Abu ‘Ammar Shaddad bin ‘Abdullah and Yahya bin Abi Kathir narrated from Abu Umamah... ‘Ikrimah said: Shaddad met Abu Umamah and Wathilah (may Allah be pleased with them), he accompanied Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) on a journey to Syria and praised his virtue and excellence. It is narrated from Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: ‘Amr bin ‘Abasah al-Sulami (may Allah be pleased with him) said: When I was in the time of ignorance, I understood that people were astray, and when they worshipped idols, they were not upon anything (true religion). Then I heard about a man in Makkah who was informing about many things, so I mounted my ride and came to him. At that time, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was in concealment, and his people were bold and daring against him. I adopted a subtle plan and presented myself to him in Makkah and asked: “What are you?” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “I am a Prophet.” Then I asked: “What is a Prophet?” He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Allah has sent me.” I said: “With what (message) has He sent you?” He said: “Allah has sent me with the message of maintaining ties of kinship, breaking idols, declaring Allah as One, and not associating anything with Him.” I asked: “Who is with you on this (religion)?” He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “A free man and a slave.” He said: At that time, among those who had believed with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) were Abu Bakr and Bilal (may Allah be pleased with them both). I said: “I will also follow you.” He said: “You are not able to do so in your current situation. Do you not see my and the people’s condition? But (in these circumstances) return to your home, and when you hear that I have prevailed, then come to me.” He said: So I returned to my family. And (later) the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) migrated to Madinah while I was still at home. When he (peace and blessings be upon him) arrived in Madinah, I began to inquire and ask people about his situation, until some people from the people of Yathrib (Madinah) came to me, so I asked: “What has this man who has come to Madinah done?” They said: “People are hastening towards him (his religion), your people wanted to kill him but could not do so.” Upon this, I came to Madinah and presented myself to him and said: “O Messenger of Allah! Do you recognize me?” He said: “Yes, are you not the one who met me in Makkah?” I said: “Yes,” and then asked: “O Prophet of Allah! Tell me all that Allah has taught you and of which I am unaware. Tell me about prayer.” He said: “Pray the morning prayer, then refrain from prayer until the sun rises and becomes high, for when it rises, it rises between the two horns of Satan, and at that time the disbelievers prostrate to it. Then pray, for prayer is witnessed and attended (by angels) until the shadow of a spear becomes equal to it (i.e., the sun is at its zenith), then refrain from prayer, for at that time Hell is kindled. Then when the shadow appears (i.e., the sun declines), pray, for prayer is witnessed and attended until you finish the ‘Asr prayer, then refrain from prayer until the sun sets completely, for it sets between the two horns of Satan, and at that time the disbelievers prostrate to it.” He said: Then I asked: “O Prophet of Allah! And ablution? Tell me about it as well.” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “When any one of you brings water near for ablution, then rinses his mouth and snuffs water into his nose and expels it, the sins of his face, mouth, and nostrils are washed away. Then when he washes his face as commanded by Allah, the sins of his face are washed away with the water from the edges of his beard. Then when he washes his two hands up to the elbows, the sins of his hands are washed away with the water from his fingertips. Then when he wipes his head, the sins of his head are washed away with the water from the sides of his hair. Then when he washes his two feet up to the ankles, the sins of his feet are washed away with the water from his toes. Then if he stands and prays, praising and glorifying Allah as He deserves, and empties his heart for Allah (from all other thoughts and distractions), he emerges from his sins as the day his mother gave birth to him (i.e., free from sins).” ‘Amr bin ‘Abasah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated this hadith to another companion of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him), so Abu Umamah said to him: “O ‘Amr bin ‘Abasah! Look carefully at what you are saying. Is so much given to a man in one sitting?” Upon this, ‘Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “O Abu Umamah! My age has advanced, my bones have become soft, and the time of my death has drawn near, and I have no need to lie against Allah or His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). If I had not heard this hadith from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) once, twice, three times... (he counted up to seven times), I would never have narrated it. Rather, I have heard it from him even more than that.”