What is Recited During the Prayer - Section 1

‘Uqba b. ‘Amir said:

When I was leading God’s Messenger’s she-camel for him on a journey he said to me, “Shall I not teach you, ‘Uqba, the best two <i>suras</i> to recite?” Then he taught me “Say, I seek refuge in the Lord of the dawn” and “Say, I seek refuge in the Lord of men” (Al-Qur’an; 113-114). He saw that I was not greatly pleased with them, so when he alighted for the Morning Prayer he used them in leading the people in the Morning Prayer, and when he had finished he turned to me and said, “How do you find them now, ‘Uqba?” Ahmad, Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عُقْبَةَ بْنِ عَامِرٍ قَالَ: كُنْتُ أَقُودُ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ نَاقَتَهُ فِي السَّفَرِ فَقَالَ لِي: «يَا عُقْبَةُ أَلَا أُعَلِّمُكَ خَيْرَ سُورَتَيْنِ قُرِئَتَا؟» فَعَلَّمَنِي (قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبّ الفلق) و (قل أَعُود بِرَبّ النَّاس) قَالَ: فَلَمْ يَرَنِي سَرَرْتُ بِهِمَا جَدًّا فَلَمَّا نَزَلَ لِصَلَاةِ الصُّبْحِ صَلَّى بِهِمَا صَلَاةَ الصُّبْحِ لِلنَّاسِ فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ الْتَفَتَ إِلَيَّ فَقَالَ: «يَا عُقْبَةَ كَيْفَ رَأَيْتَ؟» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ وَأَبُو دَاوُد وَالنَّسَائِيّ

Jabir b. Samura said that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to recite in the sunset prayer on Thursday evening, “Say, O unbelievers,”1 and “Say, He is God one God.”2 1. Al-Qur’an; 109 2. Al-Qur’an; 112 [Baghawi] transmitted it in <i>Sharh as-sunna</i>; and Ibn Majah transmitted it from Ibn ‘Umar, but did not mention Thursday evening.

وَعَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ سَمُرَةَ قَالَ: كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقْرَأُ فِي صَلَاةِ الْمَغْرِبِ لَيْلَةَ الْجُمُعَةِ: (قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا الْكَافِرُونَ) و (قل هُوَ الله أحد) رَوَاهُ فِي شرح السّنة وَرَوَاهُ ابْنُ مَاجَهْ عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ إِلَّا أَنه لم يذكر «لَيْلَة الْجُمُعَة»

‘Abdallah b. Mas'ud said:

I cannot count how often I heard God’s Messenger reciting in the two <i>rak'as</i> after the sunset prayer and in the two <i>rak'as</i> before the dawn prayer, “Say, O unbelievers,” and “Say, He is God, one God.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, and Ibn Majah transmitted it on Abu Huraira’s authority, but he did not mention “after the sunset prayer.”

وَعَنْ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ: مَا أحصي مَا سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقْرَأُ فِي الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ بَعْدَ الْمَغْرِبِ وَفِي الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ صَلَاةِ الْفَجْرِ: بِ (قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا الْكَافِرُونَ) و (قل هوا لله أحد) رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ وَرَوَاهُ ابْنُ مَاجَهْ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ إِلَّا أَنه لم يذكر: «بعد الْمغرب»

Sulaiman b. Yasar quoted Abu Huraira as saying, “I never prayed behind anyone whose prayer more closely resembled that of God’s Messenger than so and so’s.” Sulaiman said that he prayed behind him, and he was prolonging the first two <i>rak'as</i> of the noon prayer, shortening the last two, shortening the afternoon prayer, reciting short <i>suras</i> from <i>al-Mufassal</i>* at the sunset prayer, medium <i>suras</i> from <i>al-Mufassal</i> at the evening prayer, and long ones from <i>al-Mufassal</i> at the morning prayer. * A name applied to the latter part of the Qur’an because there are many divisions, but opinions differ about where it begins. Lane mentions the different views in his Lexicon, pp 2407 f., saying the most correct opinion is that it begins with <i>sura</i> 49. Nasa’i transmitted it, and Ibn Majah transmitted up to “shortening the afternoon prayer.”

وَعَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ يَسَارٍ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: مَا صَلَّيْتُ وَرَاءَ أَحَدٍ أَشْبَهَ صَلَاةً بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مِنْ فلَان. قَالَ سُلَيْمَان: صَلَّيْتُ خَلْفَهُ فَكَانَ يُطِيلُ الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ الْأُولَيَيْنِ مِنَ الظّهْر ويخفف الْأُخْرَيَيْنِ ويخفف الْعَصْر وَيَقْرَأُ فِي الْمَغْرِبِ بِقِصَارِ الْمُفَصَّلِ وَيَقْرَأُ فِي الْعِشَاءِ بِوَسَطِ الْمُفَصَّلِ وَيَقْرَأُ فِي الصُّبْحِ بِطِوَالِ الْمُفَصَّلِ. رَوَاهُ النَّسَائِيُّ وَرَوَى ابْنُ مَاجَهْ إِلَى ويخفف الْعَصْر

‘Ubada b. as-Samit said:

We were behind the Prophet (ﷺ) at the dawn prayer, and he recited a passage, but the recitation became difficult for him. Then when he finished he said, “Perhaps you recite behind your imam?” We replied, “Yes, Messenger of God.” He said, “Do it only when it is <i>Fatihat al-Kitab</i>, for he who does not include it in his recitation is not credited with having prayed.” Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi transmitted it, and Nasa’i has something to the same effect. In a version by Abu Dawud he said, “I am wondering what is the matter with me that the Qur’an should be at variance with me. So do not recite any of the Qur’an when I recite aloud, except <i>Umm al-Qur'an</i>."

وَعَنْ عُبَادَةَ بْنِ الصَّامِتِ قَالَ: كُنَّا خَلْفَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي صَلَاةِ الْفَجْرِ فَقَرَأَ فَثَقُلَتْ عَلَيْهِ الْقِرَاءَةُ فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ قَالَ: «لَعَلَّكُمْ تقرؤون خَلْفَ إِمَامِكُمْ؟» قُلْنَا: نَعَمْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ. قَالَ: «لَا تَفْعَلُوا إِلَّا بِفَاتِحَةِ الْكِتَابِ فَإِنَّهُ لَا صَلَاةَ لِمَنْ لَمْ يَقْرَأْ بِهَا» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَالتِّرْمِذِيُّ وَلِلنِّسَائِيِّ مَعْنَاهُ وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ لأبي دَاوُد قَالَ: «وَأَنا أَقُول مَالِي يُنَازعنِي الْقُرْآن؟ فَلَا تقرؤوا بِشَيْءٍ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ إِذَا جَهَرْتُ إِلَّا بِأُمِّ الْقُرْآن»

Abu Huraira said that when God’s Messenger had finished a prayer in which he had recited aloud, he asked, “Did any of you recite along with me just now?” When a man replied that he had, he said, “I am wondering what is the matter with me that I should be contended with regarding the Qur’an.” He said that when the people heard that from God’s Messenger they ceased reciting along with him the passages which he recited aloud in the prayers. Malik, Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, and Nasa'i transmitted it, and Ibn Majah transmitted something similar.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ انْصَرَفَ مِنْ صَلَاةٍ جَهَرَ فِيهَا بِالْقِرَاءَةِ فَقَالَ: «هَلْ قَرَأَ مَعِي أَحَدٌ مِنْكُمْ آنِفًا؟» فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ: نَعَمْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ: " إِنِّي أَقُولُ: مَا لِي أُنَازَعُ الْقُرْآنَ؟ «. قَالَ فَانْتَهَى النَّاسُ عَنِ الْقِرَاءَةِ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِيمَا جَهَرَ فِيهِ بِالْقِرَاءَةِ مِنَ الصَّلَوَاتِ حِينَ سَمِعُوا ذَلِكَ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ» . رَوَاهُ مَالِكٌ وَأَحْمَدُ وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ وَالتِّرْمِذِيُّ وَالنَّسَائِيُّ وَرَوَى ابْنُ مَاجَهْ نَحْوَهُ

Ibn ‘Umar and al-Bayadi reported God’s Messenger as saying, “He who prays holds intimate converse with his Lord, so he must consider how he does so, and none of you must recite the Qur’an more loudly than others. Ahmad transmitted it.

وَعَن ابْن عمر والبياضي قَالَا: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِنَّ الْمُصَلِّيَ يُنَاجِي رَبَّهُ فَلْيَنْظُرْ مَا يُنَاجِيهِ بِهِ وَلَا يَجْهَرْ بَعْضُكُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ بِالْقُرْآنِ» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمد

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The <i>imam</i> is appointed only to be followed, so when he says the <i>takbir</i>, say it also; and when he recites, listen silently.” Abu Dawud, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِنَّمَا جُعِلَ الْإِمَامُ لِيُؤْتَمَّ بِهِ فَإِذَا كَبَّرَ فَكَبِّرُوا وَإِذَا قَرَأَ فَأَنْصِتُوا» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد وَالنَّسَائِيّ وَابْن مَاجَه

‘Abdallah b. Abu Aufa told of a man who came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said, “I am unable to learn any of the Qur’an, so teach me something which will suffice me.” He told him to say, “Glory be to God; Praise be to God; There is no god but God; God is most great; There is no might and no power except in God.” He said, “Messenger of God, this is for God; but what is there for me?” He told him to say, “O God, have mercy on me, heal me, guide me, and provide for me.” He said that the man clenched his hands, whereupon God’s Messenger said, “This man has filled his hands with good.” Abu Dawud transmitted it, and Nasa’i’s transmission finished with “except in God.”

