Prayer

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «الصَّلَوَاتُ الْخَمْسُ وَالْجُمُعَةُ إِلَى الْجُمُعَةِ وَرَمَضَانُ إِلَى رَمَضَانَ مُكَفِّرَاتٌ لَمَّا بَيْنَهُنَّ إِذَا اجْتُنِبَتِ الْكَبَائِر» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

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.

وَعَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: " أَرَأَيْتُمْ لَوْ أَنَّ نَهْرًا بِبَابِ أَحَدِكُمْ يَغْتَسِلُ فِيهِ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ خَمْسًا هَلْ يَبْقَى مِنْ دَرَنِهِ شَيْءٌ؟ قَالُوا: لَا يَبْقَى مِنْ دَرَنِهِ شَيْءٌ. قَالَ: فَذَلِكَ مَثَلُ الصَّلَوَاتِ الْخَمْسِ يَمْحُو اللَّهُ بِهِنَّ الْخَطَايَا "

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.)

وَعَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ: إِنَّ رَجُلًا أَصَابَ مِنِ امْرَأَةٍ قُبْلَةً فَأَتَى النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَأَخْبَرَهُ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى: (وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ طَرَفَيِ النَّهَارِ وَزُلَفًا مِنَ اللَّيْل إِن الْحَسَنَات يذْهبن السَّيِّئَات) فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَلِي هَذَا؟ قَالَ: «لِجَمِيعِ أُمَّتِي كُلِّهِمْ» . وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ: «لِمَنْ عَمِلَ بِهَا مِنْ أُمَّتِي»

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.)

وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ: جَاءَ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي أَصَبْتُ حَدًّا فأقمه عَليّ قَالَ وَلم يسْأَله عَنهُ قَالَ وَحَضَرَتِ الصَّلَاةُ فَصَلَّى مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَلَمَّا قَضَى النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الصَّلَاة قَامَ إِلَيْهِ الرَّجُلُ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي أَصَبْتُ حَدًّا فأقم فِي كتاب الله قَالَ أَلَيْسَ قَدْ صَلَّيْتَ مَعَنَا قَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ غَفَرَ لَكَ ذَنْبَكَ أَو قَالَ حدك "

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.)

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَي الْأَعْمَال أحب إِلَى الله قَالَ: «الصَّلَاةُ لِوَقْتِهَا» قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَيُّ قَالَ: «بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ» قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَيُّ قَالَ: «الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ» قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي بِهِنَّ وَلَوِ استزدته لزادني

Ibn Mas'ud said:

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.)

وَعَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «بَيْنَ الْعَبْدِ وَبَيْنَ الْكُفْرِ ترك الصَّلَاة» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

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.

عَنْ عُبَادَةَ بْنِ الصَّامِتِ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «خَمْسُ صَلَوَاتٍ افْتَرَضَهُنَّ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى مَنْ أَحْسَنَ وُضُوءَهُنَّ وَصَلَّاهُنَّ لوقتهن وَأتم ركوعهن خشوعهن كَانَ لَهُ عَلَى اللَّهِ عَهْدٌ أَنْ يَغْفِرَ لَهُ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَفْعَلْ فَلَيْسَ لَهُ عَلَى اللَّهِ عَهْدٌ إِنْ شَاءَ غَفَرَ لَهُ وَإِنْ شَاءَ عَذَّبَهُ» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ وَرَوَى مَالك وَالنَّسَائِيّ نَحوه

‘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.

وَعَنْ أَبِي أُمَامَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «صَلُّوا خَمْسَكُمْ وَصُومُوا شَهْرَكُمْ وَأَدُّوا زَكَاةَ أَمْوَالِكُمْ وَأَطِيعُوا ذَا أَمْرِكُمْ تدْخلُوا جنَّة ربكُم» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمد وَالتِّرْمِذِيّ

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.

وَعَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ شُعَيْبٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ جَدِّهِ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مُرُوا أَوْلَادَكُمْ بِالصَّلَاةِ وَهُمْ أَبْنَاءُ سَبْعِ سِنِينَ وَاضْرِبُوهُمْ عَلَيْهَا وَهُمْ أَبْنَاءُ عَشْرٍ سِنِين وَفَرِّقُوا بَيْنَهُمْ فِي الْمَضَاجِعِ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَكَذَا رَوَاهُ فِي شرح السّنة عَنهُ وَفِي المصابيح عَن سُبْرَة بن معبد

‘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.

وَعَنْ بُرَيْدَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «الْعَهْدُ الَّذِي بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهُمْ الصَّلَاةُ فَمَنْ تَرَكَهَا فَقَدْ كَفَرَ» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ وَالتِّرْمِذِيّ وَالنَّسَائِيّ وَابْن مَاجَه

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.

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ: جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي عَالَجْتُ امْرَأَةً فِي أَقْصَى الْمَدِينَةِ وَإِنِّي أَصَبْتُ مِنْهَا مَا دُونَ أَنْ أَمَسَّهَا فَأَنَا هَذَا فَاقْضِ فِيَّ مَا شِئْتَ. فَقَالَ عُمَرَ لَقَدْ سَتَرَكَ اللَّهُ لَو سترت نَفْسِكَ. قَالَ وَلَمْ يَرُدَّ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَلَيْهِ شَيْئًا فَقَامَ الرَّجُلُ فَانْطَلَقَ فَأَتْبَعَهُ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ رَجُلًا فَدَعَاهُ وتلا عَلَيْهِ هَذِه الْآيَة (أقِم الصَّلَاةَ طَرَفَيِ النَّهَارِ وَزُلَفًا مِنَ اللَّيْلِ إِنَّ الْحَسَنَات يذْهبن السَّيِّئَات ذَلِك ذكرى لِلذَّاكِرِينَ) فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ هَذَا لَهُ خَاصَّة قَالَ: «بل للنَّاس كَافَّة» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

‘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.

وَعَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: خَرَجَ زَمَنَ الشِّتَاءِ وَالْوَرَقُ يَتَهَافَتُ فَأَخَذَ بِغُصْنَيْنِ مِنْ شَجَرَةٍ قَالَ فَجَعَلَ ذَلِكَ الْوَرَقُ يَتَهَافَتُ قَالَ فَقَالَ: «يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ» قُلْتُ لَبَّيْكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ: «إِنَّ العَبْد الْمُسلم ليصل الصَّلَاة يُرِيد بهَا وَجه الله فتهافت عَنهُ ذنُوبه كَمَا يتهافت هَذَا الْوَرَقُ عَنْ هَذِهِ الشَّجَرَةِ» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ

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.

وَعَن زيد بن خَالِد الْجُهَنِيِّ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ صَلَّى سَجْدَتَيْنِ لَا يَسْهُو فِيهِمَا غَفَرَ اللَّهُ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ

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.

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: أَنَّهُ ذَكَرَ الصَّلَاةَ يَوْمًا فَقَالَ: «مَنْ حَافَظَ عَلَيْهَا كَانَتْ لَهُ نُورًا وَبُرْهَانًا وَنَجَاةً يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَمن لم يحافظ عَلَيْهَا لم يكن لَهُ نور وَلَا برهَان وَلَا نجاة وَكَانَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ مَعَ قَارُونَ وَفِرْعَوْنَ وَهَامَانَ وَأُبَيِّ بْنِ خَلَفٍ» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ وَالدَّارِمِيُّ وَالْبَيْهَقِيُّ فِي شُعَبِ الْإِيمَانِ

‘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.

وَعَن عبد الله بن شَقِيق قَالَ: كَانَ أَصْحَابُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَا يَرَوْنَ شَيْئًا مِنَ الْأَعْمَالِ تَركه كفر غير الصَّلَاة. رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ

‘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.

