Never did I see him (my father) pray, except that I would think he was ill*. Translator’s note:
*Meaning, he would pray slowly and carefully.
Category: Prayer
He prayed as if he was a pole
I saw Muslim ibn Yasaar pray as if he was a [motionless] pole; He would not lean on one leg a moment, nor the other a moment, and nor would his clothing move.
He would weep whilst standing in prayer at night
Sa’eed ibn Jubayr would weep [whilst standing in prayer] at night until his eyes became bleary and he was unable to see clearly.
For abundant prayer
I saw Yazeed ibn Zuray’ in a dream, so I said to him: ‘What did Allaah do with you?’
He replied: ‘He admitted me into Paradise.’
I said to him: ‘With what (i.e. ‘What earned you that)?’
He said
They would divide the night into three
al-Hasan ibn Saalih, his brother and their mother used to divide the night into three parts, each would stand their third in prayer.
As a result of elongating his prayer
‘Anas ibn Maalik رضي الله عنه used to pray until his feet swelled with blood – as a result of elongating his prayer – standing [in prayer] at night.
So he was not overcome by sleep
Safwaan ibn Saleem used to stand in prayer on the roof on a cold night so that he was not overcome by sleep.
Nor have I seen the back of a man
For fifty years, I never [once] missed the initial takbeer [upon beginning the congregational prayer], and nor have I seen the back of a man in the [congregational] prayer [since].
Nothing more desirable has remained
In this world, nothing more desirable has remained than prayer in congregation, and [subsequently] meeting the brothers.
I have not seen any better prayer
I have not seen any better prayer than that of Muhammad ibn Nasr. A house fly settled upon his ear, and he did not [even] try to brush it away.