My friend (the Prophet ) advised me to observe three things: (1) to fast three days a month; (2) to pray two Rakat of Duha prayer (fore-noon prayer); and (3) to pray Witr before sleeping.

The Prophet, during his fatal ailment used to blow (on his hands and pass them) over his body while reciting the Mu'auwidhat (Surat-an-Nas and Surat-al-Falaq). When his disease got aggravated, I used to recite them for him and blow (on his hands) and let him pass his hands over his body because of its blessing. (Ma'mar asked Ibn Shihab: How did he use to do Nafth? He said: He used to blow on his hands and then pass them over his face.)

None informed us that he saw the Prophet offering the Duha (i.e. forenoon) prayer, except Um Ham who mentioned that the Prophet took a bath in her house on the day of the Conquest (of Mecca) and then offered an eight Rakat prayer. She added, ''I never saw the Prophet offering a lighter prayer than that prayer, but he was performing perfect bowing and prostrations.''

When the last Verses of Surat-al-Baqara were revealed, the Prophet read them in the Mosque and prohibited the trade of alcoholic liquors. ''If the debtor is in difficulty, grant him time till it is easy for him to repay..'' (2.280) Narrated Aisha: When the last Verses of Surat-al-Baqara were revealed, Allah's Apostle stood up and recited them before us and then prohibited the trade of alcoholic liquors.

During the Prophet's fatal illness, he used to recite the Mu'auwidhat (Surat An-Nas and Surat Al-Falaq) and then blow his breath over his body. When his illness was aggravated, I used to recite those two Suras and blow my breath over him and make him rub his body with his own hand for its blessings.'' (Ma'mar asked Az-Zuhri: How did the Prophet use to blow? Az-Zuhri said: He used to blow on his hands and then passed them over his face.)

Once a man was driving two Nadihas (camels used for agricultural purposes) and night had fallen. He found Mu'adh praying so he made his camel kneel and joined Mu'adh in the prayer. The latter recited Surat AlBaqara'' or Surat ''An-Nisa'', (so) the man left the prayer and went away. When he came to know that Mu'adh had criticized him, he went to the Prophet, and complained against Mu'adh. The Prophet said thrice, ''O Mu'adh ! Are you putting the people to trial?'' It would have been better if you had recited ''Sabbih Isma Rabbika-l-a-la (87)'', Wash-Shamsi wadu-haha (91)'', or ''Wal-laili Idha yaghsha (92)'', for the old, the weak and the needy pray behind you.'' Jabir said that Mu'adh recited Sura Al-Baqara in the Isha' prayer.

Only Um Hani told us that she had seen the Prophet (p.b.u.h) offering the Duha (forenoon prayer). She said, ''On the day of the conquest of Mecca, the Prophet took a bath in my house and offered eight Rakat. I never saw him praying such a light prayer but he performed perfect prostration and bowing. Narrated Abdullah bin amir that his father had told him that he had seen the Prophet (p.b.u.h) praying Nawafil at night on the back of his Mount on a journey, facing whatever direction it took.

I sat in a gathering in which the chiefs of the Ansar were present, and Abdur-Rahman bin Abu Laila was amongst them. I mentioned the narration of Abdullah bin Utba regarding the question of Subai'a bint Al-Harith. Abdur-Rahman said, ''But Abdullah's uncle used not to say so.'' I said, ''I am too brave if I tell a lie concerning a person who is now in Al-Kufa,'' and I raised my voice. Then I went out and met Malik bin Amir or Malik bin Auf, and said, ''What was the verdict of Ibn Mas'ud about the pregnant widow whose husband had died?'' He replied, ''Ibn Mas'ud said, Why do you impose on her the hard order and don't let her make use of the leave? The shorter Sura of women (i.e. Surat-at-Talaq) was revealed after the longer Sura (i.e. Surat-al-Baqara).'' (i.e. Her Idda is up till she delivers.)

Mu'awiya bin Qurra reported that Abdullah bin Al-Maghaffal Al-Muzani said, ''I saw Allah's Apostle on the day of the Conquest of Mecca, riding his she-camel and reciting Surat-al-Fath (48) or part of Surat-al-Fath. He recited it in a vibrating and pleasant voice. Then Mu'awiya recited as Abdullah bin Mughaffal had done and said, ''Were I not afraid that the people would crowd around me, I would surely recite in a vibrating pleasant voice as Ibn Mughaffal did, imitating the Prophet.'' I asked Muawiya, ''How did he recite in that tone?'' He said thrice, ''A, A , A.''

