Riyad as-Salihin

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Arrange the rows in order, stand shoulder to shoulder, close the gaps, be accommodating to your brothers, and do not leave gaps for Satan. Whoever joins up a row, he will be joined to Allah (i.e., to the Mercy of Allah); and whoever cuts off a row, he will be cut off from Allah (i.e., from His Mercy).".

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Stand close together in your rows, keep nearer to one another, and put your necks in line, for by Him in Whose Hands my soul is, I see the Satan entering through the opening in the row like Al- hadhaf (i.e., a type of small black sheep found in Yemen).".

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Fill (complete) the first row, then the one next to it; and if there is any deficiency (incompleteness), it should be in the last row.".

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Allah and His angels invoke blessings upon those who are on the right side of the rows.".

Whenever we performed Salat behind the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), we liked to be on his right side so that his face might turn towards us (at the end of the Salat). One day, I heard Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) supplicating, "O my Rubb! Shield me from Your Torment on the Day when You will gather (or said, 'resurrect') Your slaves.".

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Let the Imam stand in the middle (so that those praying behind him should be standing both on his right and his left) and close the gaps.".

I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying, "A house will be built in Jannah for every Muslim who offers twelve Rak'ah of optional Salat other than the obligatory Salat in a day and a night (to seek the Pleasure of Allah).".

I performed along with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) two Rak'ah of optional prayers before Zuhr and two after the Zuhr (noon prayer), and two after the Friday prayer, and two after the Maghrib (evening) prayer, and two after the 'Isha' (night) prayer.".

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "There is a Salat (prayer) between every Adhan and Iqamah; there is a Salat between every Adhan and Iqamah." (While saying the same for the) third time (he (ﷺ) added), "It is for him who desires (to perform it).".

The Prophet (ﷺ) never omitted four Rak'ah prayer before the Zuhr prayer and two Rak'ah prayers before dawn (Fajr) prayer..

The Prophet (ﷺ) did not attach more importance to any Nawafil prayer than the two Rak'ah of prayer before dawn (Fajr) prayer..

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The two Rak'ah before the dawn (Fajr) prayer are better than this world and all it contains."Another narration goes: "The two Rak'ah before the dawn (Fajr) prayer are dearer to me than the whole world."

I went to inform the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) about the time of the dawn (Fajr) prayer, and 'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) kept me busy and began to ask me about something till the day grew bright. Then I got up and informed the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) of the time of Salat. I informed him again but he did not came out immediately to lead As- Salat. When he came out, he led As-Salat. I said to him: 'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) kept me busy and thus diverted my attention by asking about something and the morning grew bright. You also came out late. Upon that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "I was engaged in performing two Rak'ah of Fajr prayer." Bilal (May Allah be pleased with him)said: "O Messenger of Allah! You delayed As-Salat so long as the morning grew bright." He (ﷺ) replied, "Even if the morning had become brighter than it had, I would have performed two Rak'ah of prayer in an excellent manner.".

The Prophet (ﷺ) used to perform two Rak'ah short prayer between the Adhan (call to prayer) and the Iqamah of the dawn (Fajr) prayers.In the narration of Muslim, 'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) said: When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to hear the Adhan (of Fajr prayer) he would perform two supererogatory Rak'ah prayer and would make them short.

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to perform two short Rak'ah prayer when it was dawn and the Mu'adhdhin had called Adhan (for the Fajr prayer)..

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to perform his optional night prayers at night, two Rak'ah followed by two Rak'ah, and at the end he would conclude with an odd Rak'ah (Witr). Then he would perform two Rak'ah prayer before the dawn (Fajr) prayer after hearing the Adhan, and he would make them so brief as if he could hear the Iqamah being called..

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to recite during the two Rak'ah of Fajr prayer: "Say (O Muslims): We believe in Allah and that which has been sent down to us..." (2:136) which is in Surat Al-Baqarah in the first Rak'ah and the Verse: "We believe in Allah, and bear witness that we are Muslims (i.e., we submit to Allah." (3:52) in the second Rak'ah.According to another narration, he (ﷺ) recited from Surat Al-'Imran the Verses: "Come to a word which is just between us and you..." (3:64)..

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) recited in the two supererogatory Rak'ah of the Fajr prayer Surat Al-Kafirun (No. 109) .

I observed the Prophet (ﷺ) for one month reciting in the two supererogatory Rak'ah of the Fajr prayer Surat Al-Kafirun (No. 109) .

When the Prophet (ﷺ) had performed two Rak'ah before the Fajr prayer, he would lie down on his right side..

When the Prophet (ﷺ) finished the 'Isha prayer, he would perform eleven Rak'ah before the Fajr prayer, concluding each two Rak'ah with Taslim (i.e., saying As-Salamu 'Alaikum) and observing the Witr (odd) at the end. When the Mu'adhdhin finished proclaiming Adhan for the Fajr prayer and it was dawn, he would rise and perform two short Rak'ah, and then would lie down on his right side till the Mu'adhdhin came to (inform) him about Iqamah..

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "When anyone of you has performed two of Sunnah before the Fajr prayer, he should lie down on his right side.".

