Page:Selections from Muhammadan Traditions - tr. William Goldsack (1923).djvu/75

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THE BOOK OF PRAYER
55

a means of your drawing near to your Lord, and a covering for sins and a preventive of evil."'—At Tirmidhí.

It is related from Abú Saʿíduʾl-Khudri that, 'The Apostle of God said, "There are three persons with whom God is well pleased: a man when he rises at night in order to pray, people when they dress their ranks for prayer, and people when they dress their ranks for fighting with the enemy."'—In Sharḥu's-Sunnah.

It is related from Abú Hurairah that he said, 'A man came to the Prophet and said, "Verily such an one prays at night, and steals when the dawn breaks." He replied, "That which thou speakest of will prevent him."'—Aḥmad.

It is related from Ibn ʿAbbás that, 'The Apostle of God said, "The noblest of my followers are those who carry the Qurʾán (in their memories), and are companions of the night (by keeping awake for prayer)."'—Al Baihaqi.

On Determination in Religious Observances

It is related from ʿÁyesha that, 'The Apostle of God said, "Take such works as ye are able to perform, for verily God will not tire (of rewarding) till ye tire (of doing)."'—Muslim, Al Bukhárí.

It is related from ʿImrán bin Ḥusain that, 'The Apostle of God said, "Say your prayers standing, but if you are not able, then say them sitting, and if you are not able to do that, then say them reclining on your side."'—Al Bukhárí.

It is related from ʿImrán bin Ḥusain that, 'He asked the Prophet concerning the prayer of a man which he said sitting. He replied, "It is better if he pray standing, and he who prays sitting will get half the reward of him who prays standing, and he who prays lying down will get half the reward of him who prays sitting."'—Al Bukhárí.

On Witr[1]—Prayers

It is related from ʿÁyesha that she said, 'The Apostle of God used to pray at night in thirteen rakʿahs, five of which were made witr prayers. He sat in none of them except the last.'—Muslim, Al Bukhárí.


  1. See note on p. 52.