Abu Dharr said that he asked God’s Messenger which mosque was set up first in the earth and was told that it was the sacred mosque. He asked which came next and was told that it was the Aqsa mosque. He asked how long a space of time separated their building and the Prophet told him it was forty years, adding, “Then the earth is a mosque for you, so pray wherever you are at the time of prayer.”
عَن عمر بن أبي سَلمَة قَالَ: رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُصَلِّي فِي ثَوْبٍ وَاحِدٍ مُشْتَمِلًا بِهِ فِي بَيْتِ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ وَاضِعًا طَرَفَيْهِ عَلَى عَاتِقيهِ
“Umar b. Abu Salama said that he saw God’s Messenger praying in Umm Salama’s house girded with a single garment, placing its two ends over his shoulders.*
* This is explained as meaning that the ends were each over a shoulder and under the other armpit and tied over the chest.
‘A’isha said that God’s Messenger prayed in a woollen garment of hers with markings, and he gave a look at the markings. When he had finished he said, “Take this woollen garment of mine to Abu Jahm and bring me Abu Jahm’s Anbijani* garment, for it has distracted me just now from my prayer.”
* A type of garment from the Syrian town of Manbij. The word in the text is anbijaniya. Manbijaniya is perhaps more common. See Lane, Lexicon, p. 2755 Pt. III
(Bukhari and Muslim.) In a version by Bukhari he said, “I was looking at its markings while I was engaged in prayer, and I am afraid lest it may beguile me.”
Anas said that ‘A’isha had a figured curtain with which she secluded the side of her house, but the Prophet said to her, “Remove this figured curtain of yours from us, for its pictures keep interfering with my prayer.”
‘Uqba b. ‘Amir said that God’s Messenger was presented with a silk gown which he put on and wore while praying. Then when he withdrew he pulled it off vigorously as though he disapproved of it, saying, “This is not fitting for the pious.”
Salama b. al-Akwa‘said that he told God’s Messenger he was a man who went out hunting, and asked whether he might pray in a single shirt. He replied, “Yes, but fasten it, even if it should be with a thorn.”
Abu Dawud transmitted it and Nasa’i transmitted something similar.
Abu Huraira said that while a man was praying letting his lower garment trail, God’s Messenger said to him, “Go and perform ablution.” After he had gone to perform ablution and returned a man asked God’s Messenger why he had ordered him to perform ablution, and he said “He was praying with his lower garment trailing, and God does not accept the prayer of a man who lets his lower garment trail.”
Umm Salama said that she asked God's Messenger whether a woman might pray in a shift and veil without wearing a lower garment. He replied, “If the shift is ample and covers the surface of her feet.”
Abu Dawud transmitted it and he mentioned a number who did not trace it beyond Umm Salama.
Shaddad b. Aus reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Act differently from the Jews, for they do not pray in their sandals or their shoes.”*
* Khuff (pl. khifaf), an article of footwear which came up above the ankle. Traditions tell that the Prophet allowed pilgrims to wear the khuff only when unable to procure sandals, but said they must be cut to come below the ankle. Cf. Bukhari, Hajj, 21, 23; Libas, 8, 4, 15, 73.
While God’s Messenger was leading his companions in prayer he took off his sandals and laid them at his left side; so when the people saw that, they removed their sandals. When he had finished his prayer he asked, "What made you remove your sandals? They replied, “We saw you remove yours, so we removed ours.” God’s Messenger then said, “Gabriel came to me and informed me that there was filth on them. When any of you comes to the mosque he should examine, and if he sees filth on his sandals he should wipe it off and pray in them.”
Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “When any of you prays he should not place his sandals at his right or at his left so as to be at the right of someone else, unless no one is at his left, but should place them between his feet.” A version has, “or pray with them on.”
Abu Dawud transmitted it and Ibn Majah transmitted something to the same effect.
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri said, “I visited the Prophet and saw him praying on a reed mat on which he was prostrating himself.” He said, “And I saw him praying in a single garment with part over his shoulder.”
Muhammad b. al-Munkadir said that Jabir led them in prayer in lower garment which he had tied at the nape of his neck, his clothes being placed on the clothes-stand. Someone said to him, “You are praying in a single garment.” He replied, “I did that only that a fool like you might see me. Which of us had two garments in the time of God’s Messenger?”
Ubayy b. Ka'b said, “Prayer in a single garment was a practice we followed along with God’s Messenger, and no blame was cast on us.” Ibn Mas'ud said, “That was only when clothing was scarce, but when God enlarged our circumstances prayer in two garments became purer.”
Ibn ‘Umar said that the Prophet would go out in the morning* to the place of prayer with a staff in front of him which was carried and set up in front of him in the place of prayer, and he would pray in its direction.
