3.

Book of Prayer

٣-

كتاب الصلاة

Ghazwān bin Jarīr narrates from his father that he used to spend most of his time with Sayyidunā ‘Alī (may Allah be pleased with him). He states that when Sayyidunā ‘Alī (may Allah be pleased with him) would stand for prayer, he would say the takbīr (Allāhu Akbar) and tie his right hand over his left wrist. He would remain in that state until going into rukū’ (bowing). (He would remain in that state from the takbīr until the rukū’), only moving his body out of necessity or to adjust his clothing. When he would give salām (greetings of peace at the end of the prayer), he would turn to his right side and say “Assalāmu ‘alaykum,” then turn to his left and do the same. Then he would move his lips. We do not know what he would recite. Then he would say, “Lā ilāha illallāhu wahdahu lā sharīka lah, lahul mulku wa lahul ḥamdu wa huwa ‘alā kulli shay’in qadīr. Lā ḥawla wa lā quwwata illā billāh, lā na’budu illā iyyāh” (There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, He is One and has no partner, to Him belongs all sovereignty and praise and He is over all things omnipotent. There is no might nor power except with Allah, we worship none but Him). Then he would turn his face towards the people. He would not be particular about whether he exited from the right side or the left (meaning, sometimes he would exit from the right and sometimes from the left).