Allah's Apostle said, ''If the people knew the reward for pronouncing the Adhan and for standing in the first row (in congregational prayers) and found no other way to get that except by drawing lots they would draw lots, and if they knew the reward of the Zuhr prayer (in the early moments of its stated time) they would race for it (go early) and if they knew the reward of Isha' and Fajr (morning) prayers in congregation, they would come to offer them even if they had to crawl.''

Allah's Apostle said, ''By Him in Whose Hand my soul is I was about to order for collecting fire-wood (fuel) and then order Someone to pronounce the Adhan for the prayer and then order someone to lead the prayer then I would go from behind and burn the houses of men who did not present themselves for the (compulsory congregational) prayer. By Him, in Whose Hands my soul is, if anyone of them had known that he would get a bone covered with good meat or two (small) pieces of meat present in between two ribs, he would have turned up for the Isha' prayer.'

We came to the Prophet and stayed with him for twenty days and nights. We were all young and of about the same age. The Prophet was very kind and merciful. When he realized our longing for our families, he asked about our homes and the people there and we told him. Then he asked us to go back to our families and stay with them and teach them (the religion) and to order them to do good things. He also mentioned some other things which I have (remembered or) forgotten. The Prophet then added, ''Pray as you have seen me praying and when it is the time for the prayer one of you should pronounce the Adhan and the oldest of you should lead the prayer.

I remember ten Rakat of Nawafil from the Prophet, two Rakat before the Zuhr prayer and two after it; two Rakat after Maghrib prayer in his house, and two Rakat after Isha' prayer in his house, and two Rakat before the Fajr prayer and at that time nobody would enter the house of the Prophet Hafsa told me that the Prophet used to offer two Rakat after the call maker had made the Adhan and the day had dawned.

Allah's Apostle said, ''By Him in Whose Hands my life is, I was about to order for collecting fire wood and then order someone to pronounce the Adhan for the prayer and then order someone to lead the people in prayer and then I would go from behind and burn the houses of men who did not present themselves for the (compulsory congregational) prayer. By Him in Whose Hands my life is, if anyone of you had known that he would receive a bone covered with meat or two (small) pieces of meat present in between two ribs, he would come for Isha' prayer.'' (See Hadith No. 617, Vol. 1)

I stayed overnight in the house of my aunt Maimuna. Allah's Apostle talked with his wife for a while and then went to bed. When it was the last third of the night, he got up and looked towards the sky and said: ''Verily! In the creation of the Heavens and the Earth and in the alteration of night and day, there are indeed signs for men of understanding.'' (3.190) Then he stood up, performed ablution, brushed his teeth with a Siwak, and then prayed eleven Rakat. Then Bilal pronounced the Adhan (i.e. call for the Fajr prayer). The Prophet then offered two Rakat (Sunna) prayer and went out (to the Mosque) and offered the (compulsory congregational) Fajr prayer.

Ibn Abbas was asked, ''Did you offer the Id prayer with the Prophet?'' He said, ''Yes, had it not been for my close relation to the Prophet, I would not have performed it (with him) because of my being too young The Prophet came to the mark which is near the home of Kathir bin As-Salt and offered the Id prayer and then delivered the sermon. I do not remember if any Adhan or Iqama were pronounced for the prayer. Then the Prophet ordered (the women) to give alms, and they started stretching out their hands towards their ears and throats (giving their ornaments in charity), and the Prophet ordered Bilal to go to them (to collect the alms), and then Bilal returned to the Prophet

Once I stayed overnight at the house of (my aunt ) Maimuna while the Prophet was with her, to see how was the night prayer of Allah s Apostle Allah's Apostle talked to his wife for a while and then slept. When it was the last third of the night (or part of it), the Prophet got up and looked towards the sky and recited the Verse:– Verily! In the creation of the Heavens and the Earth….there are indeed signs for the men of understanding.' (3.190) Then He got up and performed the ablution, brushed his teeth and offered eleven Rakat. Then Bilal pronounced the Adhan whereupon the Prophet offered a two-Rak'at (Sunna) prayer and went out to lead the people in Fajr (morning compulsory congregational prayer.

Allah's Apostle said, ''When the call for prayer is made, Satan takes to his heels passing wind so that he may not hear the Adhan and when the call is finished he comes back, and when the Iqama is pronounced, Satan again takes to his heels, and when the Iqama is finished he comes back again and tries to interfere with the person and his thoughts and say, ''Remember this and that (which he has not thought of before the prayer)'', till the praying person forgets how much he has prayed. If anyone of you does not remember whether he has offered three or four Rakat then he should perform two prostrations of Sahu while sitting.

