The Rare Ahadith

“Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), asked me, ‘What does the enemy narrate?’ I then asked, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, what kind of narration do you mean?’ He said, ‘It is about their Adhan, Ruku‘, and sajdah?’ I then said, ‘They say, “Ubay ibn Ka‘b has seen them in a dream.’” The Imam said, ‘They have spoken a lie. The religion of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, is by far more exalted than being seen in a dream.’ The narrator has said that Sadir al- Sayrafiy then said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, please enlighten us about it.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), then said, ‘When Allah, the most Majestic, the most Glorious, took His prophet for a journey to His seven heavens, in the first heaven He granted him blessing and in the second one He taught him his obligations. Allah sent down a carriage that was made of light with forty kinds of the kinds of light therein, surrounded by the Throne of Allah that covers the eyesight of the on-lookers. One of those lights is yellow from which yellowness is yellow. Another one is red because of which redness is red, yet another one is white because of which whiteness is white. The rest of them are like the number of the creatures in the form of light and colors. In that carriage, there are rings and chains of silver. Thereafter He took him up in the heaven. The angels moved in all directions of the heaven and fell down in prostration saying, “He is free of all defects and Most Holy. How similar is this light to the light of our Lord!”’ Jibril (Gabriel) then said, ‘Allah is greater than can be described, Allah is greater than can be described.’ Then the doors of the heaven opened, the angels gathered and saluted to the Holy Prophet in large groups saying, “O Muhammad, how is your brother? When you go back to earth tell that we salute him.” The Holy Prophet asked them, “Do you know him?” They replied, “How can we forget him. We were made (by Allah) to establish a covenant and commitment to (follow and) support him; support you and his followers until the Day of Judgment. We look on the faces of his followers five times every day - meaning thereby during the five times Salah (prayer). We say, ‘Allahumma Salli ‘Ala Muhammad wa ‘Ali Muhammad (O Allah grant Muhammad and his family a compensation worthy of their serving Your cause).”’ The Messenger of Allah thereafter has said, “Then my Lord granted me forty kinds of kinds of light of which no one resembled the ones given to me before. He gave me more rings and chains and took me to the second heaven. When I arrived near the second heaven’s door, the angels moved to all directions of the heaven and fell down in prostration saying, ‘Free of all defects and Most Holy is the Lord of the angels and the spirit. How similar is this light to the light of our Lord!’ Jibril then said, ‘I testify that no one, other than Allah, deserves to be worshipped.’ The angels then gathered asking, ‘O Jibril, who is this with you?’ He replied, ‘This is Muhammad.’ They then asked, ‘Is he already commissioned to serve as the Messenger of Allah?’ He replied, ‘Yes, he is commissioned.’” The Holy Prophet has said that they then came to me, welcoming with salutations and saying, “Tell your brother we salute him.” I asked them, “Do you know him?” They replied, “How can we forget him? We were made (by Allah) to establish a covenant and commitment to (follow and) support him; support you and his followers until the Day of Judgment. We look on the faces of his followers five times every day” - meaning thereby during the five times Salah (prayer). “The Messenger of Allah has said, “My Lord then gave me another forty kinds of the kinds of light of which no one was similar to the light given to me before, and increased the number of rings and chains. Then He took me up to the second heaven. The angels moved to all directions in the heaven and fell down in prostration saying, ‘Free of all defects and Most Holy is the Lord of the angels and the spirit. What is this light that is so similar to the light of our Lord?’ Jibril then said twice, ‘I testify that only Allah deserves worship. The angels gathered and said, ‘O Jibril, who is he with you?’ He (Jibril) replied, ‘He is Muhammad.’ They asked, ‘Is he commissioned (as messenger of Allah)?’ Jibril answered, ‘Yes, he is commissioned.’” The Holy prophet, has said, “They (angels) came to me as if wanting to hold me in their arms and saluted me and said, ‘Convey our salutations to you brother.’ I asked, ‘Do you know him?’ They replied, ‘Why we would not know him? We are made to establish a solemn covenant of support in your favor, in his favor and in favor of his followers until the Day of Judgment. We look at the faces of his followers five times every day and night.’ They meant thereby the times of each of five daily Salah (prayer).” The Messenger of Allah has said, “My Lord then gave me another forty kinds of the kinds of light of which no one was similar to the light given to me before. Then He took me up to the third heaven. The angels moved to all directions in the heaven and fell down in prostration saying, ‘Free of all defects and Most Holy is the Lord of the angels and the spirit. What is this light that is so similar to the light of our Lord?’ Jibril then said twice, ‘I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.’ The angels all gathered and said, ‘Welcome, we greet you, O the first. Welcome, O the last, welcome, O the one who brings about resurrection and welcome the one who brings about distribution (distributor of heavens and hell (one of the title of Imam AJi)), Muhammad is the best of the prophets and Ali is the best of the executors of the wills of the prophets of Allah.’” “The Holy Prophet has said, “They then saluted me and asked about my brother and I said, ‘He is on earth. Do you know him?’ They replied, ‘How can we forget him? We every year perform Hajj of Bayt al-Ma‘mur where there is a white board on which there are the names of Muhammad, Ali, al-Hassan, al-Husayn, all A’immah and their followers till the Day of Judgment. We congratulate them every day and night five times’ - meaning thereby the five times Salah (prayer) - ‘and they wipe their heads with their hands.’” The Holy Prophet has said, “My Lord then increased the number of the kinds of lights for me by another forty kinds of light of which no one resembled the ones given to me before. He then took me higher until I reached the fourth heaven where the angels did not say anything. I heard a low intensity sound as if vibrating inside the chests. The angels then gathered, the doors of the heaven opened and they came to welcome me. Jibril then said, ‘Come for Salah (prayer), come for Salah (prayer). Come to wellbeing, come to wellbeing.’ The angels then said, ‘They are two very familiar sounds.’ Jibril then said, ‘Salah (prayer) is about to be performed, Salah (prayer) is about to be performed.’ The angels said, ‘It is for his followers until the Day of Judgment.’ The angels then gathered and asked, ‘How is your brother?’ I replied, ‘Do you know him?’ They replied, ‘We know him and his followers. They are lights around the Throne of Allah and in al-Bayt al-Ma‘mur, there is a board of light [on which there is a writing of light] and in this writing there are the names of Muhammad, Ali, al-Hassan, al-Husayn, all ’A’immah and their followers until the Day of Judgment from whom not even one man is increased or decreased. This (written document) is our covenant and a document of commitment which is read to us every Friday.’ Thereafter it was said to me, ‘Raise your head, O Muhammad.’ I raised my head, I saw the levels of the heaven opened up, and the curtains rose. I then was told, ‘Look downward.’ I looked downward and I saw a house like your house, this one, a sacred precinct like this holy precinct. If I were to drop something down from my hand, it would only fall on this house but not on another place. It then was said to me, ‘O Muhammad, this is the holy place and you are the Holy person; for every similitude there is something similar.’ Allah then sent Wahy to me, ‘O Muhammad go near the S’ ad (a fountain at the foot of the Throne) wash the parts of your body that are used during sajdah, cleanse them and perform Salah (prayer) for the sake of your Lord.’” The Messenger of Allah then went near the S’ ad, water that flows at the right foot of the Throne. The Messenger of Allah touched the water with his right hand and for this reason Wudu’ is with the right hand. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, then sent Wahy to him (Muhammad), “Wash your face; you look to My greatness, then wash your right arm and then your left arm; you receive My words (book) in your hand. Thereafter wipe your head with your hand while still moist with the water of Wudu’ and your feet up to your ankles; I like to bless you and allow you to step where no one, other than you, has ever stepped.” This is the reason for Adhan and Wudu’. Then Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, sent Wahy to him, “O Muhammad, face the direction of the black-stone and speak of My greatness an equal number of times as the number of My curtains.” For this reason, the number of Takbir is seven, equal to the number of seven curtains. At the end of the curtains, he commenced Salah (prayer) and for this reason, commencement became a Sunnah (a noble tradition). The curtains are of parallel levels and in between every two level, there are oceans of light. This is the light, which Allah sent to Muhammad, O Allah grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause. For this reason, the number of (Takbir for) commencement is three because of the opening of the curtains three times. The number of Takbir, (altogether before commencement), are seven and the number of commencement three times. When he completed all Takbir and (takbir of) commencement, Allah sent him Wahy to call Him by His name and for this reason, the phrase “In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful” is placed before every Chapter of the Holy Quran. Then Allah sent him Wahy to praise Him. When he said, “All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds,” the Holy Prophet to himself said, “My thanks (to Allah).” Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, sent him Wahy saying, “You just discontinued My praise. Call Me by My name.” For this reason the phrase “most Beneficent, most Merciful” has come twice in al-Hamd (Chapter 1 of the Quran). When the Holy Prophet reached the last word in al-Hamd’ he said, “All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds and all thanks.” Allah then sent him Wahy, “You discontinued speaking of Me. Call Me by My name.” For this reason, at the beginning of every Chapter there is the phrase, “In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.” Thereafter Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, sent him Wahy, “O Muhammad, read about the relationship of your Lord, the most Holy, the most High. “(I begin) in the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. (112:1) (O Muhammad,) you must say, "He is Allah, Who is one only (112:2). Allah is Absolute (112:3). He does not have any child nor is He a child of others (112:4). There is no one equal to Him. (112:5).” “Then Wahy was held back from him and the Messenger of Allah said, “One the only One who is self- sufficient.” Allah then sent him Wahy, “He does not have any child nor is He a child of others (112:4). There is no one equal to Him. (112:5).” Then Wahy was held back from him and the Messenger of Allah said, “Thus is Allah. Thus is Allah, our Lord.” When he said this Allah sent him Wahy, “Kneel down for Ruku‘ for the sake of your Lord, O Muhammad.” He knelt down for RukuL Allah then sent Wahy, while he was in Ruku‘ position, to say, “My Lord, the great, is free of all defects.” He said this three times, Then Allah sent him Wahy, “Raise your head, O Muhammad.” The Messenger of Allah did as he was told to do and stood up straight. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, sent Wahy, “Bow down in prostration for the sake of your Lord, O Muhammad.” The Messenger of Allah bowed down in prostration, then Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, sent Wahy, say, “My Lord, the most High, is free of all defects.” He said it three times. Then Allah sent Wahy, “Sit upright, O Muhammad.” He did as he was told. When he sat upright he looked at (signs of) His greatness that appeared to him, then, on his own he bowed down in prostration without anyone’s command. He said three times, “Allah is free of all defects.” Allah then sent Wahy that said, “Stand up straight.” He obeyed but he did not see (of the signs) of greatness that had seen before and for this reason in Salah (prayer) every Rak‘at has one Ruku‘ and two sajdah. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, then sent Wahy, “Read All praise belong to Allah, Cherisher of the worlds” (the first Chapter of the Holy Quran) and he read as he had done before. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, then sent Wahy, “Read Chapter 97 of the Holy Quran; this Chapter speaks, of your relationship and the relationship of your family, until the Day of Judgment.” In Ruku‘ he did just as he had done before, then he did one sajdah. When he raised his head (signs of) greatness appeared to him, he then bowed down in prostration by his own choice, without anyone’s command and again he said, “Allah is free of all defects.” Allah sent Wahy, “Raise your head, O Muhammad, your Lord has made you steadfast.” When he wanted to stand up, he was told, “Sit down in your place, O Muhammad.” He then sat down. Allah sent Wahy, “O Muhammad, when I grant you a favor, you should call Me by My name.” He was inspired to say, “In the name of Allah, with (the help of) Allah, no one, other than Allah, deserves to be worshipped, and all beautiful names belong to Allah.” Then Allah sent Wahy, “O Muhammad, ask compensation for yourself and say, ‘ Allahumma Salli ‘Ala Muhammad wa ‘Ali Muhammad (O Allah grant Muhammad and his family a compensation worthy of their serving Your cause),”’ which he did as he was told. He then noticed rows of angels and messenger and prophets of Allah and it was said to him, “O Muhammad, salute them.” He then said, “I pray to Allah to grant you peace, mercy and blessings.” Allah then sent Wahy, “You and your descendants are the peace, salutations, mercy and blessing.” Allah then sent Wahy, “Do not pay any attention to the left.” The first verse that he heard after Chapter 112 and 97 of the Holy Quran was the verse about the people of the right hand and people of the left hand. For this reason one salutation is toward the direction of Qiblah and for this reason there is Shukr (expression of thanks) in sajdah for Takbir and his saying, “Allah listens to all those who praise Him” because the Holy Prophet heard a great deal of voices of angels saying al- Tasbih, al-Tahmid and al-Tahlil. For this reason he said, “Allah listens to all of those who praise Him.” For this reason, in the first and second Rak‘at if something invalidating Wudu’ takes place, one needs to perform them all over again. This is the first obligation in the prayer at noontime, that is, Salah (prayer) at noontime.’”

