Essential Rulings and Virtues of Salah in Islam

✿ Forty Authentic Hadiths on Salah (Prayer)​

✍ Written by: Abu Hamzah Abdul Khaliq Siddiqi

Praise and Opening​

إن الحمد لله نحمده، ونستعينه، من يهده الله فلا مضل له، ومن يضلل فلا هادي له، وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، وأن محمداً عبده ورسوله. أما بعد:


All praise is due to Allah. We praise Him and seek His help. Whomsoever Allah guides, none can misguide; and whomsoever He allows to go astray, none can guide. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, alone, without partner, and that Muhammad ﷺ is His servant and Messenger.

❖ Prayer – The Pillar of Islam​

Qur’anic Verse​

قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى:
﴿وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ ۚ وَمَا تُقَدِّمُوا لِأَنفُسِكُم مِّنْ خَيْرٍ تَجِدُوهُ عِندَ اللَّهِ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ﴾
(Surah Al-Baqarah: 110)


Translation:
“Establish the prayer and give the zakah; and whatever good you send ahead for yourselves – you will find it with Allah. Indeed, Allah is All-Seeing of what you do.”

Hadith 1​

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:
بُنِيَ الْإِسْلَامُ عَلَى خَمْسٍ: شَهَادَةِ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ، وَإِقَامِ الصَّلَاةِ، وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ، وَالْحَجِّ، وَصَوْمِ رَمَضَانَ.


Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Iman, Hadith No. 8; Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Iman, Hadith Nos. 111–112


Translation:
ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Islam has been built upon five pillars: the testimony that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; establishing the prayer; paying the zakah; performing Hajj; and fasting in Ramadan.”

❖ Prayer – The Pillar of the Religion​

Hadith 2​

عَنْ مُعَاذِ بْنِ جَبَلٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ:
كُنتُ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي سَفَرٍ، فَقَالَ: أَلَا أُخْبِرُكَ بِرَأْسِ الْأَمْرِ كُلِّهِ وَعَمُودِهِ وَذِرْوَةِ سَنَامِهِ؟
قُلْتُ: بَلَى يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ.
قَالَ: رَأْسُ الْأَمْرِ الْإِسْلَامُ، وَعَمُودُهُ الصَّلَاةُ، وَذِرْوَةُ سَنَامِهِ الْجِهَادُ.


Jamiʿ al-Tirmidhi, Kitab al-Iman, Hadith No. 2616; Musnad Ahmad 5/231; Musannaf ʿAbd al-Razzaq, Hadith No. 20303
(Imam Tirmidhi graded it Hasan Sahih; Shaykh al-Albani graded it Sahih.)


Translation:
Muʿādh ibn Jabal رضي الله عنه reported:
I was with the Prophet ﷺ on a journey when he said, “Shall I not tell you the head of the matter, its pillar, and its peak?”
I said, “Yes, O Messenger of Allah.”
He said, “The head of the matter is Islam; its pillar is the prayer; and its peak is jihad.”

❖ Prayer – An Intimate Conversation with Allah​

Hadith 3​

عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ:
أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ رَأَى نُخَامَةً فِي الْقِبْلَةِ فَشَقَّ ذَلِكَ عَلَيْهِ حَتَّى رُئِيَ فِي وَجْهِهِ، فَقَامَ فَحَكَّهَا بِيَدِهِ،
فَقَالَ: إِنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ إِذَا قَامَ فِي صَلَاتِهِ فَإِنَّهُ يُنَاجِي رَبَّهُ، أَوْ إِنَّ رَبَّهُ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ الْقِبْلَةِ، فَلَا يَبْصُقَنَّ أَحَدُكُمْ قِبَلَ قِبْلَتِهِ، وَلَكِنْ عَنْ يَسَارِهِ أَوْ تَحْتَ قَدَمَيْهِ،
ثُمَّ أَخَذَ طَرَفَ رِدَائِهِ فَبَصَقَ فِيهِ، ثُمَّ رَدَّ بَعْضَهُ عَلَى بَعْضٍ، فَقَالَ: أَوْ يَفْعَلُ هَكَذَا.


Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Salah, Hadith No. 405


Translation:
Anas ibn Mālik رضي الله عنه narrated:
The Prophet ﷺ saw some spittle on the wall of the qiblah which displeased him so much that his face changed. He stood up and scraped it off with his hand and said,
“When any of you stands for prayer, he is conversing privately with his Lord—or indeed, his Lord is between him and his qiblah. So none of you should spit in the direction of the qiblah, but only to his left or under his foot.”
Then he took the edge of his cloak, spat into it, folded it and said, “Or do like this.”

❖ Prayer Brings One Closer to Allah​

Qur’anic Verse​

قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى:
﴿كَلَّا لَا تُطِعْهُ وَاسْجُدْ وَاقْتَرِبْ﴾
(Surah Al-ʿAlaq: 19)


Translation:
“Nay! Do not obey him; but prostrate yourself and draw near [to Allah].”

Hadith 4​

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ:
أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ:
أَقْرَبُ مَا يَكُونُ الْعَبْدُ مِنْ رَبِّهِ وَهُوَ سَاجِدٌ، فَأَكْثِرُوا الدُّعَاءَ.


Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Salah, Hadith No. 1083


Translation:
Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“The closest a servant comes to his Lord is when he is in prostration, so increase your supplications therein.”

❖ Prayer Wipes Away Sins​

Qur’anic Verse​

قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى:
﴿لَئِنْ أَقَمْتُمُ الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَيْتُمُ الزَّكَاةَ وَآمَنتُم بِرُسُلِي وَعَزَّرْتُمُوهُمْ وَأَقْرَضْتُمُ اللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا لَّأُكَفِّرَنَّ عَنكُمْ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ وَلَأُدْخِلَنَّكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ ۚ فَمَن كَفَرَ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ مِنكُمْ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ سَوَاءَ السَّبِيلِ﴾
(Surah Al-Mā’idah: 12)


Translation:
“If you establish prayer, give zakah, believe in My messengers, honor them, and lend Allah a goodly loan, I will surely absolve you of your sins and admit you to Gardens beneath which rivers flow. But whoever among you disbelieves thereafter has certainly strayed from the right path.”

