"I heard 'Abdullah bin Yazid delivering a Khutbah. He said: 'Al-Bara, who was no liar,told us that when they prayed with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would raise his head from bowing and they would remain standing until they saw him prostrate, then they would prostrate."'
"Abu Musa led us in prayer and when he was sitting, a man from among the people entered and said: 'Prayer is based on righteousness and is always mentioned alongside Zakah (in the Qur'an).' When Abu Musa had said the Salam, he turned to the people and said: 'Which of you spoke these words?' The people kept quiet. Then he said: 'O Hittan, perhaps you said it?' He said: 'No, but I was afraid that you would rebuke me for it.' He said:
'The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) taught us our prayer and Sunnah prayers, and he said: The Imam is appointed to be followed, so when he says the Takbir, say the Takbir; when he says
"Not (the way) of those who earned Your Anger, nor of those who went astray," say Amin, and Allah will respond to you; when he rises up from bowing and says, 'Sami' Allalhu liman hamidah (Allah hears those who praise Him), say 'Rabbana lakal-hamd (Our Lord, to
You be praise),' and Allah will hear you; when he prostrates, prostrate, and when he sits up, sit up. The Imam should prostrate before you
do and sit up before you do.' The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'This makes up for that.'"
Chapter 39: A man exiting the prayer behind the Imam and going to pray by himself in a corner of the Masjid - كتاب الإمامة
It was narrated that Jabir said:
أَخْبَرَنَا وَاصِلُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الأَعْلَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ فُضَيْلٍ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ مُحَارِبِ بْنِ دِثَارٍ، وَأَبِي، صَالِحٍ عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ وَقَدْ أُقِيمَتِ الصَّلاَةُ فَدَخَلَ الْمَسْجِدَ فَصَلَّى خَلْفَ مُعَاذٍ فَطَوَّلَ بِهِمْ فَانْصَرَفَ الرَّجُلُ فَصَلَّى فِي نَاحِيَةِ الْمَسْجِدِ ثُمَّ انْطَلَقَ فَلَمَّا قَضَى مُعَاذٌ الصَّلاَةَ قِيلَ لَهُ إِنَّ فُلاَنًا فَعَلَ كَذَا وَكَذَا . فَقَالَ مُعَاذٌ لَئِنْ أَصْبَحْتُ لأَذْكُرَنَّ ذَلِكَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم . فَأَتَى مُعَاذٌ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَذَكَرَ ذَلِكَ لَهُ فَأَرْسَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ " مَا حَمَلَكَ عَلَى الَّذِي صَنَعْتَ " . فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ عَمِلْتُ عَلَى نَاضِحِي مِنَ النَّهَارِ فَجِئْتُ وَقَدْ أُقِيمَتِ الصَّلاَةُ فَدَخَلْتُ الْمَسْجِدَ فَدَخَلْتُ مَعَهُ فِي الصَّلاَةِ فَقَرَأَ سُورَةَ كَذَا وَكَذَا فَطَوَّلَ فَانْصَرَفْتُ فَصَلَّيْتُ فِي نَاحِيَةِ الْمَسْجِدِ . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَفَتَّانٌ يَا مُعَاذُ أَفَتَّانٌ يَا مُعَاذُ أَفَتَّانٌ يَا مُعَاذُ " .
"A man from the Ansar came when the Iqamah for prayer had
been said. He entered the Masjid and prayed behind Muadh, and he(Muadh) made the prayer lengthy. The man went away and prayed in a comer of the Masjid, then he left. When Muadh finished praying, it was said to him that so-and-so had done such and such. Muadh said:
'Tomorrow I will mention that to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).' So Muadh came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and told him about that. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sent for him and asked him: 'What made you do what you did? He said: '0 Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), I had been working with my camel to bring water all day, and when I came the Iqamah for prayer had already been said, so I entered the Masjid and joined him in the prayer, then he recited such and such a Surah and made it lengthy, so
I went away and prayed in a comer of the Masjid.' The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'Do you want to cause hardship to the people, 0 Muadh do you want to cause hardship to the
people, 0 Muadh do you want to cause hardship to the people, 0 Muadh?"'
Chapter 40: Following an Imam who prays sitting down - كتاب الإمامة
It was narrated from Anas bin Malik that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) rode a horse and fell from it, and sustained an injury on his right
side. He led one of the prayers sitting, and we prayed behind him sitting. When he had finished he said:
"The Imam is appointed to be followed. If he prays standing then pray standing; when he bows, bow; when he says, Sami' Allahu liman
hamidah (Allah hears those who praise Him), say 'Rabbana lakalhamd (Our Lord, to You be praise); and if he prays sitting then pray sitting, all of you."
