Abu Dharr reported God’s Messenger as saying, “In the morning alms are due from every bone in a man’s fingers and toes. Every utterance of ‘Glory be to God’ is alms; every utterance of ‘Praise be to God’ is alms; every utterance of ‘There is no god but God' is alms; every utterance of ‘God is most great’ is alms; enjoining good is alms; forbidding what is disreputable is alms; and two rak'as which one prays in the forenoon serve instead of that.”
Mu'adha said she asked ‘A’isha how many rak'as God’s Messenger prayed at the forenoon prayer, and she replied, “Four rak'as, but sometimes more, as God pleased.”
Narrated Zaid b. Arqam, on seeing some people praying in the forenoon, said:
They well know that prayer at another time than this is more excellent. God’s Messenger said, “The prayer of those who are penitent is observed when the young weaned camels feel the heat of the sun.”*
* Young camels are said to feel the sand too hot when a quarter of the day has passed.
Umm Hani’ said that the Prophet entered her house on the day of the Conquest of Mecca, bathed and prayed eight rak'as, adding, “I never saw a shorter prayer than it, except that he performed the bowing and the prostration completely.” In another version she said, “That was in the forenoon.”
