The Book of the Commencement of the Prayer

كتاب الافتتاح

Chapter 69: The virtue of reciting "Say: He is Allah, (the) One"

It was narrated from Abu Sa'eed Al Khudri that

A man heard another man reciting "Say: He is Allah, (the) One" and repeating it. When morning came he went to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and told him about that. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, it is equal to one-third of the Quran."

It was narrated from Abu Ayyub that

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Say: He is Allah, (the) One" is one-third of the Quran."

Chapter 70: Reciting: "Glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most High" in Isha'

It was narrated that Jabir said

"Muadh stood up and prayed Isha', and made it lengthy. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Do you want to cause hardship to the people, O Mu'adh; do you want to cause hardship to the people O Mu'adh? Why didn't you recite 'Glorify the Name of your Lord Most High' or Ad-Duha or; 'When the heaven is cleft asunder?"

Chapter 71: Reciting: "By the sun and its brightness" in Isha'

It was narrated that Jabir said

"Mu'adh bin Jabal led his companions in praying Isha' and he made it lengthy. A man left, and Mu'adh was told about that, and he said: 'He is a hypocrite.' When news of that reached the man, he went to the Prophet (ﷺ) and told him what Mu'adh had said. The Prophet (ﷺ) said to him: 'Do you want to be a cause of hardship, O Mu'adh? When you lead the people in prayer, recite 'By the sun and its brightness' and 'Glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most High' and 'By the night as it envelops'and 'Read! In the Name of your Lord.'"

It was narrated from Abdullah bin Buraidah, from his father, that

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to recite 'By the sun and its brightness' and similar surahs in Isha'.

Chapter 72: Reciting "By the fig and the olive" in Isha'

It was narrated that Al-Bara' bin Azib said

"I prayed Al-'Atamah (Isha') with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and he recited 'By the gif and the olive' in it.

Chapter 73: Recitation in the first rak'ah of Isha'

It was narrated that Al-Bara' bin Azib said

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was on a journey and he recited: 'By the fig and the olive' in the first rak'ah of isha'. "

Chapter 74: Taking one's time in the first two rak'ahs

Abu 'Awn said

"I heard Jabir bin Samurah say: 'Umar said to Sa'eed': "The people are complaining about everything about you, even about your prayer." Sa'd said: "I take my time in the first two rak'ahs and I make the other two shorter. I do my best to follow the example of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) in prayer." 'Umar said: 'That is what I thought about you.'"

It was narrated that Jabir bin Samurah said

"Some of the peole of Al-Khufah complained about Sa'd to 'Umar. They said: 'By Allah, he does not pray properly.' He said: 'I lead them in prayer as the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) did, and I do not deviate from that. I take my time in the first two rak'ahs and make the other two shorter.' He (Umar) said: 'That is what I thought about you.'"

Chapter 75: Reciting two surahs in one rak'ah

It was narrated that 'Abdullah said

I know the similar surahs that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to recite, twenty surahs in ten rak'ahs." Then he took 'Alqamah's hand and went in, then 'Alqamah came out and we asked him and he told us what they were.

It was narrated that 'Amr bin Murrah said

"I heard Abu Wa'il say: "A man said in the presence of Abdullah: 'I recited Al-Mufassal in one rak'ah.' He said: 'That is like reciting poetry. I know the similar surahs that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to recite together.' And he mentioned twenty surahs from Al-Mufassal, two by two in each rak'ah."

It was narrated from 'Abdullah that

A man came to him and said: "Last night I recited Al-Mufassal in one rak'ah." He said: "That is like reciting poetry. But the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to recite similar surahs, twenty surahs from Al-Mufassal, those that start with Ha-Mim."

Chapter 76: Reciting part of a surah

It was narrated that Abdullah bin As-Sa'ib said

"I was with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on the day of the Conquest (of Makkah). He prayed in front of the Ka'bah. He took off his shoes and placed them to his left, and he started to recite Surat Al-Mu'minun. When he reached the passage that mentions Musa and 'Eisa, peace be upon them both, he started coughing, then he bowed."

Chapter 77: Reciter seeking refuge with Allah if he recites a verse that mentions punishment

It was narrated from Hudhaifah that

He prayed beside the Prophet (ﷺ) one night. He recited, and when he came to a verse that mentioned punishment, he would pause and seek refuge with Allah; if he came to a verse that mentioned mercy, he would pause for mercy. In his bowing he would say: 'Subhana Rabbil-Azim (Glory be to my Lord Almighty)' and in his prostration he would say: 'Subhan Rabbil-A'la (Glory be to my Lord the Most High).'"

Chapter 78: Reciter asking Allah when he reaches a verse mentioning mercy

It was narrated from Hudhaifah that

The Prophet (ﷺ) recited Surat Al-Baqarah, Al 'Imran and An-Nisa' in one rak'ah, and he did not reach any verse that spoke of mercy but he asked Allah for it, nor any verse that spoke of punishment but he asked Allah for protection therefrom.

Chapter 79: Repeating a verse

Jasrah bint Dijajah said

"I heard Abu Dharr say: 'The Prophet (ﷺ) stayed up all night repeating one verse. The verse was: 'If You punish them, they are Your slaves, and if You forgive them, verily, You, only You, are the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.'"

Chapter 80: The saying of Allah, the Mighty and Sublime: "And offer your salah (prayer) neither alou

It was narrated that Ibn 'Abbas said

Concerning the saying of Allah, the Mighty and Sublime: "And offer your salah (prayer) neither aloud nor in a low voice"- It was revealed when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was still (preaching) in secret in Makkah. When he led his companions in prayer, he would raise his voice" -(One of the narrators) Ibn Mani' said: He would recite the Quran out loud"- "And when the idolators heard his voice they would insult the Quran, and the One Who revealed it, and the one who brought it. So Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, said to His Prophet (ﷺ): And offer your salah (prayer) neither aloud that is, such that the idolators can hear your recitation and insult the Quran; nor in a low voice, so that your companions cannot hear; but follow a way between."

It was narrated that Ibn Abbas said

"The Prophet (ﷺ) used to raise his voice when reciting Quran, and when the idolaters heard his voice they would insult the Quran and the one who had brought it. So the Prophet (ﷺ) began to lower his voice such that his companions would not hear him. Then Allah (SWT), the Mighty and Sublime, revealed: 'And offer your salah (prayer) neither aloud nor in a low voice, but follow a way between.'"

Chapter 81: Reciting Quran in a loud voice

Umm Hani said

"I used to listen to the Prophet (ﷺ) reciting Quran when I was on my roof."

Chapter 82: Elongating the sounds when reciting Quran

It was narrated that Qatadah said

"I asked Anas: 'How did the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) recite Quran?' He said: 'He used to elongate the sounds.'"