وَعَنْ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي أَوْفَى قَالَ: جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ: إِنِّي لَا أَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ آخُذَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ شَيْئًا فَعَلِّمْنِي مَا يُجْزِئُنِي قَالَ: «قُلْ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَلَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ» . قَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ هَذَا لِلَّهِ فَمَاذَا لِي؟ قَالَ: «قُلْ اللَّهُمَّ ارْحَمْنِي وَعَافِنِي وَاهْدِنِي وَارْزُقْنِي» . فَقَالَ هَكَذَا بِيَدَيْهِ وَقَبَضَهُمَا. فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «أَمَّا هَذَا فَقَدَ مَلَأَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ الْخَيْرِ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَانْتَهَتْ رِوَايَةُ النَّسَائِيِّ عِنْد قَوْله: «إِلَّا بِاللَّه»

Ibn ‘Abbas said that when the Prophet (ﷺ) recited, “Glorify the name of your most high Lord,” (Al-Quran; 87) he said, “Glory be to my Lord most high.” Ahmad and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا: أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: كَانَ إِذَا قَرَأَ (سبح اسْم رَبك الْأَعْلَى) قَالَ: (سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى) رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ وَأَبُو دَاوُد

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying:

When one of you recites, "By the fig and the olive”1 and comes to "Is not God the best of judges?”2 he should say, "Certainly, and I am one of those who testify to that.” When one recites, "I swear by the day of resurrection”3 and comes to "Is not that One able to raise the dead to life?’4 he should say, "Certainly.” And when one recites, "By those that are sent”5 and comes to "Then in what message after that will they believe?”6 he should say, "We believe in God.” 1. Al-Qur’an; 95 2. Verse 8 3. Al-Qur’an; 75 4. Verse 40. 5. Al-Qur’an; 77 6. Verse 50. Abu Dawud transmitted it, and Tirmidhi transmitted up to "and I am one of those who testify to that.”

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:

من قَرَأَ مِنْكُم ب (التِّين وَالزَّيْتُون) فَانْتهى إِلَى (أَلَيْسَ الله بِأَحْكَم الْحَاكِمين) فَلْيَقُلْ: بَلَى وَأَنَا عَلَى ذَلِكَ مِنَ الشَّاهِدِينَ. وَمن قَرَأَ: (لَا أقسم بِيَوْم الْقِيَامَة) فَانْتَهَى إِلَى (أَلَيْسَ ذَلِكَ بِقَادِرٍ عَلَى أَن يحيي الْمَوْتَى) فَلْيَقُلْ بَلَى. وَمَنْ قَرَأَ (وَالْمُرْسَلَاتِ) فَبَلَغَ: (فَبِأَيِّ حَدِيث بعده يُؤمنُونَ) فَلْيَقُلْ: آمَنَّا بِاللَّهِ

. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَالتِّرْمِذِيُّ إِلَى قَوْلِهِ: (وَأَنَا عَلَى ذَلِكَ مِنَ الشَّاهِدِينَ)

Jabir said that God’s Messenger came out to his companions and recited to them <i>Sura ar-Rahman</i>1 from beginning to end, but they remained silent. He then said:

I have recited it to the jinn on the night they came to me, 2 and they responded better than you. As often as I came to the words, "Then which of the favours of your Lord do you deny?” they replied, "We deny none of Your favours, O our Lord. To You be the praise.” 1. Al-Qur’an; 55. 2. When the Prophet (ﷺ) was returning to Mecca after being rejected by the people of at-Ta’if. Tirmidhi transmitted it and said this is a <i>gharib tradition</i>.