I performed with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) two Rak'ah before and two after Zuhr prayers..

The Prophet (ﷺ) never omitted four Rak'ah supererogatory prayer before Zuhr prayers..

Whenever the Prophet (ﷺ) stayed in my house, he would perform four Rak'ah (supererogatory prayer) before Zuhr prayer. Then he would go out and lead Salat. He (ﷺ) would then come back and perform two Rak'ah (supererogatory prayer). He would lead the Maghrib prayer and come back and perform two Rak'ah (supererogatory prayer). When he (ﷺ) had led the 'Isha' prayer, he would enter the house and perform two Rak'ah (supererogatory prayer).

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Whoever observes the practice of performing four Rak'ah before Zuhr prayer and four after the Zuhr prayer, Allah will shield him against the Fire (of Hell)..

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to perform four Rak'ah prayer after the declining of the sun before Zuhr prayer and would say, "This is an hour at which the gates of heaven are opened, and I like that my good deeds should rise to heaven at that time.".

If the Prophet (ﷺ) could not perform four Rak'ah before Zuhr prayer, he would perform them after it (i.e., after the obligatory prayer)..

The Prophet (ﷺ) used to perform four Rak'ah before the 'Asr prayer, separating them with Taslim (i.e., offering blessings) on the favourite angels who are near Allah's proximity and the Muslims and the believers who come after them..

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "May Allah have mercy on a man who performs four Rak'ah before the 'Asr prayer.".

The Prophet (ﷺ) used to perform two Rak'ah before the 'Asr prayer..

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Perform two Rak'ah before Maghrib prayer." He (ﷺ) repeated it twice; when repeating it for the third time he added: "He who may so wish.".

I saw the principal Companions of Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) rushing to the pillars (of the mosque) to perform two Rak'ah prayers behind them before the Maghrib prayer..

In the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), we used to perform two Rak'ah (optional prayer) after sunset before the Maghrib prayer. It was asked: "Did Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) perform them?" He replied: "He saw us performing it, but he neither ordered us to perform them nor did he forbid us from doing so.".

When we were in Al-Madinah, the moment the Mu'adhdhin finished the Adhan of the Maghrib prayer, the people hastened to the pillars of the mosque and performed two Rak'ah prayer behind them. A stranger coming into the mosque would think that the obligatory prayer had already been performed because of the number of people performing them..

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "If anyone of you performs the Friday prayer, he should perform four Rak'ah (Sunnah) after it.".

The Prophet (ﷺ) would not perform any Salat (in the mosque) after the Friday prayer till he had returned to his house. He would then perform two Rak'ah there..

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "O people! perform your (voluntary) Salat (prayers) in your homes because the best Salat of a man is the one he performs at home, except the obligatory Salat.".

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Observe part of the .

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "When you have finished your (Fard) Salat (prayer) in the mosque, you should observe some of your (Sunnah and Nawafil) Salat at home; Allah will bless your homes because of your Salat (in your homes)."

"Yes, I performed the Friday prayer along with him in the enclosure (Maqsurah), and when the Imam concluded the Salat with Taslim, I stood up in my place and performed the Sunnah prayer. When Mu'awiyah went home, he sent for me (and when I came) he said: "Never do again what you have done. When you have observed the Friday prayer, you must not start another Sunnah prayer till you have spoken to some one or have shifted your place; because the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) ordered us not to follow up the congregational Salat with any other Salat until we have talked (to some one) or moved from the place.".

The Witr prayer is not obligatory as the prescribed Salat (prayers), but the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) observed it as his regular practice (Sunnah). He (ﷺ) said, "Allah is Witr (single, odd) and loves what is Witr. So perform Witr prayer. O followers of Qur'an, observe Witr (prayer).".

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) observed Witr prayer in every part of night at the beginning, middle and at the last part. He (ﷺ), however, would finish his Witr prayer before dawn..

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Make Witr prayer the last of your Salat at night.".

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Perform Witr prayer before dawn.".

The Prophet (ﷺ) used to perform his voluntary prayer at night (i.e., Tahajjud prayer) while she was sleeping in front of him; and when the Witr prayer was yet to be observed, he would awaken her to perform her Witr prayer..

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Hasten to perform the Witr prayer before dawn.".

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "He who apprehends that he may not get up in the later part of the night, should observe the Witr prayer in the first part of it; and he who is certain to get up in the last part of it, he should observe Witr at the end of the night, because Salat at the end of the night is attended (by the angels), and that is better.".

My Khalil (the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)) directed me to fast three days of each month, and to observe two Rak'ah Duha (optional prayer) at forenoon, and to perform the Witr prayer before going to bed..

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "In the morning, charity is due on every joint bone of the body of everyone of you. Every utterance of Allah's Glorification (i.e., saying Subhan Allah) is an act of charity, and every utterance of His Praise (i.e., saying Al-hamdu lillah) is an act of charity and every utterance of declaration of His Greatness (i.e., saying La ilaha illAllah) is an act of charity; and enjoining M'aruf (good) is an act of charity, and forbidding Munkar (evil) is an act of charity, and two Rak'ah Duha prayers which one performs in the forenoon is equal to all this (in reward).".