Actions while Praying

`Abdullah bin `Abbas 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 Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) along with his wife slept lengthwise. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) slept till midnight or slightly before or…

فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ، ثُمَّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ، ثُمَّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ، ثُمَّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ، ثُمَّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ، ثُمَّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ، ثُمَّ أَوْتَرَ، ثُمَّ اضْطَجَعَ حَتَّى جَاءَهُ الْمُؤَذِّنُ، فَقَامَ فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ…

Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbās + 12 other versions

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…

إِنَّ فِي الصَّلاَةِ شُغْلاً ‏"

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Mas‘ūd + 6 other versions

The same as No. 290. from the Prophet.

حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ نُمَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، حَدَّثَنَا هُرَيْمُ بْنُ سُفْيَانَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه…

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Mas‘ūd + 6 other versions

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.

كُنَّا لَنَتَكَلَّمُ فِي الصَّلاَةِ عَلَى عَهْدِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم، يُكَلِّمُ أَحَدُنَا صَاحِبَهُ بِحَاجَتِهِ حَتَّى نَزَلَتْ ‏‏{‏حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ‏}‏ الآيَةَ، فَأُمِرْنَا بِالسُّكُوتِ‏.‏

Narrated by Zayd ibn Arqam + 8 other versions

The Prophet (ﷺ) went out to affect a reconciliation between the tribes of Bani `Amr bin `Auf 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…

خَرَجَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُصْلِحُ بَيْنَ بَنِي عَمْرِو بْنِ عَوْفٍ، وَحَانَتِ الصَّلاَةُ، فَجَاءَ بِلاَلٌ أَبَا بَكْرٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ فَقَالَ حُبِسَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَتَؤُمُّ النَّاسَ قَالَ…

Narrated by Sahl ibn Sa‘d

We used to say the greeting, name and greet each other in the prayer. Allah's Messenger (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…

التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ…

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Mas‘ūd + 43 other versions

Tasbīh is for the men, and clapping is for the women

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Tasbīh is for the men, and clapping is for the women."

التَّسْبِيحُ لِلرِّجَالِ وَالتَّصْفِيقُ لِلنِّسَاءِ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah Explained

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The saying 'Sub Han Allah' is for men and clapping is for women.

التَّسْبِيحُ لِلرِّجَالِ وَالتَّصْفِيحُ لِلنِّسَاءِ ‏"

Narrated by Sahl ibn Sa‘d

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…

قَدْ كَشَفَ سِتْرَ حُجْرَةِ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ فَنَظَرَ إِلَيْهِمْ، وَهُمْ صُفُوفٌ، فَتَبَسَّمَ يَضْحَكُ، فَنَكَصَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَلَى عَقِبَيْهِ، وَظَنَّ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه…

Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik + 2 other versions

Allah's Messenger (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)…

"‏ 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…

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

فِي الرَّجُلِ يُسَوِّي التُّرَابَ حَيْثُ يَسْجُدُ قَالَ ‏"‏ إِنْ كُنْتَ فَاعِلاً فَوَاحِدَةً ‏"

Narrated by Mu‘ayqīb + 3 other versions

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.

كُنَّا نُصَلِّي مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي شِدَّةِ الْحَرِّ، فَإِذَا لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ أَحَدُنَا أَنْ يُمَكِّنَ وَجْهَهُ مِنَ الأَرْضِ بَسَطَ ثَوْبَهُ فَسَجَدَ عَلَيْهِ‏.‏

Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik + 5 other versions

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.

كُنْتُ أَمُدُّ رِجْلِي فِي قِبْلَةِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَهُوَ يُصَلِّي، فَإِذَا سَجَدَ غَمَزَنِي فَرَفَعْتُهَا، فَإِذَا قَامَ مَدَدْتُهَا‏.‏

Narrated by Ā’ishah

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…

إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ عَرَضَ لِي، فَشَدَّ عَلَىَّ لِيَقْطَعَ الصَّلاَةَ عَلَىَّ، فَأَمْكَنَنِي اللَّهُ مِنْهُ، فَذَعَتُّهُ، وَلَقَدْ هَمَمْتُ أَنْ أُوثِقَهُ إِلَى سَارِيَةٍ حَتَّى تُصْبِحُوا فَتَنْظُرُوا إِلَيْهِ…

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah + 6 other versions

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. (Shu`ba, a sub-narrator, said that man was Abu Barza Al-Aslami). A man from the…

، وَإِنِّي غَزَوْتُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم سِتَّ غَزَوَاتٍ أَوْ سَبْعَ غَزَوَاتٍ وَثَمَانِيًا، وَشَهِدْتُ تَيْسِيرَهُ، وَإِنِّي أَنْ كُنْتُ أَنْ أُرَاجِعَ مَعَ دَابَّتِي أَحَبُّ إِلَىَّ مِنْ أَنْ…

Narrated by Abu Barza + 1 other version

Once the sun eclipsed and Allah's Messenger (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 rak`a and then said…

خَسَفَتِ الشَّمْسُ، فَقَامَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَرَأَ سُورَةً طَوِيلَةً، ثُمَّ رَكَعَ فَأَطَالَ، ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ، ثُمَّ اسْتَفْتَحَ بِسُورَةٍ أُخْرَى، ثُمَّ رَكَعَ حَتَّى قَضَاهَا وَسَجَدَ، ثُمَّ…

Narrated by Ā’ishah

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…

إِنَّ اللَّهَ قِبَلَ أَحَدِكُمْ، فَإِذَا كَانَ فِي صَلاَتِهِ، فَلاَ يَبْزُقَنَّ ـ أَوْ قَالَ ـ لاَ يَتَنَخَّمَنَّ ‏"‏‏.‏ ثُمَّ نَزَلَ فَحَتَّهَا بِيَدِهِ‏.‏

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar

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."

إِذَا كَانَ فِي الصَّلاَةِ فَإِنَّهُ يُنَاجِي رَبَّهُ، فَلاَ يَبْزُقَنَّ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَلاَ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ، وَلَكِنْ عَنْ شِمَالِهِ تَحْتَ قَدَمِهِ الْيُسْرَى ‏"

Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik + 13 other versions

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.

كَانَ النَّاسُ يُصَلُّونَ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَهُمْ عَاقِدُو أُزْرِهِمْ مِنَ الصِّغَرِ عَلَى رِقَابِهِمْ، فَقِيلَ لِلنِّسَاءِ ‏"‏ لاَ تَرْفَعْنَ رُءُوسَكُنَّ حَتَّى يَسْتَوِيَ الرِّجَالُ جُلُوسًا ‏"

Narrated by Sahl ibn Sa‘d + 4 other versions

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…

إِنَّ فِي الصَّلاَةِ شُغْلاً ‏"

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Mas‘ūd + 6 other versions

Allah's Messenger (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 Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) is angry because I did not come quickly…

إِنَّمَا مَنَعَنِي أَنْ أَرُدَّ عَلَيْكَ أَنِّي كُنْتُ أُصَلِّي ‏"‏‏.‏ وَكَانَ عَلَى رَاحِلَتِهِ مُتَوَجِّهًا إِلَى غَيْرِ الْقِبْلَةِ‏.‏

Narrated by Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh

The news about the differences amongst the people of Bani `Amr bin `Auf 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…

مَا لَكُمْ حِينَ نَابَكُمْ شَىْءٌ فِي الصَّلاَةِ أَخَذْتُمْ بِالتَّصْفِيحِ إِنَّمَا التَّصْفِيحُ لِلنِّسَاءِ، مَنْ نَابَهُ شَىْءٌ فِي صَلاَتِهِ فَلْيَقُلْ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ

Narrated by Sahl ibn Sa‘d + 6 other versions

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

الْخَصْرِ، فِي الصَّلاَةِ‏.‏

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah + 1 other version

It was forbidden to pray with the hands over one's hips.

يُصَلِّيَ الرَّجُلُ مُخْتَصِرًا‏.‏

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah + 6 other versions

I offered the `Asr 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…

ذَكَرْتُ وَأَنَا فِي الصَّلاَةِ تِبْرًا عِنْدَنَا، فَكَرِهْتُ أَنْ يُمْسِيَ أَوْ يَبِيتَ عِنْدَنَا فَأَمَرْتُ بِقِسْمَتِهِ ‏"

Narrated by Uqbah ibn al-Hārith + 2 other versions

Allah's Messenger (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…

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…

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah + 16 other versions

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 Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) s recite yesterday in the `Isha' prayer?" He said, "I do not know." I said, "Did you not attend the prayer?" He said, "Yes, (I…

بِمَ قَرَأَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم الْبَارِحَةَ فِي الْعَتَمَةِ فَقَالَ لاَ أَدْرِي‏.‏ فَقُلْتُ لَمْ تَشْهَدْهَا قَالَ بَلَى‏.‏ قُلْتُ لَكِنْ أَنَا أَدْرِي، قَرَأَ سُورَةَ كَذَا وَكَذَا‏.‏

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah + 1 other version