Salaat of a Few Eminent Sahabah

Hadhrat Mujahid (Radhiyallaho anho), describing the Salaat of Hadhrat Abu Bakr (Radhiyallaho anho), and that of Hadhrat Abdullah bin Zubair (Radhiyallaho anho) says:

"They stood in Salaat motionless like pieces of wood stuck in the ground."

'Ulama agree that Hadhrat Abdullah bin Zubair (Radhiyallaho anho) learnt to say his Salaat from Hadhrat Abu Bakr

(Radhiyallaho anho), who in turn learnt it direct from the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam).

It is said about Hadhrat Abdullah bin Zubair (Radhiyallaho anho) that he remained in Sajdah for so long, and kept so motionless therein, that birds would come and perch on his back. He would sometimes remain in Sajdah or Ruku' all night long. During an'attack against him, a missile came and hit the wall of the musjid wherein he was saying his Salaat. A piece of masonry flew from the wall and passed in between his beard and throat. He neither cut short his Salaat, nor was he the least perturbed.

Once he was saying his Salaat while his son Hashim was sleeping near him. A snake fell from the ceiling and coiled round the child. The child woke up and shrieked, and the whole household gathered round him. They killed the snake after a great hue and cry. Ibne Zubair (Radhiyallaho anho), calm and quiet, remained engaged in his Salaat all the while. When he had finished it, he said to his wife: "I heard some noise during my Salaat; what was that?"

His wife exclaimed:

"May Allah have mercy on you! The child's life was in danger, and you took least notice of it."

His answer was:

"Had I turned my attention to anything else, what would have remained of the Salaat?"

Hadhrat 'Umar (Radhiyallaho anho) was stabbed at the close of his career, and this same wound caused his death. He bled profusely and remained unconscious for long intervals. But when he was informed of the time of Salaat, he would perform it in that very condition, and say:

"There is no portion in Islam for the person who discards Salaat."

Hadhrat Uthman (Radhiyallaho anho) would remain in Salaat all night long, finishing the whole of the Qur'an in one rakaat.

It is reported about Hadhrat Ali (Radhiyallaho anho) that he would turn pale and tremble at the time of Salaat. Somebody asked him the reason, and he said:

"It is the time to discharge that trust which Allah offered to the Heavens and the Earth and the hills, but they shrank from bearing it, and I have assumed it."

Somebody asked Khalaf-bin-Ayub: "Do not the flies annoy you in your Salaat?"

His answer was:

"Even the sinful persons patiently bear the lashes of the government, to boast of their endurance afterwards. Why should I be made to skip about by mere flies when standing in the presence of my Lord?"

Muslim bin Yasaar when he stood up for Salaat, said to members of his family:

"You may keep on talking, I shall not be knowing what you talk."

Once he was saying his Salaat in the Jaami' musjid of Basrah. A portion of the musjid wall fell down with a crash; and every body ran pell mell for safety, but he never even heard the noise.

Somebody asked Haatim Asam as to how did he say his Salaat.

He replied:

"When the time for Salaat comes, I perform my Wudhu and go to the place where I have to say my Salaat. I sit down for some time, till all the parts of my body are relaxed. Then I stand up for Salaat, visualising the Ka'bah in front of me, imagining my feet upon the Bridge of Siraat, with Paradise to my right, and Hell to my left, and Izraa-eel close behind me, and thinking that it may be my last Salaat. Then I say my Salaat with full sincerity and devotion.

And I finish my Salaat between fear and hope about its acceptance.

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