Hadith 5​

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ:
أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ:
أَرَأَيْتُمْ لَوْ أَنَّ نَهْرًا بِبَابِ أَحَدِكُمْ يَغْتَسِلُ مِنْهُ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ خَمْسَ مَرَّاتٍ، هَلْ يَبْقَى مِنْ دَرَنِهِ شَيْءٌ؟
قَالُوا: لَا يَبْقَى مِنْ دَرَنِهِ شَيْءٌ.
قَالَ: فَذَلِكَ مَثَلُ الصَّلَوَاتِ الْخَمْسِ، يَمْحُو اللَّهُ بِهِنَّ الْخَطَايَا.


Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab Mawaqit al-Salah, Hadith No. 528; Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Masajid, Hadith No. 1522


Translation:
Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Suppose one of you had a river by his door and bathed in it five times daily—would there remain any dirt on him?”
They replied, “No, not a trace of dirt would remain.”
He said, “That is the likeness of the five daily prayers by which Allah wipes away sins.”

❖ The Prophet’s Final Advice: Prayer​

Qur’anic Verses​

قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى:
﴿فَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ وَكُن مِّنَ السَّاجِدِينَ ‎. وَاعْبُدْ رَبَّكَ حَتَّىٰ يَأْتِيَكَ الْيَقِينُ﴾
(Surah Al-Ḥijr: 98–99)


Translation:
“So glorify the praises of your Lord and be among those who prostrate. And worship your Lord until the certainty (death) comes to you.”


وَقَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى:
﴿وَأَوْصَانِي بِالصَّلَاةِ وَالزَّكَاةِ مَا دُمْتُ حَيًّا﴾
(Surah Maryam: 31)


Translation:
“And He has enjoined upon me prayer and zakah as long as I remain alive.”

Hadith 6​

عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ:
كَانَتْ عَامَّةُ وَصِيَّةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ حِينَ حَضَرَتْهُ الْوَفَاةُ، وَهُوَ يُغَرْغِرُ بِنَفْسِهِ: الصَّلَاةَ، وَمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ.


Sunan Ibn Mājah, Kitab al-Wasaya, Hadith No. 2697; Irwā’ al-Ghalīl, No. 2178
(Graded Sahih by Shaykh al-Albani)


Translation:
Anas ibn Mālik رضي الله عنه narrated:
The final words and the general advice of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ at the time of his passing, while his soul was departing, were:
“(Take care of) the prayer, and (those) whom your right hands possess.”

Hadith 7​

عَنْ أَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ:
أَوْصَانِي خَلِيلِي صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنْ:
لَا تُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ شَيْئًا، وَإِنْ قُطِّعْتَ وَحُرِّقْتَ،
وَلَا تَتْرُكْ صَلَاةً مَكْتُوبَةً مُتَعَمِّدًا، فَمَنْ تَرَكَهَا مُتَعَمِّدًا فَقَدْ بَرِئَتْ مِنْهُ الذِّمَّةُ،
وَلَا تَشْرَبِ الْخَمْرَ، فَإِنَّهَا مِفْتَاحُ كُلِّ شَرٍّ.


Sunan Ibn Mājah, Kitab al-Duʿā’, Hadith No. 4034; Irwā’ al-Ghalīl, No. 2086; Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ, No. 580
(Graded Hasan by Shaykh al-Albani)


Translation:
Abu al-Dardāʾ رضي الله عنه said:
My beloved friend, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, advised me:
“Do not associate anything with Allah, even if you are cut to pieces or burned alive.
Do not intentionally abandon an obligatory prayer, for whoever does so, Allah’s protection is removed from him.
And do not drink wine, for it is the key to every evil.”

❖ Prayer – The Coolness of the Prophet’s Eyes​

Hadith 8​

عَنْ أَنَسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ:
أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ:
حُبِّبَ إِلَيَّ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا النِّسَاءُ وَالطِّيبُ، وَجُعِلَتْ قُرَّةُ عَيْنِي فِي الصَّلَاةِ.


Sahih al-Jāmiʿ al-Ṣaghīr, Hadith No. 3124
(Graded Sahih by Shaykh al-Albani)


Translation:
Anas رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Among the worldly things, women and perfume have been made beloved to me, and the coolness of my eyes is in prayer.”

❖ Prayer – A Cause for Forgiveness​

Qur’anic Verses​

قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى:
﴿رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِي مُقِيمَ الصَّلَاةِ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِي ۚ رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَاءِ . رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْحِسَابُ.﴾
(Surah Ibrāhīm: 40–41)


Translation:
“My Lord! Make me and my descendants steadfast in prayer. Our Lord! Accept my supplication. Our Lord! Forgive me, my parents, and the believers on the Day when the account is established.”

Hadith 9​

قَالَ عُبَادَةُ بْنُ الصَّامِتِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ:
أَشْهَدُ أَنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ:
خَمْسُ صَلَوَاتٍ افْتَرَضَهُنَّ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى،
مَنْ أَحْسَنَ وُضُوءَهُنَّ، وَصَلَّاهُنَّ لِوَقْتِهِنَّ، وَأَتَمَّ رُكُوعَهُنَّ وَخُشُوعَهُنَّ،
كَانَ لَهُ عَلَى اللَّهِ عَهْدٌ أَنْ يَغْفِرَ لَهُ،
وَمَنْ لَمْ يَفْعَلْ فَلَيْسَ لَهُ عَلَى اللَّهِ عَهْدٌ، إِنْ شَاءَ غَفَرَ لَهُ، وَإِنْ شَاءَ عَذَّبَهُ.


Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Kitab al-Salah, Hadith No. 425
(Graded Sahih by Shaykh al-Albani)


Translation:
ʿUbādah ibn al-Ṣāmit رضي الله عنه said:
I testify that I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say:
“Allah has made five prayers obligatory. Whoever performs ablution well, prays them on time, completes their bowing and humility, he has a covenant with Allah that He will forgive him.
But whoever does not, then he has no such covenant with Allah — if He wills, He may forgive him; and if He wills, He may punish him.”

❖ On the Day of Judgment, the First Account Will Be Prayer​

Hadith 10​

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ:
سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ:
إِنَّ أَوَّلَ مَا يُحَاسَبُ بِهِ الْعَبْدُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ مِنْ عَمَلِهِ صَلَاتُهُ،
فَإِنْ صَلَحَتْ فَقَدْ أَفْلَحَ وَأَنْجَحَ،
وَإِنْ فَسَدَتْ فَقَدْ خَابَ وَخَسِرَ،
فَإِنِ انْتَقَصَ مِنْ فَرِيضَتِهِ شَيْءٌ،
قَالَ الرَّبُّ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى:
انْظُرُوا هَلْ لِعَبْدِي مِنْ تَطَوُّعٍ،
فَيُكَمَّلُ بِهَا مَا انْتُقِصَ مِنَ الْفَرِيضَةِ،
ثُمَّ يَكُونُ سَائِرُ عَمَلِهِ عَلَى ذَلِكَ.


