Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (PBUH) came into the mosque and noticed a rope stretched between two poles. He enquired, "What is this rope for?'' He was told: "This is Zainab's rope. When during her voluntary prayer, she begins to feel tired, she grasps it for support". The Prophet (PBUH) said, "Untie it. You should perform prayers so long as you feel active. When you feel tired, you should go to sleep". [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Commentary: This Hadith deals with the following three points:
1. It forbids undue strictness and taking support of anything in the course of Salat.
2. If wrong can be corrected by hand, it must be stopped immediately.
3. One should be moderate in `Ibadah and select such times for optional and voluntary prayers when one feels real pleasure in them.
147. `Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "When one of you feels drowsy during prayer, let him lie down till drowsiness goes away from him, because when one of you performs prayers while feeling sleepy, he does not know whether he seeks forgiveness or abuses himself". [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
148. Jabir bin Samurah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I used to perform prayer with the Prophet (PBUH) and his Salat was of a moderate length and his Khutbah too was moderate in length. [Muslim].
Commentary: This Hadith tells us that Imam should neither lengthen the Salat nor give a long Khutbah in the congregational Salat because both of these things are not according to the practice of the Prophet (PBUH).
149. Abu Juhaifah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (PBUH) made a bond of brotherhood between Salman and Abud-Darda'. Salman paid a visit to Abud-Darda' and found Umm Darda' (his wife) dressed in shabby clothes and asked her why she was in that state. She replied: "Your brother Abud-Darda' is not interested in (the luxuries of) this world. In the meantime Abud-Darda' came in and prepared a meal for Salman. Salman requested Abud-Darda' to eat (with him) but Abud-Darda' said: "I am fasting.'' Salman said: "I am not going to eat unless you eat.'' So, Abud-Darda' ate (with Salman). When it was night and (a part of the night passed), Abud-Darda' got up (to offer the night prayer) but Salman asked him to sleep and Abud-Darda' slept. After some time Abud-Darda' again got up but Salman asked him to sleep. When it was the last hours of the night, Salman asked him to get up and both of them offered (Tahajjud) prayer. Then Salman told Abud-Darda': "You owe a duty to your Rubb, you owe a duty to your body; you owe a duty to your family; so you should give to every one his due. Abud-Darda' came to the Prophet (PBUH) and reported the whole story. Prophet (PBUH) said, "Salman is right". [Al-Bukhari].
Commentary: This Hadith highlights the following points:
1. Although the performance of voluntary prayers (Nawafil) is highly meritorious, it should not be done at the cost of obligations for, in this case, they loose their merits and are disliked by Allah.
2. The right time for Tahajjud (optional prayers at night) is the last third part of the night. The reason being that in the first two portions of the night, one should take rest and perform his conjugal duties.
3. Voluntary fasting can be broken (for valid reasons) without any expiation.
4. It is permissible to establish fraternity on the basis of Deen, and when this is established, the families so affiliated can associate with each other.
5. Muslims must provide right guidance to each other.
6. In case of need, it is permissible to speak to an unknown woman while observing the teachings of the Prophet (PBUH) in this regard, such as lowering the gaze and be as brief as possible.
150. `Abdullah bin `Amr bin Al-`as (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: The Prophet (PBUH) was informed that I said that I would perform prayers the whole night and observe fasting every day as long as I live. Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Is it you who said this?'' I said to him, "O Messenger of Allah! I ransom you with my parents, it is I who said that.'' Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "You will not be able to do that. Observe fast and break it; sleep and get up for prayer, and observe fast for three days during the month; for every good is multiplied ten times and that will be equal to fasting the whole year.'' I said, "O Messenger of Allah! I can do more than that.'' He said, "Observe fast one day and leave off the next two days.'' I said, "O Messenger of Allah! I have strength to do more