Mishkat al-Masabih

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The five prayers, Friday to Friday and Ramadan to Ramadan make atonement for what has happened since the previous one when major sins have been avoided.” Muslim transmitted it.

He also reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Tell me, if there were a river at the door of one of you in which he washed five times daily, would any of his filthiness remain?” When he received the reply that none of it would remain, he said, “That is like the five times of prayer by which God obliterates sins.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ibn Mas'ud said that a man kissed a woman and came and told the Prophet. Then God revealed, “And observe the prayer at the two ends of the day and the neighbouring parts of the night, for good deeds remove evil deeds (Al- Qur’an, 11:114).”’ The man asked God’s Messenger whether this referred to him, and he replied, “It refers to every one of my whole people.” A version has, “To those of my people who act upon it.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Anas told of a man who came and said, “Messenger of God, I have done something which merits punishment, so appoint it for me.” He did not question him about it, and when the time for prayer came the man prayed along with him. Then when the Prophet had finished the prayer the man got up and said, “Messenger of God, I have done something which merits punishment, so appoint for me that God has decreed.” He asked, “Did you not pray along with us?” and when he replied that he had, he said, “Well, God has forgiven you your offence, or “your punishment”. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

I asked the Prophet which action is dearest to God and he replied, “Prayer at its proper time.” I asked what came next, and he replied that it was kindness to parents. I asked what came next and he replied that it was jihad in God's path. He said, “He told me of them, and if I had asked for more he would have told me more.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Jabir reported God’s Messenger as saying, “What lies between a man and infidelity is the abandonment of prayer.”* *This means that when a man does not make it his practice to observe the prayer he is no longer a Muslim. Muslim transmitted it.

‘Ubada b. as-Samit reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Five times of prayer have been prescribed by God. If anyone performs the ablution for them well, observes them at their proper time, and perfectly performs the bowing and showing of submissiveness during them, he has a covenant from God to forgive him; but if anyone does not do so, he has no covenant. If He wills He may forgive him, but if He wills He may punish him.” Ahmad and Abu Dawud transmitted it, and Malik and Nasa’i transmitted something similar.

Abu Umama reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If you observe your five times of prayer, fast during your month, pay the zakat on your properties, and obey him who has a right to issue commands to you, you will enter your Lord’s paradise.” Ahmad and Tirmidhi transmitted it.

‘Amr b. Shu'aib said on his father’s authority that his grandfather reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Command your children to observe prayer when they are seven years old, and beat them for sleep together.” Abu Dawud transmitted it; and Baghawi transmitted it thus from him in Sharh as-sunna but in al-Masabih from Sabra b. Ma‘bad.

Buraida reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The covenant between us and them is prayer, so if anyone abandons it he has become an infidel.” Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. Mas'ud told of a man coming to the Prophet and saying, “Messenger of God, I sported with a woman on the outskirts of Medina, and I got what I wanted from her short of having intercourse with her. Now here I am, so decide what you wish about me.” ‘Umar said to him, “God has concealed this about you. Would that you had kept it to yourself!” Ibn Mas'ud said that the Prophet gave no reply, so the man got up and went away. Then the Prophet sent a man after him to summon him, and he recited this verse to him. “And observe the prayer at the two ends of the day and the neighbouring parts of the night, for good deeds remove evil deeds. That is a reminder to those who remember (Al-Qur’an, 11:114).” One of the people asked, “Prophet of God, does this refer to him in particular?” He replied, “No, it refers to all men.” Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Dharr said that the Prophet went out in winter time when the leaves were falling, and took two branches of a tree whose leaves began to fall. He then addressed Abu Dharr who replied, “At your service, Messenger of God.” He said, “A Muslim observes prayer for God’s sake and his sins fall from him as these leaves fall from this tree.” Ahmad transmitted it.

Zaid b Khalid al-Juhani reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone observes two prostrations without being negligent in them, God will forgive him his previous sins.” Ahmad transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr b. al-‘As said that the Prophet mentioned prayer one day saying, “If anyone keeps to it, it will be light, evidence and salvation for him on the day of resurrection; but if anyone does not keep to it, it will not be for him light, evidence, or salvation, and on the day of resurrection he will be associated with Qarun, Pharaoh, Haman, 1 and Ubayy b. Khalaf”2 1. These three are mentioned together in Al-Qur’an, 29:39; 40:24. A longer account is given of Qarun in 28:76 ff. Haman is mentioned also in 28:38. The Old Testament gives the story of Korah (Qarun) in Numbers, Chap. 16, and of Haman in Esther, Chaps, 3 ff. 2. Ubayy had been an enemy of the Prophet in Mecca. Ubayy had said he would kill him, but the Prophet replied that if God willed he would kill Ubayy. At the battle of Uhud (3 A H.) Ubayy received a scratch, and remembering the Prophet’s words, he felt sure he was going to die. He died at Sarif, about six miles from Mecca, as he was returning home. See the Cairo edition of as-Sira an-nabawiya by Ibn Hisham, 1355/1936, vol.3, p. 89. Ahmad, Darimi, and Baihaqi in Shu'ab al-lman transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. Shaqiq said that the companions of God’s Messenger did not consider the abandonment of any good deeds but prayer to be infidelity. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

