21. Actions while Praying
Sahih al-Bukhari 1198In al-Bukhari or Muslim
أَنَّهُ بَاتَ عِنْدَ مَيْمُونَةَ أُمِّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ؓ وَهْىَ خَالَتُهُ قَالَ فَاضْطَجَعْتُ عَلَى عَرْضِ الْوِسَادَةِ وَاضْطَجَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَأَهْلُهُ فِي طُولِهَا فَنَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ حَتَّى انْتَصَفَ اللَّيْلُ أَوْ قَبْلَهُ بِقَلِيلٍ أَوْ بَعْدَهُ بِقَلِيلٍ ثُمَّ اسْتَيْقَظَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَجَلَسَ فَمَسَحَ النَّوْمَ عَنْ وَجْهِهِ بِيَدِهِ ثُمَّ قَرَأَ الْعَشْرَ آيَاتٍ خَوَاتِيمَ سُورَةِ آلِ عِمْرَانَ ثُمَّ قَامَ إِلَى شَنٍّ مُعَلَّقَةٍ فَتَوَضَّأَ مِنْهَا فَأَحْسَنَ وُضُوءَهُ ثُمَّ قَامَ يُصَلِّي قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبَّاسٍ ؓ فَقُمْتُ فَصَنَعْتُ مِثْلَ مَا صَنَعَ ثُمَّ ذَهَبْتُ فَقُمْتُ إِلَى جَنْبِهِ فَوَضَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَدَهُ الْيُمْنَى عَلَى رَأْسِي وَأَخَذَ بِأُذُنِي الْيُمْنَى يَفْتِلُهَا بِيَدِهِ فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ أَوْتَرَ ثُمَّ اضْطَجَعَ حَتَّى جَاءَهُ الْمُؤَذِّنُ فَقَامَ فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ خَفِيفَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ فَصَلَّى الصُّبْحَ
ʿAbdullah bin ʿAbbas said that he had passed a night in the house of Maimuna the mother of the faithful believers, who was his aunt. He said, "I slept across the bed, and Messenger of Allah ﷺ along with his wife slept lengthwise. Messenger of Allah ﷺ slept till midnight or slightly before or after it. Then Allah's Apostle woke up, sat, and removed the traces of sleep by rubbing his hands over his face. Then he recited the last ten verses of Surat-Al ʿImran (2). Then he went towards a hanging leather watercontainer and performed a perfect ablution and then stood up for prayer." ʿAbdullah bin ʿAbbas added, "I got up and did the same as Messenger of Allah ﷺ had done and then went and stood by his side. Messenger of Allah ﷺ then put his right hand over my head and caught my right ear and twisted it. He offered two rakʿat, then two rakʿat, then two rakʿat, then two rakʿat, then two rakʿat, then two rakʿat and then offered one rakʿa witr. Then he lay down till the Mu'adh-dhin came and then he prayed two light rakʿat and went out and offered the early morning (Fajr) prayer."
Sahih al-Bukhari 1199In al-Bukhari or Muslim
كُنَّا نُسَلِّمُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ وَهُوَ فِي الصَّلاَةِ فَيَرُدُّ عَلَيْنَا فَلَمَّا رَجَعْنَا مِنْ عِنْدِ النَّجَاشِيِّ سَلَّمْنَا عَلَيْهِ فَلَمْ يَرُدَّ عَلَيْنَا وَقَالَ إِنَّ فِي الصَّلاَةِ شُغْلاً
We used to greet the Prophet ﷺ while he was praying and he used to answer our greetings. When we returned from An-Najashi (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)."
