The Book of Prayer - Travellers

'A'isha, the wife of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), reported:
The prayer was prescribed as two rak'ahs, two rak'ahs both in journey and at the place of residence. The prayer while travelling remained as it was (originally prescribed), but an addition was made in the prayer (observed) at the place of residence.

'A'isha, the wife of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), said Allah prescribed the prayer as two rak'ahs, then it was completed (to four rak'ahs) at the place of residence, but was retained in the same position in journey as it was first made obligatory.

'A'isha reported:
The prayer was prescribed as consisting of two rak'ahs, the prayer in travelling remained the same, but the prayer at the place of residence was completed. (Zuhri said he asked 'Urwa why 'A'isha said prayer in the complete form during journey, and he replied that she interpreted the matter herself as 'Uthman did.)

Yahya b. Umayya said:
I told 'Umar b. al-Khattab that Allah had said:" You may shorten the prayer only if you fear that those who are unbelievers may afflict you" (Qur'an, iv. 101), whereas the people are now safe. He replied: I wondered about it in the same way as you wonder about it, so I asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) about it and he said: It is an act of charity which Allah has done to you, so accept His charity.

Ya'la b. Umayya reported:
I said to 'Umar b. al-Khattab, and the rest of the hadlth is the same.

Ibn 'Abbas reported:
Allah has prescribed the prayer through the word of your Prophet (ﷺ) as four rak'ahs when resident, two when travelling, and one when danger is present.

Ibn 'Abbas reported:
Allah has prescribed the prayer by the tongue of your Apostle (ﷺ) as two rak'ahs for the traveller, four for the resident, and one in danger.

Musa b. Salama Hudhali said:
I asked Ibn 'Abbas: How should I say prayer when I am in Mecca, and when I do not pray along with the Imam? He said: Two rak'ahs (of prayer) is the Sunnah of Abu'l-Qasim (ﷺ).

A hadith like this has been narrated by Abu Qatada with the same chain of transmitters.

Hafs b. 'Asim said:
I accompanied Ibn 'Umar on the road to Mecca and he led us in two rak'ahs at the noon prayer, then he went forward and we too went along with him to a place where he alighted, and he sat and we sat along with him, and he cast a glance to the side where he said prayer and he saw people standing and asked: What are they doing? I said: They are engaged in glorifying Allah, offering Sunnah prayer. He said: If I had done so I would have perfected my prayer; O my nephew! I accompanied the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on a journey, and he made no addittion to two rak'ahs, till Allah called him. I accompanied Abu Bakr and he made no addition to two rak'ahs till Allah caused him to die. I accompanied 'Umar and he made no addition to two rak'ahs till Allah caused him to die. I accompanied 'Uthman and he made no addition to two rak'ahs, till Allah caused him to die, and Allah has said:" There is a model pattern for you in the Messenger of Allah" (al-Qur'an, xxxiii. 21).

Hafs b. 'Asim reported:
I fell ill and lbn 'Umar came to inquire after my health, and I asked him about the glorification of Allah (i. e. prayer) while travelling. Thereupon he said: I accompanied the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on a journey but I did not see him glorifying Him, and were I to glorify (Him). I would have completed the prayer. Allah, the Exalted, has said:" Verily there is a model pattern for you in the Messenger of Allah."

Anas reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said four rak'ahs in the noon prayer while at Medina, but he offered two rak'ahs in the afternoon prayer at Dhu'l-Hulaifa.

Anas b. Malik is reported to have said:
I observed four rak'ahs in the noon prayer with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) at Medina, and said two rak'ahs in the afternoon prayer at Dhu'l-Hulaifa.

Yahya b. Yazid al-Huna'i reported:
I asked Anas b. Malik about shortening of prayer. He said: When the Messenger of' Allah (ﷺ) had covered a distance of three miles or three farsakh (Shu'ba, one of the narrators, had some doubt about it) he observed two rak'ahs.

Jubair b. Nufair reported:
I went along with Shurahbil b. al-Simt to a village which was situated at a distance of seventeen or eighteen miles, and he said only two rak'ahs of prayer. I said to him (about it) and he said: I saw 'Umar observing two rak'ahs at Dhu'l-Hulaifa and I (too) said to him (about it) and he said: I am doing the same as I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) doing.

This hadith has been transmitted by Shu'ba with the same chain of narrators and it is narrated from Simt, and the name of Shurahbil has not been mentioned, and he said that he had gone to a place called Dumin, situated at a distance of eighteen miles from Hims.

Anas b. Malik reported:
We went out from Medina to Mecca with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and he prayed two rak'ahs at each time of prayer till we returned to Medina. I said: For how long did he stay in Mecca? He said: (For) ten (days).

A hadith like this has been narrated by Anas by another chain of transmitters.

