While you are in the masjid (2)

If you want to sit,

15- Take a partition and perform two Rak`ahs. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "If anyone of you enters a masjid, he should perform two Rak`ahs before sitting." [Reported by Al Bukhari and Muslim].

16- Know that these two Rak`ahs are not overlooked by entering the masjid in the four times of undesirability: At sunrise, at setting, at midday, and when the imam ascend the pulpit on Friday.

Whenever you enter the masjid, you should perform these two Rak`ahs. He (peace be upon him) said: "When any one of you comes on Friday while the Imam is delivering the sermon, he should observe two Rak`ahs and make them short." [Reported by Al Bukhari and Muslim].

Abu Sa`id Al Khudry (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that on a Friday, he entered (the masjid) while Marwan was delivering a sermon. He stood up in Salah and the guards came to make him sit down but he did not cease till he had finished. When the Salah (of Friday) was over, the men met him and said "May Allah be Merciful to you". These people had pressed you to sit down. He said: "I would never have given them up (the two Rak`ahs) after I had seen a situation of the Messenger of Allah: He then mentioned that a man in dirty clothing came one Friday. The Prophet (peace be upon him) commanded him to offer the two Rak`ahs while he (the Prophet peace be upon him) was delivering the sermon." [Reported by At-Tirmidhy 511].

17- Let it be known that the two Rak`ahs of saluting the masjid are obligatory on you. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Do not take masjids as pathways but make them for mentioning Allah or for Salah."

He also said: "One of the portents of the Hour that a person passes in the masjid without performing two Rak`ahs." [As-Silsilah As-Sahihah 649- 1001].

18- When someone salutes you while you are performing Salah, point with your hand. Ibn `Umar said: "The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) went to Quba' to offer Salah. Then the Ansar (the Helpers) came to him and gave him a salutation while he was engaged in Salah. I asked Bilal: How did you find the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) responding to them when they gave him a salutation while he was engaged in Salah. He replied: In this way, and Ja`far ibn `Awn demonstrated by spreading his palm, and keeping its inner side below and its back side above." [Reported by Abu Dawud 927].

19- When you finish your Salah, stay in your place. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The angels continue to invoke blessing on him as long as he is in his place of worship saying: O Allah, show him mercy, and pardon him! Accept his repentance (and the angels continue this supplication for him) so long as he does not do any harm in it, or as long as his ablution is not broken." [Reported by Muslim 649].

20- Do not turn away from the Qiblah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Verily, for everything there is a master and the master of sittings is to sit facing the Qiblah." [As-Silsilah As-Sahihah 2645].

21- Sit in the gatherings of mentioning Allah if exist because these are the most honorable gatherings. `Abdullah ibn `Amr said: "The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) set out one day from one of his room and entered the masjid. Thereupon, he found two sessions: One of these was reciting the Qur'an and supplicating Allah, whereas the other was learning and teaching. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Both groups are good: Those are reciting the Qur'an and invoking Allah, and for Him to give or withhold. The other was teaching knowledge and I was sent as an instructor, then he sat with them." [Reported by Ibn Majah 242].

22- Make your tongue busy with mentioning the name of Allah and recitation of the Qur'an even if you are alone. Abu Ad-Darda' narrated: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Shall I inform you of the best of your actions which are the purest to your Lord, which exalt you to the high ranks, which are more efficacious than spending gold and silver (in charity), and better for you than encountering your enemies whom you will smite their necks and they will smite your necks?'' They said: "Certainly, O Messenger of Allah." He (peace be upon him) said: "Remembrance of Allah the Exalted.'' [Reported by At-Tirmidhy 3377].

23- Recite the Qur'an in a low-tune in order to be free of hypocrisy and not to distract the people who are performing Salah in the masjid. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "One who recites the Qur'an in a loud voice is like one who gives alms openly; and one who recites the Qur'an quietly is one who gives alms secretly." [Reported by Abu Dawud 1333 with a good chain of narration].

Al Bayady said that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) came out to the people while they were performing Salah and their voices were raised in the recitation. He said: "When you performing Salah you are talking confidentially to your Lord. So, look to what you confide to Him, and do not say the Qur'an out loud so that others would hear it." [Reported by Imam Malik 163].