I heard Ibn Abbas answering a man who asked him, ''Did you attend the prayer of Id al Adha or Id-al-Fitr with Allah's Apostle?'' Ibn Abbas replied, ''Yes, and had it not been for my close relationship with him, I could not have offered it.'' (That was because of his young age). Ibn Abbas further said, Allah's Apostle went out and offered the Id prayer and then delivered the sermon.'' Ibn Abbas did not mention anything about the Adhan (the call for prayer) or the Iqama. He added, ''Then the Prophet went to the women and instructed them and gave them religious advice and ordered them to give alms and I saw them reaching out (their hands to) their ears and necks (to take off the earrings and necklaces, etc.) and throwing (it) towards Bilal. Then the Prophet returned with Bilal to his house . ''

Allah's Apostle said, ''While a man was going on a way, he saw a thorny branch and removed it from the way and Allah became pleased by his action and forgave him for that.'' Then the Prophet said, ''Five are martyrs: One who dies of plague, one who dies of an abdominal disease, one who dies of drowning, one who is buried alive (and) dies and one who is killed in Allah's cause.'' (The Prophet further said, ''If the people knew the reward for pronouncing the Adhan and for standing in the first row (in the congregational prayer) and found no other way to get it except by drawing lots they would do so, and if they knew the reward of offering the Zuhr prayer early (in its stated time), they would race for it and they knew the reward for Isha' and Fajr prayers in congregation, they would attend them even if they were to crawl')

Once Malik bin Huwairith said to his friends, ''Shall I show you how Allah's Apostle used to offer his prayers?'' And it was not the time for any of the compulsory congregational prayers. So he stood up (for the prayer) bowed and said the Takbir, then he raised his head and remained standing for a while and then prostrated and raised his head for a while (sat up for a while). He prayed like our Sheikh Amr Ibn Salama. (Aiyub said, ''The latter used to do a thing which I did not see the people doing i.e. he used to sit between the third and the fourth Rak'a). IMalik bin Huwairith said, ''We came to the Prophet (after embracing Islam) and stayed with him. He said to us, When you go back to your families, pray such and such a prayer at such and such a time, pray such and such a prayer at such and such a time, and when there is the time for the prayer then only of you should pronounce the Adhan for the prayer and the oldest of you should lead the prayer.''

By chance I went to the Prophet at noon while he was at Al-Abtah (resting) in a tent. Bilal came out (of the tent) and pronounced the Adhan for the prayer, and entering again, he brought out the water which was left after Allah's Apostle had performed the ablution. The people rushed to take some of the water. Bilal again went in and brought out a spear-headed stick, and then Allah's Apostle came out. As if I were now looking at the whiteness of his leg. Bilal fixed the stick and the Prophet offered a two-Rakat Zuhr prayer and a two-Rak'at Asr prayer, while women and donkeys were passing in front of the Prophet (beyond the stick) .

My father said, ''One night we were traveling with the Prophet and some people said, We wish that Allah's Apostle would take a rest along with us during the last hours of the night.' He said, I am afraid that you will sleep and miss the (Fajr) prayer.' Bilal said, I will make you get up.' So all slept and Bilal rested his back against his Rahila and he too was overwhelmed (by sleep) and slept. The Prophet got up when the edge of the sun had risen and said, O Bilal! What about your statement?' He replied, I have never slept such a sleep.' The Prophet said, Allah captured your souls when He wished, and released them when He wished. O Bilal! Get up and pronounce the Adhan for the prayer.' The Prophet performed ablution and when the sun came up and became bright, he stood up and prayed.''

to Mecca and when we proceeded to am' he offered the two prayers (the Maghrib and the Isha') together, making the Adhan and Iqama separately for each prayer. He took his supper in between the two prayers. He offered the Fajr prayer as soon as the day dawned. Some people said, ''The day had dawned (at the time of the prayer),'' and others said, ''The day had not dawned.'' Abdullah then said, ''Allah's Apostle said, These two prayers have been shifted from their stated times at this place only (at Al-Muzdalifa); first: The Maghrib and the Isha'. So the people should not arrive at Al-Muzdalifa till the time of the Isha' prayer has become due. The second prayer is the morning prayer which is offered at this hour.' '' Then Abdullah stayed there till it became a bit brighter. He then said, ''If the chief of the believers hastened onwards to Mina just now, then he had indeed followed the Sunna.'' I do not know which proceeded the other, his ('Abdullah's) statement or the departure of Uthman . Abdullah was reciting Talbiya till he threw pebbles at the Jamrat-al-'Aqaba on the Day of Nahr (slaughtering) (that is the 10th of Dhul-Hijja).