The Book of Prayers

كتاب الصلاة

Chapter 18: Saying "Sami'a Allahu liman Hamidah," Rabbana wa lakal-hamd," and "Amin"

Abu Harare reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: When anyone amongst you utters Amin and the angels In the heaven also utter Amin and (the Amin) of the one synchronises with (that of) the other, all his previous sins are pardoned.

Chapter 13: The Proof Of Those Who Say That The Basmalah Should Not Be Recited Aloud

Shu'ba reported it with the same chain of transmitters. with she addition of these words

" I said to Qatada: Did you hear it from Anas? He replied in the affir- mative and added: We had inquired of him about it."

Chapter 16: The Tashah-hud In The Prayer

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Mansur with the same chain of transmitters and he made a mention of this

" Then he may choose any supplication which pleases him or which he likes."

Abdullah b. Mas'ud reported

We were sitting with the Apostle (ﷺ) in prayer, and the rest of the hadith is the same as narrated by Mansur He (also said): After (reciting tashahud) he may choose any prayer.

Qatada has narrated a hadith like this with another chain of transmitters. In the hadith transmitted by Jarir on the authority of Sulaiman, Qatada's further words are

When (the Qur'an) is recited (in prayer), you should observe silence, and (the following words are) not found in the hadith narrated by anyone except by Abu Kamil who heard it from Abu 'Awina (and the words are): Verily Allah vouchsafed through the tongue of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) this: Allah listens to him who praises Him. Abu Ishaq (a student of Imam Muslim) said: Abu Bakr the son of Abu Nadr's sister has (critically) discussed this hadith. Imam Muslim said: Whom can you find a more authentic transmitter of hadith than Sulaiman? Abu Bakr said to him (Imam Muslim): What about the hadith narrated by Abu Huraira, i.e. the hadith that when the Qur'an is recited (in prayer) observe silence? He (Abu Bakr again) said: Then, why have you not included it (in your compilation)? He (Imam Muslim) said: I have not included in this every hadith which I deem authentic; I have recorded only such ahadith on which there is an agreement (amongst the Muhaddithin apart from their being authentic).

Chapter 18: Saying "Sami'a Allahu liman Hamidah," Rabbana wa lakal-hamd," and "Amin"

Abu Huraira reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: When the Imam says:" Allah listens to him who praises Him." you should say:" O Allah, our Lord for Thee is the praise." for if what anyone says synchronises with what the angels say, his past sins will be forgiven.

A hadith like this is narrated by Abu Huraira by another chain of transmitters.

'A hadith like this is transmitted by Ma'mar from Hammam b. Munabbih on the authority of Abu Huraira who reported it from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).

Chapter 19: Following The Imam

Anas b. Malik reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) fell down from a horse and he was grazed and he led the prayer for us sitting, and the rest of the hadith is the same.

Chapter 21: If The Imam Experiences An Excuse, From Illness, Or Travelling, Etc. He May Appoint Someone Else To Lead The People In Prayer; The One Who Offers Prayer Behind The Imam Sitting Because He Is Unable To Stand Must Stand If He Is Able To Do So; And The Abrogation Of Sitting Behind A Sitting Imam For Those Who Are Able To Stand

'A'isha reported

When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came to my house, he said: Ask Abu Bakr to lead people in prayer. 'A'isha narrated: I said, Messenger of Allah, Abu Bakr is a man of tenderly feelings; as he recites the Qur'an, he cannot help shedding tears: so better command anyone else to lead the prayer. By Allah, there is nothing disturbing in it for me but the idea that the people may not takeevil omen with regard to one who is the first to occupy the place of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). I tried to dissuade him (the Holy Prophet) twice or thrice (from appointing my father as an Imam in prayer), but he ordered Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer and said: You women are like those (who had) surrounded Yusuf.