Chapter 40: Following an Imam who prays sitting down - كتاب الإمامة
It was narrated that Aisha said:
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنِ الأَسْوَدِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ لَمَّا ثَقُلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم جَاءَ بِلاَلٌ يُؤْذِنُهُ بِالصَّلاَةِ فَقَالَ " مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ " . قَالَتْ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ رَجُلٌ أَسِيفٌ وَإِنَّهُ مَتَى يَقُومُ فِي مَقَامِكَ لاَ يُسْمِعُ النَّاسَ فَلَوْ أَمَرْتَ عُمَرَ . فَقَالَ " مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ " . فَقُلْتُ لِحَفْصَةَ قُولِي لَهُ فَقَالَتْ لَهُ . فَقَالَ " إِنَّكُنَّ لأَنْتُنَّ صَوَاحِبَاتُ يُوسُفَ مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ " . قَالَتْ فَأَمَرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلَمَّا دَخَلَ فِي الصَّلاَةِ وَجَدَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنْ نَفْسِهِ خِفَّةً - قَالَتْ - فَقَامَ يُهَادَى بَيْنَ رَجُلَيْنِ وَرِجْلاَهُ تَخُطَّانِ فِي الأَرْضِ فَلَمَّا دَخَلَ الْمَسْجِدَ سَمِعَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ حِسَّهُ فَذَهَبَ لِيَتَأَخَّرَ فَأَوْمَأَ إِلَيْهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ قُمْ كَمَا أَنْتَ قَالَتْ فَجَاءَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَتَّى قَامَ عَنْ يَسَارِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ جَالِسًا فَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ جَالِسًا وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ قَائِمًا يَقْتَدِي أَبُو بَكْرٍ بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَالنَّاسُ يَقْتَدُونَ بِصَلاَةِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ رضى الله عنه .
"When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) became seriously ill, Bilal came to tell him it was time to pray and he said: 'Tell Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer."' She said: "I said: '0 Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), Abu Bakr is a tender-hearted man, and when he stands in your place he will not be able to make the people
hear his voice; why don't you tell 'Umar (to do it)?' He said: 'Tell a Abu Bakr to lead the people in the prayer.' I said to Hafsah: 'Tell him.' So she told him. He said: 'You are (like) the female companions of Yosuf. Tell Abu Bakr lead the people in prayer."' She said: "So they told Abu Bakr. When he started to pray, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) began to feel better, so he got up and came with the help of two men, with his feet dragging along the ground. (When) he entered the Masjid, Abu
Bakr heard him coming and he wanted to step back, but the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) gestured to him: 'Stay where you are.' Then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came and sat on Abu Bakr's left, so the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was leading the people in prayer sitting, and Abu Bakr was standing and following the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and the people were following the prayer of Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him."
Chapter 40: Following an Imam who prays sitting down - كتاب الإمامة
It was narrated that 'Ubaidullah bin 'Abdullah said:
أَخْبَرَنَا الْعَبَّاسُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْعَظِيمِ الْعَنْبَرِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا زَائِدَةُ، عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ أَبِي عَائِشَةَ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ دَخَلْتُ عَلَى عَائِشَةَ فَقُلْتُ أَلاَ تُحَدِّثِينِي عَنْ مَرَضِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم . قَالَتْ لَمَّا ثَقُلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " أَصَلَّى النَّاسُ " . فَقُلْنَا لاَ وَهُمْ يَنْتَظِرُونَكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ . فَقَالَ " ضَعُوا لِي مَاءً فِي الْمِخْضَبِ " . فَفَعَلْنَا فَاغْتَسَلَ ثُمَّ ذَهَبَ لِيَنُوءَ فَأُغْمِيَ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ أَفَاقَ فَقَالَ " أَصَلَّى النَّاسُ " . قُلْنَا لاَ هُمْ يَنْتَظِرُونَكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ . فَقَالَ " ضَعُوا لِي مَاءً فِي الْمِخْضَبِ " . فَفَعَلْنَا فَاغْتَسَلَ ثُمَّ ذَهَبَ لِيَنُوءَ ثُمَّ أُغْمِيَ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ فِي الثَّالِثَةِ مِثْلَ قَوْلِهِ قَالَتْ وَالنَّاسُ عُكُوفٌ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ يَنْتَظِرُونَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لِصَلاَةِ الْعِشَاءِ فَأَرْسَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ " أَنْ صَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ " . فَجَاءَهُ الرَّسُولُ فَقَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَأْمُرُكَ أَنْ تُصَلِّيَ بِالنَّاسِ وَكَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ رَجُلاً