Chapter

The Book of the Commencement of the Prayer

كتاب الافتتاح

Arabic Text

أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا الْعَطَّافُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَسْلَمَ، قَالَ دَخَلْنَا عَلَى أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ فَقَالَ صَلَّيْتُمْ قُلْنَا نَعَمْ ‏.‏ قَالَ يَا جَارِيَةُ هَلُمِّي لِي وَضُوءًا مَا صَلَّيْتُ وَرَاءَ إِمَامٍ أَشْبَهَ صَلاَةً بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنْ إِمَامِكُمْ هَذَا ‏.‏ قَالَ زَيْدٌ وَكَانَ عُمَرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ يُتِمُّ الرُّكُوعَ وَالسُّجُودَ وَيُخَفِّفُ الْقِيَامَ وَالْقُعُودَ ‏.‏

English Translation

It was narrated that Zaid bin Aslam said:

"We entered upon Anas bin Malik and he said: 'Have you prayed?' We said: 'Yes.' He asid: 'O slave girl, bring me water for Wudhu! I have never prayed behind any Imam whose prayer more closely resembles the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) than this Imam of yours.'" Zaid said: "Umar bin Abdul Aziz used to complete the bowing and prostration (without rushing) and lighten the standing and sitting."