Yahya b. Abu Ishaq reported:
I heard Anas b. Malik say: We went out for Pilgrimage from Medina. The rest is the same.

A hadith like this has been transmitted by Anas, but no mention has been made of Pilgrimage.

Salim b. 'Abdullah (b. 'Umar) reported on the authority of his father that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) observed the prayer of a traveller, i. e. two rak'ahs in Mina, and other places; so did Abu Bakr and 'Umar, and 'Uthman too observed two rak'ahs at the beginning of his caliphate, but he then completed four.

A hadith like this has been reported by Zuhri, with the same chain of transmitters, and in it mention was made of Mina only, but not of other places.

Ibn 'Umar reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said two rak'ahs at Mina, and Abu Bakr after him, and 'Umar after Abu Bakr, and 'Uthman at the beginning of his caliphate; then 'Uthman observed four rak'ahs, and when Ibn 'Umar prayed with the Imam, he said four rak'ahs, but when he observed prayer alone, he said two rak'ahs.

A hadith like this has been narrated by the same chain of transmitters.

Ibn 'Umar reported:
The Apostle of Allah (ﷺ) said in Mina the prayer of a traveller (short prayer) ; Abu Bakr and 'Umar did the same and 'Uthmia did it for eight years or six years. Hafs (one of the narrators) said: Ibn 'Umar would also say two rak'ahs at Mina and then go to bed. I said to him: O uncle, I wish you could have said two rak'ahs (of Sunnah prayer after shorenting the Fard prayer). He said: Were I to do that, I would have completed the prayer.

This hadith has been narrated by Shu'ba with the same chain of transmitters but no mention has been made of Mina, but they (the narrators) only said:
He prayed while travelling.

Ibrahim reported:
I heard 'Abd al-Rahman as saying; 'Uthman led us four rak'ahs of prayer at Mina. It was reported to Abdullah b. Mas'ud and he recited:" Surely we are Allah's and to Him shall we return," and then said: I prayed with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) at Mina two rak'ahs of prayer. I prayed along with Abu Bakr al-Siddiq two rak'ahs of prayer at Mina. I prayed along with 'Umar b. Khattab two rak'ahs of prayer at Mina. I wish I had my share of the two rak'ahs acceptable (to God) for the four rak'ahs.

A hadith like this has been reported by A'mash with the same chain of transmitters.

Haritha b. Wahb reported:
I prayed with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) two rak'ahs and most of them offered two rak'ahs only in Mina, while the people felt secure.

Wahb al-Khuza'i reported:
I prayed behind the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) at Mina, and there was the greatest number of people, and they prayed two rak'ahs on the occasion of the Farewell Pilgrimage. (Muslim said: Haritha b. Wahb al-Khuza'i is the brother of 'Ubaidullah b. 'Umar son of Khattab from the side of his mother.)

Ibn 'Umar announced Adhan for prayer on a cold, windy night. Then added:
Pray in your dwellings; and then said: When it was a cold, rainy night, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to command the Mu'adhdhin to say" Pray in your dwellings."

Ibn 'Umar reported that he summoned (people) to pray on a cold, windy and rainy night, and then observed at the end of the Adhin:
Pray in your dwellings, pray in your dwellings, and then said: When it was a cold night or it was raining in a journey the Messenger of Allah (may peace he upon him) used to command the Mu'adhdhin to announce: Pray in your dwellings.

Ibn 'Umar reported that he summoned (people) to prayer at a place (known as) Dajnan, and the rest of the hadith is the same, and then said:
Pray in your dwellings, but he did not repeat for the second time words of Ibn 'Umar (Pray in your dwellings).

Jabir reported:
We set cut with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on a journey when it began to rain. Upon this he said: He who desires may pray in his dwelling.

'Abdullah b. 'Abbas reported that he said to the Mu'adhdhin on a rainy day:
When you have announced" I testify that there is no god but Allah; I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah," do not say:" Come to the prayer," but make this announcement:" Say prayer in your houses." He (the narrator) said that the people disapproved of it. Ibn 'Abbas said: Are you astonished at it? He (the Holy Prophet), who is better than I, did it. Jumu'a prayer is no doubt obligatory, but I do not like that I should (force you) to come out and walk in mud and slippery ground.

'Abd al-Hamid reported:
I heard 'Abdullah b. al-Harith say: 'Abdullah b. 'Abbas addressed us on a rainy day, and the rest of the hadith is the same, but he made no mention of Jumu'a prayer, and added: He who did it (who commanded us to say prayer in our houses), i. e. the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), is better than I.

This hadith has been narrated by Ayyub and 'Asim al-Ahwal with the same chain of transmitters, but in this hadith it is not recorded:
" i. e. the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)."

'Abdullah b. Harith reported that Ibn 'Abbas commanded the Mu'adhdhin to (summon the people to prayer on Friday and make announcement to say prayer in their houses) when it was rainy, and the rest of the hadith is the same (except this) that he said:
I do not like you should walk in muddy slippery place.

