Mukhtasar Muslim

Hattan bin Abdullah al-Raqashi says that I was praying with Sayyiduna Abu Musa al-Ash'ari (may Allah be pleased with him). When we were sitting in Tashahhud, someone from behind said that prayer has been made obligatory along with goodness and zakat. After the prayer, Sayyiduna Abu Musa (may Allah be pleased with him) asked, "Who among you said this?" Everyone remained silent, so he (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "(You people are listening), tell me, who among you said this?" When everyone remained quiet, he (may Allah be pleased with him) said to me, "O Hattan! Perhaps you said these words?" I said, "No, I did not say them; I was afraid that you might get upset." Then a person said, "I said these words, and my intention was only goodness and virtue." Sayyiduna Abu Musa (may Allah be pleased with him) replied, "You people do not know what you should recite in your prayer. Whereas the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has explained all matters to us during the sermon and taught us how to pray. That is, before you start the prayer, straighten the rows. Then one of you should become the imam, and when he says Allahu Akbar, you should also say it. And when he finishes 'wa la-d-dallin', you should say Ameen so that Allah is pleased with you. When the imam says the takbir and bows (ruku'), you should also say the takbir and bow, and after the imam's takbir and ruku', you should perform the takbir and ruku'. And do not perform the takbir and ruku' before the imam, because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has said that your slight delay is counted as being equal to the imam's ruku' and takbirs. Then when the imam says 'Sami' Allahu liman hamidah', you should say 'Allahumma Rabbana wa laka al-hamd', and Allah hears your supplications, because Allah has said through His Messenger that whoever praises and glorifies Allah, Allah hears him. When the imam says the takbir and prostrates (sajdah), you should also say the takbir and prostrate, because the imam says the takbir and prostrates and rises a moment before you, and you perform these actions a moment after, so you will be with him. And when the imam sits in Tashahhud, each of you should recite this supplication: 'All verbal, physical, and financial acts of worship are for Allah alone. O Noble Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is His servant and Messenger.'"