Rare Prayers

Bukayr ibn A'yan narrated from Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir عليه السلام that He said: "The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم never prayed the Duha prayer."

Abdul Wahid ibn al-Mukhtar al-Ansari narrated from Abu Ja'far عليه السلام, who said: "I asked him about the Duha prayer” Imam عليه السلام said: ‘The first people to perform it were your people, for they were among the heedless, so they performed it. The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم did not perform it.' He also said: 'Imam Ali عليه السلام passed by a man who was performing it, and Imam Ali عليه السلام said: ‘What is this prayer?’ The man replied: ‘Should I leave it, O’ Commander of the Faithful?’ He (Imam Ali عليه السلام) said: ‘Would I forbid a servant when he prays?’".

Zurarah narrated from Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir عليه السلام that He said: "The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم never prayed the Duha prayer." So I (Zurarah) said to him, "Did you not inform me that He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم used to pray four rak'ahs in the forenoon?" Imam عليه السلام replied: "Yes, but he used to count it among the eight rak'ahs that are prayed after Dhuhr."

Abdullah ibn Sinan asked Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام about the prayer during the month of Ramadan. Imam عليه السلام said: "Thirteen rak'ahs, including the Witr prayer and two rak'ahs before the Fajr prayer. This is how the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم used to pray, and if there was any greater virtue in adding more, the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم would have been the most diligent and deserving of it."

Uqbah ibn Khalid asked Him (Imam Abu Abdullah عليه السلام) about a man who was praying and another man called out to him, causing him to become distracted and respond to the person's request. What should he do? Imam عليه السلام said: "He should continue with his prayer."

Imran Al-Halabi narrated from Imam عليه السلام that He said: "It is recommended to lighten (shorten) the prayer because of forgetfulness."

Sama’a bin Mehran narrated from Imam عليه السلام that He said: "The charity given by a boy, his emancipation (freeing a slave), and leading people in prayer are permissible if he is ten years old."

Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: "If you pray with them (in congregation), you will be forgiven according to the number of those who oppose you."

It is narrated from Him (Imam Al-Sadiq عليه السلام) through Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Abdillah that Imam عليه السلام said: "If you pray, then pray in your sandals (shoes) if they are clean, for that is from the Sunnah."

It is narrated by Al-Halabi from Him (Imam Al-Sadiq عليه السلام) that He said: "If you pray any of the prayers during travel outside of its (regular) time, it will not harm you."

It is narrated from Aidh al-Ahmasi that He said: "I entered upon Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام while I intended to ask him about prayer. Without me asking, he began (by saying): 'If you meet Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic, with the five obligatory prayers, He will not ask you about anything beyond that.'"

Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: "A believer remains in a state of spiritual reward (mu'aqqib) as long as they are in a state of ritual purity (wudhu)”.

Abdullah ibn Sinan narrated from Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: I asked him about a person who has so many missed (Qadha) prayers that he cannot count them, what should he do? Imam عليه السلام said: "Let him pray until he no longer knows how many he has prayed due to their abundance, and he would have compensated for the amount he is aware of." I then asked: "What if he cannot complete all the Qadha prayers?" Imam عليه السلام said: "If his preoccupation is due to seeking a necessary livelihood or helping a fellow believer in need, there is no obligation on him. But if his preoccupation is for gathering worldly gain and being distracted from prayer, then he must make up for them; otherwise, he will meet Allah سبحانه وتعالى while being negligent, belittling, and neglecting the sanctity of Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم." I asked: "What if he still cannot make up for them? Is charity sufficient?" The Imam remained silent for a while and then said: "Let him give charity." I asked: "How much charity?" Imam عليه السلام said: "As much as he can afford, with the minimum being a 'mud' (a specific measure) of food for each missed prayer." I asked: "How many prayers require a 'mud' of charity?" Imam عليه السلام said: "A 'mud' for every two units (rak'ahs) of the night prayer and a 'mud' for every two units of the day prayer." I said: "What if he cannot do this?" Imam عليه السلام said: "Then one 'mud' for every four units of the day prayer." I said: "What if he cannot manage even this?" Imam عليه السلام said: "Then one 'mud' for the entire night prayer and one 'mud' for the entire day prayer. However, prayer is superior, and prayer is superior, and prayer is superior."