Jabir said that Mu'adh b. Jabal used to pray along with the Prophet, then come and lead his people in prayer. One night he prayed the evening prayer along with the Prophet, then came to his people and led them in prayer, beginning with Sura al-Baqara1. A man turned aside, pronounced the taslim, then prayed alone and departed. The people said to him, “Have you become a hypocrite, so and so?” He replied, I swear by God that I have not, but I shall certainly go to God’s Messenger and tell him.” So he went to him and said, “Messenger of God, we look after camels used for watering and work by day. After having prayed the evening prayer with you, Mu'adh came and began with Sura al-Baqara.” God’s Messenger then approached Mu'adh and said, “Are you a troubler, Mu’adh? Recite, ‘By the sun and its morning brightness,’2 ‘By the morning brightness,’3 ‘By the night when it covers over,’4 and ‘Glorify the name of thy most high Lord’.”5
1. Al-Qur’an; 2 the longest sura in the Qur’an.
2. Al-Qur’an; 91
3. Al-Qur'an; 93.
4. Al-Qur'an; 92.
5. Al-Qur’an; 87.
Jabir b. Samura said that the Prophet used to recite at the noon prayer, “By the night when it covers over”1 (a version says, “Glorify the name of thy most high Lord”, 2 at the afternoon prayer a similar amount, and at the Morning Prayer a longer passage than that.
