And when Abú Bakr heard the low sound (of the Prophet's approach) he began to go to the rear; but the Apostle of God motioned to him not to go to the rear. Then the Prophet came until he sat on the left hand of Abú Bakr. And Abú Bakr was praying standing, but the Apostle of God was praying sitting. Abú Bakr was following the prayer of the Apostle of God, and the people were following the prayer of Abú Bakr.'—Muslim, Al Bukhárí.
It is related from Abú Hurairah that he said, 'Whoever raises his head or lowers it before the leader of the prayers does, verily his forelock is in the hands of Satan.'—Málik.
Concerning Those Who say the Prayers Twice
It is related from Jábir that he said, 'Muʿádh used to say the evening prayer with the Prophet, after which he used to return to his family and pray the evening prayer with them. And this was supererogatory for him.'—Muslim, Al Bukhárí.
It is related from Busr bin Miḥjan from his father that, 'He was in an assembly with the Apostle of God, and the call to prayer was given; and the Apostle of God stood up and repeated the prayer; and he turned, and Miḥjan was in his seat. Therefore the Apostle of God said to him, "What prevented thee from praying with the people? Art thou not a Muslim?" He replied, "Yes, O Apostle of God, but I had already said my prayers in my family." Then the Apostle of God said to him, "When thou goest to the mosque, having already said thy prayers, and the prayers are being said, then pray with the people, although thou hast already prayed."'—Málik, An Nasái.
It is related from Sulaiman, a freed man of Maimúnah, that he said, 'Ibn ʿOmar came to us on the pavement (of the mosque) when they were praying. So I said, "Wilt thou not pray with them?" He replied, "I have already prayed, and I heard the Apostle of God say, 'Do not pray one prayer twice in the same day.'"'—Aḥmad, Abú Dáud, An Nasái.
On Supererogatory Prayers
It is related from, ʿAbduʾlláh bin Shaqíq that he said, 'I asked ʿÁyesha concerning the voluntary prayers of the Apostle of God, and she replied that, "He used to pray in four