Jamiʿ al-Tirmidhi, Abwāb al-Salah, Hadith No. 413
(Graded Sahih by Shaykh al-Albani)


Translation:
Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“The first deed for which a person will be called to account on the Day of Judgment will be his prayer.
If it is sound, he will have succeeded and prospered; but if it is defective, he will have failed and lost.
If anything is lacking in his obligatory prayers, the Lord Almighty will say: ‘See whether My servant has any voluntary prayers,’ and the deficiency in the obligatory prayers will be made up with them. Then the rest of his deeds will be judged in the same manner.”

◈ Preserving the Sunnah Rawātib (Regular Sunnah Prayers)​

Hadith 11 — Command to Maintain the Sunnah Rawātib​

عَنْ أُمِّ حَبِيبَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:
مَنْ صَلَّى فِي يَوْمٍ وَلَيْلَةٍ اثْنَتَيْ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً بُنِيَ لَهُ بَيْتٌ فِي الْجَنَّةِ: أَرْبَعًا قَبْلَ الظُّهْرِ، وَرَكْعَتَيْنِ بَعْدَهَا، وَرَكْعَتَيْنِ بَعْدَ الْمَغْرِبِ، وَرَكْعَتَيْنِ بَعْدَ الْعِشَاءِ، وَرَكْعَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ صَلَاةِ الْفَجْرِ.
Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, No. 419; Musnad Abī Dāwūd al-Ṭayālisī, No. 419; Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah 2/203–204; Musnad Aḥmad 6/326–327; Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Khuzaymah, Nos. 1185, 1186, 1187, 1392; Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān, Nos. 2451–2452; al-Mustadrak lil-Ḥākim 1/311.
(Ibn Khuzaymah, Ibn Ḥibbān, al-Ḥākim, and al-Albānī graded it Ṣaḥīḥ.)


Translation:
Umm Ḥabībah رضي الله عنها reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Whoever performs twelve rakʿahs (of Sunnah) in a day and night, a house will be built for him in Paradise: four before ẓuhr, two after it, two after maghrib, two after ʿishāʾ, and two before the fajr prayer.”

◈ The Prophet’s Perseverance in Tahajjud​

Qur’ān​

قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى:
﴿وَمِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَتَهَجَّدْ بِهِ نَافِلَةً لَّكَ عَسَىٰ أَن يَبْعَثَكَ رَبُّكَ مَقَامًا مَّحْمُودًا﴾
(Al-Isrāʾ: 79)


Translation:
“And during the night, keep vigil by it (the Qur’an) as an additional (devotional) prayer for you; it may be that your Lord will raise you to a praised station.”

Hadith 12​

عَنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ: قَامَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ حَتَّى تَوَرَّمَتْ قَدَمَاهُ، فَقِيلَ لَهُ: غُفِرَ اللَّهُ لَكَ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِكَ وَمَا تَأَخَّرَ؟ قَالَ: أَفَلَا أَكُونُ عَبْدًا شَكُورًا؟
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Tafsīr, No. 4836


Translation:
Al-Mughīrah رضي الله عنه narrated: The Prophet ﷺ stood (in night prayer) until his feet became swollen. It was said to him, “Allah has forgiven your past and future (faults).” He replied, “Shall I not then be a grateful servant?”

◈ Reverential Humility (Khushūʿ) in Prayer​

Qur’ān​

قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى:
﴿قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ ‎. الَّذِينَ هُمْ فِي صَلَاتِهِمْ خَاشِعُونَ﴾
(Al-Muʾminūn: 1–2)


Translation:
“Successful indeed are the believers—those who are humble in their prayers.”

Hadith 13​

عَنْ ثَابِتٍ عَنْ مُطَرِّفٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ: رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُصَلِّي، وَفِي صَدْرِهِ أَزِيزٌ كَأَزِيزِ الرَّحَى مِنَ الْبُكَاءِ.
Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, “Bāb al-Bukāʾ fī al-Ṣalāh,” No. 904; Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān, No. 753; al-Mustadrak 1/246; Musnad Aḥmad 4/25 (No. 161312).
(Ibn Ḥibbān, al-Ḥākim, al-Dhahabī, and al-Albānī graded it Ṣaḥīḥ.)


Translation:
ʿAbdullāh ibn al-Shikhkhīr رضي الله عنه said: I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ praying, and from his chest there came a sound like the rumbling of a mill due to weeping.

◈ Prayer Teaches Detachment from the World​

Hadith 14​

عَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ الْأَنْصَارِيِّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ: جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ: عِظْنِي وَأَوْجِزْ. فَقَالَ: إِذَا قُمْتَ فِي صَلَاتِكَ فَصَلِّ صَلَاةَ مُوَدِّعٍ، وَلَا تَتَكَلَّمْ بِكَلَامٍ تَعْتَذِرُ مِنْهُ غَدًا، وَاجْمَعِ الْإِيَاسَ مِمَّا فِي أَيْدِي النَّاسِ.
al-Muʿjam al-Kabīr li’l-Ṭabarānī, p. 446, No. 5459; al-Iṣābah 3/70; Musnad Aḥmad 4/205, No. 23498.
(Ibn Ḥajar deemed its narrators trustworthy; Shaykh Shuʿayb graded its isnād ḥasan.)


Translation:
Abū Ayyūb al-Anṣārī رضي الله عنه narrated: A man came to the Prophet ﷺ and said, “Advise me concisely.” He said, “When you stand for your prayer, pray as if bidding farewell. Do not say a word for which you would have to apologize tomorrow. And give up hope in what is in the hands of people.”

