Mishkat al-Masabih

Anas said that the Prophet, Abu Bakr and ‘Umar used to begin the prayer with, “Praise be to God the Lord of the universe.” Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Say Amen when the imam says it, for if anyone’s utterance of Amen synchronises with that of the angels, he will be forgiven his past sins. ’ (Bukhari and Muslim.) In a version he said, “When the imam says, ‘Not of those with whom Thou art angry nor of those who go astray’, say Amen, for if anyone’s words synchronise with those of the angels he will be forgiven his past sins.” This is Bukhari’s wording, and Muslim has something similar. In another version by Bukhari he said, “Say Amen when the reciter (i.e. the imam) says it, for the angels do so, and if anyone’s utterance of Amen synchronises with that of the angels, he will be forgiven his past sins.”

When you pray make your rows straight and let one of your number act as your imam. If you say the takbir when he says it and say Amen when he says “Not of those with whom Thou art angry nor of those who go astray”, God will accept your prayer. When he says the takbir and bows, say it and bow, for the imam bows before you and raises himself before you. Then God’s Messenger said, “The one is equivalent to the other.”* And he said: If you say, “O God our Lord, to Thee be the praise,” when he says, “God listens to him who praises him,” God will listen to you. * Although the imam begins and ends his bowing before you do, your bow lasts the same length of time as his. Muslim transmitted it. In a version by him from Abu Huraira and Qatada the words occur, “And when he recites listen silently.”

Abu Qatada said that in the first two rak'as of the noon prayer the Prophet used to recite Umm al-Kitab and two suras, and in the last two rak'as Umm al-Kitab, and he would sometimes recite loud enough for them to hear the verse. He would prolong the first rak'a more than the second; and he acted similarly in the afternoon and the Morning Prayer. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri said, “We used to estimate how long God’s Messenger stood at the noon and the afternoon prayer, and we estimated that he stood in the first two rak'as as long as it takes to recite A.L.M. Tanzil, i.e. as-Sajda* (A version has, “In every rak'a as long as it takes to recite thirty verses.” We estimated that he stood half that time in the last two rak'as; that he stood in the first two of the afternoon prayer as long as he did in the last two at noon; and in the last two of the afternoon prayer about half that time.” * Al-Qur'an; 32. This sura has thirty verses. Muslim transmitted it.

Jabir b. Samura said that the Prophet used to recite at the noon prayer, “By the night when it covers over”1 (a version says, “Glorify the name of thy most high Lord”, 2 at the afternoon prayer a similar amount, and at the Morning Prayer a longer passage than that. 1. Al-Qur'an; 92. 2. Al-Qur’an; 87. Muslim transmitted it.

Jubair b. Mut'im said that he heard God’s Messenger reciting al-Tur* at the sunset prayer. * Al-Qur’an; 52 (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Umm al-Fadl daughter of al-Harith said that she heard God’s Messenger reciting al-Mursalat* at the sunset prayer. * Al-Qur'an; 77. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Jabir said that Mu'adh b. Jabal used to pray along with the Prophet, then come and lead his people in prayer. One night he prayed the evening prayer along with the Prophet, then came to his people and led them in prayer, beginning with Sura al-Baqara1. A man turned aside, pronounced the taslim, then prayed alone and departed. The people said to him, “Have you become a hypocrite, so and so?” He replied, I swear by God that I have not, but I shall certainly go to God’s Messenger and tell him.” So he went to him and said, “Messenger of God, we look after camels used for watering and work by day. After having prayed the evening prayer with you, Mu'adh came and began with Sura al-Baqara.” God’s Messenger then approached Mu'adh and said, “Are you a troubler, Mu’adh? Recite, ‘By the sun and its morning brightness,’2 ‘By the morning brightness,’3 ‘By the night when it covers over,’4 and ‘Glorify the name of thy most high Lord’.”5 1. Al-Qur’an; 2 the longest sura in the Qur’an. 2. Al-Qur’an; 91 3. Al-Qur'an; 93. 4. Al-Qur'an; 92. 5. Al-Qur’an; 87. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Al-Bara’ said that he heard the Prophet recite at the evening prayer, “By the fig and the olive”* and that he had never heard anyone with a more beautiful voice. *Al-Qur’an; 95. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Jabir b. Samura said that the. Prophet used to recite at the dawn prayer, "Qaf. By the glorious Qur'an"* and a passage of similar length, and his prayer afterwards was shortened. *Al-Qur’an; 50. Muslim transmitted it.