24- Know that there is sanctity for masjids as well as a function for which they were built. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "When you see someone buying or selling in the masjid, say to him: `La Arbaha-Allahu Tijarataka (May Allah not make your bargain profitable)!' When you see someone announcing something lost in it, say to him: May Allah not restore it to you!" [Because masjids were not built for that]. [Reported by At-Tirmidhy 1243]. The addition was reported by Imam Muslim (568) in another abridged narration.

Abdullah ibn `Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) forbade buying and selling in the masjid, announcing aloud about a lost thing, the recitation of a poem in it, and prohibited sitting in a circle (in the masjid) on Friday before the Salah." [Reported by Abu Dawud 911].

25- There is no harm if you purchase something from a Muslim outside masjid then you pay the price inside the masjid. Jabir said: I came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) while he was in the masjid, and he said: (Observe two Rak`ahs). He owed me some money and he repaid it to me and gave more than what was due to me." [Reported by Al Bukhari and Muslim].

26- Be keen on the cleanliness of the masjid, glorifying the rites of your Lord, and in order not to harm your brother. `A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: "The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) instructed that the masjids should be built in houses and to be cleaned and perfumed." [Reported by Abu Dawud 384].

When the caller for Salah announces Adhan,

27- you should say as he says, but when he reaches "Hay `Ala As-Salah and Hay `Ala Al Falah," say: "La Ilaha Illa Allah."

`Alqamah ibn Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "I was at Mu`awiyah when the Muezzin announced Adhan. Mu`awiyah repeated what the Muezzin was saying until the Muezzin said: "Hay `Ala As-Salah," He said: "La Hawla wa la Quwwata Illa billah." When he said: "Hay `Ala As-Salah," He said: "La Hawla wa la Quwwata Illa billah." then he repeated what the Muezzin said then said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) saying of the like." [Reported by An-Nasa'y: 677 and its meaning is reported in the books of authentic Hadiths].

28- Let it be known that repeating the call of Muezzin deserves a great reward. Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "We were with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) then Bilal stood up to call for Salah. When he was silent, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: Whoever says something like this out of sincere heart, he shall enter paradise." [Reported by An-Nasa'y 674].

29- Be keen to send peace and blessings upon the Prophet (peace be upon him) when the Muezzin finishes Adhan saying: "Allahumma Rabba hadhihi-d-da' watit-tammati was-salatil qa'imati, ati Muhammadan al-wasilata wal-fadilata, wab' athhu maqaman mahmudan-il-ladhi wa' adtahu (O Allah! Lord of this perfect call (of not ascribing partners to You) and of the regular Salah which is going to be established! Kindly give Muhammad the right of intercession and superiority and send him (on the Day of Judgement) to the best and the highest place in Paradise which You promised him)', then intercession for me will be permitted for him on the Day of Resurrection)." [Reported by Al Bukhari and Muslim].

Imam Muslim reported (386) from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) that he said: If anyone says on hearing the Muezzin: I testify that there is none worthy of worship (in truth) but Allah alone. Who has no partner, and that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger, (and that) I am satisfied with Allah as my Lord, with Muhammad as Messenger and with Islam as religion, his sins would be forgiven."

30- Know that invocation during Adhan is answered. The Prophet of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Two (Salahs) are not rejected, or seldom rejected: Salah at the time of Adhan, and (Salah) at the time of fighting, when the people grapple with each other. In another narration: And while it is raining." [Reported by Abu Dawud 2540].

31- Benefit from the time between Adhan and Iqamah (call to start Salah). The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "There is a Salah between the two Adhans (Adhan and Iqamah)," "There is a Salah between the two Adhans (Adhan and Iqamah)," "There is a Salah between the two Adhans (Adhan and Iqamah)," (for whomever wants).

The Companions were very keen to follow that prophetic guidance. Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: "When the Muezzin pronounced Adhan, some of the companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) would proceed to the pillars of the masjid (for the Salah) till the Prophet (peace be upon him) arrived while they were in those state. They used to perform two Rak`ahs before the Maghrib Salah. There was a little time between Adhan and Iqamah."

