English Translation

Ibn Numayr narrated to us: Hajjaj, meaning Ibn Dinar, narrated to us, from Muhammad ibn Dhakwan, from Shahr ibn Hawshab, from Amr ibn Abasah, who said: I came to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and said, "O Messenger of Allah, who has followed you in this matter?" He said, "A free man and a slave." I said, "What is Islam?" He said, "Good speech and feeding people." I said, "What is faith?" He said, "Patience and generosity." I said, "Which Islam is best?" He said, "That from whose tongue and hand the Muslims are safe." I said, "Which faith is best?" He said, "Good character." I said, "Which prayer is best?" He said, "Length of standing." I said, "Which emigration is best?" He said, "That you abandon what your Lord, Mighty and Sublime, dislikes." I said, "Then which jihad is best?" He said, "That whose horse is hamstrung and whose blood is shed." I said, "Which hours are best?" He said, "The last part of the night, then the prayer is prescribed and witnessed until dawn breaks; when dawn breaks, there is no prayer except the two rak’ahs, until you pray the dawn prayer. When you have prayed the dawn prayer, refrain from prayer until the sun rises, for it rises between the two horns of a devil, and the disbelievers pray to it; so refrain from prayer until it climbs higher. When it has climbed, the prayer is prescribed and witnessed until the shadow stands like a spear’s length; when it is thus, refrain from prayer until it inclines; when it inclines, the prayer is prescribed and witnessed until the sun sets; when it is near setting, refrain from prayer, for it sets — or disappears — between the two horns of a devil, and the disbelievers pray to it."