وَعَن أبي الدَّرْدَاء قَالَ: أَوْصَانِي خَلِيلِي أَنْ لَا تُشْرِكَ بِاللَّهِ شَيْئًا وَإِنْ قُطِّعْتَ وَحُرِّقْتَ وَلَا تَتْرُكْ صَلَاةً مَكْتُوبَة مُتَعَمدا فَمن تَركهَا مُتَعَمدا فقد بَرِئت مِنْهُ الذِّمَّةُ وَلَا تَشْرَبِ الْخَمْرَ فَإِنَّهَا مِفْتَاحُ كل شَرّ. رَوَاهُ ابْن مَاجَه

Abu Darda’ said:

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.

عَن عبد اللَّهِ ابْنِ عَمْرٍو قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «وَقْتُ الظُّهْرِ إِذَا زَالَتِ الشَّمْسُ وَكَانَ ظِلُّ الرَّجُلِ كَطُولِهِ مَا لَمْ يَحْضُرِ الْعَصْرُ وَوَقْتُ الْعَصْرِ مَا لَمْ تَصْفَرَّ الشَّمْسُ وَوَقْتُ صَلَاةِ الْمَغْرِبِ مَا لَمْ يَغِبِ الشَّفَقُ وَوَقْتُ صَلَاةِ الْعِشَاءِ إِلَى نِصْفِ اللَّيْلِ الْأَوْسَطِ وَوَقْتُ صَلَاةِ الصُّبْحِ مِنْ طُلُوعِ الْفَجْرِ مَا لَمْ تَطْلُعِ الشَّمْسُ فَإِذَا طَلَعَتِ الشَّمْسُ فَأَمْسِكْ عَنِ الصَّلَاة فَإِنَّهَا تطلع بَين قَرْني شَيْطَان» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

‘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.

وَعَن بُرَيْدَة قَالَ: أَنَّ رَجُلًا سَأَلَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنْ وَقْتِ الصَّلَاةِ فَقَالَ لَهُ: «صَلِّ مَعَنَا هَذَيْنِ» يَعْنِي الْيَوْمَيْنِ فَلَمَّا زَالَتِ الشَّمْسُ أَمَرَ بِلَالًا فَأَذَّنَ ثُمَّ أَمَرَهُ فَأَقَامَ الظُّهْرَ ثُمَّ أَمَرَهُ فَأَقَامَ الْعَصْرَ وَالشَّمْسُ مُرْتَفِعَةٌ بَيْضَاءُ نَقِيَّةٌ ثُمَّ أَمَرَهُ فَأَقَامَ الْمَغْرِبَ حِينَ غَابَتِ الشَّمْسُ ثُمَّ أَمَرَهُ فَأَقَامَ الْعِشَاءَ حِينَ غَابَ الشَّفَقُ ثُمَّ أَمَرَهُ فَأَقَامَ الْفَجْرَ حِينَ طَلَعَ الْفَجْرُ فَلَمَّا أَنْ كَانَ الْيَوْمُ الثَّانِي أَمَرَهُ فَأَبْرَدَ بِالظُّهْرِ فَأَبْرَدَ بِهَا فَأَنْعَمَ أَنْ يُبْرِدَ بِهَا وَصَلَّى الْعَصْرَ وَالشَّمْسُ مُرْتَفِعَةٌ أَخَّرَهَا فَوْقَ الَّذِي كَانَ وَصَلَّى الْمَغْرِبَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَغِيبَ الشَّفَقُ وَصَلَّى الْعِشَاءَ بَعْدَمَا ذَهَبَ ثُلُثُ اللَّيْلِ وَصَلَّى الْفَجْرَ فَأَسْفَرَ بِهَا ثُمَّ قَالَ أَيْنَ السَّائِلُ عَنْ وَقْتِ الصَّلَاةِ فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ أَنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ: «وَقْتُ صَلَاتكُمْ بَين مَا رَأَيْتُمْ» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

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.

عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «أَمَّنِي جِبْرِيلُ عِنْدَ الْبَيْتِ مَرَّتَيْنِ فَصَلَّى بِيَ الظُّهْرَ حِينَ زَالَتِ الشَّمْسُ وَكَانَتْ قَدْرَ الشِّرَاكِ وَصَلَّى بِيَ الْعَصْرَ حِين كَانَ ظلّ كل شَيْء مثله وَصلى بِي يَعْنِي الْمغرب حِين أفطر الصَّائِم وَصلى بِي الْعشَاء حِينَ غَابَ الشَّفَقُ وَصَلَّى بِيَ الْفَجْرَ حِينَ حَرُمَ الطَّعَامُ وَالشَّرَابُ عَلَى الصَّائِمِ فَلَمَّا كَانَ الْغَدُ صَلَّى بِيَ الظُّهْرَ حِينَ كَانَ ظِلُّهُ مِثْلَهُ وَصَلَّى بِيَ الْعَصْرَ حِينَ كَانَ ظِلُّهُ مِثْلَيْهِ وَصَلَّى بِيَ الْمَغْرِبَ حِينَ أَفْطَرَ الصَّائِمُ وَصَلَّى بِيَ الْعِشَاءَ إِلَى ثُلُثِ اللَّيْلِ وَصَلَّى بِيَ الْفَجْرَ فَأَسَفَرَ ثُمَّ الْتَفَتَ إِلَيَّ فَقَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ هَذَا وَقْتُ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ وَالْوَقْتُ مَا بَيْنَ هَذَيْنِ الْوَقْتَيْنِ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد وَالتِّرْمِذِيّ

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.

وَعَن ابْنِ شِهَابٍ أَنَّ عُمَرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ أَخَّرَ الْعَصْرَ شَيْئًا فَقَالَ لَهُ عُرْوَةُ: أَمَا إِنَّ جِبْرِيلَ قَدْ نَزَلَ فَصَلَّى أَمَامَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ لَهُ عُمَرُ: اعْلَمْ مَا تَقُولُ يَا عُرْوَةُ فَقَالَ: سَمِعْتُ بَشِيرَ بْنَ أَبِي مَسْعُودٍ يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا مَسْعُودٍ يَقُولُ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «نَزَلَ جِبْرِيلُ فَأَمَّنِي فَصَلَّيْتُ مَعَهُ ثُمَّ صَلَّيْتُ مَعَهُ ثُمَّ صَلَّيْتُ مَعَهُ ثُمَّ صَلَّيْتُ مَعَهُ ثُمَّ صَلَّيْتُ مَعَهُ» يحْسب بأصابعه خمس صلوَات

Ibn Shihab said that ‘Umar b. ‘Abd al-‘Aziz postponed the afternoon prayer somewhat and 'Urwa said to him, “Gabriel has come down and prayed in front of God’s Messenger.” So ‘Umar said to him, “Be sure of what you are saying, ‘Urwa.” He replied:

“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.)

وَعَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ: أَنَّهُ كَتَبَ إِلَى عُمَّالِهِ إِنَّ أَهَمَّ أُمُورِكُمْ عِنْدِي الصَّلَاة فَمن حَفِظَهَا وَحَافَظَ عَلَيْهَا حَفِظَ دِينَهُ وَمَنْ ضَيَّعَهَا فَهُوَ لِمَا سِوَاهَا أَضْيَعُ ثُمَّ كَتَبَ أَنْ صلوا الظّهْر إِذا كَانَ الْفَيْءُ ذِرَاعًا إِلَى أَنْ يَكُونَ ظِلُّ أَحَدِكُمْ مِثْلَهُ وَالْعَصْرَ وَالشَّمْسُ مُرْتَفِعَةٌ بَيْضَاءُ نَقِيَّةٌ قَدْرَ مَا يَسِيرُ الرَّاكِبُ فَرْسَخَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلَاثَةً قبل مغيب الشَّمْس وَالْمغْرب إِذا غربت الشَّمْسُ وَالْعِشَاءَ إِذَا غَابَ الشَّفَقُ إِلَى ثُلُثِ اللَّيْلِ فَمَنْ نَامَ فَلَا نَامَتْ عَيْنُهُ فَمَنْ نَامَ فَلَا نَامَتْ عَيْنُهُ فَمَنْ نَامَ فَلَا نَامَتْ عَيْنُهُ وَالصُّبْحَ وَالنُّجُومُ بَادِيَةٌ مُشْتَبِكَةٌ. رَوَاهُ مَالك