◈ Four Sunnah Rakʿahs Before ʿAṣr​

Hadith 15​

عَنْ ابْنِ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: رَحِمَ اللَّهُ امْرَأً صَلَّى قَبْلَ الْعَصْرِ أَرْبَعًا.
Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Bāb al-Ṣalāh Qabla al-ʿAṣr, No. 1271; Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī, Abwāb al-Ṣalāh, Bāb Mā Jāʾa fī al-Arbaʿ Qabla al-ʿAṣr, No. 430; Musnad Abī Dāwūd al-Ṭayālisī, No. 1936; Musnad Aḥmad 2/117; al-Sunan al-Kubrā lil-Bayhaqī p. 473; Sharḥ al-Sunnah, No. 893; Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Khuzaymah, No. 1193; Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān, No. 2453.
(Ibn Khuzaymah and Ibn Ḥibbān graded it Ṣaḥīḥ; al-Albānī graded it Ḥasan.)


Translation:
ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “May Allah have mercy on a person who performs four (rakʿahs) before ʿaṣr.”

◈ Sujūd al-Sahw (Prostrations of Forgetfulness)​

Qur’ān​

قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى:
﴿قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ . مَلِكِ النَّاسِ . إِلَٰهِ النَّاسِ . مِن شَرِّ الْوَسْوَاسِ الْخَنَّاسِ . الَّذِي يُوَسْوِسُ فِي صُدُورِ النَّاسِ . مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَالنَّاسِ﴾
(al-Nās: 1–6)


Translation:
“Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of mankind, the Sovereign of mankind, the God of mankind, from the evil of the whisperer who withdraws, who whispers in the breasts of mankind, whether from among jinn or humankind.”

Hadith 16​

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ: أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ:
إِذَا نُودِيَ بِالْأَذَانِ أَدْبَرَ الشَّيْطَانُ لَهُ ضُرَاطٌ حَتَّى لَا يَسْمَعَ الْأَذَانَ، فَإِذَا قُضِيَ الْأَذَانُ أَقْبَلَ، فَإِذَا ثُوِّبَ بِهَا أَدْبَرَ، فَإِذَا قُضِيَ التَّثْوِيبُ أَقْبَلَ، يُخَطِّرُ بَيْنَ الْمَرْءِ وَنَفْسِهِ، يَقُولُ: اذْكُرْ كَذَا اذْكُرْ كَذَا، لِمَا لَمْ يَكُنْ يَذْكُرُ، حَتَّى يَظَلَّ الرَّجُلُ لَا يَدْرِي كَمْ صَلَّى، فَإِذَا لَمْ يَدْرِ أَحَدُكُمْ كَمْ صَلَّى فَلْيَسْجُدْ سَجْدَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ.
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Sahw, “Bāb Idhā Lam Yadrī Kam Ṣallā…”, No. 1174; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, “Bāb Faḍl al-Adhān”, No. 389


Translation:
Abū Hurairah رضي الله عنه reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “When the call to prayer is given, Satan turns away, breaking wind so as not to hear the adhān. When the call is completed, he returns. When the iqāmah is pronounced, he turns away; when it is completed, he returns and insinuates between a person and his soul, saying: ‘Remember such-and-such, remember such-and-such,’ things he had not thought of, until the person does not know how many rakʿahs he has prayed. So if any of you does not know how many he has prayed, let him perform two prostrations while sitting.”

◈ Prayer Brings Relief and Comfort​

Hadith 17​

عَنْ سَالِمِ بْنِ أَبِي الْجَعْدِ: قَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ خُزَاعَةَ: لَيْتَنِي صَلَّيْتُ فَاسْتَرَحْتُ. فَكَأَنَّهُمْ عَابُوا عَلَيْهِ ذَلِكَ، فَقَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: يَا بِلَالُ، أَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ، أَرِحْنَا بِهَا.
Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Kitāb al-Adab, Bāb fī al-Ṣalāh al-ʿAtamah, No. 4985; Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ, No. 1253.
(Graded Ṣaḥīḥ by al-Albānī.)


Translation:
Sālim ibn Abī al-Jaʿd narrated: A man from (the tribe of) Khuzaʿah said, “If only I pray and find rest.” It seemed some people disapproved of his words, so he said: I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say, “O Bilāl, establish the prayer and bring us comfort through it.”

◈ Commanding One’s Family to Pray​

Qur’ān​

قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى:
﴿وَأْمُرْ أَهْلَكَ بِالصَّلَاةِ وَاصْطَبِرْ عَلَيْهَا﴾
(Ṭāhā: 132)


Translation:
“And enjoin prayer upon your family and be steadfast therein.”


وَقَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى:
﴿وَكَانَ يَأْمُرُ أَهْلَهُ بِالصَّلَاةِ وَالزَّكَاةِ﴾
(Maryam: 55)


Translation:
“And he used to enjoin upon his family prayer and zakah.”

Hadith 18​

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: رَحِمَ اللَّهُ رَجُلًا قَامَ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَصَلَّى، وَأَيْقَظَ امْرَأَتَهُ، فَإِنْ أَبَتْ نَضَحَ فِي وَجْهِهَا الْمَاءَ. رَحِمَ اللَّهُ امْرَأَةً قَامَتْ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَصَلَّتْ، وَأَيْقَظَتْ زَوْجَهَا، فَإِنْ أَبَى نَضَحَتْ فِي وَجْهِهِ الْمَاءَ.
Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Bāb Qiyām al-Layl, No. 1308; Ṣaḥīḥ Abī Dāwūd (al-Albānī) 1/358


Translation:
Abū Hurairah رضي الله عنه reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “May Allah have mercy on a man who rises at night to pray and awakens his wife; if she refuses, he sprinkles water on her face. And may Allah have mercy on a woman who rises at night to pray and awakens her husband; if he refuses, she sprinkles water on his face.”

◈ Teaching Children to Pray​

Qur’ān​

قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى:
﴿يَا بُنَيَّ أَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ وَأْمُرْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَانْهَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَاصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا أَصَابَكَ ۖ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ عَزْمِ الْأُمُورِ﴾
(Luqmān: 17)


Translation:
“O my son, establish the prayer, enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong, and be patient over what befalls you. Indeed, that is of the matters requiring resolve.”

Hadith 19​

عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ شُعَيْبٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ جَدِّهِ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: مُرُوا أَوْلَادَكُمْ بِالصَّلَاةِ وَهُمْ أَبْنَاءُ سَبْعِ سِنِينَ، وَاضْرِبُوهُمْ عَلَيْهَا وَهُمْ أَبْنَاءُ عَشْرٍ، وَفَرِّقُوا بَيْنَهُمْ فِي الْمَضَاجِعِ.
Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Bāb Matā Yuʾmar al-Ghulām bi’l-Ṣalāh, No. 495; Ṣaḥīḥ Abī Dāwūd (al-Albānī) 1/144–145


Translation:
ʿAmr ibn Shuʿayb—from his father—from his grandfather narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Command your children to pray when they are seven years old, and discipline them for it when they are ten, and separate them in their beds.”