‘Amr b. Huraith said that he heard the Prophet reciting at the dawn prayer, “By the night when it dissipates."* *Al-Qur’an; 81:17 Muslim transmitted it.

God’s Messenger led us in the Morning Prayer in Mecca and began the Sura al-Mu’minun1, but when he came to the reference to Moses and Aaron2, or to the reference to Jesus3, a cough got the better of him and he bowed. 1. Al-Qur’an; 23. 2. Verse 45 3. Verse 50. Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira said that the Prophet used to recite at the dawn prayer on Friday A.L.M. Tanzil1 in the first rak'a, and in the second, “Has there come upon man?"2 1. Al-Qur’an; 32. 2. Al-Qur’an; 76. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Marwan appointed Abu Huraira as governor of Medina and went to Mecca. Abu Huraira led us in the Friday prayer and recited sura al-Jumu'a1 in the first sajda and “When the hypocrites come to you"2 in the last, and said, “I heard God's Messenger reciting them on Friday." 1. Al-Qur'an, 62, recited in the first rak'a, which is what is meant by sajda in the text. 2. Al-Qur'an, 63. Muslim transmitted it.

An-Nu‘man b. Bashir said that God’s Messenger used to recite at the two festivals1 and on Friday, “Glorify the name of your most high Lord", 2 and “Has the story of the overwhelming event reached you?"3 He said that when a festival and a Friday coincided he recited them both at the two prayers. 1. Id al-Fitr at the end of Ramadan, and Id al-Adha on the 10th of Dhul Hijja, when sacrifices are made. The former is called the lesser and latter the greater. 2. Al-Qur’an; 87. 3. Al-Qur'an, 88. Muslim transmitted it.

‘Ubaidallah said that ‘Umar b. al-Khattab asked Abu Waqid al- Laithi what God’s Messenger recited at the ‘Id al-Adha and 'Id al-Fitr, and he replied that he recited at both of them, “Qaf. By the glorious Qur’an’’1-and “The Hour is nigh.’’2 1. Al-Qur’an; 50. 2. Al-Qur’an, 54. Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira said that God’s Messenger recited in both rak'as of the dawn prayer, “Say, O unbelievers”1 and “Say, He is God, one God.2 1. Al-Qur’an; 109. 2. Al-Qur’an; 112. Muslim transmitted it.

Ibd ‘Abbas said that God’s Messenger used to recite in both rak'as of the dawn prayer, “Say, We believe in God and in the revelation given to us,”1 and the verse in Al 'Imran, “Say, O people of the Book, come to common terms between us and you.”2 1. Al-Qur’an; 2:136 2. Al-Qur’an; 3:64 Muslim transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas said that God’s Messenger used to begin his prayer with, “In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.” Tirmidhi transmitted it and said that the isnad of this tradition is not approved.

Wa’il b. Hujr said that he heard God’s Messenger recite, “Not of those with whom Thou art angry, nor of those who go astray” (Al-Qur’an 1:7) and say “Amen”, prolonging the word. Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Darimi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

We went out with God’s Messenger one night and came upon a man who made supplication with persistence. The Prophet said, “He will have done something which guarantees if he puts a seal to it.” One of the people asked what he should use for a seal, and he replied, “Amen”. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

‘A’isha said that God’s Messenger prayed the sunset prayer using sura al-A'raf (Al-Qur’an; 7) dividing it between the two rak'as. Nasa’i transmitted it.

When I was leading God’s Messenger’s she-camel for him on a journey he said to me, “Shall I not teach you, ‘Uqba, the best two suras to recite?” Then he taught me “Say, I seek refuge in the Lord of the dawn” and “Say, I seek refuge in the Lord of men” (Al-Qur’an; 113-114). He saw that I was not greatly pleased with them, so when he alighted for the Morning Prayer he used them in leading the people in the Morning Prayer, and when he had finished he turned to me and said, “How do you find them now, ‘Uqba?” Ahmad, Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

Jabir b. Samura said that the Prophet used to recite in the sunset prayer on Thursday evening, “Say, O unbelievers,”1 and “Say, He is God one God.”2 1. Al-Qur’an; 109 2. Al-Qur’an; 112 transmitted it in Sharh as-sunna; and Ibn Majah transmitted it from Ibn ‘Umar, but did not mention Thursday evening.