'Abdullah b. Harith reported that the Mu'adhdhin of Ibn 'Abba said Adhan on Friday (and then made the announcement to say prayer in houses) because it was a rainy day; as it has been narrated by Ma'mar and others, and in this hadith it was mentioned:
He who did it, i. e. the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), was better than I.

A hadith like this that Ibn 'Abbas ordered his Mu'adhdhin (to summon people to prayer and then make announcement to say prayer in their houses) on Friday which was a rainy day, has been transmitted by 'Abdullah b. Harith. Wuhaib, however, says that he did not hear it from him.

Ibn 'Umar reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to say Nafl prayer on (the back of) his camel in whatever direction it took him.

Ibn 'Umar reported that the Apostle (ﷺ) used to pray on (the back of) his camel in whatever direction it took him.

Ibn 'Umar reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to say prayer on his camel while coming from Mecca to Medina, in whatever direction his face had turned; and its was (in this context) that this verse was revealed:
" So whether you turn thither is Allah's face" (ii. 115).

This hadith has been narrated by another chain of transmitters and in the one narrated by Ibn Mubarak and Ibn Abu Za'ida (these words are narrated). Ibn 'Umar then recited:
" Whether you turn thither is Allah's face," and it was revealed in this context.

Ibn 'Umar reported:
I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) praying (Nafl prayer) on a donkey's back while his face was turned towards Khaibar.

Sa'id b. Yasar reported:
I was travelling along with Ibn 'Umar on the way to Mecca. Sa'id said: When I apprehended dawn, I dismounted (the ride) and observed Witr prayer and then again joined him. Ibn 'Umar said to me: Where were you? I said: I apprehended the appearance of dawn, so I dismounted and observed Witr prayer. Upon this 'Abdullah said: Is there not a model pattern for you in the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)? I said: Yes, by Allah, and (then) he said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to observe Witr prayer on the camel's back.

'Abdullah b. Dinar reported on the authority of Ibn 'Umar that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to observe prayer on his ride (no matter) in which direction it had its face turned. 'Abdullah b. Dinar said that Ibn 'Umar used to do like that.

'Abdullah b. 'Umar reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to observe Witr prayer on his ride.

Salim b. 'Abdullah reported on the authority of his father that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be. upon him) used to observe Nafl (supererogatory) prayer on his ride no matter in what direction it turned its face, and he observed Witr too on it, but did not observe obligatory prayer on it.

'Abdullah b. 'Amir b. Rabi'a has reported on the authority of his father that he had seen the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) observing Nafl player at night on a journey on the back of his ride in whichever direction it turned its face.

Anas b. Sirin reported:
We met Anas b. Malik as he came to Syria at a place known as 'Ain-al-Tamar and saw him observing prayer on the back of his donkey with his face turned in that direction. (Hammam one of the narrators) pointed towards the left of Qibla, so I said to him: I find you observing prayer towards the side other than that of Qibla. Upon this he said: Had I not seen the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) doing like this, I would not have done so at all.

Ibn 'Umar reported:
When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was in a state of hurry on a journey, he combined the sunset and 'Isha' prayers.

Nafi' reported that when Ibn 'Umar was in a state of hurry on a journey, he combined the sunset and 'Isha' prayers after the twilight had disappeared, and he would say that when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was in a state of hurry on a journey, he combined the sunset and 'Isha' prayers.

Salim reported from his father to be saying:
I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) combining the sunset and Isha' prayers when he was in a hurry on a journey.

Salim b. 'Abdullah reported that his father had said:
I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) delaying the sunset prayer till he would combine it with the 'Isha' when he hastened to set out on a journey.

Anas b. Malik reported:
When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) set out on a journey before the sun declined (from the meridian), he delayed the noon prayer till the afternoon prayer, and then dismounted (his ride) and combined them (noon and afternoon prayers), but if the sun had declined before his setting out on a journey, he observed the noon prayer and then mounted (the ride).

Anas reported:
When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) intended to combine two prayers on a journey, he delayed the noon prayer till came the early time of the afternoon prayer, and then combined the two.

Anas reported that when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had to set out on a journey hurriedly, he delayed the noon prayer to the earlier time for the afternoon prayer, and then he would combine them, and he would delay the sunset prayer to the time when the twilight would disappear and then combine it with the 'Isha' prayer.

Ibn 'Abbas reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) observed the noon and afternoon prayers together, and the sunset and Isha' prayers together without being in a state of fear or in a state of journey.

Ibn 'Abbas reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) observed the noon and afternoon prayers together in Medina without being in a state of fear or in a state of journey. (Abu Zubair said: I asked Sa'id [one of the narrators] why he did that. He said: I asked Ibn 'Abbas as you have asked me, and he replied that he [the Holy Prophet] wanted that no one among his Ummah should be put to [unnecessary] hardship.)

Ibn 'Abbas reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) combined the prayers as he set on a journey in the expedition to Tabuk. He combined the noon prayer with the afternoon prayer and the sunset prayer with the 'Isha' prayer. Sa'id (one of the rawis) said to Ibn 'Abbas:
What prompted him to do this? He said: He wanted that his Ummah should not be put to (unnecessary) hardship.

Mu'adh reported:
We set out with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on the Tabuk expedition, and he observed the noon and afternoon prayers together and the sunset and 'Isha' prayers together.

Mu'adh b. Jabal reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) combined in the expedition to Tabuk the noon prayer with the afternoon prayer and the sunset prayer with the 'Isha' prayer. He (one of the narrators) said: What prompted him to do that? He (Mu'adh) replied that he (the Holy Prophet) wanted that his Ummah should not be put to (unnecessary) hardship.

Ibn 'Abbas reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) combined the noon prayer with the afternoon prayer and the sunset prayer with the 'Isha' prayer in Medina without being in a state of danger or rainfall. And in the hadith transmitted by Waki' (the words are):
" I said to Ibn 'Abbas: What prompted him to do that? He said: So that his (Prophet's) Ummah should not be put to (unnecessary) hardship." And in the hadith transmitted by Mu'awiya (the words are):" It was said to Ibn 'Abbas: What did he intend thereby? He said he wanted that his Ummah should not be put to unnecessary hardship."

Ibn 'Abbas reported:
I observed with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) eight (rak'ahs) in combination, and seven rak'ahs in combination. I (one of the narrators) said: O Abd Sha'tha', I think that he (the Holy Prophet) had delayed the noon prayer and hastened the afternoon prayer, and he delayed the sunset prayer and hastened the 'Isha' prayer. He said: I also think so.

Ibn 'Abbas reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) observed in Medina seven (rak'ahs) and eight (rak'ahs), i. e. (be combined) the noon and afternoon prayers (eight rak'ahs) and the sunset and 'Isha' prayers (seven rak'ahs).

'Abdullah b. Shaqiq reported:
Ibn 'Abbas one day addressed us in the afternoon (after the afternoon prayer) till the sun disappeared and the stars appeared, and the people began to say: Prayer, prayer. A person from Banu Tamim came there. He neither slackened nor turned away, but (continued crying): Prayer, prayer. Ibn 'Abbas said: May you be deprived of your mother, do you teach me Sunnah? And then he said: I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) combining the noon and afternoon prayers and the sunset and 'Isha' prayers. 'Abdullah b. Shaqiq said: Some doubt was created in my mind about it. So I came to Abu Huraira and asked him (about it) and he testified his assertion.

'Abdullah b. Shaqiq al-'Uqaili reported:
A person said to Ibn 'Abbas (as he delayed the prayer): Prayer. He kept silence. He again said: Prayer. He again kept silence, and he again cried: Prayer. He again kept silence and said: May you be deprived of your mother, do you teach us about prayer? We used to combine two prayers during the life of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).

Abdullah reported:
None of you should give a share to Satan out of your self. He should not deem that it is necessary for him to turn but to the right only (after prayer). I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) turning to the left.

A hadith like this has been narrated by A'mash, with the same chain of transmitters.

Suddi reported:
I asked Anas how I should turn-to the right or to the left-when I say my prayers. He said: I have very often seen the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) turning to the right.

Anas reported:
The Apostle of Allah (ﷺ) used to turn to the right (at the end of the prayer).

Bara' reported:
When we prayed behind the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) we cherished to be on his right side so that his face would turn towards us (at the end of the prayer), and he (the narrator) said: I heard him say: O my Lord! save me from Thy torment on the Day when Thoil, wouldst raise or gather Thy servants.

This hadith has been reported by Mis'ar with the same chain of transmitters, but he made no mention of:
" His face would turn towards us."

Abu Huraira reported the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying:
When the prayer commences then there is no prayer (valid), but the obligatory prayer. This hadith has been narrated by Warqa' with the same chain of transmitters.

Abu Huraira reported the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying:
When the prayer commences, there is no prayer but the obligatory one.

A hadith like this has been reported by Ishaq with the same chain of transmitters.

This hadith has been narrated by Abu Huraira with another chain of transmitters. Hammad (one of the narrators) said:
I then met 'Amr (the other narrator) and he narrated it to me, but it was not transmitted directly from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).