◈ Abandoning Prayer Lies Between a Person and Shirk/Kufr​

Qur’ān​

قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى:
﴿مُنِيبِينَ إِلَيْهِ وَاتَّقُوهُ وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَلَا تَكُونُوا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ﴾
(al-Rūm: 31)


Translation:
“Turning to Him in repentance, and fear Him, and establish the prayer, and do not be of the polytheists.”


وَقَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى:
﴿فَإِن تَابُوا وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَوُا الزَّكَاةَ فَإِخْوَانُكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ ‎. وَنُفَصِّلُ الْآيَاتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ ‎. وَإِن نَّكَثُوا أَيْمَانَهُم مِّن بَعْدِ عَهْدِهِمْ وَطَعَنُوا فِي دِينِكُمْ فَقَاتِلُوا أَئِمَّةَ الْكُفْرِ ۙ إِنَّهُمْ لَا أَيْمَانَ لَهُمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَنتَهُونَ﴾
(al-Tawbah: 11–12)


Translation:
“But if they repent, establish the prayer, and give the zakah, then they are your brothers in religion; and We explain the verses in detail for a people who know. But if they break their oaths after their treaty and defame your religion, then fight the leaders of disbelief; indeed, they have no oaths (binding). Perhaps they will desist.”

Hadith 20​

عَنْ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ: سَمِعْتُ جَابِرًا رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ يَقُولُ: سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: إِنَّ بَيْنَ الرَّجُلِ وَبَيْنَ الشِّرْكِ وَالْكُفْرِ تَرْكَ الصَّلَاةِ.
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Īmān, No. 247; Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī, Kitāb al-Īmān, No. 2619


Translation:

Abū Sufyān said: I heard Jābir رضي الله عنه say: I heard the Prophet ﷺ say, “Between a man and shirk and kufr is abandoning the prayer.”

◈ Hadith 21 — The Command to Establish Prayer and Zakah​

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:
«أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أُقَاتِلَ النَّاسَ حَتَّى يَشْهَدُوا أَنْ لا إِلَهَ إِلا اللَّهُ، وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ، وَيُقِيمُوا الصَّلاةَ، وَيُؤْتُوا الزَّكَاةَ، فَإِذَا فَعَلُوا ذَلِكَ عَصَمُوا مِنِّي دِمَاءَهُمْ وَأَمْوَالَهُمْ إِلا بِحَقِّ الإِسْلامِ، وَحِسَابُهُمْ عَلَى اللَّهِ».
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī (Kitāb al-Īmān, No. 25); Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (Kitāb al-Īmān, No. 22).


Translation:
ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
“I have been commanded to fight the people until they testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establish the prayer, and pay the zakah. When they do this, they have protected from me their lives and wealth except for the right of Islam, and their reckoning is with Allah.”

◈ Hadith 22 — Rulers Will Remain So Long as They Pray​

عَنْ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ:
«سَتَكُونُ أُمَرَاءُ فَتَعْرِفُونَ وَتُنْكِرُونَ، فَمَنْ عَرَفَ بَرِئَ، وَمَنْ أَنْكَرَ سَلِمَ، وَلَكِنْ مَنْ رَضِيَ وَتَابَعَ». قَالُوا: أَفَلا نُقَاتِلُهُمْ؟ قَالَ: «لا مَا صَلَّوْا».
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (Kitāb al-Imārah, No. 1854).


Translation:
Umm Salamah رضي الله عنها reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
“There will be rulers whom you will approve of and also disapprove of. Whoever recognizes (the wrong) is absolved, and whoever rejects (it) is safe, but the one who is pleased and follows (them) is guilty.”
They asked, “Should we not fight them?”
He replied, “No, not as long as they establish the prayer.”

◈ Hadith 23 — The One Who Abandons Prayer Will Be with Pharaoh and Qarun​

Qur’anic Reference​

قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى:
﴿فِي جَنَّاتٍ يَتَسَاءَلُونَ . عَنِ الْمُجْرِمِينَ . مَا سَلَكَكُمْ فِي سَقَرَ . قَالُوا لَمْ نَكُ مِنَ الْمُصَلِّينَ﴾
(Al-Muddaththir: 40–43)


Translation:
“In Gardens, they will ask one another about the criminals: ‘What led you into Saqar (Hell)?’ They will say: ‘We were not among those who prayed.’”


عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:
«مَنْ حَافَظَ عَلَيْهَا كَانَتْ لَهُ نُورًا وَبُرْهَانًا وَنَجَاةً يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ، وَمَنْ لَمْ يُحَافِظْ عَلَيْهَا لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ نُورٌ وَلَا بُرْهَانٌ وَلَا نَجَاةٌ، وَكَانَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ مَعَ قَارُونَ وَفِرْعَوْنَ وَهَامَانَ وَأُبَيِّ بْنِ خَلَفٍ».
Musnad Aḥmad (No. 6576); Sunan al-Dārimī (No. 301); Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān (No. 1467).
(Authenticated by Ibn Ḥibbān; graded ḥasan by Shaykh Shuʿayb al-Arnāʾūṭ.)


Translation:
ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAmr رضي الله عنهما reported that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever guards his prayers, it will be light, proof, and salvation for him on the Day of Resurrection. Whoever neglects them will have no light, no proof, and no salvation, and he will be gathered on the Day of Resurrection with Qarun, Pharaoh, Haman, and Ubayy ibn Khalaf.”

◈ Hadith 24 — The Obligation of Congregational Prayer​

Qur’anic Reference​

قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى:
﴿وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَارْكَعُوا مَعَ الرَّاكِعِينَ﴾
(Al-Baqarah: 43)


Translation:
“Establish the prayer, give the zakah, and bow down with those who bow.”


قَالَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:
«إِنَّ أَثْقَلَ صَلَاةٍ عَلَى الْمُنَافِقِينَ صَلَاةُ الْعِشَاءِ وَصَلَاةُ الْفَجْرِ، وَلَوْ يَعْلَمُونَ مَا فِيهِمَا لَأَتَوْهُمَا وَلَوْ حَبْوًا، وَلَقَدْ هَمَمْتُ أَنْ آمُرَ بِالصَّلَاةِ فَتُقَامَ، ثُمَّ آمُرَ رَجُلًا فَيُصَلِّيَ بِالنَّاسِ، ثُمَّ أَنْطَلِقَ مَعِي بِرِجَالٍ مَعَهُمْ حُزَمٌ مِنْ حَطَبٍ إِلَى قَوْمٍ لَا يَشْهَدُونَ الصَّلَاةَ فَأُحَرِّقَ عَلَيْهِمْ بُيُوتَهُمْ بِالنَّارِ».
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī (Kitāb al-Adhān, No. 657); Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (Kitāb al-Masājid, No. 1482).


Translation:
Abū Hurairah رضي الله عنه reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
“The heaviest prayer upon the hypocrites is the ʿIshāʾ and Fajr prayers. If they knew the reward in them, they would come even crawling. I even considered ordering the prayer to be established, appointing a man to lead the people, and then going with men carrying bundles of wood to those who do not attend the prayer and burning their houses upon them.”

◈ Hadith 25 — Pray as You Have Seen Me Pray​

عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ الْحُوَيْرِثِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ:
أَتَيْنَا النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَنَحْنُ شَبَبَةٌ مُتَقَارِبُونَ، فَأَقَمْنَا عِنْدَهُ عِشْرِينَ يَوْمًا وَلَيْلَةً، وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ رَحِيمًا رَفِيقًا، فَلَمَّا ظَنَّ أَنَّا قَدِ اشْتَهَيْنَا أَهْلَنَا أَوْ قَدِ اشْتَقْنَا، سَأَلَنَا عَمَّنْ تَرَكْنَا فِي أَهْلِنَا، فَأَخْبَرْنَاهُ، فَقَالَ: «ارْجِعُوا إِلَى أَهْلِيكُمْ فَأَقِيمُوا فِيهِمْ، وَعَلِّمُوهُمْ، وَمُرُوهُمْ، وَصَلُّوا كَمَا رَأَيْتُمُونِي أُصَلِّي، فَإِذَا حَضَرَتِ الصَّلَاةُ فَلْيُؤَذِّنْ لَكُمْ أَحَدُكُمْ، وَلْيَؤُمَّكُمْ أَكْبَرُكُمْ».
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī (Kitāb al-Adhān, No. 631).


Translation:
Mālik ibn al-Ḥuwayrith رضي الله عنه said:
“We came to the Prophet ﷺ as young men of similar age and stayed with him for twenty days and nights. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was kind and compassionate. When he thought we longed for our families, he asked about them, and we told him. He said:
‘Return to your families, stay among them, teach them, and command them (to good), and pray as you have seen me pray. When the time for prayer arrives, let one of you call the adhān, and let the eldest among you lead.’”

◈ Hadith 26 — Jibrīl Taught the Prophet ﷺ Ablution and Prayer​

عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ حَارِثَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:
«أَنَّ جِبْرِيلَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ أَتَاهُ فِي أَوَّلِ مَا أُوحِيَ إِلَيْهِ، فَعَلَّمَهُ الْوُضُوءَ وَالصَّلَاةَ، فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ مِنَ الْوُضُوءِ أَخَذَ غُرْفَةً مِنْ مَاءٍ فَنَضَحَ بِهَا فَرْجَهُ».
Musnad Aḥmad (4/161).
(Authenticated by Shaykh Ḥamzah Zayn.)


Translation:
Zayd ibn Ḥārithah رضي الله عنه narrated:
“When revelation first descended upon the Prophet ﷺ, Jibrīl عليه السلام came to him and taught him the method of ablution and prayer. When he finished the ablution, he took a handful of water and sprinkled it over his private parts.”

◈ Hadith 27 — Moderation in Worship and Following the Prophet’s Sunnah​

عَنْ أَنَسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ:
جَاءَ ثَلَاثَةُ نَفَرٍ إِلَى بُيُوتِ أَزْوَاجِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَسْأَلُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَةِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَلَمَّا أُخْبِرُوا كَأَنَّهُمْ تَقَالُّوهَا، فَقَالُوا: وَأَيْنَ نَحْنُ مِنَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَقَدْ غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ وَمَا تَأَخَّرَ؟ قَالَ أَحَدُهُمْ: أَمَّا أَنَا فَإِنِّي أُصَلِّي اللَّيْلَ أَبَدًا، وَقَالَ آخَرُ: أَنَا أَصُومُ الدَّهْرَ وَلَا أُفْطِرُ، وَقَالَ آخَرُ: أَنَا أَعْتَزِلُ النِّسَاءَ فَلَا أَتَزَوَّجُ أَبَدًا. فَجَاءَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِلَيْهِمْ فَقَالَ: أَنْتُمُ الَّذِينَ قُلْتُمْ كَذَا وَكَذَا؟ أَمَا وَاللَّهِ إِنِّي لَأَخْشَاكُمْ لِلَّهِ وَأَتْقَاكُمْ لَهُ، لَكِنِّي أَصُومُ وَأُفْطِرُ، وَأُصَلِّي وَأَرْقُدُ، وَأَتَزَوَّجُ النِّسَاءَ، فَمَنْ رَغِبَ عَنْ سُنَّتِي فَلَيْسَ مِنِّي».
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī (Kitāb al-Nikāḥ, No. 5063).


Translation:
Anas رضي الله عنه reported:
“Three men came to the houses of the wives of the Prophet ﷺ asking about his worship. When they were informed, they considered it little and said, ‘Where are we compared to the Prophet ﷺ when Allah has forgiven him his past and future sins?’
One said, ‘I will pray all night.’
Another said, ‘I will fast continuously and never break it.’
Another said, ‘I will never marry women.’
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to them and said, ‘Are you the ones who said such things? By Allah, I am the most God-fearing among you and most conscious of Him, yet I fast and break my fast, pray and sleep, and I marry women. Whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not from me.’”