رَقِيقًا فَقَالَ يَا عُمَرُ صَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ . فَقَالَ أَنْتَ أَحَقُّ بِذَلِكَ . فَصَلَّى بِهِمْ أَبُو بَكْرٍ تِلْكَ الأَيَّامَ ثُمَّ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَجَدَ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ خِفَّةً فَجَاءَ يُهَادَى بَيْنَ رَجُلَيْنِ أَحَدُهُمَا الْعَبَّاسُ لِصَلاَةِ الظُّهْرِ فَلَمَّا رَآهُ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ذَهَبَ لِيَتَأَخَّرَ فَأَوْمَأَ إِلَيْهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ لاَ يَتَأَخَّرَ وَأَمَرَهُمَا فَأَجْلَسَاهُ إِلَى جَنْبِهِ فَجَعَلَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يُصَلِّي قَائِمًا وَالنَّاسُ يُصَلُّونَ بِصَلاَةِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُصَلِّي قَاعِدًا . فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَى ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ فَقُلْتُ أَلاَ أَعْرِضُ عَلَيْكَ مَا حَدَّثَتْنِي عَائِشَةُ عَنْ مَرَضِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ نَعَمْ . فَحَدَّثْتُهُ فَمَا أَنْكَرَ مِنْهُ شَيْئًا غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ أَسَمَّتْ لَكَ الرَّجُلَ الَّذِي كَانَ مَعَ الْعَبَّاسِ قُلْتُ لاَ . قَالَ هُوَ عَلِيٌّ كَرَّمَ اللَّهُ وَجْهَهُ .
"I entered upon Aisha and said: 'Will you not tell me about the sickness of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)?' She said: 'When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), became seriously ill, he said: "Have the people prayed?" We said: "No, they are waiting for you, 0 Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)" He said: "Put some water in a tub for me." We did that and he performed Ghusl, then he tried to get up but he fainted. Then he came to us and said: "Have the people prayed?" We said: "No, they are waiting for you, 0 Messenger of
Allah (ﷺ)." He said: "Put some water in
a tub for me." We did that and he performed Ghusl, then he tried to get up but he fainted. Then for the third time he said the same thing. She said: The people were in the Masjid, waiting for the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) to lead the prayer. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sent word to Abu Bakr, telling him to lead the people in prayer, so the messenger came to him and said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) is telling you to lead the people in prayer." Abu Bakr was a tenderhearted man, he said: "0 'Umar. lead the
in prayer." But ('Umar) said: "You have more right to that." So Abu Bakr led them in prayer during those days. When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) felt a little better, he came with
the help of two men, one of whom was Al-'Abbas, to pray Zuhr. When Abu Bakr saw him, he wanted to step back, but the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) gestured to him not to step back. He told them (the two men) to seat him beside Abu Bakr, and Abu Bakr started to pray standing. The people were following the prayer of Abu Bakr and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was praying sitting."'
"I ('Ubaidullah) entered upon Ibn Abbas and said 'Shall I not tell you what Aisha narrated to me about the sickness of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)?' He said: 'Yes.' So I told him and he did not deny any of it, but he said: 'Did she tell you the name of the man who was with Al-'Abbas?' I said: 'No.' He said: 'That
was Ali, may Allah honor his face."'
Chapter 41: Difference in the intention of the Imam and the one following him - كتاب الإمامة
It was narrated that 'Amr said:
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ عَمْرٍو، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ جَابِرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، يَقُولُ كَانَ مُعَاذٌ يُصَلِّي مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ثُمَّ يَرْجِعُ إِلَى قَوْمِهِ يَؤُمُّهُمْ فَأَخَّرَ ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ الصَّلاَةَ وَصَلَّى مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ثُمَّ رَجَعَ إِلَى قَوْمِهِ يَؤُمُّهُمْ فَقَرَأَ سُورَةَ الْبَقَرَةِ فَلَمَّا سَمِعَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ تَأَخَّرَ فَصَلَّى ثُمَّ خَرَجَ فَقَالُوا نَافَقْتَ يَا فُلاَنُ . فَقَالَ وَاللَّهِ مَا نَافَقْتُ وَلآتِيَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأُخْبِرُهُ . فَأَتَى النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ مُعَاذًا يُصَلِّي مَعَكَ ثُمَّ يَأْتِينَا فَيَؤُمُّنَا وَإِنَّكَ أَخَّرْتَ الصَّلاَةَ الْبَارِحَةَ فَصَلَّى مَعَكَ ثُمَّ رَجَعَ فَأَمَّنَا فَاسْتَفْتَحَ بِسُورَةِ الْبَقَرَةِ فَلَمَّا سَمِعْتُ ذَلِكَ تَأَخَّرْتُ فَصَلَّيْتُ وَإِنَّمَا نَحْنُ أَصْحَابُ نَوَاضِحَ نَعْمَلُ بِأَيْدِينَا . فَقَالَ لَهُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم
" يَا مُعَاذُ أَفَتَّانٌ أَنْتَ اقْرَأْ بِسُورَةِ كَذَا وَسُورَةِ كَذَا " .