'Abdullah b. Malik b. Buhaina reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) happened to pass by a person who was busy in praying while the (Fard of the) dawn prayer had commenced. He said something to him, which we do not know what it was. When we turned back we surrounded him and said: What is it that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to you? He replied: He (the Holy Prophet) had said to me that he perceived as if one of them was about to observe four (rak'ahs) of the dawn prayer. Qa'nabi reported that 'Abdullah b. Malik b. Buhaina narrated it on the authority of his father. (Abu'l-Husain Muslim said): His assertion that he has narrated this hadith on the authority of his father is not correct.

Ibn Buhaina reported:
The dawn prayer had commenced when the Messen- ger of Allah (ﷺ) saw a person observing prayer, whereas the Mu'adhdhin had pronounced the Iqama. Upon this he (the Holy Prophet) remarked: Do you say four (rak'ahs) of Fard in the dawn prayer?

'Abdullah b. Sarjis reported:
A person entered the mosque, while the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was leading the dawn prayer. He observed two rak'ahs in a corner of the mosque, and then joined the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) in prayer. When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had pronounced salutations (he had concluded the prayer), he said: O, so and so, which one out of these two prayers did you count (as your Fard prayer), the one that you observed alone or the prayer that you observed with us?

Abu Usaid reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
When any one of you enters the mosque, he should say:" O Allah! open for me the doors of Thy mercy" ; and when he steps out he should say: 'O Allah! I beg of Thee Thy Grace." (Imam Muslim said: I heard Yahya saying: I transcribed this hadith from the compilation of Sulaiman b. Bilal.)

A hadith like this has been narrated from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) by Abu Usaid.

Abu Qatada (a Companion of the Prophet) reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:
When any one of you enters the mosque, he should observe two rak'ahs (of Nafl prayer) before sitting.

Abu Qatada, a Companion of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), said:
I entered the mosque, when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had been sitting among people, and I also sat down among them. Upon this the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: What prevented you from offering two rak'ahs (of Nafl prayer) before sitting down? I said: Messenger of Allah, I saw you sitting and people sitting (around you and I, therefore, sat in your company). He (the Holy Prophet) then said: When anyone among you enters the mosque, he should not sit till he has observed two rak'ahs.

Jabir b. 'Abdullah reported:
The Apostle of Allah (ﷺ) owed me a debt; he paid me back and made an addition (of this). I entered the mosque and he (the Holy Prophet) said to me: Observe two rak'ahs of prayer.

Jabir b. 'Abdullah reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) bought a camel from me. When he came back to Medina, he ordered me to come to the mosque and observed two rak'ahs of prayer.

Jabir b. 'Abdullah reported:
I went with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on an expedition and my camel delayed me and I was exhausted. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) thus came earlier than I, whereas I came on the next day and went to the mosque and found him (the Holy Prophet) at the gate of the mosque. He said: It is now that you have come. I said. Yes. He said: Leave your camel and enter (the mosque) and observe two rak'ahs. He (the narrator) said: So I entered and observed (two rak'ahs) of prayer and then went back.

Ka'b b. Malik reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) did not come back from the journey but by day in the forenoon, and when he arrived, he went first to the mosque, and having prayed two rak'ahs in it he sat down in it.

'Abdullah b. Shaqiq reported:
I asked 'A'isha whether the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to observe the forenoon prayer. She said: No, but when he came back from the journey.

'Abdullah b. Shaqiq reported:
I aksed 'A'isha whether the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to observe the forenoon prayer. She said: No, except when he came back from a journey.

'Urwa reported 'A'isha to be sayidg:
I have never seen the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) observing the supererogatory prayer of the forenoon, but I observed it. And if the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) abandoned any act which he in fact loved to do, it was out of fear that if the people practised it constantly, it might become obligatory for them.

Mu'adha asked 'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) how many rak'ahs Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) prayed at the forenoon prayer. She replied:
Four rak'ahs, but sometimes more as he pleased.

A hadith like this has been reported by the same chain of transmitters, but with this alteration that the transmitter said:
" As Allah pleased."

Mua'ada 'Adawiyya reported 'A'isha as saying:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to observe four rak'ahs in the forenoon prayer and he sometimes observed more as Allah pleased.

A hadith like this has been narrated by Qatada with the same chain of transmitters.

Abd al-Rahman b. Abu Laila reported:
No one has ever narrated to me that he saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) observing the forenoon prayer, except Umm Hani. She, however, narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) entered her house on the day of the Conquest of Mecca and prayed eight rak'ahs (adding): I never saw a shorter prayer than it except that he performed the bowing and prostration completely. But (one of the narrators) Ibn Bashshar in his narration made no mention of the word:" Never".

