Sunan an-Nasa'i, Book of Leading the Prayer (Al-Imamah)

It was narrated that 'Abdullah said:

"When the Messenger of Allahﷺ 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 Allahﷺ 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."'

أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَهَنَّادُ بْنُ السَّرِيِّ، عَنْ حُسَيْنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ، عَنْ زَائِدَةَ، عَنْ عَاصِمٍ، عَنْ زِرٍّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ لَمَّا قُبِضَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَتِ الأَنْصَارُ مِنَّا أَمِيرٌ وَمِنْكُمْ أَمِيرٌ . فَأَتَاهُمْ عُمَرُ فَقَالَ أَلَسْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَدْ أَمَرَ أَبَا بَكْرٍ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ بِالنَّاسِ فَأَيُّكُمْ تَطِيبُ نَفْسُهُ أَنْ يَتَقَدَّمَ أَبَا بَكْرٍ قَالُوا نَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ أَنْ نَتَقَدَّمَ أَبَا بَكْرٍ .

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)."'

أَخْبَرَنَا زِيَادُ بْنُ أَيُّوبَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ ابْنُ عُلَيَّةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَيُّوبُ، عَنْ أَبِي الْعَالِيَةِ الْبَرَّاءِ، قَالَ أَخَّرَ زِيَادٌ الصَّلاَةَ فَأَتَانِي ابْنُ صَامِتٍ فَأَلْقَيْتُ لَهُ كُرْسِيًّا فَجَلَسَ عَلَيْهِ فَذَكَرْتُ لَهُ صُنْعَ زِيَادٍ فَعَضَّ عَلَى شَفَتَيْهِ وَضَرَبَ عَلَى فَخِذِي وَقَالَ إِنِّي سَأَلْتُ أَبَا ذَرٍّ كَمَا سَأَلْتَنِي فَضَرَبَ فَخِذِي كَمَا ضَرَبْتُ فَخِذَكَ وَقَالَ إِنِّي سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَمَا سَأَلْتَنِي فَضَرَبَ فَخِذِي كَمَا ضَرَبْتُ فَخِذَكَ فَقَالَ عَلَيْهِ الصَّلاَةُ وَالسَّلاَمُ " صَلِّ الصَّلاَةَ لِوَقْتِهَا فَإِنْ أَدْرَكْتَ مَعَهُمْ فَصَلِّ وَلاَ تَقُلْ إِنِّي صَلَّيْتُ فَلاَ أُصَلِّي " .

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."'

أَخْبَرَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ عَيَّاشٍ، عَنْ عَاصِمٍ، عَنْ زِرٍّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ " لَعَلَّكُمْ سَتُدْرِكُونَ أَقْوَامًا يُصَلُّونَ الصَّلاَةَ لِغَيْرِ وَقْتِهَا فَإِنْ أَدْرَكْتُمُوهُمْ فَصَلُّوا الصَّلاَةَ لِوَقْتِهَا وَصَلُّوا مَعَهُمْ وَاجْعَلُوهَا سُبْحَةً " .

It was narrated that Abu Masud said:

"The Messenger of Allahﷺsaid: '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."'

أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا فُضَيْلُ بْنُ عِيَاضٍ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ رَجَاءٍ، عَنْ أَوْسِ بْنِ ضَمْعَجٍ، عَنْ أَبِي مَسْعُودٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ " يَؤُمُّ الْقَوْمَ أَقْرَؤُهُمْ لِكِتَابِ اللَّهِ فَإِنْ كَانُوا فِي الْقِرَاءَةِ سَوَاءً فَأَقْدَمُهُمْ فِي الْهِجْرَةِ فَإِنْ كَانُوا فِي الْهِجْرَةِ سَوَاءً فَأَعْلَمُهُمْ بِالسُّنَّةِ فَإِنْ كَانُوا فِي السُّنَّةِ سَوَاءً فَأَقْدَمُهُمْ سِنًّا وَلاَ تَؤُمَّ الرَّجُلَ فِي سُلْطَانِهِ وَلاَ تَقْعُدْ عَلَى تَكْرِمَتِهِ إِلاَّ أَنْ يَأْذَنَ لَكَ " .

It was narrated that Milik bin Al-Huwairith said:

"I came to the Messenger of Allih 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."'

أَخْبَرَنَا حَاجِبُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ الْمَنْبِجِيُّ، عَنْ وَكِيعٍ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ خَالِدٍ الْحَذَّاءِ، عَنْ أَبِي قِلاَبَةَ، عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ الْحُوَيْرِثِ، قَالَ أَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنَا وَابْنُ عَمٍّ لِي - وَقَالَ مَرَّةً أَنَا وَصَاحِبٌ لِي - فَقَالَ " إِذَا سَافَرْتُمَا فَأَذِّنَا وَأَقِيمَا وَلْيَؤُمَّكُمَا أَكْبَرُكُمَا " .