A lady came to Allah's Apostle and said, ''O Allah's Apostle! I have come to you to offer myself to you.'' He raised his eyes and looked at her and then lowered his head. When the lady saw that he did not make any decision, she sat down. On that, a man from his companions got up and said. ''O Allah's Apostle! If you are not in need of this woman, then marry her to me.'' Allah's Apostle said, ''Do you have anything to offer her?'' He replied. ''No, by Allah, O Allah's Apostle!'' The Prophet said to him, ''Go to your family and see if you can find something.' The man went and returned, saying, ''No, by Allah, O Allah's Apostle! I have not found anything.'' The Prophet said, ''Try to find something, even if it is an iron ring.'' He went again and returned, saying, ''No, by Allah, O Allah's Apostle, not even an iron ring, but I have this waist sheet of mine.'' The man had no upper garment, so he intended to give her, half his waist sheet. So Allah's Apostle said, 'What would she do with your waist sheet? If you wear it, she will have nothing of it over her body, and if she wears it, you will have nothing over your body.'' So that man sat for a long period and then got up, and Allah's Apostle saw him going away, so he ordered somebody to call him. When he came, the Prophet asked him, '' How much of the Qur'an do you know?'' He replied, ''I know such Surat and such Surat and such Surat,'' and went on counting it, The Prophet asked him, ''Can you recite it by heart?'' he replied, ''Yes.'' The Prophet said, ''Go, I have married this lady to you for the amount of the Qur'an you know by heart.''

I heard Hisham bin Hakim bin Hizam reciting Surat-al-Furqan during the lifetime of Allah's Apostle, and I listened to his recitation and noticed that he recited it in several ways which Allah's Apostle had not taught me. So I was on the point of attacking him in the prayer, but I waited till he finished his prayer, and then I seized him by the collar and said, ''Who taught you this Surah which I have heard you reciting?'' He replied, ''Allah's Apostle taught it to me.'' I said, ''You are telling a lie; By Allah! Allah's Apostle taught me (in a different way) this very Surah which I have heard you reciting.'' So I took him, leading him to Allah's Apostle and said, ''O Allah's Apostle! I heard this person reciting Surat-al-Furqan in a way that you did not teach me, and you have taught me Surat-al-Furqan.'' The Prophet said, ''O Hisham, recite!'' So he recited in the same way as I heard him recite it before. On that Allah's Apostle said, ''It was revealed to be recited in this way.'' Then Allah's Apostle said, ''Recite, O Umar!'' So I recited it as he had taught me. Allah's Apostle then said, ''It was revealed to be recited in this way.'' Allah'' Apostle added, ''The Quran has been revealed to be recited in several different ways, so recite of it that which is easier for you.''

I heard Hisham bin Hakim bin Hizam reciting Surat-al-Furqan in a way different to that of mine. Allah's Apostle had taught it to me (in a different way). So, I was about to quarrel with him (during the prayer) but I waited till he finished, then I tied his garment round his neck and seized him by it and brought him to Allah's Apostle and said, ''I have heard him reciting Surat-al-Furqan in a way different to the way you taught it to me.'' The Prophet ordered me to release him and asked Hisham to recite it. When he recited it, Allah s Apostle said, ''It was revealed in this way.'' He then asked me to recite it. When I recited it, he said, ''It was revealed in this way. The Qur'an has been revealed in seven different ways, so recite it in the way that is easier for you.''

Surat Bani Israel and Al-Kahf and Mary are among my first old property.

Ibn Umar never offered the Duha prayer except on two occasions: (1) Whenever he reached Mecca; and he always used to reach Mecca in the forenoon. He would perform Tawaf round the Ka'ba and then offer two Rakat at the rear of Maqam Ibrahim. (2) Whenever he visited Quba, for he used to visit it every Saturday. When he entered the Mosque, he disliked to leave it without offering a prayer. Ibn Umar narrated that Allah's Apostle used to visit the Mosque of Quba (sometime) walking and (sometime) riding. And he (i.e. Ibn Umar) used to say, ''I do only what my companions used to do and I don't forbid anybody to pray at any time during the day or night except that one should not intend to pray at sunrise or sunset.''

I learnt, Glorify the Name of your Lord the Most High' (Surat al-A'la) No 87, before the Prophet came (to Medina) .