English Translation

Yahya b. Sa'id told us: Hisham told us, he said: Qatada told us, from Yunus b. Jubayr, from Hittan b. Abdullah al-Raqashi, that al-Ash'ari led his companions in prayer, and a man among the people, when he sat in his prayer, said, "The prayer has confirmed righteousness and charity." When al-Ash'ari finished his prayer, he turned to the people and said, "Which of you said such-and-such a phrase?" The people fell silent - Abu Abd al-Rahman said: my father said, "aramma" means fell silent - He said, "Perhaps it was you, O Hittan" - to Hittan b. Abdullah. He said, "By Allah, I did not say it, and I feared you would pursue me about it." A man among the people said, "I said it, and I meant nothing by it but good." Al-Ash'ari said, "Do you not know what you say in your prayer? The Prophet of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, delivered a sermon to us and taught us our practice, and made clear to us our prayer, and said: 'Straighten your rows, then let the most well-versed in recitation among you lead you. When he says the takbir, say the takbir, and when he says, "nor of those who have gone astray," say "Amin," and Allah will answer you. Then when the imam says the takbir and bows, say the takbir and bow, for the imam bows before you and rises before you' - the Prophet of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, 'That balances that out.' 'And when he says, "Allah hears whoever praises Him," say, "O Allah, our Lord, praise be to You," and Allah will hear you, for Allah, Mighty and Majestic, said on the tongue of His Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, "Allah hears whoever praises Him." And when the imam says the takbir and prostrates, say the takbir and prostrate, for the imam prostrates before you and rises before you' - the Prophet of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, 'That balances that out.' 'And when it is time to sit, the first thing one of you should say is: All greetings, good things, and prayers are for Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and His messenger.'"