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."

أَخْبَرَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ يَحْيَى، عَنْ هِشَامٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا قَتَادَةُ، عَنْ أَبِي نَضْرَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ " إِذَا كَانُوا ثَلاَثَةً فَلْيَؤُمَّهُمْ أَحَدُهُمْ وَأَحَقُّهُمْ بِالإِمَامَةِ أَقْرَؤُهُمْ " .

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."'

أَخْبَرَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ التَّيْمِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ رَجَاءٍ، عَنْ أَوْسِ بْنِ ضَمْعَجٍ، عَنْ أَبِي مَسْعُودٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ " لاَ يُؤَمُّ الرَّجُلُ فِي سُلْطَانِهِ وَلاَ يُجْلَسُ عَلَى تَكْرِمَتِهِ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِهِ " .

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 Allahﷺ 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 ﷺMessenger of Allah ﷺ. The Messenger of Allahﷺ 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 ofAllahﷺ 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.'"

أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَعْقُوبُ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ - عَنْ أَبِي حَازِمٍ، عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ بَلَغَهُ أَنَّ بَنِي عَمْرِو بْنِ عَوْفٍ كَانَ بَيْنَهُمْ شَىْءٌ فَخَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لِيُصْلِحَ بَيْنَهُمْ فِي أُنَاسٍ مَعَهُ فَحُبِسَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَحَانَتِ الأُولَى فَجَاءَ بِلاَلٌ إِلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَدْ حُبِسَ وَقَدْ حَانَتِ الصَّلاَةُ فَهَلْ لَكَ أَنْ تَؤُمَّ النَّاسَ قَالَ نَعَمْ إِنْ شِئْتَ . فَأَقَامَ بِلاَلٌ وَتَقَدَّمَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَكَبَّرَ بِالنَّاسِ وَجَاءَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَمْشِي فِي الصُّفُوفِ حَتَّى قَامَ فِي الصَّفِّ وَأَخَذَ النَّاسُ فِي التَّصْفِيقِ وَكَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ لاَ يَلْتَفِتُ فِي صَلاَتِهِ فَلَمَّا أَكْثَرَ النَّاسُ الْتَفَتَ فَإِذَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَأَشَارَ إِلَيْهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَأْمُرُهُ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ فَرَفَعَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يَدَيْهِ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَرَجَعَ الْقَهْقَرَى وَرَاءَهُ حَتَّى قَامَ فِي الصَّفِّ فَتَقَدَّمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَصَلَّى بِالنَّاسِ فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ أَقْبَلَ عَلَى النَّاسِ فَقَالَ " يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ مَا لَكُمْ حِينَ نَابَكُمْ شَىْءٌ فِي الصَّلاَةِ أَخَذْتُمْ فِي التَّصْفِيقِ إِنَّمَا التَّصْفِيقُ لِلنِّسَاءِ مَنْ نَابَهُ شَىْءٌ فِي صَلاَتِهِ فَلْيَقُلْ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ فَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَسْمَعُهُ أَحَدٌ حِينَ يَقُولُ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ إِلاَّ الْتَفَتَ إِلَيْهِ يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَنْ تُصَلِّيَ لِلنَّاسِ حِينَ أَشَرْتُ إِلَيْكَ " . قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ مَا كَانَ يَنْبَغِي لاِبْنِ أَبِي قُحَافَةَ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ بَيْنَ يَدَىْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ .

It was narrated that Anas said:

"In the last prayer that the Messenger of Allahﷺ prayed with the people, he prayed wrapped up in a single garment, behind Abu Bakr."

أَخْبَرَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا حُمَيْدٌ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ آخِرُ صَلاَةٍ صَلاَّهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَعَ الْقَوْمِ صَلَّى فِي ثَوْبٍ وَاحِدٍ مُتَوَشِّحًا خَلْفَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ .

It was narrated from Aisha that Abu Bakr led the people in prayer and the Messenger of Allah ﷺwas in the row.

أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا بَكْرُ بْنُ عِيسَى، - صَاحِبُ الْبُصْرَى - قَالَ سَمِعْتُ شُعْبَةَ، يَذْكُرُ عَنْ نُعَيْمِ بْنِ أَبِي هِنْدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ، عَنْ مَسْرُوقٍ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، رضى الله عنها أَنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ، صَلَّى لِلنَّاسِ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي الصَّفِّ .