CHAPTER 1. The superiority of offering As-Salat (the prayer) in the mosque of Makka (Al-Masjid
Al-Haram), and Al-MadIna (i.e. the mosque of the Prophet)

2:281 Narrated by Quza’a

I heard Abu Said saying four words. He said, “I heard the Prophet (saying the following narrative).” He had participated in twelve holy battles with the Prophet. Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, “Do not set out on a journey except for three Mosques i.e. Al-Masjid-AI-Haram, the Mosque of Allah’s Apostle , and the Mosque of Al-Aqsa, (Mosque of Jerusalem).”

Narrated Abü Huraira

Allah’s Messenger said, “One Salât (prayer) in my mosque is better than one thousand prayers in any other mosque except Al-Masjid Al-Harâm.”

CHAPTER 2. Masjid Qubâ’ (the mosque of Qubâ’).

2:283 Narrated by Nafi’

Ibn ‘Umar never offered the Duha prayer except on two occasions: (1) Whenever he reached Mecca; and he always used to reach Mecca in the forenoon. He would perform Tawaf round the Ka’ba and then offer two Rakat at the rear of Maqam Ibrahim. (2) Whenever he visited Quba, for he used to visit it every Saturday. When he entered the Mosque, he disliked to leave it without offering a prayer. Ibn ‘Umar narrated that Allah’s Apostle used to visit the Mosque of Quba (sometime) walking and (sometime) riding. And he (i.e. Ibn ‘Umar) used to say, “I do only what my companions used to do and I don’t forbid anybody to pray at any time during the day or night except that one should not intend to pray at sunrise or sunset.”

CHAPTER 3. The superiority of the place between the pulpit and the grave (of the Prophet)

2:287 Narrated by Abu Huraira

The Prophet said, “Between my house and my pulpit there is a garden of the gardens of Paradise, and my pulpit is on my fountain tank (i.e. Al-Kauthar).”

THE BOOK FOR DEALING WITH ACTIONS IN SALAT (THE PRAYER) [which are irrelevant to the Salât (prayer)]

CHAPTER 1. What speech is prohibited during As-Salât (the prayer).

2:290 Narrated by ‘Abdullah

We used to greet the Prophet while he was praying and he used to answer our greetings. When we returned from AnNajashi (the ruler of Ethiopia), we greeted him, but he did not answer us (during the prayer) and (after finishing the prayer) he said, “In the prayer one is occupied (with a more serious matter).”

2:292 Narrated by Zaid bin Arqam

In the life-time of the Prophet we used to speak while praying, and one of us would tell his needs to his companions, till the verse, ‘Guard strictly your prayers (2.238) was revealed. After that we were ordered to remain silent while praying.

CHAPTER 2. The levelling of small stones during As-Salât (the prayer) (in front of the forehead).

2:298 Narrated by Mu’aiqib

The Prophet talked about a man leveling the earth on prostrating, and said, “If you have to do so, then do it once.”

CHAPTER 3. If an animal runs away while one is in As-Salât (the prayer).

2:302 Narrated by Al-Azraq bin Qais

We were at Al-Ahwaz fighting the AlHaruriya (tribe). While I was at the bank of a river a man was praying and the reins of his animal were in his hands and the animal was struggling and he was following the animal. (Shu’ba, a sub-narrator, said that man was Abu Barza al-Aslaml). A man from the Khawarij said, “O Allah! Be harsh to this sheik.” And when the sheik (Abu Barza) finished his prayer, he said, “I heard your remark. No doubt, I participated with Allah’s Apostle in six or seven or eight holy battles and saw his leniency, and no doubt, I would rather retain my animal than let it return to its stable, as it would cause me much trouble. “

2:303 Narrated by ‘Aisha

Once the sun eclipsed and Allah’s Apostle stood up for the prayer and recited a very long Sura and when bowed for a long while and then raised his head and started reciting another Sura. Then he bowed, and after finishing, he prostrated and did the same in the second Raka and then said, “These (lunar and solar eclipses) are two of the signs of Allah and if you see them, pray till the eclipse is over. No doubt, while standing at this place I saw everything promised to me by Allah and I saw (Paradise) and I wanted to pluck a bunch (of grapes) therefrom, at the time when you saw me stepping forward. No doubt, I saw Hell with its different parts destroying each other when you saw me retreating and in it I saw ‘Amr bin Luhai who started the tradition of freeing animals (set them free) in the name of idols.”

CHAPTER 4. One should not return greetings during As-Salât (the prayer).

2:308 Narrated by Jabir bin ‘Abdullah

Allah’s Apostle sent me for some job and when I had finished it I returned and came to the Prophet and greeted him but he did not return my greeting. So I felt so sorry that only Allah knows it and I said to myself,, ‘Perhaps Allah’s Apostle is angry because I did not come quickly, then again I greeted him but he did not reply. I felt even more sorry than I did the first time. Again I greeted him and he returned the greeting and said, “The thing which prevented me from returning the greeting was that I was praying.” And at that time he was on his Rahila and his face was not towards the Qibla.

CHAPTER 5. Keeping the hands on the hips during As-Salât (the prayers).

2:310 Narrated by Abu Huraira

It was forbidden to keep the hands on the hips during the prayer. (This is narrated by Abu Huraira from the Prophet.)

THE BOOK OF PROSTRATIONS IN (CASE OF) SAW (FORGETFULNESS)

CHAPTER 1. If one offers five Rak’at (instead of four).

2:317 Narrated by Narrated’ Abdullah

Once Allah’s Apostle offered five Rakat in the Zuhr prayer, and somebody asked him whether there was some increase in the prayer. Allah’s Apostle said, “What is that?” He said, “You have offered five Rakat.” So Allah’s Apostle performed two prostrations of Sahu after Taslim.

CHAPTER 2. If a person speaks to a person offering Salat (prayer), and the latter beckons with his hand and listens.

2:325 Narrated by Kuraib

I was sent to Aisha by Ibn Abbas, Al-Miswar bin Makhrama and ‘Abdur-Rahman bin Azhar . They told me to greet her on their behalf and to ask her about the offering of the two Rakat after the ‘Asr prayer and to say to her, “We were informed that you offer those two Rakat and we were told that the Prophet had forbidden offering them.” Ibn Abbas said, “I along with ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab used to beat the people whenever they offered them.” I went to Aisha and told her that message. ‘Aisha said, “Go and ask Um Salama about them.” So I returned and informed them about her statement. They then told me to go to Um Salama with the same question with which t sent me to ‘Aisha. Um Salama replied, “I heard the Prophet forbidding them. Later I saw him offering them immediately after he prayed the ‘Asr prayer. He then entered my house at a time when some of the Ansari women from the tribe of Bani Haram were sitting with me, so I sent my slave girl to him having said to her, ‘Stand beside him and tell him that Um Salama says to you, “O Allah’s Apostle! I have heard you forbidding the offering of these (two Rakat after the ‘Asr prayer) but I have seen you offering them.” If he waves his hand then wait for him.’ The slave girl did that. The Prophet beckoned her with his hand and she waited for him. When he had finished the prayer he said, “O daughter of Bani Umaiya! You have asked me about the two Rakat after the ‘Asr prayer. The people of the tribe of ‘Abdul-Qais came to me and made me busy and I could not offer the two Rakat after the Zuhr prayer. These (two Rakat that I have just prayed) are for those (missed) ones.