◈ Hadith 28 — Performing Prayer with Tranquility​

عَنْ شَقِيقٍ قَالَ:
إِنَّ حُذَيْفَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ رَأَى رَجُلًا لَا يُتِمُّ رُكُوعَهُ وَلَا سُجُودَهُ، فَلَمَّا قَضَى صَلَاتَهُ قَالَ لَهُ حُذَيْفَةُ: مَا صَلَّيْتَ، وَأَحْسَبُهُ قَالَ: لَوْ مُتَّ مِتَّ عَلَى غَيْرِ الْفِطْرَةِ الَّتِي فَطَرَ اللَّهُ مُحَمَّدًا صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَلَيْهَا.
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī (Kitāb al-Adhān, No. 791); Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ (No. 884).


Translation:
Shaqīq narrated: Ḥudhayfah رضي الله عنه saw a man who did not complete his bowing and prostration properly. When he finished, Ḥudhayfah said to him, “You have not prayed. And if you were to die in this state, you would die upon something other than the natural religion upon which Allah created Muhammad ﷺ.”

◈ Hadith 29 — Sincerity in Worship​

Qur’anic Reference​

قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى:
﴿وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ حُنَفَاءَ وَيُقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُوا الزَّكَاةَ ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ دِينُ الْقَيِّمَةِ﴾
(Al-Bayyinah: 5)


Translation:
“And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, being sincere to Him in religion, inclining toward truth, to establish prayer and to give zakah; and that is the correct religion.”


قَالَ شَدَّادُ بْنُ أَوْسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ:
سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «مَنْ صَلَّى يُرَائِي فَقَدْ أَشْرَكَ، وَمَنْ صَامَ يُرَائِي فَقَدْ أَشْرَكَ، وَمَنْ تَصَدَّقَ يُرَائِي فَقَدْ أَشْرَكَ».
Musnad Aḥmad (4/126); al-Muʿjam al-Kabīr (No. 7139); al-Mustadrak (4/329, No. 8008); Majmaʿ al-Zawāʾid (10/221).
(Authenticated by al-Ḥākim.)


Translation:
Shaddād ibn Aws رضي الله عنه reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
“Whoever prays to show off has committed shirk; whoever fasts to show off has committed shirk; and whoever gives charity to show off has committed shirk.”

◈ Hadith 30 — Shortening the Prayer for the Congregation​

قَالَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ:
أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «إِذَا صَلَّى أَحَدُكُمْ لِلنَّاسِ فَلْيُخَفِّفْ، فَإِنَّ فِيهِمُ الضَّعِيفَ وَالسَّقِيمَ وَالْكَبِيرَ، وَإِذَا صَلَّى أَحَدُكُمْ لِنَفْسِهِ فَلْيُطَوِّلْ مَا شَاءَ».
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī (Kitāb al-Adhān, No. 703).


Translation:
Abū Hurairah رضي الله عنه reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
“When one of you leads the people in prayer, let him make it brief, for among them are the weak, the sick, and the elderly; but when he prays alone, let him make it as long as he wishes.”

◈ Purification (Ṭahārah) Before Prayer​

قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى:
﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا قُمْتُمْ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ فَاغْسِلُوا وُجُوهَكُمْ وَأَيْدِيَكُمْ إِلَى الْمَرَافِقِ وَامْسَحُوا بِرُءُوسِكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُمْ إِلَى الْكَعْبَيْنِ ۚ وَإِن كُنتُمْ جُنُبًا فَاطَّهَّرُوا ۚ وَإِن كُنتُم مَّرْضَىٰ أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ أَوْ جَاءَ أَحَدٌ مِّنكُم مِّنَ الْغَائِطِ أَوْ لَامَسْتُمُ النِّسَاءَ فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا مَاءً فَتَيَمَّمُوا صَعِيدًا طَيِّبًا فَامْسَحُوا بِوُجُوهِكُمْ وَأَيْدِيكُم مِّنْهُ ۚ مَا يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ لِيَجْعَلَ عَلَيْكُم مِّنْ حَرَجٍ وَلَٰكِن يُرِيدُ لِيُطَهِّرَكُمْ وَلِيُتِمَّ نِعْمَتَهُ عَلَيْكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ﴾
(Al-Mā’idah: 6)


Translation:
“O you who believe! When you stand for the prayer, wash your faces and your hands up to the elbows, and wipe over your heads, and (wash) your feet up to the ankles. And if you are in a state of major impurity, then purify yourselves. But if you are ill or on a journey, or one of you has come from relieving himself, or you have touched women, and you do not find water, then perform tayammum with clean earth, and wipe your faces and your hands with it. Allah does not intend to place hardship upon you; rather, He intends to purify you and complete His favor upon you that you may be grateful.”

Hadith 31​

«عَنْ ابْنِ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا: إِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: لَا تُقْبَلُ صَلَاةٌ بِغَيْرِ طُهُورٍ وَلَا صَدَقَةٌ مِنْ غُلُولٍ»
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Ṭahārah, Bāb Wujūb al-Ṭahārah, No. 224


Translation:
“ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما said: I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: ‘A prayer is not accepted without purification, nor is charity accepted from stolen (unlawful) wealth.’”

◈ Using the Miswāk Before Prayer​

Hadith 32​

«عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ: أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: لَوْلَا أَنْ أَشُقَّ عَلَى أُمَّتِي أَوْ عَلَى النَّاسِ لَأَمَرْتُهُمْ بِالسِّوَاكِ مَعَ كُلِّ صَلَاةٍ»
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Jumuʿah, No. 887; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Ṭahārah, No. 252


Translation:
“Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘If it were not that I would cause hardship for my ummah—or for the people—I would have commanded them to use the miswāk with every prayer.’”

◈ Tahiyyat al-Masjid (Greeting the Mosque)​

Hadith 34​

«عَنْ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ السُّلَمِيِّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ: أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: إِذَا دَخَلَ أَحَدُكُمُ الْمَسْجِدَ فَلْيَرْكَعْ رَكْعَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَجْلِسَ»
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, No. 444; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb Ṣalāt al-Musāfirīn, No. 714


Translation:
“Abū Qatādah al-Sulamī رضي الله عنه reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘When one of you enters the mosque, let him pray two rakʿahs before sitting.’”

◈ Offering Prayer at Its Earliest Time​

قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى:
﴿إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَابًا مَّوْقُوتًا﴾
(Al-Nisā’: 103)


Translation:
“Indeed, the prayer has been decreed upon the believers at appointed times.”