My friend enjoined me thus, “Do not associate anything with God even if you are cut to pieces and burnt; do not abandon a prescribed prayer intentionally, for if anyone abandons it intentionally protection will not apply to him; and do not drink wine, for it is the key to every evil.” Ibn Majah transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The time of the noon prayer is when the sun passes the meridian and a man’s shadow is the same length as his height, so long as the time for the afternoon prayer has not come; the time for the afternoon prayer is as long as the sun has not become yellow; the time of the sunset prayer is as long as the twilight has not ended; the time of the night prayer is up to midnight; and the time of the morning prayer is from the appearance of dawn, as long as the sun has not risen, but when the sun rises refrain from prayer, for it rises between the horns of the devil.” Muslim transmitted it.

Buraida told of a man asking God’s Messenger about the time of prayer, to which he replied, “Pray with us these two,” meaning two days. When the sun passed the meridian he gave command to Bilal who uttered the call to prayer, then he commanded him and he made the announcement declaring that the time to begin the noon prayer had come. He gave him command and he made the announcement declaring that the time to being the afternoon prayer had come when the sun was high, white and clear. Then he gave him command and he made the announcement declaring that the time to begin the sunset prayer had come when the sun had set. Then he gave him command and he made the announcement declaring that the time to begin the night prayer had come when the twilight had ended. Then he gave him command and he made the announcement declaring that the time to begin the dawn prayer had come when the dawn appeared. Next day he commanded him to delay the noon prayer till the extreme heat had passed and he did so, and he allowed it to be delayed till the extreme heat had passed. He observed the afternoon prayer when the sun was high, delaying it beyond the time he had previously observed it. He observed the sunset prayer before the twilight had ended; he observed the night prayer when a third of the night had passed; and he observed the dawn prayer when there was clear daylight. Then asking where the man was who had enquired about the time of prayer and receiving from him a reply that he was present, he said, “The time for your prayer is within the limits of what you have seen.” Muslim transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Gabriel twice led me in prayer at the House (i.e. the Ka’ba). He prayed the noon prayer with me when the sun had passed the meridian to the extent of the thong of a sandal; he prayed the afternoon prayer with me when every thing’s shadow was as long as itself; he prayed the sunset prayer with me at the time when one who has been fasting breaks his fast; he prayed the night prayer with me when the twilight had ended; and he prayed the dawn prayer with me at the time when food and drink become forbidden to one who is fasting. On the following day he prayed the noon prayer with me when his shadow was as long as himself; he prayed the afternoon prayer with me when his shadow was twice as long as himself; he prayed the sunset prayer with me at the time when one who has been fasting breaks his fast; he prayed the night prayer with me when about a third of the night had passed; and he prayed the dawn prayer with me when there was clear daylight. Then turning to me he said, ‘Muhammad, this is the time observed by the prophets before you, and the time is anywhere between these two times.” Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi transmitted it.

“I heard Bashir b. Abu Mas'ud say that he heard Abu Mas'ud say that he heard God’s Messenger say, 'Gabriel came down and acted as my imam and I prayed along with him, then I prayed along with him, then I prayed along with him, then I prayed along with him, then I prayed along with him,’ reckoning with his fingers five times of prayer." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

the sunset prayer after the sun had set; the night prayer between the ending of the twilight and the passing of a third of the night (adding three times “if one lies down to sleep may his eye not sleep”); and the morning prayer when the stars were still visible and out in abundance. Malik transmitted it.

Ibn Mas'ud said that the extent of the shadow when God’s Messenger prayed the noon prayer was three to five feet in summer and five to seven feet in winter. Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

My father and I visited Abu Barza al-Aslami and my father asked him how God’s Messenger used to observe the prescribed prayer. He replied, “He used to pray the noon prayer (al-hajir), which you call the first, when the sun was past the meridian; he would pray the afternoon prayer, after which one of us would return to his dwelling in the outskirts of Medina while the sun was still bright; (I forget what he said about the sunset prayer); he liked to postpone the night prayer, which you call al-atama, objecting to sleeping before it or talking after it and he would turn away from the morning prayer when a man could recognise his neighbour, and he would recite from sixty to a hundred verses during it.” A version has, “He did not mind postponing the night prayer till a third of the night had passed; and he did not like sleeping before it, or talking after it.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

We asked Jabir b. ‘Abdallah about the Prophet’s observance of prayer and he said, “He used to pray the noon prayer in the midday heat; the afternoon prayer when the sun was bright; the sunset prayer when the sun had completely set; the night prayer early if many were present, but late if there were few; and the dawn prayer just before daybreak.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

Anas said, “When we prayed behind the Prophet at midday in summer we prostrated ourselves on our clothing to protect ourselves from the heat.” (Bukhari and Muslim, the wording being Bukhari’s.)