"I heard Jabir bin 'Abdullah say: 'Mu'adh used to pray with the Prophet (ﷺ) then he would go back to his people to lead them in a prayer. He stayed late one night and prayed with the Prophet (ﷺ) then he went back to his people to lead them in prayer, and he recited Surat Al-Baqarah. When a man from his people heard that, he stepped aside and prayed (on his
own), then he left. They said: 'You have become a hypocrite, 0 so and-so!' He said: 'By Allah, I have not become a hypocrite, and I will go to the Prophet (ﷺ) and tell him
(about that),' So he went to the Prophet and said: '0 Messenger of Allah(ﷺ), Muadh prays with you, then he comes to lead us in prayer. You delayed the prayer, and he prayed with you then he came back to lead us in prayer, and he started to recite Shut Al-Baqarah. When I
heard that, I stepped aside and prayed by myself, because we are people who bring water with the camels and we work hard.' The Prophet (ﷺ) said to him: '0 Muadh, do you want to cause hardship to the people? Recite such and such a Surah, and such and such a Surah."'
Chapter 41: Difference in the intention of the Imam and the one following him - كتاب الإمامة
أَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ أَشْعَثَ، عَنِ الْحَسَنِ، عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ صَلَّى صَلاَةَ الْخَوْفِ فَصَلَّى بِالَّذِينَ خَلْفَهُ رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَبِالَّذِينَ جَاءُوا رَكْعَتَيْنِ فَكَانَتْ لِلنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَرْبَعًا وَلِهَؤُلاَءِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ .
837. It was narrated from Abu Bakr that the Prophet (ﷺ) offered the fear prayer (Salat Al-Khauf). He led those who were behind him in two Rak'ah and those who came (after them) in two Rak'ah, so the Prophet (ﷺ) prayed four Rak'ahs and each group prayed two.
Chapter 43: Congregation when there are three people - كتاب الإمامة
It was narrated that Abu Sa'eed said:
أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي نَضْرَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم
" إِذَا كَانُوا ثَلاَثَةً فَلْيَؤُمَّهُمْ أَحَدُهُمْ وَأَحَقُّهُمْ بِالإِمَامَةِ أَقْرَؤُهُمْ " .
"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)said: 'If there are three people, let one of them lead the
others in prayer, and the one who has the most right to lead the prayer is the one who recites
(knows) the most (Qur'an)."'
"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 that
of 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 than
his 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 - كتاب الإمامة
It was narrated from 'Itban bin Malik that he said:
أَخْبَرَنَا نَصْرُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا عَبْدُ الأَعْلَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ مَحْمُودٍ، عَنْ عِتْبَانَ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ السُّيُولَ لَتَحُولُ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ مَسْجِدِ قَوْمِي فَأُحِبُّ أَنْ تَأْتِيَنِي فَتُصَلِّيَ فِي مَكَانٍ مِنْ بَيْتِي أَتَّخِذُهُ مَسْجِدًا . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " سَنَفْعَلُ " . فَلَمَّا دَخَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " أَيْنَ تُرِيدُ " . فَأَشَرْتُ إِلَى نَاحِيَةٍ مِنَ الْبَيْتِ فَقَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَصَفَفْنَا خَلْفَهُ فَصَلَّى بِنَا رَكْعَتَيْنِ .
"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."
"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) turned to face us when he stood up to pray, before he said Takbir, and said: 'Make your rows straight and fill the gaps, for I can see you from behind my back."'
"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."
"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."
"By the One in Whose Hand is my soul! I nearly ordered that firewood be gathered to be lit, then I would have ordered that the Adhan be called for prayer, and ordered a man to lead the people in prayer, then I would have gone from behind to those men and burned their houses down over them. By the One in Whose Hand is my soul! If any one of them knew that he would get a meaty bone or some meat in between two ribs, he would attend Isha'.''
"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 for
His 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 your
Prophet 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 (good
deed) 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 except
a 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."
"A blind man came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)and said: 'I do not have a guide to bring me to the prayer.' And he asked him to grant him a dispensation allowing him to pray in his house, and he gave him permission. Then when he turned away he said to him: 'Can you hear the call to prayer?' He said: 'Yes.' He said: 'Then respond to it."'
"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 51: Excuse for not praying in the congregation - كتاب الإمامة
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: