Mishkat al-Masabih

‘Abd ar-Rahman b. ‘Auf said that he heard God’s Messenger say,“If any of you prays a prayer and is in doubt whether it is deficient, he should go on praying till he begins to wonder whether he has not prayed too much.” Ahmad transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas said that the Prophet prostrated himself when an-Najm (Al-Qur'an; 53) was revealed, and the Muslims, the ploytheists, jinn and men prostrated themselves along with him. Bukhari transmitted it.

We prostrated ourselves along with the Prophet on account of “When the sky is rent asunder”, Al-Qur’an; 84) and “Recite in the name of your Lord” (Al-Qur’an; 96). Muslim transmitted it.

God’s Messenger was reciting as-Sajda (Al-Qur’an; 32) when we were with him. He was prostrating himself and we were doing so along with him, but we were so crowded that none of us could find a place for his forehead when prostrating himself. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

I recited to God’s Messenger “By the star” (Al-Qur’an; 53) but he did not prostrate himself when I did so. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

A prostration when reciting Sad (Al-Qur’an; 38) is not one of those which are divinely commanded, but I have seen the Prophet prostrate himself when it was recited. In a version Mujahid said that he asked Ibn ‘Abbas whether he should prostrate himself when reciting Sad, whereupon he recited, “And among his progeny David and Solomon . . . so copy the guidance they received,” (Al-Qur’an; 6:84-90) and said, “Your prophet was one of those who were commanded to copy them.” Bukhari transmitted it.

God’s Messenger taught me fifteen prostrations, while reciting the Qur’an, including three in al-Mufassal, 1 and two in sura al-Hajj2. 1. A title given to the suras from 49 to the end, but several other suras are also mentioned: 37, 45, 47, 48, 50, 61, 67, 87, and 93. The name is most appropriately explained ay meaning that this is the section of the Qur’an which contains many shorter suras. 2. Al-Qur’an; 22 Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

‘Uqba b. ‘Amir told that he said, “Messenger of God, sura al-Hajj has been given superior excellence through having two prostrations in it.” He replied, “Yes, and he who does not make the two prostrations should not recite the two verses.” Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi transmitted it, and said this is a tradition whose isnad is not strong. Al-Masabih has “should not recite it”, as occurs in Sharh as-sunna.

Ibn ‘Umar said that the Prophet made a prostration in the noon prayer, then stood up and bowed; and they thought he recite Tanzil, i.e. sura as-Sajda (Al-Qur’an; 32). Abu Dawud transmitted it.

God’s Messenger used to recite the Qur'an to us, and when he came to a place where a prostration should be made he said “God is most great” and prostrated himself, and we prostrated ourselves along with him. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

He said that in the year of the Conquest* God's Messenger recited a verse at which a prostration should be made and all the people prostrated themselves. Some were mounted, some were prostrating themselves on the ground, and those who were mounted prostrated themselves on their hands. * i.e. the Conquest of Mecca in 8 A.H. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas said that the Prophet did not make a prostration at any verse in al-Mufassal from the time he removed to Medina. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

‘A’isha said that when God’s Messenger prostrated himself at night when reciting the Qur’an he said, “My face prostrates itself to Him who created it and brought forth its hearing and seeing by His might and power.” Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi and Nasa’i transmitted it, and Tirmidhi said this is a hasan sahih tradition.

The Prophet thereupon recited a verse at which a prostration should be made, then prostrated himself, and I heard him saying the words the man told him the tree had said. Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it, but Ibn Majah did not mention, "and accept it from me as Thou didst accept it from Thy servant David.” Tirmidhi said this is a gharib tradition.

Ibn Mas'ud said that the Prophet recited "By the star”(Al-Qur’an; 53) prostrating himself when doing so, as did those who were with him with the exception of an old man of Quraish who took a handful of pebbles or dust and raised it to his forehead saying. "This is enough for me.” ‘Abdallah (i.e. Ibn Mas’ud) said that he later saw him killed as an infidel. (Bukhari and Muslim.) Bukhari added in a version that he was Umayya b. Khalaf.

Ibn ‘Abbas said that the Prophet prostrated himself when reciting Sad (Al-Qur’an; 38) and said, "David made this prostration in repentance, but we do it out of gratitude.” Nasa’i transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Umar reported God’s Messenger as saying, “None of you must choose for himself and pray at the rising or setting of the sun.” In a version he said, “When the rim of the sun rises leave off prayer till it comes right up, when the rim of the sun goes below the horizon leave off prayer till it has set, and do not make the rising or setting of the sun your time of prayer, for it rises between the horns of the devil.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

There were three times at which God’s Messenger used to forbid us to pray or bury our dead—when the sun begins to rise till it is fully up, when the sun is at its height at midday till it passes the meridian, and when the sun draws near to setting till it sets. Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri reported God’s Messenger as saying, “No prayer is to be said after the morning prayer until the sun rises, or after the afternoon prayer until the sun sets.”. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

After the Prophet had gone to Medina I went there, and I visited him and said, “Tell me about the prayer.” He replied, “Observe the Morning Prayer, then stop praying when the sun is rising till it is fully up, for when it rises it comes up between the horns of the devil, and the infidels prostrate themselves to it at that time. Then pray, for the prayer is witnessed and angels are attendant at it, till the shadow becomes about the breadth of a lance; then cease prayer, for at that time jahannam is heated up. Then when the shadow moves forward pray, for the prayer is witnessed and angels are attendant at it, till you pray the afternoon prayer; then cease prayer till the sun sets, for it sets between the horns of the devil, and at that time the infidels prostrate themselves to it.” I then asked God’s prophet to tell me about ablution, and he said, “None of you will keep his water for ablution handy and rinse his mouth, snuff up water and blow it out without the sins of his face, his mouth and the inner parts of his nose falling out. When he then washes his face as God has commanded him the sins of his face will fall out at the ends of his beard along with the water; when he then washes his arms up to the elbows the sins of his arms will fall out at his finger-tips along with the water; when he then wipes his head the sins of his head will fall out at the ends of his hairs along with the water when he then washes his feet up to the ankles the sins of his feet will fall out at his toes along with the water. Then if he stands praying, and praises, lauds and glorifies God as is fitting and devotes his whole heart to God, his sin will depart leaving him as he was the day his mother bore him.” Muslim transmitted it.