Sahih al-Bukhari 1199bIn al-Bukhari or Muslim
عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ نَحْوَهُ
The same as No. 290. from the Prophet.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1200In al-Bukhari or Muslim
إِنْ كُنَّا لَنَتَكَلَّمُ فِي الصَّلاَةِ عَلَى عَهْدِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ يُكَلِّمُ أَحَدُنَا صَاحِبَهُ بِحَاجَتِهِ حَتَّى نَزَلَتْ {حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ} الآيَةَ فَأُمِرْنَا بِالسُّكُوتِ
In the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ 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.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1201In al-Bukhari or Muslim
خَرَجَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يُصْلِحُ بَيْنَ بَنِي عَمْرِو بْنِ عَوْفٍ وَحَانَتِ الصَّلاَةُ فَجَاءَ بِلاَلٌ أَبَا بَكْرٍ ؓ فَقَالَ حُبِسَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَتَؤُمُّ النَّاسَ قَالَ نَعَمْ إِنْ شِئْتُمْ فَأَقَامَ بِلاَلٌ الصَّلاَةَ فَتَقَدَّمَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ؓ فَصَلَّى فَجَاءَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَمْشِي فِي الصُّفُوفِ يَشُقُّهَا شَقًّا حَتَّى قَامَ فِي الصَّفِّ الأَوَّلِ فَأَخَذَ النَّاسُ بِالتَّصْفِيحِ قَالَ سَهْلٌ هَلْ تَدْرُونَ مَا التَّصْفِيحُ هُوَ التَّصْفِيقُ وَكَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ؓ لاَ يَلْتَفِتُ فِي صَلاَتِهِ فَلَمَّا أَكْثَرُوا الْتَفَتَ فَإِذَا النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فِي الصَّفِّ فَأَشَارَ إِلَيْهِ مَكَانَكَ فَرَفَعَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يَدَيْهِ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ ثُمَّ رَجَعَ الْقَهْقَرَى وَرَاءَهُ وَتَقَدَّمَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَصَلَّى
The Prophet ﷺ went out to affect a reconciliation between the tribes of Bani ʿAmr bin ʿAuf and the time of the prayer became due; Bilal went to Abu Bakr and said, "The Prophet ﷺ is detained. Will you lead the people in the prayer?" Abu Bakr replied, "Yes, if you wish." So Bilal pronounced the Iqama and Abu Bakr led the prayer. In the meantime the Prophet ﷺ came crossing the rows (of the praying people) till he stood in the first row and the people started clapping. Abu Bakr never looked hither and thither during the prayer but when the people clapped too much, he looked back and saw the Prophet ﷺ in the (first) row. The Prophet ﷺ waved him to remain at his place, but Abu Bakr raised both his hands and sent praises to Allah and then retreated and the Prophet ﷺ went forward and led the prayer. (See Hadith No. 295 & 296)
Sahih al-Bukhari 1202In al-Bukhari or Muslim
كُنَّا نَقُولُ التَّحِيَّةُ فِي الصَّلاَةِ وَنُسَمِّي وَيُسَلِّمُ بَعْضُنَا عَلَى بَعْضٍ فَسَمِعَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ قُولُوا التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ فَإِنَّكُمْ إِذَا فَعَلْتُمْ ذَلِكَ فَقَدْ سَلَّمْتُمْ عَلَى كُلِّ عَبْدٍ لِلَّهِ صَالِحٍ فِي السَّمَاءِ وَالأَرْضِ
We used to say the greeting, name and greet each other in the prayer. Messenger of Allah ﷺ heard it and said:--"Say, 'at-tahiyyatu lil-lahi was-salawatu wat-taiyibatu. Assalamu 'Alaika aiyuha-n-Nabiyu warahmatu- l-lahi wa-barakatuhu. _ Assalamu alaina wa-'ala 'ibadi-l-lahi as-salihin.. Ashhadu an la ilaha illa-l-lah wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan ʿAbdu hu wa Rasuluh. (All the compliments are for Allah and all the prayers and all the good things (are for Allah). Peace be on you, O Prophet, and Allah's mercy and blessings (are on you). And peace be on us and on the good (pious) worshipers of Allah. I testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad is His slave and Apostle.) So, when you have said this, then you have surely sent the greetings to every good (pious) worshipper of Allah, whether he be in the Heaven or on the Earth. "
Sahih al-Bukhari 1203In al-Bukhari or Muslim
التَّسْبِيحُ لِلرِّجَالِ وَالتَّصْفِيقُ لِلنِّسَاءِ
The Prophet ﷺ said, "The saying 'Sub Han Allah' is for men and clapping is for women." (If something happens in the prayer, the men can invite the attention of the Imam by saying "Sub Han Allah". And women, by clapping their hands).