وَعَنْ جَابِرٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: خَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَلَى أَصْحَابه فَقَرَأَ عَلَيْهِم سُورَةَ الرَّحْمَنِ مِنْ أَوَّلِهَا إِلَى آخِرِهَا فَسَكَتُوا فَقَالَ: «لَقَدْ قَرَأْتُهَا عَلَى الْجِنِّ لَيْلَةَ الْجِنِّ فَكَانُوا أَحْسَنَ مَرْدُودًا مِنْكُمْ كُنْتُ كُلَّمَا أَتَيْتُ على قَوْله (فَبِأَي آلَاء رَبكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ) قَالُوا لَا بِشَيْءٍ مِنْ نِعَمِكَ رَبَّنَا نُكَذِّبُ فَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَقَالَ: هَذَا حَدِيثٌ غَرِيبٌ

Mu'adh b. ‘Abdallah. al-Juhani said that a man of Juhaina told him he had heard God’s Messenger reciting "When the earth is shaken”(Al-Qur’an; 99) in both <i>rak'as</i> of the morning prayer, but did not know whether he had forgotten, or whether he recited it on purpose. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

عَن معَاذ بن عبد الله الْجُهَنِيّ قَالَ: إِنَّ رَجُلًا مِنْ جُهَيْنَةَ أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: قَرَأَ فِي الصُّبْح (إِذا زلزلت) فِي الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ كلتهما فَلَا أَدْرِي أَنَسِيَ أَمْ قَرَأَ ذَلِكَ عَمْدًا. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

‘Urwa said that Abu Bakr as-Siddlq prayed the Morning Prayer and recited <i>Sura al-Baqara</i> (Al-Qur’an; 2) in both the <i>rak'as</i>. Malik transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عُرْوَةَ قَالَ: إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيقَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ صَلَّى الصُّبْحَ فَقَرَأَ فِيهِمَا بِ (سُورَةِ الْبَقَرَةِ) فِي الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ كِلْتَيْهِمَا. رَوَاهُ مَالك

Al-Farafisa b. 'Umair al-Hanafi said that he learned <i>Sura Yusuf</i> (Al-Qur’an; 12) simply from the recitation of it by ‘Uthman b. ‘Affan in the morning prayer, owing to the great number of times he repeated it. Malik transmitted it.

وَعَن الفرافصة بن عُمَيْر الْحَنَفِيّ قَالَ: مَا أَخَذْتُ سُورَةَ يُوسُفَ إِلَّا مِنْ قِرَاءَةِ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عَفَّانَ إِيَّاهَا فِي الصُّبْحِ وَمن كَثْرَة مَا كَانَ يُرَدِّدهَا. رَوَاهُ مَالك

‘Amir b. Rabi'a said that they prayed the morning prayer behind ‘Umar b. al-Khattab and that he recited slowly in both <i>rak'as</i> <i>Sura Yusuf</i> and <i>Sura al-Hajj</i> (Al-Qur’an; 22). When someone remarked that he must have begun the prayer at break of day he replied that that was so. Malik transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَامِرِ بْنِ رَبِيعَةَ قَالَ: صلينَا وَرَاء عمر ابْن الْخطاب الصُّبْح فَقَرَأَ فيهمَا بِسُورَةِ يُوسُفَ وَسُورَةِ الْحَجِّ قِرَاءَةً بَطِيئَةً قِيلَ لَهُ: إِذًا لَقَدْ كَانَ يَقُومُ حِينَ يَطْلُعُ الْفجْر قَالَ: أجل. رَوَاهُ مَالك

‘Amr b. Shu'aib on his father’s authority quoted his grandfather as saying, “There is no short or long <i>sura</i> in <i>al-Mufassal</i>* which I have not heard God’s Messenger reciting when he led the people in the prescribed prayer.” * A name applied to the latter part of the Qur’an because there are many divisions, but opinions differ about where it begins. Lane mentions the different views in his Lexicon, pp 2407 f., saying the most correct opinion is that it begins with <i>sura</i> 49. Malik transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ شُعَيْبٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ جَدِّهِ قَالَ: مَا مِنَ الْمُفَصَّلِ سُورَةٌ صَغِيرَةٌ وَلَا كَبِيرَةٌ إِلَّا قَدْ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَؤُمُّ بِهَا النَّاسَ فِي الصَّلَاة الْمَكْتُوبَة. رَوَاهُ مَالك

‘Abdallah b. ‘Utba b. Mas'ud said that God’s Messenger recited at the sunset prayer <i>H.M. ad-Dukhan</i> (Al-Qur’an; 44). Nasa’i transmitted it in <i>mursal</i> form.

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُتْبَةَ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ: قَرَأَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي صَلَاةِ الْمَغْرِبِ بِ (حم الدُّخَانِ) رَوَاهُ النَّسَائِيّ مُرْسلا