Of Prayers: Selections from the Hadith, Part 1 of 2

Chapter 9 Institution of Prayer

“Abū Hurairah reported that He heard the Messenger, Peace and Blessings of Allāh be upon Him, say: ‘Tell me if there is a stream at the door of one of you, in which he bathes five times every day, what do thou say, will it leave anything of his dirt?’ They said, It would not leave anything of his dirt. He said: ‘This is the likeness of the five prayers, with which Allāh blots out (all) faults.’ Anas reported, The Prophet, Peace and Blessings of Allāh be upon Him, said: ‘When one of you says prayers, he holds confidential [communication] with his Lord.’”

“Ibn ‘Abbās reported that The Prophet, Peace and Blessings of Allāh be upon Him, said prayers in Madīnah seven (rak’ahs) and eight (rak’ahs) Zuhr and ‘Asr and Maghrib and ‘Ishā'. Fadzālah said, ‘The Messenger of Allāh, Peace and Blessings of Allāh be upon Him, taught me, and there was in what He taught me (the command). ‘And be mindful of the five prayers.’ He said, I said, These hours are such that I have (other) business to attend to therein, so command me something comprehensive so that when I have done it, it should suffice me. He said: ‘Be mindful of the two ‘Asr prayers.’ This was not known in our idiom. So I said, what are the two ‘Asr prayers? He said: ‘A prayer before the rising of the sun and a prayer before the setting of it.’”

“Abū Qatādah said, While we were saying our prayers with the Prophet, Peace and Blessings of Allāh be upon Him, He suddenly heard noise of (running) people. When He finished the prayer, He said, ‘What was the matter with you?’ They said, ‘We were hastening for the prayer.’ He said: ‘Do not do so; when you come to prayer, you should be perfectly calm; then whatever part of it you overtake, say (it with the imām), and complete the part that has escaped you.’ Ibn ‘Umar said, ‘The Prophet, Peace and Blessings of Allāh be upon Him, said ‘When one of you is taking food, let him not hasten until he satisfies his need, even though the iqāma for prayer has been recited.’ […]”