'A'isha reported

When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was confined to bed, Bilal came to him to summon him to prayer. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Ask Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer. She ('A'isha) reported: I said: Messenger of Allah, Abu Bakr is a tenderhearted man, when he would stand at your place (he would be so overwhelmed by feelings) that he would not be able to make the people hear anything (his recitation would not be audible to the followers in prayer). You should better order Umar (to lead the prayer). He (the Holy Prophet) said: Ask Abu Bakr to lead people in prayer. She ('A'isha) said: I asked Hafsa to (convey) my impression to him (the Holy Prophet) that Abu Bakr was a tenderhearted man, so when he would stand at his place, he would not be able to make the people bear anything. He better order Umar. Hafsa conveyed this (message of Hadrat 'A'isha) to him (the Holy Prophet). The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: (You are behaving) as if you are the females who had gathered around Yusuf. Order Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer. She ('A'isha) reported: So Abu Bakr was ordered to lead the people in prayer. As the prayer began, the Messenger of Allah (may peace he upon him) felt some relief; he got up and moved supported by two persons and his feet dragged on earth (due to excessive weakness). 'A'isha reported: As he (the Holy Prophet) entered the mosque. Abu Bakr perceived his (arrival). He was about to withdraw, but the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) by the gesture (of his hand) told him to keep standing at his place. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came and seated himself on the left side of Abu Bakr. She ('A'isha) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was leading people in prayer sitting. Abu Bakr was following the prayer of the Apostle (ﷺ) in a standing posture and the people were following the prayer of Abu Bakr.

A'mash reported

When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) suffered from illness of which he died, and in the hadith transmitted by Ibn Mus-hir, the words are: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was brought till he was seated by his (Abu Bakr's) side and the Apostle (ﷺ) led the people in prayer and Abu Bakr was making takbir audible to them, and in the hadith transmitted by 'Isa the (words are):" The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sat and led the people in prayer and Abu Bakr was by his side and he was making (takbir) audible to the people."

`A'isha reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) ordered Abu Bakr that he should lead people in prayer during his illness, and he led them in prayer. `Urwa said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) felt relief and went (to the mosque) and Abu Bakr was leading the people in prayer. When Abu Bakr saw him he began to withdraw, but the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) signaled him to remain where he was. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sat opposite to Abu Bakr by his side. Abu Bakr said prayer following the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and the people said prayer following the prayer of Abu Bakr.

Anas b. Malik reported, Abu Bakr led them in prayer due to the illness of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) of which be died. It was a Monday and they stood in rows for prayer. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) drew aside the curtain of ('A'isha's) apartment and looked at us while he was standing, and his (Prophet's) face was (as bright) as the paper of the Holy Book. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) felt happy and smiled. And we were confounded with joy while in prayer due to the arrival (among our midst) of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), Abu Bakr stepped back upon his heels to say prayer in a row perceiving that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had come out for prayer. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) with the help of his hand signed to them to complete their prayer. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) went back (to his apartment) and drew the curtain. He (the narrator) said

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) breathed his last on that very day.

Chapter 19: Following The Imam

This hadith is narrated with the same chain of transmitters by Hisham b. 'Urwa.

Jabir reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was ill and we said prayer behind him and he was sitting. And Abu Bakr was making audible to the people his takbir. As he paid his attention towards us he saw us standing and (directed us to sit down) with a gesture. So we sat down and said our prayer with his prayer in a sitting posture. After uttering salutation he said: You were at this time about to do an act like that of the Persians and the Romans. They stand before their kings while they sit, so don't do that; follow your Imams. If they say prayer standing, you should also do so, and if they say prayer sitting, you should also say prayer sitting.

Jabir said

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) led the prayer and Abu Bakr was behind him. When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) recited the takbir, Abu Bakr also recited (it) in order to make it audible to us. And the rest of the hadith is like one transmitted by Laith.

A hadith like this has been transmitted by Hammam b. Munabbih from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on the authority of Abu Huraira.

Chapter 20: The Prohibition Of Preceding The Imam In Saying The Takbir Or Anything Else

Abu Huraira reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) while teaching us (the principles of faith), said: Do not try to go ahead of the Imam, recite takbir when he recites it, and when he says: "Nor of those who err" you should say Amin, bow down when he bows down, and when he says: "Allah listens to him who praises Him" say: "O Allah, our Lord, to Thee be the praise".

Abu Huraira reported from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) (a hadith) like it, except the words

" Nor of those who err, say Amin" and added:" And don't rise up ahead of him."