Mishkat al-Masabih

I went on an expedition with God’s Messenger to Najd, and when we came in front of the enemy we drew up in line facing them. God’s Messenger then stood up and led us in prayer, and one section stood up along with him while another faced the enemy. He prayed a rak'a with those who were with him and made two prostrations, and then they changed places with those who had not prayed. When they came God’s Messenger prayed a rak'a with them and made two prostrations, then he uttered the salutation and each of them got up and left, after which he prayed a rak'a alone and made two prostrations. Nafi‘ transmitted something similar, adding that when there was greater cause for fear than on that occasion they prayed standing on their feet or mounted, without considering whether or not they were facing the qibla. Nafi‘ said he thought God’s Messenger was the one on whose authority Ibn ‘Umar mentioned that. Bukhari transmitted it.

Yazid b. Ruman told on the authority of Salih b. al-Khawwat on the authority of one who prayed in time of danger along with God’s Messenger at the battle of Dhat ar-Riqa'* that a section formed a line along with him and a section faced the enemy. He led the section which was along with him in a rak'a, then remained standing while they finished the prayer by themselves. They then departed and drew up in line facing the enemy, and when the other party came he led them in the remaining rak'a of his prayer, after which he remained seated while they finished the prayer by themselves. He then led them in uttering the salutation. * This was during an expedition against some sections of Ghatafan in 4 A.H (Bukhari and Muslim.) Bukhari rendered it also by another line from al-Qasim from Salih b. al-Khawwat from Sahl b. Abu Hathma from the Prophet.

We went forward with God’s Messenger, and when we reached Dhat ar-Riqa‘ we came to a shady tree which we left for him. One of the polytheists came along and seeing the sword of God’s Messenger hanging on a tree he took it, drew it from the scabbard and said to him, "Are you afraid of me?” On being told that he was not, he asked, “Who will protect you from me?” He replied, “God will protect me from you.” Then the companions of God’s Messenger threatened him, and he sheathed the sword and hung it up. The call to prayer was made and he led a section in two rak'as, after which they withdrew and he led the other section in two rak'as, so that God’s Messenger prayed four rak'as and the people prayed two. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

God’s Messenger led us in the prayer in time of danger and we drew up in two rows behind him with the enemy between us and the qibla. The Prophet said, "God is most great” and we all said it; then he bowed and we all bowed; then he raised his head after bowing and we all raised ours; then he and the row next him went down in prostration while the rear row stood facing the enemy; then when the Prophet finished the prostration and the row next him stood up, the rear row went down in prostration; then they stood up; then the rear row went to the front and the front row to the rear; then the Prophet bowed and we all bowed; then he raised his head after bowing and we all raised ours; then he and the row next him which had been in the rear in the first rak'a went down in prostration while the rear row stood facing the enemy; then when the Prophet and the row next him finished the prostration the rear row went down and prostrated them selves; then the Prophet, uttered the salutation and we all did so. Muslim transmitted it.

Jabir said the Prophet was leading the people in the noon prayer in time of danger in a valley with palm trees.* He led a section in two rak'as after which he uttered the salutation; then another section came and he led them in two rak'as after which he uttered the salutation. *The Arabic is bi-bain nakhl. Mirqat, 2, 244, says this is the name of a place between Mecca and at-Ta’if; but the name of that place is Nakhla. Alternatively it is said to be Batn an-nakhl near Medina. transmitted it in Sharh as-sunna.

Abu Huraira told how when God's Messenger encamped between Dajnan and ‘Usfan1 the polytheists said, “These people observe a prayer which is dearer to them than their fathers and their sons, and it is the afternoon prayer, so join together and attach them in a single rush.”2 But Gabriel came to the Prophet and ordered him to divide his companions into two divisions and lead one section in prayer while another stood behind them on guard and armed. They would pray one rak'a and God’s Messenger two. 1. Dajnan is a mountain near Mecca and ‘Usfan, a place two days’ journey from Mecca on the way to Medina. 2. Cf. Al-Qur'an; 4:102. Tirmidhi and Nasa’i transmitted it.

Abu Saud al-Khudri said that the Prophet used to go out on the day of the breaking of the fast and the day of sacrifice to the place of prayer, and the first thing he did was to pray. When he finished he would stand facing the people who were seated in their rows, deliver an exhortation, issue instructions and give them commands. If he intended to send out an army he did so, or if he had any special orders he gave them, and then departed. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Jabir b. Samura said, “I prayed along with God’s Messenger at the two festivals, not only once or twice, without an adhan or an iqama." Muslim transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Umar said that God’s Messenger, Abu Bakr and ‘Umar used to say the festival prayers before the sermon. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ibn ‘Abbas was asked whether he had been present at the festival prayer along with God’s Messenger and replied, “Yes, God’s Messenger came out and prayed, then preached a sermon (no mention being made of adhan or iqama). He then went to the women, gave them an exhortation and admonition and ordered them to give alms. I then saw them putting their hands to their ears and necks and giving to Bilal, after which Bilal and he went off to his house.’’ (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ibn ‘Abbas said that on the day of the breaking of the fast the Prophet prayed two rak'as, before and after which he did not pray. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

We were commanded to bring out the men-struous women and those who were secluded on the day of the two festivals so that they might be present at the congregational prayer of the Muslims and their supplication, but the menstruous women had to keep at a distance from their place of prayer. A woman said, “Messenger of God, one of our number does not possess an outer garment." He replied, “Let her friend lend her hers." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘A’isha said that Abu Bakr came to visit her during the days spent at Mina when she had with her two girls who were playing the tambourine—a version says they were singing what the Ansar said to one another at the battle of Bu'ath*-while the Prophet was wrapped in his garment. Abu Bakr rebuked them, whereupon the Prophet uncovered his face and said, “Let them alone, Abu Bakr; these are days of festival." In a version , “Abu Bakr, every people has a festival, and this is ours.” *This battle was fought some years before the Hijra between the two Medina tribes, Aus and Khazraj. The reference here is to poems composed by members of the parties in praise of their tribe. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Anas said that God’s Messenger did not go out in the morning on the day of the breaking of the fast till he ate some dates, and he would eat an odd number. Bukhari transmitted it.

Jabir said that on a festival day the Prophet would return by a different road from the one he had taken when going out. Bukhari transmitted it.

The Prophet addressed us on the day of sacrifice saying, “The first thing we do on this day of ours is to pray; then we return and sacrifice. If anyone does that he has correctly followed our custom; but if anyone makes sacrifice before praying, it is only mutton* he has got ready beforehand for his family, and has nothing to do with the rites." *It counts merely as ordinary food, and is not reckoned as a sacrifice. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Jundub b. ‘Abdallah al-Bajali reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone sacrifices before the prayer, he must sacrifice another animal in place of it; but anyone who does not sacrifice till we have prayed must then sacrifice in God’s name." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Al-Bara’ reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone sacrifices before the prayer, he is sacrificing only for himself; but if anyone sacrifices after the prayer, his rites are complete and he has correctly followed the practice of the Muslims." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ibn ‘Umar said that God’s Messenger used to sacrifice and slaughter at the place of prayer. Bukhari transmitted it. Idain, 22, where “the Prophet” occurs in place of “God’s Messenger.”

Anas said that when the Prophet came to Medina the people had two days on which they engaged in games. Having asked what their significance was and being told that they had engaged in games on them in the pre-Islamic period, he said, “God has substituted for them something better than them, the day of sacrifice and the day of the breaking of the fast.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.