It is told of ‘Umar b. al-Khattab that he wrote to his governors, “The most important matter which concerns you in my opinion is prayer; whoever observes it and is attentive to it will guard his religion, but whoever neglects it will be more neglectful of other things." Thereafter he wrote telling them to observe the moon prayer in the period when the shade was a cubit long up to the time when a man’s shadow was as long as himself; the afternoon prayer when the sun was high, white and clear, when there was still time for a rider to go two or three leagues before sunset:

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.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ: كَانَ قَدْرُ صَلَاةِ رَسُول الله صلى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسلم الظّهْر فِي الصَّيْفِ ثَلَاثَةَ أَقْدَامٍ إِلَى خَمْسَةِ أَقْدَامٍ وَفِي الشِّتَاءِ خَمْسَةَ أَقْدَامٍ إِلَى سَبْعَةِ أَقْدَامٍ. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد وَالنَّسَائِيّ

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.

عَنْ سَيَّارِ بْنِ سَلَامَةَ قَالَ: دَخَلْتُ أَنَا وَأَبِي عَلَى أَبِي بَرْزَةَ الْأَسْلَمِيِّ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبِي كَيْفَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُصَلِّي الْمَكْتُوبَةَ فَقَالَ كَانَ يُصَلِّي الْهَجِيرَ الَّتِي تَدْعُونَهَا الْأُولَى حِينَ تَدْحَضُ الشَّمْسُ وَيُصلي الْعَصْر ثُمَّ يَرْجِعُ أَحَدُنَا إِلَى رَحْلِهِ فِي أَقْصَى الْمَدِينَةِ وَالشَّمْسُ حَيَّةٌ وَنَسِيتُ مَا قَالَ فِي الْمغرب وَكَانَ يسْتَحبّ أَن يُؤَخر الْعشَاء الَّتِي تَدْعُونَهَا الْعَتَمَةَ وَكَانَ يَكْرَهُ النَّوْمَ قَبْلَهَا والْحَدِيث بعْدهَا وَكَانَ يَنْفَتِل مِنْ صَلَاةِ الْغَدَاةِ حِينَ يَعْرِفُ الرَّجُلُ جَلِيسَهُ وَيَقْرَأُ بِالسِتِّينَ إِلَى الْمِائَةِ. وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ: وَلَا يُبَالِي بِتَأْخِيرِ الْعِشَاءِ إِلَى ثُلُثِ اللَّيْلِ وَلَا يُحِبُّ النَّوْمَ قَبْلَهَا وَالْحَدِيثَ بَعْدَهَا

Sayyar b. Salama said:

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.)

وَعَن مُحَمَّد بن عَمْرو هُوَ ابْن الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ قَالَ: سَأَلْنَا جَابِرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ صَلَاةِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ كَانَ يُصَلِّي الظُّهْرَ بِالْهَاجِرَةِ وَالْعَصْرَ وَالشَّمْسُ حَيَّةٌ وَالْمَغْرِبَ إِذَا وَجَبَتْ وَالْعِشَاءَ إِذَا كَثُرَ النَّاسُ عَجَّلَ وَإِذَا قَلُّوا أَخَّرَ وَالصُّبْح بِغَلَس

Muhammad b. ‘Amr b. al-Hasan b. ‘Ali said:

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)

وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ: كُنَّا إِذَا صَلَّيْنَا خَلْفَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِالظَّهَائِرِ سَجَدْنَا على ثيابنا اتقاء الْحر

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.)