I saw Muslim ibn Yasaar pray as if he was a [motionless] pole; He would not lean on one leg a moment, nor the other a moment, and nor would his clothing move.
Category: Prayer
He would weep whilst standing in prayer at night
Sa’eed ibn Jubayr would weep [whilst standing in prayer] at night until his eyes became bleary and he was unable to see clearly.
Exerting yourself in much prayer
I saw Yazeed ibn Zuray’ in a dream; So I said to him what did Allaah do with you? He replied: He entered me into Paradise. I said to him: With what (meaning, what did you do to earn that)? He said: For [exerting myself in] much prayer.
They would divide the night into three
al-Hasan ibn Saalih, his brother and their mother used to divide the night into three parts, each would stand their third in prayer. So when their mother died, they divided the night in two parts, and when [his brother] ‘Alee died, Hasan stood the entire night in prayer.
As a result of elongating his prayer
‘Anas (radhi-yallaahu ‘anhu) used to pray until his feet swelled with blood, as a result of elongating his prayer, standing [in prayer] at night.
So he was not overcome by sleep
Safwaan ibn Saleem used to stand in prayer on the roof on a cold night so that he is not overcome by sleep.
Nor have I seen the back of a man
For fifty years, I never [once] missed the initial takbeer [upon beginning the congregational prayer], and nor have I seen the back of a man in the [congregational] prayer [since].
Nothing more desirable has remained
In this world, nothing more desirable has remained than prayer in congregation, and [subsequently] meeting the brothers.
I have not seen any better prayer
I have not seen any better prayer than that of Muhammad ibn Nasr. A house fly settled upon his ear, and he did not [even] try to brush it away. And we were amazed at the gracefulness of his prayer, and his concentration and state; He would place his chin upon his chest and then stand upright as if he was an erect piece of wood.
What bit me?
al-Imaam al-Bukhaaree was praying one night and a wasp bit him seventeen times. So when he finished praying, he said: Have a look and see what hurt (bit) me.