Sufyan bin 'Uyaynah سفيان بن عيينة · The Book of Forgetfulness (In Prayer)

"We used to pray behind the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and we would greet (others) with our hands. He said: 'What is the matter with those who greet (others) with their hands as if they were tails of wild horses? It is sufficient for any one of you to put his hand on his thigh and say: "As-salamu 'alaikum, as-salamu 'alaikum."

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sent me on an errand then I came back to him while he was praying. I greeted him with the salam and he gestured to me. When he finished he called me and said: 'You greeted me with Salam just now and I was praying.' And he was facing toward the east that day."

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was ill, and we prayed behind him while he was sitting, and Abu Bakr repeated his takbirs so that the people could hear them. He turned to us and saw us standing, so he gestured to us to sit down. So we prayed behind him sitting. When he said the salam he said: 'Just now you were doing what the Persians and Romans do for their kings when they are sitting. Do not do that.…

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) enjoined killing the two black ones (snakes and scorpions) while praying.

"I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) leading the people in prayer, carrying Umamah bint Abi Al-'As on his shoulder. When he bowed he put her down and when he finished prostrating he picked her up again."

"I said: 'O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), we were recently in a state of ignorance, then Allah (SWT) brought Islam. Some men among us follow omens.' He said: 'That is something that they find in their own hearts; it should not deter them from going ahead.' I said: 'And some men among us go to fortune tellers.' He said: 'Do not go to them.' He said: 'Some men among us draw lines.' He said: 'One of the Prophets used to…

"We used to speak to each other during the prayer, saying whatever was necessary, at the time of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), until this verse was revealed: Guard strictly (five obligatory) As-Salawat (the prayers) especially the middle Salah (i.e. the best prayer- 'Asr). And stand before Allah with obedience (and do not speak to others during the Salah (prayers)), so we were commanded to be silent."

Abdullah bin Buhainah told him that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stood up following two rak'ahs of Zuhr and did not sit down (for tashahhud). When he finished the prayer he prostrated twice, saying Takbir for each prostration, while he was sitting, before he said the taslim, and the people prostrated with him. (He did that) in place of the sitting that he had forgotten.

He saw the Prophet (ﷺ) sitting during the prayer. He lay his left foot on the ground and placed his forearms on his thighs, and pointed with his forefinger, supplicating with it.

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) addressed us and taught us our Sunnahs and our prayer. He said: 'When you stand for the prayer, make your rows straight, then let one of you lead the others. When he says the takbir, then say the takbir; when he says : "Wa lad-dallin" then say "Amin" and Allah (SWT) will answer you. Then when he says the takbir and bows, then say the takbir and bow, for the Imam bows before you and…

Umm Salamah told her that during the time of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), when the women said the taslim at the end of the prayer, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and the men who had prayed with him would stay put for as long as Allah (ﷺ) willed. Then, when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) got up, the men did too.

"I heard Abdullah bin Az-Zubair speaking from the Minbar, saying: 'When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said the taslim, he would say: "La Ilaha Illallah wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul-mulk wa lahul-hamd wa huwa 'ala kulli shay'in qadir, la hawla wala quwwata illa billahil-'azim; la ilaha ill-Allahu wa la nabbed illa iyyah, ahlan-ni'mati wal-fadli wath-thana'il-has an; la ilaha ill-Allah, mukhlisina lahud-dina wa law karihal-kafirun (There is none worthy of worship except Allah (SWT) alone, with no partner or associate. His…