Page:Selections from Muhammadan Traditions - tr. William Goldsack (1923).djvu/54

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SELECTIONS FROM MUḤAMMADAN TRADITIONS

informed me that on them (my shoes) there was some impurity. When any one of you comes to the mosque, then let him look, and if he sees any impurity on his shoes, then let him wipe them and then pray in them."'—Abú Dáud, Al Dárimi.

It is related from ʿAmru bin Shuʿaib from his father, from his grandfather, that he said, 'I saw the Apostle of God praying barefooted and also in his shoes.'—Abú Dáud.

On That Which Conceals

It is related from Abú Hurairah that, 'The Apostle of God said, "When any one of you prays, let him place something in front of him; and if he cannot find anything, then let him set up his stick; and if he has no stick with him, then let him draw a line on the ground. Then nothing that passes in front of him will do him any harm."'—Abú Dáud, Ibn Májah.

It is related from Abú Saʿíd that, 'The Apostle of God said, "When any one of you prays towards anything placed in front of him as a cover from men, and anyone wishes to pass in front of him, then let him turn him back; and if he refuses, then let him fight him, for he is none but Satan."'—Muslim, Al Bukhárí.

It is related from Kaʿbuʾl-Aḥbár that he said, 'If the one who passes before one engaged in prayer had but known the punishment that awaits him! It would have been better for him that he were swallowed up by the earth, than that he should pass before him.'—Málik.

On the Nature of Prayer

It is related from ʿÁyesha that she said, 'The Apostle of God used to begin the prayers by repeating the words, "God is great"; and by the recitation of (the chapter beginning with the words) "Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds"; and when he used to bow down he did not raise his head, nor bend it low, but midway between. And when he used to raise his head from the bowing, he did not prostrate himself until he had stood erect; and when he used to raise his head from the prostrations, he did not prostrate again until he had sat up erect. And he used to repeat the salutation in every two sections of prayers; and he used to spread out his left foot and raise his right foot. And he used to forbid sitting with the buttocks resting on