Sahih al-Bukhari 1204In al-Bukhari or Muslim
التَّسْبِيحُ لِلرِّجَالِ وَالتَّصْفِيحُ لِلنِّسَاءِ
The Prophet ﷺ said, "The saying 'Sub Han Allah' is for men and clapping is for women.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1205In al-Bukhari or Muslim
أَنَّ الْمُسْلِمِينَ بَيْنَا هُمْ فِي الْفَجْرِ يَوْمَ الاِثْنَيْنِ وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ ؓ يُصَلِّي بِهِمْ فَفَجَأَهُمُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ قَدْ كَشَفَ سِتْرَ حُجْرَةِ عَائِشَةَ ؓ فَنَظَرَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَهُمْ صُفُوفٌ فَتَبَسَّمَ يَضْحَكُ فَنَكَصَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ؓ عَلَى عَقِبَيْهِ وَظَنَّ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَخْرُجَ إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ وَهَمَّ الْمُسْلِمُونَ أَنْ يَفْتَتِنُوا فِي صَلاَتِهِمْ فَرَحًا بِالنَّبِيِّ ﷺ حِينَ رَأَوْهُ فَأَشَارَ بِيَدِهِ أَنْ أَتِمُّوا ثُمَّ دَخَلَ الْحُجْرَةَ وَأَرْخَى السِّتْرَ وَتُوُفِّيَ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ
While Abu Bakr was leading the people in the morning prayer on a Monday, the Prophet ﷺ came towards them suddenly having lifted the curtain of 'Aisha's house, and looked at them as they were standing in rows and smiled. Abu Bakr tried to come back thinking that Allah's Apostle wanted to come out for the prayer. The attention of the Muslims was diverted from the prayer because they were delighted to see the Prophet. The Prophet ﷺ waved his hand to them to complete their prayer, then he went back into the room and let down the curtain. The Prophet expired on that very day.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1206In al-Bukhari or Muslim
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ نَادَتِ امْرَأَةٌ ابْنَهَا وَهْوَ فِي صَوْمَعَةٍ قَالَتْ يَا جُرَيْجُ قَالَ اللَّهُمَّ أُمِّي وَصَلاَتِي قَالَتْ يَا جُرَيْجُ قَالَ اللَّهُمَّ أُمِّي وَصَلاَتِي قَالَتْ يَا جُرَيْجُ قَالَ اللَّهُمَّ أُمِّي وَصَلاَتِي قَالَتِ اللَّهُمَّ لاَ يَمُوتُ جُرَيْجٌ حَتَّى يَنْظُرَ فِي وَجْهِ الْمَيَامِيسِ وَكَانَتْ تَأْوِي إِلَى صَوْمَعَتِهِ رَاعِيَةٌ تَرْعَى الْغَنَمَ فَوَلَدَتْ فَقِيلَ لَهَا مِمَّنْ هَذَا الْوَلَدُ قَالَتْ مِنْ جُرَيْجٍ نَزَلَ مِنْ صَوْمَعَتِهِ قَالَ جُرَيْجٌ أَيْنَ هَذِهِ الَّتِي تَزْعُمُ أَنَّ وَلَدَهَا لِي قَالَ يَا بَابُوسُ مَنْ أَبُوكَ قَالَ رَاعِي الْغَنَمِ
Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "A woman called her son while he was in his hermitage and said, 'O Juraij' He said, 'O Allah, my mother (is calling me) and (I am offering) my prayer (what shall I do)?' She again said, 'O Juraij!' He said again, 'O Allah ! My mother (is calling me) and (I am offering) my prayer (what shall I do)?' She again said, 'O Juraij' He again said, 'O Allah! My mother (is calling me) and (I am offering) my prayer. (What shall I do?)' She said, 'O Allah! Do not let Juraij die till he sees the faces of prostitutes.' A shepherdess used to come by his hermitage for grazing her sheep and she gave birth to a child. She was asked whose child that was, and she replied that it was from Juraij and that he had come out from his hermitage. Juraij said, 'Where is that woman who claims that her child is from me?' (When she was brought to him along with the child), Juraij asked the child, 'O Babus, who is your father?' The child replied, 'The shepherd.' " (See Hadith No 662. Vol 3).
Sahih al-Bukhari 1207In al-Bukhari or Muslim
أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَالَ فِي الرَّجُلِ يُسَوِّي التُّرَابَ حَيْثُ يَسْجُدُ قَالَ إِنْ كُنْتَ فَاعِلاً فَوَاحِدَةً
The Prophet ﷺ talked about a man leveling the earth on prostrating, and said, "If you have to do so, then do it once."