32- Beware not to leave the masjid except if there is a need. Abu Ash-Sha`tha' said: "While we were sitting with Abu Hurayrah in a masjid a man went out of the masjid after the call to Salah had been announced. (A man stood up in the masjid and set off). Abu Hurayrah's eyes followed him till he went out of the masjid. Upon this Abu Hurayrah said: This man has disobeyed Abu'l- Qasim (Muhammad) (may peace and blessings be upon him)." [Reported by Muslim 655].

`Abdur-Rahman ibn Harmalah reported: "A man came to Sa`id ibn Al Musayyab to see him off as he was going to perform Hajj or `Umrah. Thereupon, he said: Do not leave until you perform Salah because I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) saying: No one leaves the masjid after Adhan but a hypocrite except a person leaves for a need while he has the intention to come back. He said: My friends are in Al Harrah. He (the narrator) said: The man came out. He (the narrator) said: Sa`id kept asking about him until he was told that he fell off his camel and his thigh was broken." [As-Silsilah As-Sahihah 2518].

When Salah is established,

33- Interrupt your Salah without Taslim (saying: As-Salamu Alaykum to end Salah) except if it is an obligatory Salah which you make up for by a legal excuse. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "When Salah commences then there is no Salah (valid), but the obligatory Salah."

Ibn Buhaynah said: "When the morning Salah was established, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) saw a man performing Salah while the muezzin was pronouncing Iqamah. He said: Do you perform the Subh Salah four Rak`ahs?" [Reported by Al Bukhari and Muslim].

34- Do not establish your Salah until you see your Imam. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "If the Iqamah is pronounced then do not stand for the Salah until you see me (in front of you)." [Reported by Al Bukhari and Muslim].

35- Know that the row should begin from the middle. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Let the prudent and sedate among you be near me. Then those who are closer to them followed by those closer to them." [Reported by Muslim 432].

36- Exert more efforts to perform Salah in the first row. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "If the people knew the reward for pronouncing the Adhan and for standing in the first row (in congregational Salahs) and found no other way to get that except by drawing lots they would draw lots." [Reported by Al Bukhari and Muslim].

37- Beware not to be late for the first row. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "People will continue to keep back till Allah will put them at the back." [Reported by Abu Dawud 679].

38- Filling the gaps of rows when you see them. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "There is no step more beloved to Allah than a step that a person walks to fill a gap [in the rows of Salah]." [Reported by Abu Dawud 543].

39- Move your shoulders to your Muslim brother when he comes to stand in the row. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Set the rows in order, stand shoulder to shoulder, close the gaps, be pliant in the hands of your brethren, and do not leave openings for the devil. If anyone joins up a row, Allah will join him up, but if anyone breaks a row, Allah will cut him off." [Reported by Abu Dawud 666].

40- Avoid establishing a line while columns cut the rows. It was authentically reported (988) that Qurrah ibn Ilyas said: "We were forbidden to establish rows between columns at the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and we kept away from them."

41- Do not establish a new row while there is a gap in the row before you. Wasibah said: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) saw a man offering Salah alone behind the row. He ordered him to repeat." [Reported by Abu Dawud 682].

When your imam pronounces Takbir "Allahu Akbar,"

42- Follow the imam and do not differ with him. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Imam is meant to be followed." [Reported by Al Bukhari and Muslim].

43- Beware of preceding the imam. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Is not he who raises his head before the Imam afraid that Allah would transform his head into the head of a donkey or his figure (face) into that of a donkey?"

Al Bara' ibn `Azib narrated: "Whenever we offered Salah with the Prophet (peace be upon him) and he raised his head from the bowing, we used to remain standing till we saw him prostrating." [Reported by Al Bukhari and Muslim].

44- Follow the row before you if you cannot see the imam. Abu Sa`id Al Khudry (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) saw (a tendency) among his Companions to go to the back, so he said to them: Come forward and follow my lead, and let those who come after you follow your lead." [Reported by Muslim 438].