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘When the Messenger of Allah was taken up (to heavens) he was commanded to perform Salah (prayer) and he returned with ten Rak‘at Salah (prayer) for every day. Each Salah (prayer) consisted of two Rak‘at. When al-Hassan and al-Husayn, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, were born, the Messenger of Allah increased seven more Rak‘at in thanksgiving to Allah and Allah granted him permission to do so. He did not increase anything to the Morning Salah (prayer) due to the short duration of its time in which time the angels of the night and day also attend it. When Allah commanded him to shorten Salah (prayer) while on a journey, he decreased six Rak‘at and did not decrease anything from Maghrib (soon after sunset) Salah (prayer). The rules of how to deal with mistakes in Salah (prayer) apply to the Rak‘at that was increased by the Messenger of Allah. Thus, if one faces doubts during the first and second Rak‘at, he has to redo his Salah (prayer) from the beginning.”

“Once I visited abu ’Abd Allah, and I wanted to ask him a question about Salah (prayer) during the night and I said, ‘You are a ‘Alayhi al-Salam, O son of the Messenger of Allah.’ The Imam said, ‘Wa ‘Alayka al-Salam, yes, by Allah, we are his sons, not of his other relatives.’ He said it three times. Then without any initiation from me he said, ‘If you come in the presence of Allah with five daily obligatory Salah (prayer), He will not ask you about anything other than these.’”

“Once I spoke before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man of our people and I praised him well. The Imam asked, ‘How is his Salah (prayer)?”’

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked about fifty-one Rak‘at Salah (prayer) daily. He replied, ‘There are twelve hours in the day and twelve in the night. There is one hour between dawn and sunrise. From sunset to disappearing of western brightness is darkness. For every hour there are two Rak‘at and one Rak‘at for darkness.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked this question: ‘Why is man told to incline toward the left when facing the direction of Qiblah?’ He replied, ‘Ka’bah has six limits, four on the left and two on the right; for this reason inclination is toward the left.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that whoever performs five hundred Rak‘at optional Salah (prayer) from one Friday to the next Friday, he can ask Allah whatever he wants except a wish for unlawful matters.”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that a servant of Allah may rise to perform Qada’ (compensatory prayer for) an optional Salah (prayer) that was missed in its proper time. The Lord then expresses surprise before the angels saying, ‘My angels, look at My servant who makes up for the optional Salah (prayer) missed in time, when I have not even made it obligatory for him.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that nobility of a man is in his Salah (prayer) during the night and his honor is in his keeping away from unsettling people’s confidentiality.”

“Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that for Salah (prayer) an angel is assigned and he has no other task to perform. When one completes a Salah (prayer), the angel takes it and ascends to heaven. If it is of the kind that is accepted, it then is accepted, but if it is of unacceptable kind, it then is said to him, ‘Return it to My servant.’ He then descends down with that Salah (prayer) and strikes it against his face saying, “Woe is upon you. You continue to have such deeds that make me tired.’””

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that a man came to the Holy Prophet asking, ‘O Messenger of Allah, give me a good advice.’ He said, ‘You must not give up Salah (prayer) intentionally; the community of Islam is free from all obligations toward one who gives up Salah (prayer) intentionally.’”

“About the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, ‘They invented monkish manners, even though We had not made it obligatory on them, except to seek the pleasure of Allah’ (57: 26), the Imam said that it (pleasure of Allah) is a reference to Salah (prayer) during the night.”

“I heard abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.), say, ‘The best place for the feet, during Salah (prayer) is one’s shoes (clean Arabic shoes).”’

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘The Messenger of Allah asked Jibril (Gabriel), “Which places are more beloved to Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious?” He replied, “It is Masjids and most beloved to Allah of its people are those who enter them first and leave last.’””

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that even on cloudy days when the time for noon Salah (prayer) may remain obscure to people, the Imam knows about the sun. (He (the Imam) knows) what is unseen to people, so he always has the proof which town’s people pay attention to the timing of Salah (prayer) and which town’s people ignore it.”