Sahih al-Bukhari 1208In al-Bukhari or Muslim
كُنَّا نُصَلِّي مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فِي شِدَّةِ الْحَرِّ فَإِذَا لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ أَحَدُنَا أَنْ يُمَكِّنَ وَجْهَهُ مِنَ الأَرْضِ بَسَطَ ثَوْبَهُ فَسَجَدَ عَلَيْهِ
We used to pray with the Prophet ﷺ in scorching heat, and if someone of us could not put his face on the earth (because of the heat) then he would spread his clothes and prostrate over them.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1209In al-Bukhari or Muslim
كُنْتُ أَمُدُّ رِجْلِي فِي قِبْلَةِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ وَهُوَ يُصَلِّي فَإِذَا سَجَدَ غَمَزَنِي فَرَفَعْتُهَا فَإِذَا قَامَ مَدَدْتُهَا
I used to stretch my legs towards the Qibla of the Prophet ﷺ while he was praying; whenever he prostrated he touched me, and I would withdraw my legs, and whenever he stood up, I would restretch my legs.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1210In al-Bukhari or Muslim
أَنَّهُ صَلَّى صَلاَةً قَالَ إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ عَرَضَ لِي فَشَدَّ عَلَىَّ لِيَقْطَعَ الصَّلاَةَ عَلَىَّ فَأَمْكَنَنِي اللَّهُ مِنْهُ فَذَعَتُّهُ وَلَقَدْ هَمَمْتُ أَنْ أُوثِقَهُ إِلَى سَارِيَةٍ حَتَّى تُصْبِحُوا فَتَنْظُرُوا إِلَيْهِ فَذَكَرْتُ قَوْلَ سُلَيْمَانَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ رَبِّ هَبْ لِي مُلْكًا لاَ يَنْبَغِي لأَحَدٍ مِنْ بَعْدِي فَرَدَّهُ اللَّهُ خَاسِيًا
The Prophet ﷺ once offered the prayer and said, "Satan came in front of me and tried to interrupt my prayer, but Allah gave me an upper hand on him and I choked him. No doubt, I thought of tying him to one of the pillars of the mosque till you get up in the morning and see him. Then I remembered the statement of Prophet Solomon, 'My Lord ! Bestow on me a kingdom such as shall not belong to any other after me.' Then Allah made him (Satan) return with his head down (humiliated)."
Sahih al-Bukhari 1211In al-Bukhari or Muslim
كُنَّا بِالأَهْوَازِ نُقَاتِلُ الْحَرُورِيَّةَ فَبَيْنَا أَنَا عَلَى جُرُفِ نَهَرٍ إِذَا رَجُلٌ يُصَلِّي وَإِذَا لِجَامُ دَابَّتِهِ بِيَدِهِ فَجَعَلَتِ الدَّابَّةُ تُنَازِعُهُ وَجَعَلَ يَتْبَعُهَا قَالَ شُعْبَةُ هُوَ أَبُو بَرْزَةَ الأَسْلَمِيُّ فَجَعَلَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْخَوَارِجِ يَقُولُ اللَّهُمَّ افْعَلْ بِهَذَا الشَّيْخِ فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَ الشَّيْخُ قَالَ إِنِّي سَمِعْتُ قَوْلَكُمْ وَإِنِّي غَزَوْتُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ سِتَّ غَزَوَاتٍ أَوْ سَبْعَ غَزَوَاتٍ وَثَمَانِيًا وَشَهِدْتُ تَيْسِيرَهُ وَإِنِّي أَنْ كُنْتُ أَنْ أُرَاجِعَ مَعَ دَابَّتِي أَحَبُّ إِلَىَّ مِنْ أَنْ أَدَعَهَا تَرْجِعُ إِلَى مَأْلَفِهَا فَيَشُقَّ عَلَىَّ
We were at Al-Ahwaz fighting the Al-Haruriya (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. (Shuʿba, a sub-narrator, said that man was Abu Barza Al-Aslami). 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 Messenger of Allah ﷺ 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. "
Sahih al-Bukhari 1212In al-Bukhari or Muslim
خَسَفَتِ الشَّمْسُ فَقَامَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَقَرَأَ سُورَةً طَوِيلَةً ثُمَّ رَكَعَ فَأَطَالَ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَفْتَحَ بِسُورَةٍ أُخْرَى ثُمَّ رَكَعَ حَتَّى قَضَاهَا وَسَجَدَ ثُمَّ فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ فِي الثَّانِيَةِ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّهُمَا آيَتَانِ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ فَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمْ ذَلِكَ فَصَلُّوا حَتَّى يُفْرَجَ عَنْكُمْ لَقَدْ رَأَيْتُ فِي مَقَامِي هَذَا كُلَّ شَىْءٍ وُعِدْتُهُ حَتَّى لَقَدْ رَأَيْتُنِي أُرِيدُ أَنْ آخُذَ قِطْفًا مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ حِينَ رَأَيْتُمُونِي جَعَلْتُ أَتَقَدَّمُ وَلَقَدْ رَأَيْتُ جَهَنَّمَ يَحْطِمُ بَعْضُهَا بَعْضًا حِينَ رَأَيْتُمُونِي تَأَخَّرْتُ وَرَأَيْتُ فِيهَا عَمْرَو بْنَ لُحَىٍّ وَهُوَ الَّذِي سَيَّبَ السَّوَائِبَ
Once the sun eclipsed and Messenger of Allah ﷺ 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 rakʿa 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 ʿAmr bin Luhai who started the tradition of freeing animals (set them free) in the name of idols."
