The Book of Leading the Prayer (Al-Imamah)

كتاب الإمامة

Chapter 48: A stern warning against failing to pray in congregation

It was narrated that Ma'din bin Abi Talhah Al-Ya'muri said

"Abu Ad-Darda said to me: 'Where do you live?' I said: 'In a town near Hims.' Abu Ad-Darda said: 'I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: "There are no three people in a town or encampment among whom prayer is not established, but the Shaitan takes control of them. Therefore, stick to the congregation, for the wolf eats the sheep that strays off on its own." (One of the narrators (As Sa'ib) said: "The congregation means the congregational prayer."

Chapter 50: Regularly attending the prayers when the call is given

It was narrated that 'Abdullah said

"Whoever would like to meet Allah tomorrow as a Muslim, let him regularly attend these five (daily) prayers whenever the call for them is given (that in the mosques), for Allah prescribed forHis Prophet the ways of guidance, and they (the prayers) are part of those ways of guidance. I do not think that there is anyone among you who does not have a place where he prays in his house. But if you were to pray in your houses and forsake the Masjids, you would be forsaking the Sunnah of your Prophet, and if you were to forsake the Sunnah of yourProphet you would go astray. There is no Muslim slave who performs Wudu and does it well, then walks to the prayer, but Allah will record one Hasanah (gooddeed) for each step he takes, or raise' him one level by it or erase one sin from him. I remember how we used to take short steps, and I remember (a time) when no one stayed behind from the prayer excepta hypocrite whose hypocrisy was well known. And I have seen a man coming Supported by two others until he would be made to stand in the row."

Chapter 51: Excuse for not praying in the congregation

It was narrated that Anas said

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'If dinner is ready and the Iqamah for prayer is said, then start with dinner first."'

Chapter 54: Repeating Fajr with the congregation for one who has already prayed on his own

Jabir bin Yazid bin Al-Aswad Al Amir told us that his father said

"I attended Fajr prayer with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)in Masjid Al Khaif. When he finished praying, he saw two men at the back of the people who had not prayed with him. He said: 'Bring them here.' So they were brought to him, trembling. He said: 'What kept you from praying with us? They said: '0 Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) we has already prayed in our lodgings.' He said: 'Do not do that. If you have already prayed in your lodgings, then you come to a Masjid in which there is a congregation, then pray with them, and it will be a voluntary prayer for you."'

Chapter 58: Hastening to pray without rushing unduly

It was narrated that Abu Rafi said

"After the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had prayed Asr, he would go to Banu 'Abdul-Ashhal to speak to them, until the time for Maghrib came." Abu Rafi said: "While the Prophet (ﷺ) was hastening to prayMaghrib, we passed by and he said: 'Fie on you, fie on you!' That upset me so I slowed down because I thought hat he meant me. He said: 'What is the matter with you? Keep up!' I said: 'Is there something wrong?' Hesaid: 'Why are you asking that? I said: 'Because you said: "Fie on you" to me.' He said: 'No, that was so-and-so whom I had sent to collect Zakat from the tribe of so-and-so, and he stole a Namirah and nowhe is clothed with something similarmade of Fire."'

Chapter 60: The Disapproval of praying when the iqhmah is said

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Prophet (ﷺ) said

"When the Iqamah for prayer is said, there is no prayer except the prescribed prayer."

Chapter 63: Bowing outside the row

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayed one day then left and said: '0 so-and-so, why don't you improve your prayer? Shouldn't the one who is praying reflection how he prays it for himself? I can see behind me just as I can see in front of me."'

Chapter 4: Those who are older going forward (to lead the prayer)

It was narrated that Malik bin Al-Huwairith said

"I came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) with a cousin of mine" - once he said, "with a friend of mine" - and he said: 'When you travel, call the Adhan and Iqamah, and let the older of you lead the prayer.'"

Chapter 8: The prayer of an Imam behind a man of his people

It was narrated that Anas said

"In the last prayer that the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) prayed with the people, he prayed wrapped up in a single garment, behind Abu Bakr."

Chapter 10: A blind man leading the prayer

It was narrated from Mahmiid bin Ar-Rabi' that 'Itbk bin Milk used to lead his people in prayer, and he was blind. He said to theMessenger of Allah (ﷺ)

"Sometimes it is dark or rainy or there is a flood, and I am a blindman; 0 Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), (come and) pray in a place in my house that I may take as a prayer-place." He said: "Where would you likeme to pray for you?" He showed him a place in his house, and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayed there.

Chapter 14: After standing in the place where he prays, the Imam remembers that he is not in a state of purity

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said

"The Iqamah for prayer was said and the people stood in rows, and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came out. Then when he stood in the place where he prayed, he remembered that he had not performed Ghusl. He said to the people: 'Stay where you are.' Then he went back to his house, then he came out with his head dripping with water. He performed Ghusl while we were standing in our rows."

Chapter 18: Where the Imam should stand when there are three, and the discrepancy regarding that

It was narrated that Al-Aswad and 'Alqamah said

"We entered upon 'Abdullah at midday and he said: 'There will be rulers who would be distracted from praying on time, so pray on time.' Then he stood up and prayed between him and I, and said: 'This is what I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) do."'

Buraidah bin Sufyin bin Farwah Al-Aslami narrated that a slave of his grandfather who was called Mas'Od said

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and Abu Bakr passed by me and Abu Bakr said to me: '0 Mas'ud, go to Abu Tamim' - meaning the man from whom he had been freed - 'and tell him to give us a camel so that wecould ride, and let him send us some food and a guide to show us the way.' So I went to my former master and told him the same, and he sent with me a camel and vessels of milk, and I brought them via a secret route. Then the time for prayer came and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stood up and prayed, and Abu Bakr stood to his right. I had come to know about Islam and I was with them, so I came and stood behind them. So the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) pushed Abu Bakr on the chest (to make him move backward) and we stood behind him." Abu 'Abdur-Rahman (An-Nasai)said: (This) Buraidah is not a reliable narrator of Hadith.

Chapter 20: When there are two men and two women

It was narrated from Anas that he and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and his mother, and his maternal aunt (were together). The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayed, and he told Anas to stand on his right and his mother and maternal aunt behind them.

Chapter 21: Where an Imam should stand when there is a boy and a woman with him

It was narrated that Ibn 'Abbas said

"I prayed beside the Prophet (ﷺ) and Ayesha was behind us praying with us, and I was beside the Prophet (ﷺ) praying with him."

It was narrated that Anas said

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) led me and a woman from my family in prayer. He made me to stand on his right and the woman to stand behind us."

Chapter 28: The Imam encouraging (worshippers) to make the rows solid and stand close to one another

It was narrated that Anas said

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)turned to face us when he stood up to pray, before he said the Takbir and said: 'Make your rows straight and come close to one another, for I can see you behind my back."'

Anas narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said

"Make your rows solid and close together, and keep your necks in line. By the One in Whose Hand is the soul of Muhammad! I can see the shaitan entering through the gaps in the rows as if they are small sheep."

It was narrated that Jabir bin Samurah said

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came out to us and said:'Will you not form rows as the angels form rows before their Lord? They said: 'How do the angels form rows before their lord? He said: 'They complete the first row and fill the gaps in the rows."'

Chapter 29: The superiority of the first row over the second

It was narrated from Al'Irbad bin Sariyah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to send Salah on the first row three times and on the second row once.