I cannot count how often I heard God’s Messenger reciting in the two rak'as after the sunset prayer and in the two rak'as before the dawn prayer, “Say, O unbelievers,” and “Say, He is God, one God.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, and Ibn Majah transmitted it on Abu Huraira’s authority, but he did not mention “after the sunset prayer.”

Sulaiman b. Yasar quoted Abu Huraira as saying, “I never prayed behind anyone whose prayer more closely resembled that of God’s Messenger than so and so’s.” Sulaiman said that he prayed behind him, and he was prolonging the first two rak'as of the noon prayer, shortening the last two, shortening the afternoon prayer, reciting short suras from al-Mufassal* at the sunset prayer, medium suras from al-Mufassal at the evening prayer, and long ones from al-Mufassal at the morning prayer. * A name applied to the latter part of the Qur’an because there are many divisions, but opinions differ about where it begins. Lane mentions the different views in his Lexicon, pp 2407 f., saying the most correct opinion is that it begins with sura 49. Nasa’i transmitted it, and Ibn Majah transmitted up to “shortening the afternoon prayer.”

We were behind the Prophet at the dawn prayer, and he recited a passage, but the recitation became difficult for him. Then when he finished he said, “Perhaps you recite behind your imam?” We replied, “Yes, Messenger of God.” He said, “Do it only when it is Fatihat al-Kitab, for he who does not include it in his recitation is not credited with having prayed.” Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi transmitted it, and Nasa’i has something to the same effect. In a version by Abu Dawud he said, “I am wondering what is the matter with me that the Qur’an should be at variance with me. So do not recite any of the Qur’an when I recite aloud, except Umm al-Qur'an."

Abu Huraira said that when God’s Messenger had finished a prayer in which he had recited aloud, he asked, “Did any of you recite along with me just now?” When a man replied that he had, he said, “I am wondering what is the matter with me that I should be contended with regarding the Qur’an.” He said that when the people heard that from God’s Messenger they ceased reciting along with him the passages which he recited aloud in the prayers. Malik, Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, and Nasa'i transmitted it, and Ibn Majah transmitted something similar.

Ibn ‘Umar and al-Bayadi reported God’s Messenger as saying, “He who prays holds intimate converse with his Lord, so he must consider how he does so, and none of you must recite the Qur’an more loudly than others. Ahmad transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The imam is appointed only to be followed, so when he says the takbir, say it also; and when he recites, listen silently.” Abu Dawud, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. Abu Aufa told of a man who came to the Prophet and said, “I am unable to learn any of the Qur’an, so teach me something which will suffice me.” He told him to say, “Glory be to God; Praise be to God; There is no god but God; God is most great; There is no might and no power except in God.” He said, “Messenger of God, this is for God; but what is there for me?” He told him to say, “O God, have mercy on me, heal me, guide me, and provide for me.” He said that the man clenched his hands, whereupon God’s Messenger said, “This man has filled his hands with good.” Abu Dawud transmitted it, and Nasa’i’s transmission finished with “except in God.”

Ibn ‘Abbas said that when the Prophet recited, “Glorify the name of thy most high Lord,” (Al-Quran; 87) he said, “Glory be to my Lord most high.” Ahmad and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

When one of you recites, "By the fig and the olive”1 and comes to "Is not God the best of judges?”2 he should say, "Certainly, and I am one of those who testify to that.” When one recites, "I swear by the day of resurrection”3 and comes to "Is not that One able to raise the dead to life?’4 he should say, "Certainly.” And when one recites, "By those that are sent”5 and comes to "Then in what message after that will they believe?”6 he should say, "We believe in God.” 1. Al-Qur’an; 95 2. Verse 8 3. Al-Qur’an; 75 4. Verse 40. 5. Al-Qur’an; 77 6. Verse 50. Abu Dawud transmitted it, and Tirmidhi transmitted up to "and I am one of those who testify to that.”