Sahih al-Bukhari 1213In al-Bukhari or Muslim
أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ رَأَى نُخَامَةً فِي قِبْلَةِ الْمَسْجِدِ فَتَغَيَّظَ عَلَى أَهْلِ الْمَسْجِدِ وَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ قِبَلَ أَحَدِكُمْ فَإِذَا كَانَ فِي صَلاَتِهِ فَلاَ يَبْزُقَنَّ أَوْ قَالَ لاَ يَتَنَخَّمَنَّ ثُمَّ نَزَلَ فَحَتَّهَا بِيَدِهِ وَقَالَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ ؓ إِذَا بَزَقَ أَحَدُكُمْ فَلْيَبْزُقْ عَلَى يَسَارِهِ
The Prophet ﷺ saw some sputum on the wall facing the Qibla of the mosque and became furious with the people of the mosque and said, "During the prayer, Allah is in front of everyone of you and so he should not spit (or said, 'He should not expectorate')." Then he got down and scratched the sputum with his hand. Ibn ʿUmar said (after narrating), "If anyone of you has to spit during the prayer, he should spit to his left."
Sahih al-Bukhari 1214In al-Bukhari or Muslim
إِذَا كَانَ فِي الصَّلاَةِ فَإِنَّهُ يُنَاجِي رَبَّهُ فَلاَ يَبْزُقَنَّ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَلاَ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ وَلَكِنْ عَنْ شِمَالِهِ تَحْتَ قَدَمِهِ الْيُسْرَى
The Prophet ﷺ said, "Whenever anyone of you is in prayer, he is speaking in private to his Lord and so he should neither spit in front of him nor on his right side but to his left side under his left foot."
Sahih al-Bukhari 1215In al-Bukhari or Muslim
كَانَ النَّاسُ يُصَلُّونَ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ وَهُمْ عَاقِدُو أُزْرِهِمْ مِنَ الصِّغَرِ عَلَى رِقَابِهِمْ فَقِيلَ لِلنِّسَاءِ لاَ تَرْفَعْنَ رُءُوسَكُنَّ حَتَّى يَسْتَوِيَ الرِّجَالُ جُلُوسًا
The people used to offer the prayer with the Prophet ﷺ with their waist-sheets tied round their necks because of the shortness of the sheets and the women were ordered not to lift their heads till the men had sat straight.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1216In al-Bukhari or Muslim
كُنْتُ أُسَلِّمُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ وَهُوَ فِي الصَّلاَةِ فَيَرُدُّ عَلَىَّ فَلَمَّا رَجَعْنَا سَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَلَمْ يَرُدَّ عَلَىَّ وَقَالَ إِنَّ فِي الصَّلاَةِ شُغْلاً
I used to greet the Prophet ﷺ while he was in prayer and he would return my greeting, but when we returned (from Ethiopia) I greeted the Prophet (while he was praying) but he did not return the greeting, and (after finishing the prayer) he said, "In the prayer one is occupied (with a more serious matter)."
