The Prophet’s Mysterious Testing Ways. {242. }

The Prophet’s Mysterious Testing Ways. {242. }
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“Narrated Abu Huraira:
Once Allah’s Apostle prayed two Rakat
{instead of four}
and finished his prayer.
Dhu-l-yadain asked him
whether the prayer had been reduced
or whether he had forgotten.
Allah’s Apostle asked the people
whether Dhu-l-yadain was telling the truth.
The people replied in the affirmative.
Then Allah’s Apostle stood up,
offered the remaining two Rakat
and then finished his prayer with Taslim
and then said, “Allahu Akbar.”
He followed it with two prostrations
like ordinary prostrations, or a bit longer.”

---- The Hadith; Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1,
Book: Call to Prayers, Hadith 682.
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Be Regular in Your Prayers. {200.}

Be Regular in Your Prayers. {200.}
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“Narrated Ibn ‘Umar: Allah’s Apostle said,
‘Whoever misses the ‘Asr prayer {intentionally},
then it is as if he lost his family and property.’”

---- The Hadith; Sahih Bukhari,
Volume 1, Book: Times of the Prayers, Hadith 527.
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Intentions Determine Value of Deeds. {193.}

Intentions Determine Value of Deeds. {193.}
****

“Narrated ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab:
I heard Allah’s Apostle saying,
‘The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions
and every person will get the reward
according to what he has intended.
So whoever emigrated for worldly benefits
or for a woman to marry,
his emigration was for what he emigrated for.’”

---- The Hadith; Sahih Bukhari,
Volume 1, Book: Revelation, Hadith 1.
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Private & Congregational Prayers Compared. {179.}

Private & Congregational Prayers Compared. {179.}
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‘Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Apostle said,
“The reward of the prayer offered by a person in congregation is twenty-five times greater than that of the prayer offered in one’s house or in the market {alone}.
And this is because if he performs ablution and does it perfectly and then proceeds to the mosque with the sole intention of praying, then for every step that he takes towards the mosque, he is upgraded one degree in reward and one sin of his is taken off {crossed out} from his accounts {of deeds}.
When he offers his prayer, the angels keep on asking Allah’s Blessings and Allah’s Forgiveness for him as long as he is {staying} at his Musalla.
They say, ‘O Allah! Bestow Your Blessings upon him, be Merciful and Kind to him.’ And one is regarded to be in prayer as long as one is waiting for the prayer.”’

---- The Hadith; Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book: Call to Prayers {Adhaan}, Hadith 620.
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The Characteristics of Proper Prayer. {172.}

The Characteristics of Proper Prayer. {172.}
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‘Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Apostle entered the mosque and a person followed him. The man prayed and went to the Prophet and greeted him.
The Prophet returned the greeting and said to him, “Go back and pray, for you have not prayed.”
The man went back, prayed in the same way as before, returned and greeted the Prophet, who said, “Go back and pray, for you have not prayed.”
This happened thrice. The man said, “By Him Who sent you with the Truth, I cannot offer the prayer in a better way than this. Please, teach me how to pray.”
The Prophet said, “When you stand for Prayer say Takbir and then recite from the holy Qur’an {of what you know by heart} and then bow till you feel at ease. Then raise your head and stand up straight, then prostrate till you feel at ease during your prostration, then sit with calmness till you feel at ease {do not hurry} and do the same in all your prayers.”’

---- The Hadith; Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book: Characteristics of Prayer, Hadith 724.
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The Key Characteristics of Hypocrisy. {165.}

The Key Characteristics of Hypocrisy. {165.}
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“Narrated A’bdullah bin ’Amr: The Prophet said,
‘Whoever has the following four {characteristics} will be a pure hypocrite
and whoever has one of the following four characteristics
will have one characteristic of hypocrisy
unless and until he gives it up.
1. Whenever he is entrusted, he betrays.
2. Whenever he speaks, he tells a lie.
3. Whenever he makes a covenant, he proves treacherous.
4. Whenever he quarrels, he behaves
in a very imprudent, evil and insulting manner.’”

---- The Hadith; Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book: Belief, Hadith 33.
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Keep Praying Always; It Counts. {95.}

Keep Praying Always; It Counts. {95.}
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“Narrated Abdul Rahman: Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri told my father,
‘I see you liking sheep and the wilderness.
So whenever you are with your sheep or in the wilderness
and you want to pronounce Adhan for the prayer,
raise your voice in doing so, for whoever hears the Adhan,
whether a human being, a jinn or any other creature,
will be a witness for you on the Day of Resurrection.’
Abu Sa'id added, ‘I heard it {this narration} from Allah's Apostle.’”

---- The Hadith; Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book: Call to Prayers {Adhaan}, Hadith 583.
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