The Book of Virtues

كتاب الفضائل

Chapter 32: Excellence of Standing in Prayer at Night

'Abdullah bin Salam (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "O people, promote the greetings, feed (the poor and needy) and perform Salat when others are asleep so that you will enter Jannah safely."[At-Tirmidhi].

'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported

The Prophet (ﷺ) would sleep during the early part of night and stand in Salat during the latter part.[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Chapter 14: Strict Orders for Observance of Obligatory Salat

Ibn 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "I have been commanded to fight against the people till they testify La ilaha illAllah (There is no true god except Allah) and that Muhammad (ﷺ) is His slave and Messenger, and to establish As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), and to pay Zakat; and if they do this, then their blood and property are secured except by the rights of Islam, and their accountability is left to Allah."[Al- Bukhari and Muslim].

Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Between a man and disbelief and paganism is the abandonment of Salat (prayer)."[Muslim].

Chapter 15: The Excellence of Standing in the First Row (In Salat)

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "If people came to know the blessing of calling Adhan and the standing in the first row, they could do nothing but would draw lots to secure these privileges."[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) perceived a tendency among his Companions to stand in the back rows, he said to them, "Come forward and be close to me and let those who come after you, follow your lead. If people continue to fall behind (i.e., in acquiring virtues), Allah puts them behind."[Muslim].

Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

When the Iqamah had been announced, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) turned his face towards us and said: "Make your rows straight and stand close together, for I can see you from behind my back."[Al- Bukhari].

An-Nu'man bin Bashir (May Allah be pleased with them) reported

I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying, "Straighten your rows; otherwise, Allah will create dissension among you."[Al- Bukhari and Muslim].The narration in Muslim is: An-Nu'man bin Bashir (May Allah be pleased with them) said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) directed us to keep our rows as straight as arrows. He continued stressing this until he realized that we had learnt it from him (recognized its significance). One day he came into the mosque and stood up. He was just about to say Takbir (Allah is Greater) when he noticed a man whose chest was projected from the row, so he said, "O slaves of Allah, you must straighten your rows or Allah will certainly put your faces in opposite directions."

Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Fill (complete) the first row, then the one next to it; and if there is any deficiency (incompleteness), it should be in the last row."[Abu Dawud].

Chapter 17: Emphasis on Performing two Rak'ah Sunnah before Dawn (Fajr) Prayer

'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported

The Prophet (ﷺ) never omitted four Rak'ah prayer before the Zuhr prayer and two Rak'ah prayers before dawn (Fajr) prayer.[Al- Bukhari].

Chapter 20: Sunnah of Zuhr Prayer

'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported

If the Prophet (ﷺ) could not perform four Rak'ah before Zuhr prayer, he would perform them after it (i.e., after the obligatory prayer).[At-Tirmidhi].

Chapter 21: Sunnah of the 'Asr Prayer

Ibn 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "May Allah have mercy on a man who performs four Rak'ah before the 'Asr prayer."[Abu Dawud and At- Tirmidhi].

Chapter 22

'Abdullah bin Mughaffal (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Perform two Rak'ah before Maghrib prayer." He (ﷺ) repeated it twice; when repeating it for the third time he added: "He who may so wish."[Al- Bukhari].

Chapter 23: Sunnah of Friday Prayer

Ibn 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported

The Prophet (ﷺ) would not perform any Salat (in the mosque) after the Friday prayer till he had returned to his house. He would then perform two Rak'ah there.[Muslim].

Chapter 25: Witr Prayer, its Time and Ruling

'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) observed Witr prayer in every part of night at the beginning, middle and at the last part. He (ﷺ), however, would finish his Witr prayer before dawn.[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Perform Witr prayer before dawn."[Muslim].

'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported

The Prophet (ﷺ) used to perform his voluntary prayer at night (i.e., Tahajjud prayer) while she was sleeping in front of him; and when the Witr prayer was yet to be observed, he would awaken her to perform her Witr prayer.[Muslim].

Chapter 26: Merit of the (Optional) Duha (Forenoon) Prayer

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

My Khalil (the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)) directed me to fast three days of each month, and to observe two Rak'ah Duha (optional prayer) at forenoon, and to perform the Witr prayer before going to bed.[Al- Bukhari and Muslim].

Chapter 27: Time for the Duha (Forenoon Optional) Prayer

Zaid bin Arqam (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

I saw some people performing Duha (prayers) in the early forenoon and warned them (saying): These people must know that performing Salat a little later is better. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "The Salat of the penitent is to be observed when the young ones of camels feel the heat of the sun (i.e., when it becomes very hot)."[Muslim].

Chapter 28: Inducement to Perform Tahiyyat-ul-Masjid (Upon Entering the Mosque)

Abu Qatadah (May Allah be pleased with him)reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "When anyone of you enters the mosque, he should perform two Rak'ah (of voluntary prayer) before sitting."[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].