Islamic Prayer and Ethical Living: Selections from the Hadith, Part 1 of 2

Now, we’re going to start reading excerpts from the Hadith on the essential aspects of Islamic worship. This includes choosing an imam, or one who leads the prayer, based on their virtues and Quranic knowledge as well as the importance of night prayers for seeking Allah’s Guidance and Blessings.

Chapter 8 The Imām

“Ibn ’Abbās said, The Messenger of Allāh, peace and blessings of Allāh be on Him, said: ‘The most virtuous among you shall deliver the adhān [first call to prayer], and those having most knowledge of the Qur’ān shall act as imams [those who lead the prayer].’ […]

Abū Hurairah reported that The Messenger of Allāh, peace and blessings of Allāh be on Him, said: ‘When one of you leads the prayer for the people, he should lighten it, for among them is the weak one and the sick one and the old one; and when one of you prays alone, he may lengthen (it) as he likes.’”

Chapter 13 Supererogatory prayers

“Abn Hurairah reported, The Messenger of Allāh, peace and blessings of Allāh be on Him, said, ‘Our Lord, blessed and exalted is He, descends every night to the nearest Heaven when the latter one-third of the night remains, (and) says, Is there anyone who calls upon Me so that I may accept of him, who asks of Me so that I may grant him, who seeks forgiveness of Me so that I may forgive him?’

‘Ā’ishah reported, The Messenger of Allāh, peace and blessings of Allāh be on Him, used to say eleven rak’ahs [units] of prayer – this was His prayer at night; and He used to remain in sajdah [kneeling with forehead touching the ground] so long, before He raised His head, that one of you could recite fifty verses; and He said two rak’ahs [units of prayer] before the morning prayer, then He lay down on His right side until the mu’adhdhin [one who calls Muslims to prayer] came to Him for the (congregational) prayer. […]

Ibn ‘Umar reported, The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allāh be on Him, said: ‘Let the witr [final prayer] be your last prayer at night.’

Abn Hurairah said, The Messenger of Allāh, peace and blessings of Allāh be on Him, commanded me to say the witr [final prayer] before going to sleep.

Al-Hasan ibn 'Alī said, The Messenger of Allāh, peace and blessings of Allāh be on Him, taught me sentences to be repeated in the qunūt [supplication] in witr [final prayer]: ‘O Allāh! Guide me among those whom Thou have guided, and preserve me among those whom Thou have preserved, and befriend me among those whom Thou have befriended, and bless me in whom Thou have granted, and save me from the evil […]; surely he is not disgraced whom Thou befriend; blessed are Thou, our Lord! and highly exalted.’”