Page:Selections from Muhammadan Traditions - tr. William Goldsack (1923).djvu/76

56 It is related from Abú Hurairah that he said, 'My friend (Muḥammad) ordered me three things: to fast three days in each month, to pray in two rakʿahs in the early morning before sunrise, and to pray witr prayers before going to sleep.'—Muslim, Al Bukhárí.

It is related from Ghuḍaif binuʾl-Ḥárith that he said, 'I said to ʿÁyesha, "Didst thou see the Apostle of God whether, after impurity, he bathed himself in the beginning of the night or the latter part of it?" She replied, "Sometimes he bathed himself in the beginning of the night, and sometimes he bathed himself in the latter part of it." I said, "God is great! Praise be to God, who has established such latitude in this matter." Then I asked, "Did he perform witr prayers at the beginning of the night, or at the latter part of it.?" She replied, "Sometimes he performed witr prayers at the beginning of the night, and sometimes he performed them at the end of it." I said, "God is great! Praise be to God, who has established such latitude in this matter." Then I asked, "Did he raise his voice in the recitation (of the Qurʾán), or lower it?" She replied, "Sometimes he raised it, and sometimes he lowered it." I said, "God is great! Praise be to God, who has established such latitude in this matter."'—Abú Dáud.

It is related from Abú Hurairah that, 'When the Apostle of God wished to invoke a curse on anyone, or supplicate (a blessing) on their behalf, he prayed after bowing down, and generally said, when he prayed, "God hears him who praiseth Him. O Lord, to Thee be the praise. O God, free Al Walíd binuʾl-Walíd and Salamah bin Hishám and ʿAyyásh bin abi Rabíyah O God, be severe to (the tribe of) Muḍar, and make it in years (of famine) like unto the years of Joseph." And he used to say in some of his prayers, "O God, curse such and such tribes of Arabs," until God sent down the verse, "Thou hast no part in the matter."'—Muslim, Al Bukhárí.

It is related from Zaid bin Thábit that, 'The Apostle of God said, "The prayer of a man in his house is better than