Sahih al-Bukhari 1217In al-Bukhari or Muslim
بَعَثَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي حَاجَةٍ لَهُ فَانْطَلَقْتُ ثُمَّ رَجَعْتُ وَقَدْ قَضَيْتُهَا فَأَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَلَمْ يَرُدَّ عَلَىَّ فَوَقَعَ فِي قَلْبِي مَا اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِهِ فَقُلْتُ فِي نَفْسِي لَعَلَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَجَدَ عَلَىَّ أَنِّي أَبْطَأْتُ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ سَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَلَمْ يَرُدَّ عَلَىَّ فَوَقَعَ فِي قَلْبِي أَشَدُّ مِنَ الْمَرَّةِ الأُولَى ثُمَّ سَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَرَدَّ عَلَىَّ فَقَالَ إِنَّمَا مَنَعَنِي أَنْ أَرُدَّ عَلَيْكَ أَنِّي كُنْتُ أُصَلِّي وَكَانَ عَلَى رَاحِلَتِهِ مُتَوَجِّهًا إِلَى غَيْرِ الْقِبْلَةِ
Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent me for some job and when I had finished it I returned and came to the Prophet ﷺ 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 Messenger of Allah ﷺ 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.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1218In al-Bukhari or Muslim
بَلَغَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنَّ بَنِي عَمْرِو بْنِ عَوْفٍ بِقُبَاءٍ كَانَ بَيْنَهُمْ شَىْءٌ فَخَرَجَ يُصْلِحُ بَيْنَهُمْ فِي أُنَاسٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ فَحُبِسَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَحَانَتِ الصَّلاَةُ فَجَاءَ بِلاَلٌ إِلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ ؓ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَدْ حُبِسَ وَقَدْ حَانَتِ الصَّلاَةُ فَهَلْ لَكَ أَنْ تَؤُمَّ النَّاسَ قَالَ نَعَمْ إِنْ شِئْتَ فَأَقَامَ بِلاَلٌ الصَّلاَةَ وَتَقَدَّمَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ؓ فَكَبَّرَ لِلنَّاسِ وَجَاءَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَمْشِي فِي الصُّفُوفِ يَشُقُّهَا شَقًّا حَتَّى قَامَ فِي الصَّفِّ فَأَخَذَ النَّاسُ فِي التَّصْفِيحِ قَالَ سَهْلٌ التَّصْفِيحُ هُوَ التَّصْفِيقُ قَالَ وَكَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ؓ لاَ يَلْتَفِتُ فِي صَلاَتِهِ فَلَمَّا أَكْثَرَ النَّاسُ الْتَفَتَ فَإِذَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَأَشَارَ إِلَيْهِ يَأْمُرُهُ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ فَرَفَعَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ؓ يَدَهُ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ ثُمَّ رَجَعَ الْقَهْقَرَى وَرَاءَهُ حَتَّى قَامَ فِي الصَّفِّ وَتَقَدَّمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَصَلَّى لِلنَّاسِ فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ أَقْبَلَ عَلَى النَّاسِ فَقَالَ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ مَا لَكُمْ حِينَ نَابَكُمْ شَىْءٌ فِي الصَّلاَةِ أَخَذْتُمْ بِالتَّصْفِيحِ إِنَّمَا التَّصْفِيحُ لِلنِّسَاءِ مَنْ نَابَهُ شَىْءٌ فِي صَلاَتِهِ فَلْيَقُلْ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ الْتَفَتَ إِلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ ؓ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَنْ تُصَلِّيَ لِلنَّاسِ حِينَ أَشَرْتُ إِلَيْكَ قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ مَا كَانَ يَنْبَغِي لاِبْنِ أَبِي قُحَافَةَ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ بَيْنَ يَدَىْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ
The news about the differences amongst the people of Bani ʿAmr bin ʿAuf at Quba reached Allah's Apostle and so he went to them along with some of his companions to affect a reconciliation. Allah's Apostle was delayed there and the time for the prayer became due. Bilal came to Abu Bakr! and said, "O Abu Bakr! Messenger of Allah ﷺ is detained (there) and the time for the prayer is due. Will you lead the people in prayer?" Abu Bakr replied, "Yes, if you wish." So Bilal pronounced the Iqama and Abu Bakr went forward and the people said Takbir. In the meantime, Messenger of Allah ﷺ came piercing through the rows till he stood in the (first) row and the people started clapping. Abu Bakr, would never look hither and thither during the prayer but when the people clapped much he looked back and saw Messenger of Allah ﷺ. The Prophet ﷺ beckoned him to carry on. Abu Bakr raised both his hands, praised Allah and retreated till he stood in the row and Messenger of Allah ﷺ went forward and led the people in the prayer. When he had finished the prayer, he addressed the people and said, "O people! Why did you start clapping when something happened to you in the prayer? Clapping is for women. Whenever one is confronted with something unusual in the prayer one should say, 'Sub Han Allah'." Then the Prophet looked towards Abu Bakr and asked, "What prevented you from leading the prayer when I beckoned you to carry on?" Abu Bakr replied, "It does not befit the son of Al Quhafa to lead the prayer in the presence of Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1219In al-Bukhari or Muslim
نُهِيَ عَنِ الْخَصْرِ فِي الصَّلاَةِ
It was forbidden to keep the hands on the hips during the prayer. (This is narrated by Abu Huraira from the Prophet.)