'Abdullah b. Harith b. Naufal reported:
I had been asking about, as I was desirous to find one among people who should inform me, whether the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) observed the forenoon prayer, but I found none to narrate that to me except Umm Hani, daughter of Abu Talib (the real sister of Hadrat 'Ali), who told me that on the day of the Conquest the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came (to our house) after the dawn had (sufficiently) arisen. A cloth was brought and privacy was provided for him (the Holy Prophet). He took a bath and then stood up and observed eight rak'ahs. I do not know whether his Qiyam (standing posture) was longer, or bending or prostration or all of them were of equal duration. She (Umm Hani) further said: I never saw him saying this Nafl prayer prior to it or subsequently. (Al-Muradi narrated on the authority of Yunus that he made no mention of the words:" He informed me." )

Abu Murra, the freed slave of Umm Hani, daughter of Abu Talib, reported Umm Hani to be saying:
I went to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on the day of the Conquest of Mecca and found him taking a bath, and Fatimah, his daughter, had provided him privacy with the help of a cloth. I gave him salutation and he said: Who is she? I said: It is Umm Hani, daughter of Abu Talib. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Greeting for Umm Hani. When he had completed the bath, he stood up and observed eight rak'ahs wrapped up in one cloth. When he turned back (after the prayer), I said to him: Messenger of Allah, the son of my mother 'Ali b. Abu Talib is going to kill a person, Fulan b. Hubaira whom I have given protection. Upon this the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: We too have given protection whom you have given protection, O Umm Hani. Umm Hani said: It was the forenoon (prayer).

Abu Murra narrated on the authority of Umm Hani that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on the day of the Conquest of Mecca observed in her house eight rak'ahs of prayer in one cloth, its opposite corners having been tied from the opposite sides.

Abu Dharr reported Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) as saying:
In the morning charity is due from every bone in the body of every one of you. Every utterance of Allah's glorification is an act of charity. Every utterance of praise of Him is an act of charity, every utterance of profession of His Oneness is an act of charity, every utterance of profession of His Greatness is an act of charity, enjoining good is an act of charity, forbidding what is distreputable is an act of charity, and two rak'ahs which one prays in the forenoon will suffice.

Abu Huraira reported. My friend (the Holy Prophet, may peace be upon him) has instructed me to do three things:
three fasts during every month, two rak'ahs of the forenoon prayer, and observing Witr prayer before going to bed.

A hadith like this has been narrated by Abu Huraira by another chain of transmitters.

Abu Huraira reported:
My friend Abu'l-Qasim (ﷺ) instructed me to do three things, and the rest of the hadith is the same.

Abu Murra, the freed slave of Umm Hani, narrated on the authority of Abu Darda':
My Friend (ﷺ) instructed me in three (acts), and I would never abandon them as long as I live. (And these three things are): Three fasts during every month, the forenoon prayer, and this that I should not sleep till I have observed the Witr prayer.

Ibn 'Umar reported that Hafsa, the Mother of the Believers, informed him that when the Mu'adhdhin became silent after calling (people) to the dawn prayer, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) commenced the dawn (prayer) when it dawned by observing two short rak'ahs before the commencement of the (Fard) prayer.

This hadith has been transmitted by Nafi' with the same chain of narrators.

Hafsa reported that when it was dawn, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) did not observe (any other prayers) but two short rak'ahs.

A hadith like this has been narrated by Shu'ba with the same chain of transmitters.

Hafsa reported:
When the dawn appeared, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) observed two rak'ahs (of Sunnah prayers).

'A'isha reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to observe two rak'ahs of Sunnah (prayer) when he heard the Adhin and shortened them.

This hadith has been narrated by the same chain of transmitters and in the hadith narrated by Usama the words are:
" When it was dawn".

'A'isha reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to observe two (supererogatory) rak'ahs in between the call to prayer and the Iqama of the dawn prayer.

'A'isha reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) observed two rak'ahs of the dawn prayer and he shortened them (to the extent) that I (out of surprise) said:
Did he recite in them Surah Fatiha (only)?

'A'isha reported:
When it was dawn, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) observed two rak'ahs, and I would say: Does he recite only the opening chapter of the Qur'an in it?

'A'isha reported that the Apostle (ﷺ) was not so much particular about observing supererogatory rak'ahs as in case of the two rak'ahs of the dawn prayer.

'A'isha reported:
I have never seen the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) hastening as much in observing supererogatory as two rak'ahs before the (Fard) of the dawn prayer.

'A'isha reported Allah's Messenger as saying:
The two rak'ahs at dawn are better than this world and what it contains.

'A'isha reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said about the two (supererogatory) rak'ahs of the dawn:
They are dearer to me than the whole world.

Abu Huraira reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) recited in the two (supererogatory) rak'ahs of the dawn (prayer):
" Say: O unbelievers," (Qur'an, cix.) and" Say: Allah is one" (cxii.).

Ibn 'Abbas reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to recite in first of the two (supererogatory) rak'ahs of the dawn:
"Say: We believed in Allah and what was revealed to us..." verse 136 from Surah Baqara, and in the second of the two: "I believe in Allah and I bear testimony that we are Muslims" (iii. 52).