I have recited it to the jinn on the night they came to me, 2 and they responded better than you. As often as I came to the words, "Then which of the favours of your Lord do you deny?” they replied, "We deny none of Thy favours, O our Lord. To Thee be the praise.” 1. Al-Qur’an; 55. 2. When the Prophet was returning to Mecca after being rejected by the people of at-Ta’if. Tirmidhi transmitted it and said this is a gharib tradition.

Mu'adh b. ‘Abdallah. al-Juhani said that a man of Juhaina told him he had heard God’s Messenger reciting "When the earth is shaken”(Al-Qur’an; 99) in both rak'as of the morning prayer, but did not know whether he had forgotten, or whether he recited it on purpose. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

‘Urwa said that Abu Bakr as-Siddlq prayed the Morning Prayer and recited Sura al-Baqara (Al-Qur’an; 2) in both the rak'as. Malik transmitted it.

Al-Farafisa b. 'Umair al-Hanafi said that he learned Sura Yusuf (Al-Qur’an; 12) simply from the recitation of it by ‘Uthman b. ‘Affan in the morning prayer, owing to the great number of times he repeated it. Malik transmitted it.

‘Amir b. Rabi'a said that they prayed the morning prayer behind ‘Umar b. al-Khattab and that he recited slowly in both rak'as Sura Yusuf and Sura al-Hajj (Al-Qur’an; 22). When someone remarked that he must have begun the prayer at break of day he replied that that was so. Malik transmitted it.

‘Amr b. Shu'aib on his father’s authority quoted his grandfather as saying, “There is no short or long sura in al-Mufassal* which I have not heard God’s Messenger reciting when he led the people in the prescribed prayer.” * A name applied to the latter part of the Qur’an because there are many divisions, but opinions differ about where it begins. Lane mentions the different views in his Lexicon, pp 2407 f., saying the most correct opinion is that it begins with sura 49. Malik transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Utba b. Mas'ud said that God’s Messenger recited at the sunset prayer H.M. ad-Dukhan (Al-Qur’an; 44). Nasa’i transmitted it in mursal form.

Anas reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Perform the bowing and the prostration properly, for I swear by God that I can see you behind me." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Al-Bara,’ said that the bowing observed by the Prophet, his prostration, his sitting between the two sajdas, and when he raised his head after bowing, but not the standing and the sitting [when saying the shahada, were nearly equal. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

When the Prophet said, “God listens to him who praises Him,” he stood so long that we thought he had omitted something; then he would prostrate himself and sit between the sajdas so long that we thought he had omitted something. Muslim transmitted it.

‘A’isha told how the Prophet often said while bowing and prostrating himself, “Glory be to Thee, O God, our Lord, and praise be to Thee. O God, forgive me," thus complying with the the Qur’an (Al-Qur’an; 110-3). (Bukhari and Muslim.)

She told how the Prophet used to say when bowing and prostrating himself, “All-Glorious, All-Holy, Lord of the angels and the spirit." Muslim transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s Messenger as saying, “I have been prohibited to recite the Qur’an when bowing or prostrating myself; so when bowing magnify the Lord, and when prostrating yourselves be earnest in supplication, for it is fitting that your supplications should be answered.’’ Muslim transmitted it.

When the imam says, “God listens to him who praises Him," say, “O God, our Lord, to Thee be the praise for if what anyone says synchronises with what the angels say, he will be forgiven his past sins. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘Abdallah b. Abu Aufa said that when God’s Messenger raised his back after bowing he said, “God listens to him who praises Him. O God, our Lord, to Thee be the praise in all the heavens and all the earth, and all that it pleases Thee to create afterwards.” Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri said that when God’s Messenger raised his head after bowing he said, “O God, our Lord, to Thee be the praise in all the heavens and all the earth, and all that it pleases Thee to create afterwards, O Thou who art worthy of praise and glory, most worthy of what a servant says, and we are all Thy servants, no one can withhold what Thou givest or give what Thou withholdest, and riches cannot avail a wealthy person with Thee.”* * This is explained as meaning that only obedience to God will avail him, or protect him from God’s punishment. Jadd (riches) has also been understood in the sense of ancestor (lit. grandfather), so the phrase may be taken to mean that one’s reward in the next world does dot depend on one’s ancestry. Muslim transmitted it.