The Book of Leading the Prayer (Al-Imamah)

كتاب الإمامة

Chapter 45: Congregation if there are two people

It was narrated that Ibn Abbas said

"I prayed with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)and I stood on his left. He took hold of me with his left hand and made me stand on his right."

Ubay bin Ka'b said

"One day the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayed Fajr, then he said: 'Did so-and-so attend the prayer? They said: 'No.' He said: '(What about) so-and-so? They said:'No' He said: 'These two prayers. are the most burdensome for the hypocrites. If they knew what (virtue) there is in them, they would come, even if they had to crawl. And the virtue of the first row is like thatof the row of the angels. If you knew its virtue, you would compete for it. A man's prayer with another man is greater in reward than his prayer alone. And a man's prayer with two other men is greater in reward thanhis prayer with one other man; the more people there are, the more beloved that is to Allah, the Mighty and Sublime."'

Chapter 46: Offering a voluntary prayer in congregation

It was narrated from 'Itban bin Malik that he said

"0 Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) the floods keep me from coming to the Masjid of my people. I would like you to come and pray in a place in my house so that I can take it as a Masjid." The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "We shall do that." "When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) entered he said: 'Where do you want (me to pray).' I showed him a comer of the house, and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stood there, and we formed rows behind him, and he led us in praying two Rak'ahs."

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

It was narrated from Ibn Umm Maktum that he said

"0 Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), there are many (dangerous) pests and wild animals in Al-Madinah." He said: "Can you hear (the words) 'Come prayer, come to prosperity'?" He said "Yes." He said: "Then be quick to respond," and he did not grant him a dispensation.

Chapter 52: "Catching the congregation" (when is one regarded As having caught up with the congregation)

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said

"Whoever performs wudu' and does it well, then sets out for the Masjid and finds that the people have already prayed, Allah will decree for him a reward like that of those who attended (the prayer), without reducing the slightest from their reward."

It was narrated that 'Uthman bin 'Affan said

"I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: 'Whoever does wudu' properly, then walks to (attend) the prescribed prayer, and prays with the people or with the congregation or in the Masjid, Allah will forgive him his sins."

Chapter 57: Rushing to pray

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said

"The Messenger of (ﷺ) said: 'When you come to pray, do not come rushing; come walking in a dignified manner, and whatever you catch up with, pray, and whatever you miss, make it up."'

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

It was narrated that Ibn Buhainah said

"The Iqamah for Subh prayer was said, and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saw a man praying while the Mu'adhdhin saying the Iqamah. He said: 'Are you praying Subh with fourRak'ahs?"'

Chapter 65: Prayer before Asr and different narrations from Abu Ishaq concerning that

It was narrated from Abu Ishaq, that 'Asim bin Damrah said

"We asked 'Ali about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He said: 'Who among you could manage to do that?' We said: 'Even if we cannot do it, we still want to hear about it.' He said: 'When the sun reached the same height (in the east) as it reaches (in the west) at thetime of 'Asr, he would pray two rak'ahs, and when the sun reached the same height (in theeast) as it reaches (in the west) at thetime for Zuhr he would pray four Rak'ahs. He would pray four Rak'ahs before Zuhr and two after, and he would pray four Rak'ahs before 'Asr, separating each two Rak'ahs with Taslim upon the angels who are close to Allah, and the prophets, and those who follow them of the believers and Muslims."'

Chapter 44: Congregation when there are three people

Ibn 'Abbas said

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

Chapter 47: Making up a missed prayer in congregation

It was narrated from 'Abdullah bin Abi Qatadah that his father said

"We were with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) when some of the people said: 'Why do you not stop with us to rest awhile, 0 Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)?' He said: 'I am afraid that you will sleep and miss the prayer.' Bilal said:'I will wake you up.' So they lay down and slept, and Bilal leaned back on his mount. Then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) woke up when the sun had already started to rise, and he said: '0 Bilal, what about what you told us?' He said: 'I have never slept like that before.' The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, takes your souls when He wills and sends them back when He wills.' Stand up 0 Bilal and call the people to prayer.' Then Bilal stood up and & called the Adhan, and they performed Wudu' - that is, when the sun had risen (fully) - "then he stood and lead them in prayer."

Chapter 51: Excuse for not praying in the congregation

It was narrated from Hisham bin 'Urwah from his father that 'Abdullih bin Arqam used to lead his companions in prayer. The time for prayer came one day and he went to relieve himself then he came back and said

"I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: 'If any one of you feels the need to defecate, let him do that first, before he prays."'

Chapter 53: Repeating a prayer with the congregation when a man has already prayed by himself

It was narrated from Mihjan that he was in a gathering with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) when the Adhan was called for prayer. The A Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) got up, then he came back and Mihjan was still sitting there. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to him

"What kept you from praying? Are you not a Muslim man?" He said: "Yes, but I had already prayed with my family." The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)said to him: "When you come you should pray with the people even if you have already prayed."

Chapter 55: Repeating a prayer with a congregation after the time for it is over

It was narrated that Ahu Dharr said

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to me, and struck my thigh: 'What will you do if you stay among people who delay the prayer until its time is over?' He said: 'What do you command me to do?' He said: 'Offer the prayer on time, then go about your business. Then if the Iqamah for that prayer is saidand you are in the Masjid, then pray.'"

Chapter 59: Coming to prayer early (before others)

Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said

"The likeness of one who comes early to prayer is that of one who sacrificed a camel, then the one who comes after him is like one who sacrificed a cow, then the one who comes after him is like one who sacrificed a ram, then the one who comes after him is like one who sacrificed a chicken, then the one who comes after him is like one who sacrificed an egg."

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

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) aid: 'When the Iqamah for prayer is said, there is no prayer except the prescribed prayer."'

Chapter 62: A person praying alone behind the row

It was narrated that Ibn Abbas said

"There was a woman who used to pray behind the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) who was beautiful, one of the most beautiful of people. Some of the people used to go to the front row to avoid seeing her, and some used to go tothe back row so that when they bowed they could see her from beneath their armpits. Then Allah revealed the words: 'To Us areknown those of you who hasten forward and those who lag behind."

Chapter 63: Bowing outside the row

Abu Bakrah narrated that he entered the Masjid when the when the Prophet (ﷺ) was bowing, so he bowed outside the row. The Prophet said

"May Allah increase you in keenness, but do not do this again."

Chapter 64: Praying after Zuhr

It was narrated from Ibn 'Umar that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to pray two Rak'ahs before Zuhr and two afterward, and he used to pray two Rak'ahs after Maghrib in his house, and two Rak'ahs after 'Isha', and he did not pray after Jumu'ah until he departed (from the Masjid), then he would pray two Rak'ahs at home."

Chapter 65: Prayer before Asr and different narrations from Abu Ishaq concerning that

It was narrated from Abu Ishaq, that Asim bin Damrah said

"I asked 'Ali bin Abi Talib about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) during the day before the prescribed prayers. He said: 'Who is able to do that?' Then he told us:'The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to pray two Rak'ahs when the sun had passed its zenith, and four Rak'ahs before the middle of the day, with the Taslim at the end."'