Ibn 'Abbas reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to recite in the two (supererogatory) rak'ahs of the dawn prayer:
" Say: We believed in Allah and what was revealed to us" and that which is found in Surah Al-i-'lmran:" Come to that word (creed) which is common between you and us" (iii. 64).

This hadith has been transmitted by another chain of narrators.

Umm Habiba (the wife of the Holy Prophet) reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:
A house will be built in Paradise, for anyone who prays in a day and a night twelve rak'ahs; and she added: I have never abandoned (observing them) since I heard it from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). Some of the other narrators said the same words: I have never abandoned (observing them) since I heard (from so and so).

Nu'man b. Salim reported with the same chain of transmitters:
He who observed twelve voluntary rak'ahs, a house will be built for him in Paradise.

Umm Habiba, the wife of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:
If any Muslim servant (of Allah) prays for the sake of Allah twelve rak'ahs (of Sunan) every day, over and above the obligatory ones, Allah will build for him a house in Paradise, or a house will be built for him in Paradise; and I have not abandoned observing them after (hearing it from the Messenger of Allah). (So said also 'Amr and Nu'man.)

Umm Habiba reported the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) having said:
If any Muslim servant (of Allah) performed ablution, and performed it well, and then observed every day, the rest of the hadith is the same.

Ibn 'Umar reported:
I prayed along with Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) two rak'ahs before and two rak'ahs after the noon prayer, two rak'ahs after the sunset prayer and two rak'ahs after the 'Isha' prayer and two rak'ahs after the Friday prayer; and so far as the sunset, 'Isha' and Friday prayers are concerned, I observed (them) along with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) in his house.

'Abdullah b. Shaqiq said:
I asked 'A'isha about the Messenger of Allah's (ﷺ) voluntary prayers, and she replied: Before the noon prayer, he used to pray four rak'ahs in my house; then would go out and lead the people in prayer; then come in and pray two rak'ahs. He would then lead the people in the sunset prayer; then come in and pray two rak'ahs. Then he would lead the people in the 'Isha' prayer, and enter my house and pray two rak'ahs. He would pray nine rak'ahs during the night, including Witr. At night he would pray for a long time standing and for a long time sitting, and when he recited the Holy Qur'an while standing, he would bow and prostrate himself from the standing position, and when he recited while sitting, he would bow and prostrate himself from the sitting position, and when it was dawn he would pray two rak'ahs.

'A'isha reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would pray in the night for a long time, and when he prayed standing be bowed in a standing posture, and when he prayed sitting, he bowed in a sitting posture.

'Abdullah b. Shaqiq reported:
I fell ill in Persia and therefore, prayed in a sitting posture, and I asked 'A'isha about it and she said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayed for a long time in the night sitting.

'Abdullah b. Shaqiq al-'Uqaili reported:
I asked 'A'isha about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) during the night (i. e. Tahajjud prayer) She replied: He used to pray for a long time standing and for a long time sitting in the night, and when he recited the Qur'an while standing, he would bow himself from the standing position, and when he recited while sitting, he would bow from the sitting position.

'Abdullah b. Shaqiq al-'Uqaili reported:
I asked 'A'isha about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). She said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would observe prayer (Nafl) in a standing position as well as in a sitting position, and when he commenced the prayer in a standing position, he bowed in this very position, and when he commenced the prayer in a sitting position, he bowed in this very position.

'A'isha reported:
I did not see the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) reciting (the Qur'an) in the night prayer in a sitting position, till he grew old and then he recited (it) in a sitting position, but when thirty or forty verses were left out of the Surah, he would then stand up, recite them and then bowed.

'A'isha reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to pray while sitting (when he grew old) and he recited in this position and when the recitation equal to thirty or forty verses was left, he would then stand up and recite (for this duration) in a standing position and then bowed himself and then prostrated himself and did the same in the second rak'ah.

'A'isha reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to recite in sitting position (while observing the Tahajjud prayer) and when he intended to bow, he would stand up and recite (for the duration in which) a man (ordinarily) recites forty verses.

Alqama b. Waqqas reported:
I asked 'A'isha how the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) did in the two rak'ahs as he (observed them) sitting. She said: He would recite (the Qur'an) in them, and when he intended to bow, he would stand up and then bowed.

'Abdullah b. Shaqiq reported:
I asked 'A'isha whether the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) observed (Nafl) sitting. She said: Yes, when the people had made him old.

'Abdullah b. Shaqiq reported:
I said to 'A'isha and she made a mention of that (recorded above) about the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).

'A'isha reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) died (in this very state) that he observed most of his (Nafl) prayers in a sitting position.

'A'isha reported:
When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) grew bulky and heavy he would observe (most of his Nafl) prayers sitting.

