Those who said: whoever waits for the prayer is in prayer

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) came out one night while his Companions were waiting for him to offer the Isha prayer. He said: "The people have slept and lain down, while you are waiting for the prayer. As long as you have been waiting for the prayer, you are in prayer. Were it not for the weakness of the weak and the old age of the elderly, I would have delayed this prayer until half the night."

Suwayd bin Ghafalah said: Whoever enters the mosque in a state of ablution remains in a state of i'tikaf (spiritual retreat) for as long as he is in it, until he leaves the mosque or his ablution is broken.

Ibrahim said: It used to be said: When a man prays and then remains sitting in his place, he is in a state of prayer, and the angels keep invoking blessings on him as long as he does not lose his ablution. And as long as he remains sitting in the mosque he is in a state of prayer, as long as he does not lose his ablution and as long as he does not cause harm to anyone.

Ikrimah said: When a man has prayed one prayer and is waiting for the next, the angels keep supplicating for him until he offers that prayer, saying: "O Allah, have mercy on Your servant so-and-so."

Suwayd bin Ghafalah said: As long as a man sits in the mosque waiting for the prayer, he is in a state of i'tikaf (spiritual retreat).

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Sahl bin Sa'd (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever waits for the prayer remains in a state of prayer as long as he does not lose his ablution."

Sayyiduna Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was occupied in preparing an army until half the night had passed, or about that. Then he came out to us and said: "The people have prayed and gone to sleep, while you are still waiting for the prayer. As long as you have been waiting for the prayer, you have been in a state of prayer."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When one of you enters the mosque, he is in a state of prayer as long as the prayer keeps him there. The angels keep sending mercy upon you as long as you remain sitting in the place where you prayed. The angels say: 'O Allah, forgive him; O Allah, have mercy on him; and O Allah, pardon him.' They keep making this supplication as long as he does not cause harm to anyone and as long as he does not lose his ablution."

One of the Companions narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "If one of you, after finishing his prayer, sits in his place remembering Allah, he is in a state of prayer, and the angels keep supplicating for mercy for him. The angels say: 'O Allah, have mercy on him and forgive him.' And when he sits in the place of prayer waiting for the prayer, he also keeps receiving this same supplication."

Abu Uthman said: One night the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) could not come out to lead his Companions in the Isha prayer until, when a third of the night remained, he came. He saw that some of the people were standing, some were sitting and some were lying down. He said to them: "Ever since you began waiting for the prayer, you have been in a state of prayer, those of you standing, those sitting and those lying down."

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: As long as the prayer keeps you waiting, you are in a state of prayer.

Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: One night the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) delayed the Isha prayer until half the night. Some people began to pray and leave for their homes. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) came out, some people were still present in the mosque. He led them in prayer, and when he had finished with the salam, he turned his blessed face towards them and said: "The people have prayed and gone to sleep, and ever since you began waiting for the prayer you have been in a state of prayer." Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: It is as if the scene is before me even now, and I can still see the gleam of his blessed ring.