45- Be keen to make your "Amen" cope with the "Amen" of the imam. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Say: "Amen" when the Imam says it and if the "Amen" of any one of you coincides with that of the angels then all his past sins will be forgiven." [Reported by Al Bukhari and Muslim].

46- Be keen to follow the example of the Prophet (peace be upon him) who said: "Perform Salah as you have seen me praying." [Reported by Al Bukhari: 595].

47- Perform Salah as if you are leaving the world, perhaps it may be your last Salah. Abu Ayyub (may Allah be pleased with him) said: A man came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) saying: O Messenger of Allah, instruct me but be short. He said: "When you perform Salah, performs it as if you are leaving the world, do not utter words that make you apologize, and do not hope for the favors in people's hands." [Reported by Ibn Majah 4161].

48- Perfect your Salah and make it complete. Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "O you, why do not you say your Salah well? Does the observer of Salah not see how he is performing the Salah for he performs it for himself?" [Reported by Muslim 423].

An-Nasa'y reported (465) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The first action which a person will be held accountable for is Salah. If it is perfect and complete, he shall be successful, but if it is incomplete and imperfect, he will be a loser."

49- Let it be known that people differ in terms of their Salah, so beware to have the less reward out of your Salah because the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "A person finishes his Salah, but he has only the reward of one-tenth of his Salah, one-ninth, one-eighth, one-seventh, one-sixth, one-fifth, one-fourth, one-third, or just its half." [Reported by Abu Dawud 675].

When your Imam finishes Salah by Taslim,

50- Say Taslim as the imam does and do not lag behind. Imam Al Bukhari reported (803) from `Itban ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) who narrated: "We performed Salah with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and when he finished Salah and said Taslim, we said Taslim."

51- Do not follow your obligatory Salah with a supererogatory one without separating between them with Adhkar (supplications to be said to mention Allah) or speech. "An imam of ours, whose surname was Abu Rimthah, led us in Salah and said: I performed this Salah or one like it with the Prophet (peace be upon him). Abu Bakr and `Umar were standing in the front row on his right and there was a man who had been present at the first Takbir in Salah. The Prophet of Allah (peace be upon him) offered Salah, then gave the salutation to his right and his left so that we saw the whiteness of his cheeks, then turned away as Abu Rimthah (meaning himself) had done.

The man who has been present with him at the first Takbir in Salah got up to perform another Salah, whereupon `Umar leaped up and, seizing him by the shoulders, shook him and said: Sit down, for the People of the Book perished for no other reason than that: There was no interval between their Salah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) raised his eyes and said: Allah has made you say what is right, son of Al Khattab." [Abu Dawud 855].

52- Be keen to memorize as much Adhkar and invocations as you can so that your invocations may be answered. Abu Umamah Al Bahily said: It was said: O Messenger of Allah, which invocation is more answered? He said: "Invocations that are said in the last portion of the night as well as those are said after obligatory Salah." [Reported by At-Tirmidhy 3499].

When you want to come out,

53- Salute the people of the Masjid. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "When one of you comes to an assembly, he should give a salutation and if he feels inclined to get up, he should give a salutation, for the former is not more of a duty than the latter." [Reported by Abu Dawud 4532].

54- Put your shoes gently on earth not as many people do. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Indeed, Allah is kind and lenient and likes that one should be kind and lenient in all matters." [Reported by Al Bukhari and Muslim].

55- Put on your shoes while sitting. Jabir ibn `Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) forbade that a man should put on sandals while standing. [Reported by Abu Dawud 3606].

56- Send peace and blessings upon the Prophet (peace be upon him) and say: "O Allah, I ask You of Your Bounty."

57- Be keen to make your heart attached to the masjid because the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Allah will give shade to seven on the Day when there will be no shade but His... then mentioned among them a man whose heart is attached with the masjid since he get out from it until he comes back to it." [Reported by Al Bukhari and Muslim].

58- Make the Masjid your place so that Allah will lift you to a higher degree. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "If a Muslim performs Salah in the masjid and recites Adhkar, Allah will be glad as soon as he leaves his house (heading to the masjid) exactly like the people of a traveler who rejoice at the coming of their traveler." [Reported by Ahmad 9465 with a good chain of transmission].