Strengthening the Ummah

It was narrated that 'Abdullah said:"When the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) passed away, the Ansar said: 'Let there be an Amir from among us and an Amir from among you.' Then 'Umar came to them and said: 'Do you not know that the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) commanded Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer? Who mong you could accept to put himself ahead of Abu Bakr?' They said: 'We seek refuge with Allah from putting ourselves ahead of Abu Bakr

It was narrated that Abu Aliyah Al-Barra said:"Ziyad delayed the prayer, then Ibn Samit came to me and I gave him a chair and he sat on it. I told him what Ziyad had done and he bit his lip (in disapproval), and he struck me on the thigh and said: 'I asked Abu Dharr the same question you asked me, and he struck me on the thigh as I struck you on the thigh and said: I asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) the same question as you have asked me and he struck me on the thigh as I have struck you on the thigh and said: Offer the prayer on time, and if you catch up with them, then pray with them, and do not say: 'I have already prayed so I will not pray(now)

It was narrated that 'Abdullih said:"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'You may live to meet people who will be offering the prayer outside its (prayer) time. If you meet them, then offer the prayer on time, then pray with them and make that a voluntary prayer

It was narrated that Abu Masud said:"The Messenger of Allah(ﷺ)said: 'Let the one who has most knowledge of the Book of Allah lead the people in prayer. If they are equal in terms of knowledge of the Qur'h, let the one who emigrated first (lead them). If they are equal in terms of emigration, let the one who has more knowledge of the Sunnah, (lead them). If they are equal in terms of knowledge of the Sunnah, let the one who is oldest (lead them). Do not lead a man in prayer in his place of authority, and do not sit in his place of honor, unless he gives you permission

It was narrated that Malik bin Al-Huwairith said:"I came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) with a cousin of mine" - once he said, "with a friend of mine" - and he said: 'When you travel, call the Adhan and Iqamah, and let the older of you lead the prayer

It was narrated from Abu Sa'eed that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:"when there are three people let one of them lead the prayer, and the one who is most entitled to lead the prayer is the one who has most knowledge of the Qur'an

It was narrated that Abu Masud said:"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'A man should not be led in prayer in his place of authority, and no one should sit in his place of honor except with his permission

It was narrated from Sahl bin Sa'd that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) heard that there was a dispute among Banu 'Amr bin 'Awf, so he went to them with some other people to reconcile between them. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was delayed there, and the time for Zuhr came. Bilal came to Abu Bakr and said to him:"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) has been delayed (there) and the time for prayer has come, will you lead the people in prayer?" Abu Bakr said: 'Yes, if you wish.' Bilal said the Iqamah and Abu Bakr went forward and said the Takbir for the people. Then the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) came, passing through the rows (of praying people) and stood in the (first) row and the people started clapping. Abu Bakr would never glance sideways in his prayer but when the people clapped so much he looked back and (ﷺ)Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). The Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) gestured to him to carry on praying. Aha Bakr raised his hands praising Allah the Mighty and Sublime, and retreated till he reached the (first) row. Then the Messenger ofAllah(ﷺ) went forward and led the people in the prayer. When he completed the prayer he turned to face the people and said: '0 people, why did you start clapping when something unusual happened to you in the prayer? Clapping is only for women. So whoever among you comes across something in the prayer should say: 'Subhan Allah' for there is none who will not turn round when they hear him saying Subhan Allah. 0 Abu Bakr! What prevented you from leading the people in the prayer when I gestured to you to do so?' Abu Bakr replied: 'It is not fitting for the son of Abu Quhafah to lead the prayer in the presence of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)

It was narrated that Anas said:"In the last prayer that the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) prayed with the people, he prayed wrapped up in a single garment, behind Abu Bakr

It was narrated from Aisha that Abu Bakr led the people in prayer and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)was in the row

It was narrated that Malik bin Al-Huwairith said:"I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: 'When any one of you visits some people,he should not lead them in prayer

It was narrated from Mahmiid bin Ar-Rabi' that 'Itbk bin Milk used to lead his people in prayer, and he was blind. He said to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ):"Sometimes it is dark or rainy or there is a flood, and I am a blind man; 0 Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), (come and) pray in a place in my house that I may take as a prayer-place." He said: "Where would you like me to pray for you?" He showed him a place in his house, and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayed there

Amr bin Salamah Al-Jarmi said:"Riders used to pass by us and we would leam the Qur'an from them. My father came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and he said: 'Let the one of you who knows most Qur'an leads the prayer.' My father came and said that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had said: 'Let the one of you who knows most Quran lead you in prayer.' They looked and found that I was the one who knew most Qur'an, so I used to lead them in prayer when I was eight years old

It was narrated from Abdullah bin Abi Qatadah that his father said:"The messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'When the call to prayer is given, do not stand up until you see me

It was narrated that Anas said:"The Iqamah for prayer was said, and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was conversing privately with a man, and did not commence the prayer until the people slept