Hafsa reported:
Never did I see the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) observing supererogatory prayer sitting till one year before his death when he would observe Nafl prayer in a sitting position, and he would recite the Surah (of the Qur'an) in such a slow-measured tone (that duration of its recital) became more lengthy than the one longer than this.

Zuhri reported this hadith with the same chain of transmitters, except this that he made a mention of one year or two years.

Jabir b. Samura reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) observed (Nafl) prayer sitting before his death.

'Abdullah b. 'Amr reported:
It was narrated to me that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had said: The prayer observed by a person sitting is half of the prayer. I came to him (ﷺ) and found him praying in a sitting position. I placed my hand on his head. He said: O 'Abdullah b. 'Amr, what is the matter with you? I said: Messenger of Allah, it has been narrated to me that you said: The prayer of a man in a sitting position is half of the prayer, whereas you are observing prayer sitting. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Yes, it is so, but I am not like anyone amongst you.

A hadith like this has been narrated by Abu Yahya al-A'raj with the same chain of transmitters.

'A'isha reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to pray eleven rak'ahs at night, observing the Witr with a single rak'ah, and when he had finished them, he lay down on his right side, till the Mu'adhdhin came to him and he (the Holy Prophet) then observed two short rak'ahs (of Sunan of the dawn prayer).

'A'isha, the wife of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), said that between the time when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) finished the 'Isha' prayer which is called 'Atama by the people, he used to pray eleven rak'ahs, uttering the salutation at the end of every two rak'ahs, and observing the Witr with a single one. And when the Mu'adhdhin had finished the call (for the) dawn prayer and he saw the dawn clearly and the Mu'adhdhin had come to him, he stood up and prayed two short rak'ahs. Then he lay down on his right side till the Mu'adhdhin came to him for lqama. (This hadith has been narrated with the same chain of transmitters by Ibn Shihab, but in it no mention has been made of Iqama )

'A'isha reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to observe thirteen rak'ahs of the night prayer. Five out of them consisted of Witr, and he did not sit, but at the end (for salutation).

This hadith has been narrated by Hisham with the same chain of transmitters.

'A'isha reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to pray thirteen rak'ahs during the night including the two rak'ahs (Sunan) of the dawn prayer.

Abu Salama b. Abd al-Rahman asked 'A'isha about the (night) prayer of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) during the month of Ramadan. She said:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) did not observe either in Ramadan or in other months more than eleven rak'ahs (of the night prayer). He (in the first instance) observed four rak'ahs. Ask not about their excellence and their length (i. e. these were matchless in perfection and length). He again observed four rak'ahs, and ask not about their excellence and their length. He would then observe three rak'ahs (of the Witr prayer). 'A'isha again said: I said: Messenger of Allah, do you sleep before observing the Witr prayer? He said: O 'A'isha, my eyes sleep but my heart does not sleep.

Abu Salama asked 'A'isha about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) She said:
He observed thirteen rak'ahs (in the night prayer). He observed eight rak'ahs and would then observe Witr and then observe two rak'ahs sitting, and when he wanted to bow he stood up and then bowed down, and then observed two rak'ahs in between the Adhan and lqama of the dawn prayer.

Abu Salama reported that he asked 'A'isha about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (may peace he upon him) (during the night). The rest of the hadith is the same but with this exception that he (the Holy Prophet) observed nine rak'ahs including Witr.

Abu Salama is reported to have said. I came to 'A'isha. I said:
O mother, inform me about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). She said: His (night prayer) in Ramadan and (during other months) was thirteen rak'ahs at night including two rak'ahs of fajr.

It is reported on the authority of 'A'isha that the prayer of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) in the night consisted of ten rak'ahs. He observed a Witr and two rak'ahs (of Sunan) of the dawn prayer, and thus the total comes to thirteen rak'ahs.

'A'isha thus reported about the (night prayer) of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ):
He used to sleep in the early part of the night, and woke up in the latter part. If he then wished intercourse with his wife, he satisfied his desire, and then went to sleep; and when the first call to prayer was made he jumped up (by Allah, she, i. e. 'A'isha, did not say" he stood up" ), and poured water over him (by Allah she, i. e. 'A'isha, did not say that he took a bath but I know what she meant) and if he did not have an intercourse, he performed ablution, just as a man performs ablution for prayer and then observed two rak'ahs.

'A'isha observed that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to observe prayer in the night and the last of his (night) prayer was Witr.

Masruq is reported to have asked 'A'isha about the action (most pleasing to) the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). She said:
He (the Holy Prophet) loved (that action) which one keeps on doing regularly. I said (to 'A'isha): When did he pray (at night)? She replied: When he heard the cock crow, he got up and observed prayer.

'A'isha reported:
Never did the earlier part of the dawn find the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) but sleeping in my house or near me.

'A'isha reported:
When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had prayed the two rak'ahs (Sunan) of the dawn prayer, he would talk to me if I was awake, otherwise he would lie down.