The Book of Forgetfulness (In Prayer)

كتاب السهو

Chapter 1: The takbir when standing up following two rakahs

It was narrated that 'Abdur-Rahman bin Al-Asamm said

"Anas bin Malik was asked about the takbir in the prayer. He said: "The takbir should be said when bowing, when prostrating, when raising one's head from prostration and when standing up following the first two rak'ahs.' Hutaim said: 'From whom did you learn this?' He said: 'From the Prophet (ﷺ), Abu Bakr and 'Umar, may Allah (SWT) be pleased with them.' Then he fell silent and Hutaim said to him: 'And 'Uthman?' He said: 'And 'Uthman.'"

It was narrated that Mutarrif bin 'Abdullah said

"Ali bin Abi Talib prayed, and he said the takbir every time he went down and came up, in all movements of the prayer. 'Imran bin Husain said: 'This reminds me of the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).'"

Chapter 2: Raising the hands when standing for the last two rak'ahs

It was narrated from Abu Humaid As-Sa'idi that

When the Prophet (ﷺ) stood up following two prostrations, he would say the takbir and raise his hands until they were level with his shoulders, as he had done at the beginning of the prayer.

Chapter 3: Raising the hands in level with the shoulders when standing for the last two rak'ahs

It was narrated from Ibn 'Umar that

The Prophet (ﷺ) used to raise his hands when he began to pray, when he wanted to bow, when he raised his head from bowing, and when he stood up after the first two rak'ahs, he would raise his hands likewise, level with his shoulders.

Chapter 4: Raising the hands, and praising and extolling Allah during the prayer

It was narrated that Sahl bin Sa'd said

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) set out to bring about reconciliation among Banu 'Amr bin 'Awf. The time for prayer came, and the Mu'adhdhin went to Abu Bakr to tell him to gather the people and lead them in prayer. Then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came and passed though the rows until he stood in the first row. The people started clapping to let Abu Bakr know that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had come. Abu Bakr never used to turn around when he prayed, but when they clapped consistently he realized something must have happened while they were praying. So he turned around and saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) gestured to him to stay where he was. Abu Bakr raised his hands and praised and thanked Allah (SWT) for what the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had said. Then, he moved backwards, and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) went forward and prayed. When he finished, he said to Abu Bakr: 'What stopped you from continuing to pray when I gestured to you?' Abu Bakr, may Allah (SWT) be pleased with him, said: 'It was not appropriate for the son of Abu Quhafah to lead the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) in prayer.' Then he said to the people: 'Why did you clap?' Clapping is for women.' Then he said: 'If you notice something when you are praying, say "SubhanAllah.'"

Chapter 5: Greeting people with a hand gesture while praying

It was narrated that Jabir bin Samurah said

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came out to us and we were raising our hands during the Salah. He said: 'Why are you raising your hands while praying, like the tails of wild horses? Stay still when you are praying.'"

It was narrated that Jabir bin Samurah said

"We used to pray behind the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and we would greet (others) with our hands. He said: 'What is the matter with those who greet (others) with their hands as if they were tails of wild horses? It is sufficient for any one of you to put his hand on his thigh and say: "As-salamu 'alaikum, as-salamu 'alaikum."

Chapter 6: Returning the salams with a gesture when praying

It was narrated that Suhaib, the Companion of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said

"I passed by the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) when he was praying, and greeted him with Salam. He returned my greeting with a gesture, or maybe it was just with his finger."

It was narrated that Zaid bin Aslam said

"Ibn 'Umar said:The Prophet (ﷺ) entered the Masjid of Quba' to pray there, then some men came in and greeted him with Salam. I asked Suhaib, who was with him: 'What did the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) do when he was greeted?' He said: 'He used to gesture with his hand.'"

It was narrated from 'Ammar bin Yasir that

He greeted the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) with the Salam when he was praying, and he returned the greeting.

It was narrated that Jabir said

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sent me on an errand then I came back to him while he was praying. I greeted him with the salam and he gestured to me. When he finished he called me and said: 'You greeted me with Salam just now and I was praying.' And he was facing toward the east that day."

It was narrated that Jabir said

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sent me on an errand, then I came back to him while he was facing the east or the west. I greeted him with salam and he gestured to me. Then when he finished he called me and said: "O Jabir!" So I came and said: "O Messenger of Allah, I greeted you with Salam but you did not answer." He said: 'I was praying.'

Chapter 7: The prohibition of smoothing the pebbles while praying

It was narrated that Abu Dharr said

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'When any one of you stands in prayer, let him not smooth the pebbles, for he is facing Mercy.'"

Chapter 8: Concession allowing one to do that once

Abu Salamah bin 'Abdur-Rahman said

"Mu'aiqib told me that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'If you have to do that, then do it only once.'"

Chapter 9: The prohibition of lifting one's gaze to the sky when praying

It was narrated from Anas bin Malik that

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "What is the matter with people who lift their gaze to the sky when praying?" And he spoke sternly concerning that until he said: "They must stop that or they will certainly lose their eyesight."

It was narrated from 'Ubaidullah bin Abdullah that

A man from among the companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) told him that he heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: 'If any one of you in praying, let him not lift his gaze to the sky, or his eyesight will be taken away.'"

Chapter 10: Stern warning against turning around when praying

It was narrated that Az-Zuhri said

"I heard Abu Al-Ahwas saying to us in a gathering with Ibn Al-Musayyab when Ibn Al-Musayyab was sitting there, that he had heard Abu Dharr say: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Allah (SWT) continues to look upon His slave while he is praying, so long as he does not turn away. If he turns his face away, He turns away from him."

It was narrated that 'Aishah, may Allah (SWT) be pleased with her, said

"I asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) about looking here and there during prayer. He said: 'That is something that the Shaitan snatches from one's prayer.'"

Narrated from 'Aishah

A similar report was also narrated from 'Aishah, from the Prophet (ﷺ).