from Malik that he had heard that Abdullahibn Masud used to move forward while in ruku.

Yahya related to me from Malik from Abdullah ibn Abi Bakr ibnHazim from his father that Amr ibn Sulaym az-Zuraqi said, "Abu Humaydas-Saidi told me that they asked the Messenger of Allah, may Allahbless him and grant him peace, how they were to ask for blessings uponhim and he replied that they should say, 'O Allah, bless Muhammad andhis wives and his descendants asYou blessed the family of Ibrahim, andgive baraka to Muhammad and his wives and his descendants as You gavebaraka to the family of Ibrahim. You are worthy of Praise andGlorious.'"

Allahumma salli ala Muhammad wa azwajihi wa alihikama sallaita ala ali Ibrahim, wa barakaala Muhammad wa azwajihi waalihi kama baraktaalaali Ibrahim, innaka Hamidu'm - Majid.

Yahya related to me from Malik from Nuaym ibn Abdullah al-Mujmirthat Muhammad ibn Abdullah ibn Zayd told him that Abu Masud alAnsari said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and granthim peace, came to us at the gathering of Sad ibn Ubada. Bashir ibnSad said to him, 'Allah has ordered us to ask for blessings on you,Messenger of Allah. How should we do it?' The Messenger of Allah, mayAllah bless him and grant him peace, remained silent until we wishedwe had not asked him. Then he told us to say, 'O Allah, bless Muhammadand the family of Muhammad as You blessed Ibrahim, and give baraka toMuhammad and the family of Muhammad as You gave baraka to the familyof Ibrahim. In all the worlds You are worthy of Praise and Glorious,'and then give the taslim as you have learnt."

Allahumma salliala Muhammad wa ali Muhammad kama sallaita Ibrahim, wa baraka alaMuhammad wa ali Muhammad kama baraktaala ali Ibrahim. Fi'l alamin,innaka Hamidu'm - Majid.

Yahya related to me from Malik that Abdullah ibn Dinar said, "Isaw Abdullah ibn Umar stop by the grave of the Prophet, may Allahbless him and grant him peace, and ask for blessings on the Prophet,may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and on Abu Bakr and Umar."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Nafi from Ibn Umar that theMessenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used topray two rakas before dhuhr and two rakas after it, two rakas aftermaghrib, in his house, and two rakas after isha. He did not pray afterjumua until he had left, and then he prayed two rakas.

Yahya related to me from Malik from Abu'z Zinad from al-Araj fromAbu Hurayra that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and granthim peace, said, "Do you see the direction I am facing here? By Allah,neither your concentration nor your ruku is hidden from me. I can seeyou behind my back."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Nafi from Abdullah ibn Umarthat when the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant himpeace, used to go to Quba (to pray), he would walk as well as ride.

Yahya related to me from Malik from Yahya ibn Said from an-Numanibn Murra that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and granthim peace, said,"What about drunkenness, stealing and adultery? "Thatwas before anything had been revealed about them. They said, "Allahand His Messenger know best." He said, "They are excesses and in themis a punishment. And the worst of thieves is the one who steals hisprayer." They said, "How does he steal his prayer, Messenger ofAllah?" He replied, "He does not do ruku or sajda properly."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Hisham ibn Urwa from hisfather that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant himpeace, said, "Do some of the prayers in your houses."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Nafi that Abdullah ibn Umarused to say, "When a sick man is unable to prostrate he should motionwith his head, and not raise anything to his forehead."

Yahya related to me from Malik from Rabia ibn Abi Abd ar-Rahmanthat if Abdullah ibn Umar arrived at the mosque and the people hadalready prayed, he would begin with the obligatory prayer and not prayanything before it.