Sahih al-Bukhari 1220In al-Bukhari or Muslim
نُهِيَ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ الرَّجُلُ مُخْتَصِرًا
It was forbidden to pray with the hands over one's hips.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1221In al-Bukhari or Muslim
صَلَّيْتُ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ الْعَصْرَ فَلَمَّا سَلَّمَ قَامَ سَرِيعًا دَخَلَ عَلَى بَعْضِ نِسَائِهِ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ وَرَأَى مَا فِي وُجُوهِ الْقَوْمِ مِنْ تَعَجُّبِهِمْ لِسُرْعَتِهِ فَقَالَ ذَكَرْتُ وَأَنَا فِي الصَّلاَةِ تِبْرًا عِنْدَنَا فَكَرِهْتُ أَنْ يُمْسِيَ أَوْ يَبِيتَ عِنْدَنَا فَأَمَرْتُ بِقِسْمَتِهِ
I offered the ʿAsr prayer with the Prophet ﷺ and after finishing the prayer with Taslim he got up quickly and went to some of his wives and then came out. He noticed the signs of astonishment on the faces of the people caused by his speed. He then said, "I remembered while I was in my prayer that a piece of gold was Lying in my house and I disliked that it should remain with us throughout the night, and so I have ordered it to be distributed."
Sahih al-Bukhari 1222In al-Bukhari or Muslim
إِذَا أُذِّنَ بِالصَّلاَةِ أَدْبَرَ الشَّيْطَانُ لَهُ ضُرَاطٌ حَتَّى لاَ يَسْمَعَ التَّأْذِينَ فَإِذَا سَكَتَ الْمُؤَذِّنُ أَقْبَلَ فَإِذَا ثُوِّبَ أَدْبَرَ فَإِذَا سَكَتَ أَقْبَلَ فَلاَ يَزَالُ بِالْمَرْءِ يَقُولُ لَهُ اذْكُرْ مَا لَمْ يَكُنْ يَذْكُرُ حَتَّى لاَ يَدْرِي كَمْ صَلَّى قَالَ أَبُو سَلَمَةَ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ إِذَا فَعَلَ أَحَدُكُمْ ذَلِكَ فَلْيَسْجُدْ سَجْدَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ قَاعِدٌ
Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "When the Adhan for the prayer is pronounced, then Satan takes to his heels passing wind so that he may not hear the Adhan and when the Mu'adh-dhin finishes, he comes back; and when the Iqama is pronounced he again takes to his heels and when it is finished, he again comes back and continues reminding the praying person of things that he used not to remember when not in prayer till he forgets how much he has prayed." Abu Salama bin ʿAbdur-Rahman said, "If anyone of you has such a thing (forgetting the number of rakʿat he has prayed) he should perform two prostrations of Sahu (i.e. forgetfulness) while sitting." Abu Salama narrates this from Abu Huraira.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1223In al-Bukhari or Muslim
يَقُولُ النَّاسُ أَكْثَرَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ فَلَقِيتُ رَجُلاً فَقُلْتُ بِمَ قَرَأَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الْبَارِحَةَ فِي الْعَتَمَةِ فَقَالَ لاَ أَدْرِي فَقُلْتُ لَمْ تَشْهَدْهَا قَالَ بَلَى قُلْتُ لَكِنْ أَنَا أَدْرِي قَرَأَ سُورَةَ كَذَا وَكَذَا
People say that I narrate too many narrations of the Prophet; once I met a man (during the lifetime of the Prophet) and asked him, "Which Sura did Messenger of Allah ﷺ s recite yesterday in the ʿIsha' prayer?" He said, "I do not know." I said, "Did you not attend the prayer?" He said, "Yes, (I did)." I said, "I know. He recited such and such Sura."