Hadith 35​

«قَالَتْ أُمُّ فَرْوَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا: سُئِلَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: أَيُّ الْأَعْمَالِ أَفْضَلُ؟ قَالَ: الصَّلَاةُ لِأَوَّلِ وَقْتِهَا»
Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī, Kitāb Mawāqīt al-Ṣalāh, No. 170; Ṣaḥīḥ Abī Dāwūd, No. 452; Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ, No. 607
(Graded Ṣaḥīḥ by al-Albānī.)


Translation:
“Umm Farwah رضي الله عنها reported: The Prophet ﷺ was asked, ‘Which deeds are best?’ He said, ‘Prayer at its earliest time.’”

◈ Adhān: Command and Virtue​

قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى:
﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلَاةِ مِنْ يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ فَاسْعَوْا إِلَىٰ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَذَرُوا الْبَيْعَ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ﴾
(Al-Jumuʿah: 9)


Translation:
“O you who believe! When the call is made for the prayer on Friday, hasten to the remembrance of Allah and leave off trade; that is better for you if you only knew.”

Hadith 36​

«فَقَالَ مُعَاوِيَةُ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: الْمُؤَذِّنُونَ أَطْوَلُ النَّاسِ أَعْنَاقًا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ»
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, No. 387


Translation:
“Muʿāwiyah رضي الله عنه said: I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: ‘The mu’adhdhins will have the longest necks on the Day of Resurrection.’”

◈ Virtue of Congregational Prayer​

Hadith 37​

«قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا: أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: صَلَاةُ الْجَمَاعَةِ تَفْضُلُ صَلَاةَ الْفَذِّ بِسَبْعٍ وَعِشْرِينَ دَرَجَةً»
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Adhān, Bāb Faḍl Ṣalāt al-Jamāʿah, No. 645


Translation:
“ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘The congregational prayer surpasses the prayer of an individual by twenty-seven degrees.’”

◈ Straightening the Rows in Prayer​

قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى:
﴿وَالصَّافَّاتِ صَفًّا﴾
(Al-Ṣāffāt: 1)


Translation:
“By those (angels) who line up in ranks.”

Hadith 38​

«عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ: قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: أَقِيمُوا صُفُوفَكُمْ، فَإِنِّي أَرَاكُمْ مِنْ وَرَاءِ ظَهْرِي. وَكَانَ أَحَدُنَا يُلْزِقُ مَنْكِبَهُ بِمَنْكِبِ صَاحِبِهِ، وَقَدَمَهُ بِقَدَمِهِ»
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Adhān, No. 725


Translation:
“Anas ibn Mālik رضي الله عنه reported that the Prophet ﷺ said: ‘Straighten your rows, for I see you from behind my back.’ And each of us would join his shoulder to his companion’s shoulder and his foot to his foot.”

◈ Placing the Hands on the Chest in Prayer​

قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى:
﴿فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَانْحَرْ﴾
(Al-Kawthar: 2)


Translation:
“So pray to your Lord and sacrifice.”

Hadith 39​

«عَنْ وَائِلِ بْنِ حُجْرٍ قَالَ: صَلَّيْتُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَوَضَعَ يَدَهُ الْيُمْنَى عَلَى الْيُسْرَى عَلَى صَدْرِهِ»
Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Khuzaymah, No. 479
(Ibn Khuzaymah graded it Ṣaḥīḥ.)


Translation:
“Wā’il ibn Ḥujr رضي الله عنه said: I prayed with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and he placed his right hand upon his left hand upon his chest.”

◈ Recitation of Sūrat al-Fātiḥah in Prayer​

قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى:
﴿الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ‎. الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ.‏ مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ. إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ ‎. اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ ‎.‏ صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ .﴾
(Al-Fātiḥah: 1–6)


Translation:
“All praise is for Allah—Lord of all the worlds. The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Master of the Day of Judgment. You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help. Guide us to the straight path — the path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have incurred (Your) anger nor of those who have gone astray.”

Hadith 40​

«عَنْ عُبَادَةَ بْنِ الصَّامِتِ: أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: لَا صَلَاةَ لِمَنْ لَمْ يَقْرَأْ بِفَاتِحَةِ الْكِتَابِ»
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Adhān, No. 756; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, No. 394


Translation:
“ʿUbādah ibn al-Ṣāmit رضي الله عنه reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘There is no prayer for the one who does not recite the Opening of the Book (al-Fātiḥah).’”

◈ The Virtue of Saying “Āmīn” Aloud​

«وَقَالَ عَطَاءٌ: آمِينَ دُعَاءٌ. أَمَّنَ ابْنُ الزُّبَيْرِ وَمَنْ وَرَاءَهُ حَتَّى إِنَّ لِلْمَسْجِدِ لَجَّةً»


Translation:
“ʿAtāʾ said: ‘Āmīn is a supplication.’ Ibn al-Zubayr رضي الله عنهما and those behind him would say ‘Āmīn’ aloud until the mosque would resound.”


«عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ: أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: إِذَا أَمَّنَ الْإِمَامُ فَأَمِّنُوا، فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ وَافَقَ تَأْمِينُهُ تَأْمِينَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ»
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Adhān, No. 780; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, No. 410


Translation:
“Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه reported that the Prophet ﷺ said: ‘When the imām says Āmīn, then say Āmīn, for whoever’s Āmīn coincides with the Āmīn of the angels, his previous sins will be forgiven.’”

◈ Raising the Hands (Rafʿ al-Yadayn) in Prayer​

Hadith 41​

«عَنْ نَافِعٍ أَنَّ ابْنَ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا كَانَ إِذَا دَخَلَ فِي الصَّلَاةِ كَبَّرَ وَرَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ، وَإِذَا رَكَعَ رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ، وَإِذَا قَالَ: سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ، وَإِذَا قَامَ مِنَ الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ، وَرَفَعَ ذَلِكَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ»
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Adhān, No. 739


Translation:
“Nāfiʿ narrated that Ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما, when he entered the prayer, would say the takbīr and raise his hands; and when he bowed, he raised his hands; and when he said, ‘Samiʿa-llāhu liman ḥamidah,’ he raised his hands; and when he stood after two rakʿahs, he raised his hands. Ibn ʿUmar attributed this (practice) to the Prophet ﷺ.”


◈ Closing:
وصلى الله على محمد وعلى آله وصحابته أجمعين، وتابِعِيهم ومن تبعهم بإحسانٍ إلى يوم الدين.


Translation:
“May Allah send blessings upon Muhammad, his family, and all his companions, and upon their followers and those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment.”