A paternal uncle of his who was present at Badr told him, that a man entered the masjid and prayed, and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was watching, but we did not realize. When he had finished, he came and greeted the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) with salam. He said: "Go back and pray, for you have not prayed." So he went back and prayed, then he came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and he said: "Go back and pray, for you have not prayed." (This happened) two or three times. Then the man said to him: "By the One who has honored you , O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), I have tried my best; teach me." He said: "When you get up to pray, perform wudu and do it well, then turn to face the Qiblah and say the takbir. Then recite the Quran, then bow until you are at ease in bowing. Then stand up until you are standing straight, then prostrate until you are at ease prostrating, then sit up until you are at ease sitting, then prostrate until you are at ease prostrating, then get up, and continue doing that until you have finished your prayer."
Narrated by It was narrated from 'Ali- who is bin Yahya- from his father that:
Context
In this narration, a man prayed incorrectly without realizing it, and the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) instructed him to repeat his prayer multiple times. This scenario illustrates the importance of proper prayer etiquette and the Prophet's (ﷺ) role as a teacher, guiding individuals to fulfill their religious obligations correctly.
Modern Application
When learning how to pray, it's common to make mistakes. Seeking guidance from knowledgeable individuals or resources can help ensure that prayers are performed correctly, fostering a more fulfilling spiritual experience.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Prayer and Prophetic Conduct because it shows the Prophet's (ﷺ) dedication to teaching the correct way to perform prayers and the importance of understanding the prayer process.
O you who have believed, when you rise to [perform] prayer, wash your faces and your forearms to the elbows and wipe over your heads and wash your feet to the ankles. And if you are in a state of janabah, then purify yourselves. But if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women and do not find water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and hands with it. Allah does not intend to make difficulty for you, but He intends to purify you and complete His favor upon you that you may be grateful.
And when you have completed the prayer, remember Allah standing, sitting, or [lying] on your sides. But when you become secure, re-establish [regular] prayer. Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.
O you who have believed, do not approach prayer while you are intoxicated until you know what you are saying or in a state of janabah, except those passing through [a place of prayer], until you have washed [your whole body]. And if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women and find no water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and your hands [with it]. Indeed, Allah is ever Pardoning and Forgiving.
Indeed, your Lord knows, [O Muhammad], that you stand [in prayer] almost two thirds of the night or half of it or a third of it, and [so do] a group of those with you. And Allah determines [the extent of] the night and the day. He has known that you [Muslims] will not be able to do it and has turned to you in forgiveness, so recite what is easy [for you] of the Qur'an. He has known that there will be among you those who are ill and others traveling throughout the land seeking [something] of the bounty of Allah and others fighting for the cause of Allah. So recite what is easy from it and establish prayer and give zakah and loan Allah a goodly loan. And whatever good you put forward for yourselves - you will find it with Allah. It is better and greater in reward. And seek forgiveness of Allah. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
So from wherever you go out [for prayer, O Muhammad] turn your face toward al- Masjid al-Haram, and indeed, it is the truth from your Lord. And Allah is not unaware of what you do.
This hadith is #1315 from Sunan an-Nasa'i, in the Book of The Book of Forgetfulness (In Prayer). It is graded Sahih and narrated by It was narrated from 'Ali- who is bin Yahya- from his father that:.