The Book of Prayers

كتاب الصلاة

Chapter 36: Recitation During 'Isha

Al-Bara' b. 'Azib reported that he said prayer with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and he recited

" By the Fig and the Olive."

Al-Bara' b. 'Azib reported

I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) reciting in the night prayer:" By the Fig and the Olive," and I have never heard anyone with a sweeter voice than he.

Jabir reported that Mu'adh b. Jabal used to pray with the Apostle (ﷺ), then came and led his people in prayer. One night he said the night prayer with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He then came to his people and led them in prayer beginning with Surat al-Baqara. A man turned aside, pronounced the taslim (salutation for concluding the prayer), then prayed alone and departed. The people said to him

Have you become a hypocrite, so and so? He said: I swear by Allah that I have not, but I will certainly go to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and will inform (him) about this. He then came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said: Messenger of Allah, we look after camels used for watering and work by day. Mu'adh said the night prayer with you. He then came and began with Surat al-Baqara. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) then turned to Mu'adh and said: Are you there to (put the people) to trial? Recite such and recite such (and such a surah). It is transmitted on the authority of Jabir, as told by Sufyan, that he (the Holy Prophet) had said: "By the sun and its morning brightness" (Surah xci), "By brightness" (Surah xciii), "By the night when it spreads" (Surah xcii), and "Glorify the name of thy most high Lord" (Surah lxxxii).

Jabir reported

'Mu'adh b. Jabal al-Ansari led his companions in the night prayer and prolonged it for them. A person amongst us said prayer (after having separated himself from the congregation). Mu'adh was informed of this, and he remarked that he was a hypocrite. When it (the remark) was conveyed to the man, he went to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and informed him of what Mu'adh had said. Upon this the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to him: Mu'adh, do you want to become a person putting (people) to trial? When you lead people in prayer, recite:" By the Sun and its morning brightness" (Surat ash-Shams)," Glorify the name of thy most high Lord" (Surat al-A`la) and" Read in the name of Lord" (Surat al-`Alaq), and" By the night when it spreads" (Surat al-Lail).

Jabir b. 'Abdullah reported

Mu'adh b. Jabal said the night prayer with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and then returned to his people and then led them in this prayer.

Jabir b. Abdullah reported

Mu'adh said the night prayer with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He then came to the mosque of his people and led them in prayer.

Chapter 37: The Command To The Imam To Make The Prayer Brief But Complete

Abu Mas'ud al-Ainsari reported

A person came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said: I keep away from the morning prayer on account of such and such (a man), because; he keeps us so long. I never saw God's Messenger (ﷺ) more angry when giving an exhortation than he was that day. He said: 0 people, some of you are scaring people away. So whoever of you leads the people in prayer he must be brief, for behind him are the weak, the aged, and the people who have (argent) business to attend.

This hadith like one narrated by Hashalm has been narrated from Isma'il with the same chain of transmitters.

Abu Huraira reported

The Apostle of Allah (ﷺ) said: When any one of you leads the people in prayer, he should be brief for among them are the young and the aged, the weak and the sick. But when one of you prays by himself, he may (prolong) as he likes.

Hammam b. Munabbih reported

This is what Abu Huraira transmitted to us from Muhammad the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and he narrated (some) ahadith out of (these narrations and one of them is this): The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: When any one of you stands to lead people In prayer, he should shorten it, for amongst them are the aged, and amongst them are the weak, but when he prays by himself, he may prolong his prayer as he likes.

Abu Huraira reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: When any one of you leads people in prayer, he must shorten it for among them are the weak, the infirm and those who have business to attend.

Abu Bakr b. 'Abd al-Rahman reported that he had heard Abu Huraira say that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said like it, but he substituted" the aged" for 'the infirm".

Uthman b. Abu'l-'As at-Thaqafi reported

The Apostle of Allah (ﷺ) said to him: Lead your people in prayer. I said: Messenger of Allah. I perceive something (disturbing) in my soul. He (the Holy Prophet) asked me to draw near him and making me sit down in front of him he placed his hand on my breast between my nipples. and then, telling me to turn round, he placed it on my back between my shoulders. He then said: Act as an Imam for your people. He who acts as Imam of the people, he must be brief, for among them are the aged, among them are the sick, among them are the weak, and among them are the people who have business to attend. But when any of you prays alone, he may pray as he likes.

Uthman b. Abu'l-'As reported

The last thing which the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) instructed me was: When you lead the people in prayer, be brief.

Anas reported

The Apostle of Allah (ﷺ) used to be brief and perfect in prayer.

Anas reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was among those whose prayers was brief and perfect.

Anas reported

I never prayed behind an Imam who was more brief and more perfect in prayer than the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).

Anas reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would listen to the crying of a lad in the company of his mother, in prayer, and he would recite a short surah or a small surah.

Anas b. Malik reported the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) having said

When I begin the prayer I Intend to make it long, but I hear a boy cry. ing; I then shorten it because of his mother's feelings.

Chapter 38: Moderation In All Pillars Of The Prayer, And Making It Brief Yet Complete

Al-Bara' b. 'Azib reported

I noticed the prayer of Muhammad (ﷺ) and saw his Qiyam (standing), his bowing, and then going back to the standing posture after bowing, his prostration, his sitting between the two prostrations, and his prostration and sitting between salutation and going away, all these were nearly equal to one another.