The Book of Leading the Prayer (Al-Imamah)

Yahya ibn Uthman Al-Himsi informed me: Baqiyyah narrated to us from Buhayr ibn Sa‘d, from Khalid ibn Ma‘dan, from Jubayr ibn Nufayr, from Al-Irbad ibn Sariyah, from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, that he used to invoke blessings upon the first row three times and upon the second row once.

Ismail ibn Masud informed us from Khalid, who said: Sa‘id narrated to us from Qatadah, from Anas, that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, 'Complete the first row, then the one after it. If there is any shortfall, let it be in the last row.'

Isa ibn Ibrahim ibn Mathrud narrated to us: Abdullah ibn Wahb narrated to us from Muawiyah ibn Salih, from Abu Az-Zahiriyyah, from Kathir ibn Murrah, from Abdullah ibn Umar, that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, 'Whoever joins a row, Allah joins him; and whoever breaks a row, Allah, Mighty and Sublime, cuts him off.'

Ishaq ibn Ibrahim narrated to us: Jarir narrated to us from Suhayl, from his father, from Abu Hurayrah, who said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, 'The best rows for men are the front ones and the worst are the back ones; the best rows for women are the back ones and the worst are the front ones.'

Amr ibn Mansur narrated to us: Abu Nuaym narrated to us from Sufyan, from Yahya ibn Hani, from Abd Al-Hamid ibn Mahmud, who said: We were with Anas and prayed with one of the rulers. They pushed us until we stood and prayed between two pillars. Anas began moving back and said, 'We used to avoid this during the time of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.'

Suwayd ibn Nasr informed us: Abdullah informed us from Mis‘ar, from Thabit ibn Ubayd, from Ibn Al-Bara, from Al-Bara, who said: When we prayed behind the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, I liked to stand to his right.

Qutaybah narrated to us from Malik, from Abu Az-Zinad, from Al-Araj, from Abu Hurayrah, from the Prophet ﷺ, who said, 'When one of you leads the people in prayer, let him keep it brief, for among them are the sick, the weak, and the elderly. When one of you prays alone, let him make it as long as he wishes.'

Qutaybah narrated to us: Abu Awanah narrated to us from Qatadah, from Anas, that the Prophet ﷺ used to make his prayer the briefest of people's prayers, yet complete.

Suwayd ibn Nasr narrated to us: Abdullah narrated to us from Al-Awza‘i, who said: Yahya ibn Abi Kathir narrated to me from Abdullah ibn Abi Qatadah, from his father, from the Prophet ﷺ, who said: 'I begin the prayer intending to make it long, then I hear a child crying and shorten my prayer, not wishing to cause hardship for the child's mother.'

Ismail ibn Masud informed us: Khalid ibn Al-Harith narrated to us from Ibn Abi Dhi'b, who said: Al-Harith ibn Abd Ar-Rahman informed me from Salim ibn Abdullah, from Abdullah ibn Umar, who said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to instruct us to keep the prayer brief, yet he would lead us in prayer reciting As-Saffat.

Qutaybah narrated to us: Sufyan narrated to us from Uthman ibn Abi Sulayman, from Amir ibn Abdullah ibn Az-Zubayr, from Amr ibn Sulaym Az-Zuraqi, from Abu Qatadah, who said: I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ leading the people in prayer while carrying Umamah bint Abi Al-As on his shoulder. When he bowed, he set her down; when he rose from prostration, he picked her up again.

Qutaybah narrated to us: Hammad narrated to us from Muhammad ibn Ziyad, from Abu Hurayrah, who said: Muhammad ﷺ said, 'Does the one who raises his head before the imam not fear that Allah may turn his head into a donkey's head?'

Yaqub ibn Ibrahim narrated to us: Ibn Ulayyah narrated to us: Shu‘bah informed us from Abu Ishaq, who said: I heard Abdullah ibn Yazid preaching. He said: Al-Bara, who was no liar, told us that when they prayed with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, after he raised his head from bowing they remained standing until they saw him prostrate, then they prostrated.

Muammal ibn Hisham narrated to us: Ismail ibn Ulayyah narrated to us from Sa‘id, from Qatadah, from Yunus ibn Jubayr, from Hittan ibn Abdullah, who said: Abu Musa led us in prayer. While he was seated, a man from the congregation entered and said, Prayer is joined with righteousness and zakah. When Abu Musa gave the salutation, he turned to the people and asked which of them said those words. They were silent. He said Hittan, perhaps you said them? Hittan replied no, but he feared Abu Musa might rebuke him for it. Abu Musa said: The Messenger of Allah used to teach us our prayer and practice, and he said: The imam is appointed to be followed. When he says the takbir, say the takbir. When he recites the closing words of the Fatiha, not those who have incurred anger, nor those who have gone astray, say Amin, and Allah will answer you. When he bows, bow; when he rises and says Allah hears whoever praises Him, say Our Lord, to You is all praise, and Allah will hear you. When he prostrates, prostrate; when he rises, rise, for the imam prostrates before you and rises before you. The Messenger of Allah said: That is in return for that.

