Mukhtasar Muslim

It is narrated from Aswad and Alqamah that we both came to Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with them) at his house. He asked, "Have those people (i.e., the nobles and leaders of that time) prayed behind you?" We said, "No." He said, "Get up and pray, because the time for prayer has come, and it is not necessary to delay your prayer while waiting for the nobles and leaders." Then he did not order us to give the adhan nor the iqamah. When we began to stand behind him, he took our hands and placed one of us on his right side and the other on his left. When we bowed (in ruku'), we placed our hands on our knees. He struck our hands and joined our palms together, placing them between our thighs. When the prayer was finished, he said, "Now your nobles and leaders will arise who will delay the prayer from its proper time and will constrict the prayer, until the sun is about to set (i.e., they will delay the Asr prayer so much)." When you see them doing this, then pray your prayer at its proper time (i.e., at the best time), then pray again with them as a nafl (supererogatory) prayer. And when you are three people, all of you should pray together (i.e., stand in a row and the imam should be in the middle), and when there are more than three, one person should become the imam and stand in front, and when he bows (in ruku'), he should place his hands on his thighs and bend, and join both palms together and place them between his thighs, as if I am seeing at this moment the difference in the fingers of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).