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “When the heat is severe, postpone the prayer till it is cooler.” A version by Bukhari from Abu Sa‘id has, “at noonday, for the violent heat comes from the bubbling over of Jahannam, and hell complained to its Lord saying, ‘My Lord I am being devoured by myself,' so He allowed it two exhalations one in winter and one in summer, the most severe heat and the most severe cold you experience.” (Bukhari and Muslim.) A version by Bukhari has, “The most severe heat you experience comes from its hot wind, and the most severe cold you experience comes from its intense cold.”

Anas said that God’s Messenger used to pray the afternoon prayer when the sun was high and bright, then one would go off to al-'Awali (Villages on high ground outside Medina) and get there while the sun was still high. Parts of al-‘Awali were four miles or thereabouts from Medina. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

he sits watching the sun, and when it becomes yellow and is between the horns of the devil, he rises and prays four rak'as quickly, mentioning God seldom during them.” Muslim transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Umar reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone misses the afternoon prayer, it is as though he had been cut off from his family and his property.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Buraida reported God's Messenger as saying, “If anyone abandons the afternoon prayer, his deeds are of no avail.” Bukhari transmitted it.

Rafi‘ b. Khadij said, “We used to observe the sunset prayer with God’s Messenger, then one of us would go away when it was still possible to see the distance of a bowshot.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

‘A'isha said that they used to pray the night prayer at any time after the ending of the twilight until a third of the night had passed. (Bukhari and Muslim)

She also said that God’s Messenger would pray the Morning Prayer, and the women would depart wrapped up in their woolen garments, being unrecognizable because of the darkness before dawn. (Bukhari and Muslim)

Qatada said on the authority of Anas that the Prophet and Zaid b Anas had a meal at daybreak, and when they finished their meal God’s prophet got up to pray and performed the prayer. On being asked how long it was between the end of their meal and their beginning to pray Anas replied that it was about os long as a man takes to recite fifty verses. Bukhari transmitted it.

God’s Messenger asked me, “How will you act when you are under rulers who make prayer a dead thing, or delay it beyond its proper time?” When I asked what he commanded me to do he replied, “Observe the prayer at its proper time, and if you can say it along with them do so, for it will be a supererogatory prayer for you.” Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone performs a rak'a of the Morning Prayer before sunrise, he has observed the Morning Prayer; and if anyone performs a rak'a of the afternoon prayer before sunset, he has observed the afternoon prayer.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He also reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If any of you performs a sajda of the afternoon prayer before sunset, he should complete his prayer; and if he is present at a sajda of the Morning Prayer before sunrise, he should complete his prayer.” Bukhari transmitted it.

Anas reported God's Messenger as saying, “If anyone forgets a stated prayer or oversleeps, expiation is made by observing it when he remembers it.” A version has “That is the only expiation for it.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Qatada reported God’s Messenger as saying, “There is no remissness in sleep, it is only when one is awake that there is remissness; so when any of you forgets a stated prayer or oversleeps, he should observe it when he remembers it, for God has said, ‘And observe the prayer for remembrance of Me’” (Al-Qur’an, 20:14). Muslim transmitted it.

prayer when its time comes, a funeral, and the marriage of an unmarried woman when she finds one of suitable class for her.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Umar reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The earliest time for prayer is what pleases God, and the latest time is what God allows as a concession.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Umm Farwa said that when asked what act was most excellent, the Prophet replied that it was prayer at the beginning of the proper period for it. Ahmad, Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it, and Tirmidhi said that the tradition is transmitted only from the traditions of ‘Abdallah b. ‘Umar al-‘Umari who is not considered by traditionists to be strong.

‘A’isha said that God’s Messenger did not pray any prayer at the last possible moment on two occasions during his whole life. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Abu Ayyub reported God's Messenger as saying, “My people will continue to prosper (or he said, to follow Islam), as long as they do not postpone the sunset prayer till the stars are not in abundance.” Abu Dawud transmitted it and Darimi transmitted it from al-‘Abbas.

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Were it not for causing distress to my people, I would command them to postpone the night prayer till a third or a half of the night had passed.” Ahmad, Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Mu'adh b, Jabal reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Observe this prayer when it is dark, for by it you have been made superior to all the peoples, no people having observed it before you”. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

An-Nu‘man b. Bashir said, “I am the one who is best informed of the time of this prayer, the last prayer of the evening. God’s Messenger used to observe it when the moon went down on its third night.” Abu Dawud and Darimi transmitted it.

Rafi' b. Khadij reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Observe Morning Prayer at dawn, for it is the practice most productive of reward.” Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Darimi transmitted it, but Nasa’i does not have “for it is the practice most productive of reward.”

Rafi‘ b. Khadij said, “We u.ed to pray the afternoon prayer with God’s Messenger, then a camel would be slaughtered, divided into ten portions, and cooked, and we would eat well-done meat before sunset.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

We waited one night in expectation of God’s Messenger for the last prayer of the evening, and he came out to us when a third of the night had passed, or later; we did not know whether he had been occupied with family business, or something else. When he came out he said, “You are waiting for a time of prayer for which the followers of no other religion wait, and were it not that it would impose a burden on my people, I would normally pray with them at this time.” He then gave orders to the mu'adhdhin who declared that the time for prayer had come, and then prayed. Muslim transmitted it.