The Book of Prayers

كتاب الصلاة

Chapter 41: The Prohibition Of Reciting The Quran While Bowing And Prostrating

'Ali b. Abi Talib reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade me from the recitation (of the Qur'an) in bowing and prostration and I do not say that he forbade you.

'Ali reported

My loved one (the Holy Prophet) forbade me that I should recite (the Qur'an) in a state of bowing and prostration.

This hadith has been narrated by some other narrators, Ibn 'Abbas and others, and they all reported that 'Ali said

The Apostle of Allah (ﷺ) forbade me to recite the Qur'an while I am in a state of bowing and prostration, and in their narration (there is a mention of) forbiddance from that (recital) in the state of prostration as it has been transmitted by Zuhri, Zaid b. Aslam, al-Wahid b. Kathir, and Dawud b. Qais.

This hadith is transmitted on the authority of 'Ali, but he made no mention of" while in prostration".

Ibn 'Abbas reported

I was forbidden to recite (the Qur'an) while I was bowing, and there is no mention of 'Ali in the chain of transmitters.

Chapter 42: What Is To Be Said While Bowing And Prostrating

Abu Huraira reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: The nearest a servant comes to his Lord is when he is prostrating himself, so make supplication (in this state).

Abu Huraira reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to say while prostrating himself: O Lord, forgive me all my sins, small and great, first and last, open and secret.

'A'isha reported

The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him') often said while bowing and prostrating himself:" Glory be to Thee, O Allah, our Lord, and praise be to Thee, O Allah, forgive me," thus complying with the (command in) the Qur'an.

'A'isha reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) before his death recited often

Hallowed be Thou, and with Thy praise, I seek forgiveness from Thee and return to Thee. She reported: I said: Messenger of Allah, what are these words that I find you reciting? He said: There has been made a sign for me in my Ummah; when I saw that, I uttered them (these words of glorification for Allah), and the sign is:" When Allah's help and victory..... to the end of the surah.

'A'isha reported

Never did I, see the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) after the revelation (of these verses):" When Allah's help and victory came." observin- his prayer without making (this supplication) or he said in it (supplication): Hallowed be Thee, my Lord, and with Thy praise, O Allah, forgive me.

'A'isha reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) recited often these words: Hallowed be Allah and with His praise, I seek the forgiveness of Allah and return to Him. She said: I asked: Messenger of Allah, I see that you often repeat the saying" subhan allahi bihamdihi astag firullahi watubuilaih" whereupon he said: My Lord informed me that I would soon see a sign in my Ummah, so when I see it I often recite (these) words: Hallowed be Allah and with His Praise, I seek forgiveness of Allah and return to Him. Indeed I saw it (when this verse) was revealed:" When Allah's help and victory came, it marked the victory of Mecca, and you see people entering into Allah's religion in troops, celebrate the praise of Thy Lord and ask His forgiveness. Surely He is ever returning to Mercy."

Ibn Juraij reported

I asked 'Ata': What do you recite when you are in a state of bowing (in prayer)? He said:" Hallowed be Thou, and with Thy praise, there is no god but Thou." Son of Abd Mulaika narrated to me on the anthority of 'A'isha (who reported): I missed one night the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) (from his bed). I thought that he might have gone to one of his other wives. I searched for him and then came back and (found him) in a state of bowing, or prostration, saying: Hallowed be Thou and with Thy praise; there is no god but Thou. I said: With my father mayest thou be ransomed and with my mother. I was thinking of (another) affair, whereas you are (occupied) in another one.

'A'isha reported

One night I missed Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) from the bed, and when I sought him my hand touched the soles of his feet while he was in the state of prostration; they (feet) were raised and he was saying:" O Allah, I seek refuge in Thy pleasure from Thy anger, and in Thy forgiveness from Thy punishment, and I seek refuge in Thee from Thee (Thy anger). I cannot reckon Thy praise. Thou art as Thou hast lauded Thyself."

'A'isha reported that the Messenger of Allah (may peace he upon him) used to pronounce while bowing and prostrating himself

All Glorious, All Holy, Lord of the Angels and the Spirit.

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of 'A'isha by another chain of transmitters.

Chapter 43: The Virtue Of Prostration And Encouragcrneni To Do So

Ma'dan b. Talha reported

I met Thauban, the freed slave. of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), and asked him to tell me about an act for which, if I do it, Allah will admit me to Paradise, or I asked about the act which was loved most by Allah. He gave no reply. I again asked and he gave no reply. I asked him for the third time, and he said: I asked Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) about that and he said: Make frequent prostrations before Allah, for you will not make one prostration without raising you a degree because of it, and removing a sin from you, because of it. Ma'dan said that then lie met Abu al-Darda' and when he asked him, he received a reply similar to that given by Thauban.

Rabi'a b. Ka'b said

I was with Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) one night. and I brought him water and what he required. He said to me: Ask (anything you like). I said: I ask your company in Paradise. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Or anything else besides it. I said: That is all (what I require). He said: Then help me to achieve this for you by devoting yourself often to prostration.

Chapter 44: The Limbs Of Prostration And The Prohibition Of Tucking Up One's Hair And Garment Or Having Ones Hair In A Braid When Praying

Ibn 'Abbas reported

The Apostle of Allah (ﷺ) had been commanded that he should prostrate on the seven (bones) and he was forbidden to fold back the hair and clothing. And in the narration transmitted by Abu Rabi' (the words are):" on the seven bones and I was forbidden to fold back the hair and clothing". According to Abu'l-Rabi' (the seven bones are): The hands, the knees, and the (extremities) of the feet and the forehead.

Ibn 'Abbas reported from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)

I was commanded to prostrate myself on seven bones and not to fold back clothing or hair.

Ibn 'Abbas reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had been commanded to prostrate on seven (bones) and forbidden to fold back hair and clothing.