Al-Bara’ reported God’s Messenger as saying, “It is a duty for Muslims to bathe on Friday, and one may apply some of his wife’s perfume; but if he can get none, water is a perfume for him.”
Ahmad and Tirmidhi transmitted it, the latter saying that this is a hasan tradition.
Anas said that when it was very cold the Prophet observed the prayer early, and when it was very hot he delayed the prayer till it was cooler. The reference is to the Friday prayer.
As-Sa’ib b. Yazid said that in the time of God’s Messenger, Abu Bakr and ‘Umar the beginning of the summons on Friday was when the imam took his seat on the pupilt, but in 'Uthman’s time when (the people were numerous he added the third call on az-Zaura’.*
Jabir b. Samura said the Prophet gave two sermons between which he sat, recited the Qur’an and gave the people an exhortation and both his prayer and his sermon were of moderate length.
‘Ammar told how he heard God’s Messenger say, “The length of a man’s prayer and the shortness of his sermon are a sign of his understanding, so make the prayer long and the sermon short, for there is magic in eloquence.”
Jabir said that when God’s Messenger preached his eyes became red, his voice rose and his anger became violent, so that he was like one warning an army and saying, “The enemy has made a morning attack on you.” “The enemy has made an evening attack on you.” He would Say, “The last hour and I have been sent like these two,” and he would join his forefinger and his middle finger.
Umm Hisham daughter of Haritha b. an-Nu‘man said she learned “Qaf. By the glorious Qur’an” (Al-Qur’an; 50) from no other source than the tongue of God’s Messenger who used to recite it every Friday on the pulpit when he preached to the people.
Jabir reported God’s Messenger as saying in the course of a sermon, “When one of you comes on Friday while the imam is preaching, he should pray two rak'as and make them short.”
Ibn ‘Umar said that the Prophet used to deliver two sermons. He would sit down when he ascended the pulpit till he (I think he meant the mu’adhdhin) was finished. He would then stand up and preach, then sit down and say nothing, then stand up and preach.
‘Abdallah b. Mas'ud said, “When the Prophet sat down on the pulpit we faced him.”
Tirmidhi transmitted it, and said this was a tradition he knew only among the traditions of Muhammad b. al-Fadl who was weak and whose traditions were not accepted.
Jabir b. Samura said, “The Prophet used to preach standing, then he would sit down, then stand and preach standing. If anyone tells you he preached sitting he is lying. I swear by God that I prayed along with him on more than two thousand occasions.”
Narrated Ka'b b. ‘Ujra said he entered the mosque when ‘Abd ar-Rahman b. Umm al-Hakam was sitting while he preached, and said:
Look at this scoundrel who is sitting while he preaches, though God most high has said, “But when they see merchandise or diversion they disperse to it and leave you standing” (Al-Qur’an; 62:11).
‘Umara b. Ruwaiba said he saw Bishr b. Marwan on the pulpit raising his hands and said, “God reject these hands! I have seen God’s Messenger gesture* no more than this with his hand;” and he pointed with his forefinger.
Jabir said that when God’s Messenger seated himself on the pulpit on a Friday he said, “Sit down.” Ibn Mas'ud heard that and sat down at the door of the mosque, and when God’s Messenger saw him he said, “Come here, ‘Abdallah b. Mas'ud.”
Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone is in time for a rak'a of the Friday prayer he should pray another as well, but if one misses the two rak'as he should pray four.” Or he said, “The noon prayer.”
