3.

Book of Prayer

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كتاب الصلاة

Hattan bin Abdullah Raqashi narrated that Sayyiduna Abu Musa Ash'ari (may Allah be pleased with him) led the people in prayer. When he sat down (at the end of the prayer), a man said: "Prayer is established with goodness and purity." When Abu Musa Ash'ari (may Allah be pleased with him) finished the prayer and said the salam, he asked, "Who among you said these words?" All the people remained silent. They tried to find out who had said these words, but again no one answered. So, he said, "O Hattan! Perhaps you said these words?" I said, "By Allah! I did not say these words, but I fear that you may punish me for this reason." Then, a man stood up and said, "I said these words, and my intention was good." So, Abu Musa said, "Do you not know how you should pray? Indeed, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) addressed us, explained the Sunnah clearly to us, and taught us the prayer. He said: 'When you stand up for prayer, then straighten your rows. When the Imam says the Takbir, then say the Takbir, and when he recites { غَیْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَیْہِمْ وَلاَ الضَّالِّینَ }, then say 'Ameen', may Allah accept your supplication. And when the Imam says the Takbir and bows down, then you too say the Takbir and bow down. The Imam should say the Takbir before you and rise before you. So, this is its equivalent (meaning, he should spend the same amount of time standing before bowing as he does bowing). And when the Imam says ' سَمِعَ اللَّہُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَہُ ', then you say ' رَبَّنَا لَکَ الْحَمْدُ '. When he sits, then the first thing he should say is: ' اَلتَّحِیَّاتُ الطَّیِّبَاتُ الزَّاکِیَاتُ لِلَّہِ ، اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَیْکَ أَیُّہَا النَّبِیُّ وَرَحْمَۃُ اللَّہِ وَبَرَکَاتُہُ ، اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَیْنَا وَعَلَی عِبَادِ اللَّہِ الصَّالِحِیْنَ ، أَشْہَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلٰہَ إِلاَّ اللَّہُ ، وَأَشْہَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُہُ وَرَسُولُہُ ' All verbal, financial, and best deeds are for Allah alone. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.' "