Wasil ibn Abd Al-Ala narrated to us: Ibn Fudayl narrated to us from Al-A'mash, from Muharib ibn Dithar and Abu Salih, from Jabir, who said: A man from the Ansar came after the iqamah had been given. He entered the mosque and prayed behind Muadh, who made the prayer long. The man left and prayed in a corner of the mosque, then departed. When Muadh finished, he was told what the man had done. Muadh said, 'Tomorrow I will mention this to the Messenger of Allah.' Muadh went to the Prophet and told him. The Messenger sent for the man and asked what made him do what he did. He replied that he had worked with his water-carrying camel all day. When he arrived, the iqamah had already been given. He entered the mosque and joined Muadh in prayer, but Muadh recited a chapter and made the prayer long, so he left and prayed in a corner of the mosque. The Messenger of Allah said three times, 'Are you causing hardship and discord, Muadh?'

Qutaybah narrated to us from Malik, from Ibn Shihab, from Anas ibn Malik, that the Messenger of Allah rode a horse, fell from it, and injured his right side. He led one of the prayers while seated, and we prayed behind him seated. When he finished, he said: The imam is appointed to be followed. When he prays standing, pray standing; when he bows, bow; when he says Allah hears whoever praises Him, say Our Lord, to You is all praise. When he prays seated, then all of you pray seated.

Muhammad ibn Al-Ala narrated to us: Abu Muawiyah narrated to us from Al-A'mash, from Ibrahim, from Al-Aswad, from Aishah, who said: When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ became gravely ill, Bilal came to inform him that it was time for prayer. He said, 'Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer.' I said, 'Messenger of Allah, Abu Bakr is a tenderhearted man. When he stands in your place, the people will not hear him. If only you would appoint Umar.' He said, 'Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer.' I said to Hafsah, 'Tell him.' She did so, and he said, 'You are indeed the companions of Yusuf. Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer.' They told Abu Bakr. When he began praying, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ felt some relief. He stood, supported between two men, his feet dragging on the ground. When he entered the mosque, Abu Bakr heard him and began to step back, but the Messenger of Allah ﷺ gestured to him to remain where he was. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ came and sat to Abu Bakr's left. The Messenger prayed seated, Abu Bakr stood and followed the Messenger's prayer, and the people followed Abu Bakr's prayer.

Al-Abbas ibn Abd Al-Azim Al-Anbari informed us: Abdur-Rahman ibn Mahdi narrated to us: Za'idah narrated to us from Musa ibn Abi Aishah, from Ubaydullah ibn Abdullah, who said: I entered upon Aishah and said, 'Will you tell me about the illness of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ?' She said: When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ became gravely ill, he asked, 'Have the people prayed?' We replied, 'No, they are waiting for you, Messenger of Allah.' He said, 'Put water for me in a basin.' We did so, and he performed ghusl. Then he tried to rise, but fainted. When he came to, he asked, 'Have the people prayed?' We replied, 'No, they are waiting for you, Messenger of Allah.' He again asked for water in the basin. We brought it, and he performed ghusl. Then he tried to rise and fainted. The third time, he said the same. Aishah said: The people were gathered in the mosque, waiting for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to lead the night prayer. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent word to Abu Bakr to lead the people. The messenger came to him and said, 'The Messenger of Allah ﷺ orders you to lead the people in prayer.' Abu Bakr was a tenderhearted man. He said, 'Umar, lead the people in prayer.' Umar replied, 'You have more right to do so.' Abu Bakr led them during those days. Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ felt some relief and came for the noon prayer, supported between two men, one of whom was Al-Abbas. When Abu Bakr saw him, he began to step back, but the Messenger of Allah ﷺ gestured for him not to. He instructed the two men to seat him beside Abu Bakr. Abu Bakr prayed standing, the people followed Abu Bakr's prayer, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ prayed seated. Ubaydullah said: I went to Ibn Abbas and asked whether I could tell him what Aishah had related to me about the illness of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He said yes. I told him, and he did not dispute any of it. He only asked, 'Did she name the man who was with Al-Abbas?' I said no. He said, 'It was Ali, may Allah honor his face.'

Muhammad ibn Mansur narrated to us: Sufyan narrated to us from Amr, who said: I heard Jabir ibn Abdullah say: Muadh used to pray with the Prophet ﷺ, then return to his people and lead them in prayer. One night the prayer was delayed. He prayed with the Prophet ﷺ, then returned to lead his people, beginning with Surah Al-Baqarah. When a man among them heard this, he stepped aside, prayed on his own, and left. They said, 'So-and-so, you have become a hypocrite!' He replied, 'By Allah, I have not become a hypocrite. I will go to the Prophet ﷺ and tell him.' He went to the Prophet ﷺ and said, 'Messenger of Allah, Muadh prays with you, then comes to lead us. Last night you delayed the prayer; he prayed with you and then returned to lead us, beginning with Surah Al-Baqarah. When I heard that, I stepped aside and prayed by myself. We are people who work with our water-carrying camels and labor with our hands.' The Prophet ﷺ said to Muadh, 'Are you causing hardship and discord, Muadh? Recite such-and-such a surah and such-and-such a surah.'

Amr ibn Ali narrated to us: Yahya narrated to us from Ash‘ath, from Al-Hasan, from Abu Bakrah, from the Prophet ﷺ, that he performed the prayer of fear. He led those who were behind him for two rak‘ahs, then those who came afterward for two rak‘ahs. Thus the Prophet ﷺ prayed four rak‘ahs, while each group prayed two.