1ـ قَالَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَعْقُوبَ الْكُلَيْنِيُّ مُصَنِّفُ هَذَا الْكِتَابِ رَحِمَهُ الله حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ وَهْبٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) عَنْ أَفْضَلِ مَا يَتَقَرَّبُ بِهِ الْعِبَادُ إِلَى رَبِّهِمْ وَأَحَبِّ ذَلِكَ إِلَى الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ مَا هُوَ فَقَالَ مَا أَعْلَمُ شَيْئاً بَعْدَ الْمَعْرِفَةِ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ هَذِهِ الصَّلاَةِ أَ لاَ تَرَى أَنَّ الْعَبْدَ الصَّالِحَ عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ (عَلَيْهِما الْسَّلام) قَالَ وَأَوْصانِي بِالصَّلاةِ وَالزَّكاةِ ما دُمْتُ حَيًّا.

1. The compiler of this book, Muhammad ibn Ya’qub al-Kulayni, has said that Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Tsa from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from Mu’awiyah ibn Wahab who has said the following: “I asked abu ’Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, ’What is the best thing through which a servant of Allah may become closer to his Lord that is also most beloved to Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious?’ The Imam replied, T do not know anything after knowing (knowing Allah and His religion) more excellent than this prayer. Consider what the pious servant of Allah, Jesus son of Mary has said, “He (the Lord) has advised me to pray and pay Zakat as long as I live.’””

2ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ يُونُسَ عَنْ هَارُونَ بْنِ خَارِجَةَ عَنْ زَيْدٍ الشَّحَّامِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) قَالَ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ أَحَبُّ الأعْمَالِ إِلَى الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ الصَّلاَةُ وَهِيَ آخِرُ وَصَايَا الأنْبِيَاءِ (عَلَيْهِم الْسَّلام) فَمَا أَحْسَنَ الرَّجُلَ يَغْتَسِلُ أَوْ يَتَوَضَّأُ فَيُسْبِغُ الْوُضُوءَ ثُمَّ يَتَنَحَّى حَيْثُ لاَ يَرَاهُ أَنِيسٌ فَيُشْرِفُ عَلَيْهِ وَهُوَ رَاكِعٌ أَوْ سَاجِدٌ إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ إِذَا سَجَدَ فَأَطَالَ السُّجُودَ نَادَى إِبْلِيسُ يَا وَيْلاَهْ أَطَاعَ وَعَصَيْتُ وَسَجَدَ وَأَبَيْتُ.

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn Tsa from Yunus from Harun ibn Kharijah from Zayd al-Shahham who has said the following: “I heard abu ’Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, say, ‘The most beloved deed in the sight of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, is Salah (prayer). Prayer is the last item in the wills of the prophets. How nice it is of a man who takes a shower or Wudu’ properly and then moves away where no one can notice his presence when he is in Ruku’ or Sajdah! When a servant of Allah is in Sajdah which he prolongs, Iblis (Satan) will say crying, “Woe is on me, he (this servant of Allah) obeys Him but I disobeyed, he is doing Sajdah but I refused to do so.’””

3ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنِ الْوَشَّاءِ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ الرِّضَا يَقُولُ أَقْرَبُ مَا يَكُونُ الْعَبْدُ مِنَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَهُوَ سَاجِدٌ وَذَلِكَ قَوْلُهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَاسْجُدْ وَاقْتَرِبْ.

3. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from al-Washsha’ who has said the following: “I heard al-Rida’, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, say, ’The condition wherein a servant of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, is nearest and closest to Him is in Sajdah. It is because of the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, “Prostrate (do Sajdah) and become close.’””

4ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ يُونُسَ عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ خَلِيفَةَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) يَقُولُ إِذَا قَامَ الْمُصَلِّي إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ نَزَلَتْ عَلَيْهِ الرَّحْمَةُ مِنْ أَعْنَانِ السَّمَاءِ إِلَى أَعْنَانِ الأرْضِ وَحَفَّتْ بِهِ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ وَنَادَاهُ مَلَكٌ لَوْ يَعْلَمُ هَذَا الْمُصَلِّي مَا فِي الصَّلاَةِ مَا انْفَتَلَ.

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn Tsa from Yunus from Yazid ibn Khalifah who has said the following: “I heard abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, say, ‘When a person praying stands up for Salah (prayer), mercy from the horizons of the sky descends upon him as well as from the horizons of earth, angels surround him and one angel says, “Had this person praying known what Salah (prayer) is he would not stop performing Salah (prayer).””’

5ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صلّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) إِذَا قَامَ الْعَبْدُ الْمُؤْمِنُ فِي صَلاَتِهِ نَظَرَ الله إِلَيْهِ أَوْ قَالَ أَقْبَلَ الله عَلَيْهِ حَتَّى يَنْصَرِفَ وَأَظَلَّتْهُ الرَّحْمَةُ مِنْ فَوْقِ رَأْسِهِ إِلَى أُفُقِ السَّمَاءِ وَالْمَلاَئِكَةُ تَحُفُّهُ مِنْ حَوْلِهِ إِلَى أُفُقِ السَّمَاءِ وَوَكَّلَ الله بِهِ مَلَكاً قَائِماً عَلَى رَأْسِهِ يَقُولُ لَهُ أَيُّهَا الْمُصَلِّي لَوْ تَعْلَمُ مَنْ يَنْظُرُ إِلَيْكَ وَمَنْ تُنَاجِي مَا الْتَفَتَّ وَلاَ زِلْتَ مِنْ مَوْضِعِكَ أَبَداً.

5. Muhammad ibn al-Hassan has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from ibn Mahbub from abu Hamzah who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘When a believing servant of Allah stands up for Salah (prayer), Allah looks upon him - or he said that Allah turns toward him - as long as he is in his Salah (prayer). At such time, mercy covers him up to the horizons of the sky and angels surround him up to the horizons of the sky. Allah appoints an angel who stands up over his head and says, “O praying person, had you known who is looking at you, to who you are speaking and whispering, you would never turn away or leave this place.’””

6ـ أَبُو دَاوُدَ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْفُضَيْلِ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) قَالَ الصَّلاَةُ قُرْبَانُ كُلِّ تَقِيٍّ.

6. Abu Dawud has narrated from al-Husayn ibn Sa’id from Muhammad ibn al-Fudayl who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan al-Rida, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘Salah (prayer) is a means for every pious person to getting nearer to Allah.’”

7ـ عَنْهُ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنِ ابْنِ مُسْكَانَ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) صَلاَةٌ فَرِيضَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِنْ عِشْرِينَ حَجَّةً وَحَجَّةٌ خَيْرٌ مِنْ بَيْتٍ مَمْلُوءٍ ذَهَباً يُتَصَدَّقُ مِنْهُ حَتَّى يَفْنَى.

7. It is a narration from him (narrator of previous Hadith) by af-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Safwan ibn Yahya from ibn Muskan from Isma’if ibn ‘Ammar from abu Basir who has said the following: “Abu ’Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ’Performing an obligatory Salah (prayer) is more virtuous than performing one Hajj. Performing one Hajj is more virtuous than giving in charity one whole house full of gold.’”

8ـ جَمَاعَةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ فَضَالَةَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) أَنَّهُ قَالَ مَرَّ بِالنَّبِيِّ (صلّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) رَجُلٌ وَهُوَ يُعَالِجُ بَعْضَ حُجُرَاتِهِ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ الله أَ لاَ أَكْفِيكَ فَقَالَ شَأْنَكَ فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ قَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ الله (صلّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) حَاجَتُكَ قَالَ الْجَنَّةُ فَأَطْرَقَ رَسُولُ الله (صلّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) ثُمَّ قَالَ نَعَمْ فَلَمَّا وَلَّى قَالَ لَهُ يَا عَبْدَ الله أَعِنَّا بِطُولِ السُّجُودِ.

8. A group of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Fadalah from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan who has said the following: “Abu ’Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that once a man passed by the Holy Prophet while he was doing some work around one of his rooms. He asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, can I help you?’ He (the Holy Prophet) replied, ‘If you like, you may do so.’ When the work finished the Messenger of Allah asked, ’Can I do anything for you?’ ’Paradise, 5 the man pleaded. The Messenger of Allah looked into the sky then said, ‘Yes, (paradise is your reward). 5 When he was leaving the Messenger of Allah said, ‘O servant of Allah, you must assist us by prolonging your Sajdah.

9ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ إِدْرِيسَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ عَنْ حَمْزَةَ بْنِ حُمْرَانَ عَنْ عُبَيْدِ بْنِ زُرَارَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صلّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) مَثَلُ الصَّلاَةِ مَثَلُ عَمُودِ الْفُسْطَاطِ إِذَا ثَبَتَ الْعَمُودُ نَفَعَتِ الأطْنَابُ وَالأوْتَادُ وَالْغِشَاءُ وَإِذَا انْكَسَرَ الْعَمُودُ لَمْ يَنْفَعْ طُنُبٌ وَلاَ وَتِدٌ وَلاَ غِشَاءٌ.

9. Ahmad ibn Idris has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan from Hamzah ibn Humran from ‘Ubayd ibn Zurarah from abu ‘Abd Allah, who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Salah (prayer) is like the poles of a tent. If the poles are established then the ropes, pegs and the covering work, but if the poles break, none of the ropes, pegs and covering work.

10ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ عُمَرَ الْيَمَانِيِّ عَمَّنْ حَدَّثَهُ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) فِي قَوْلِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِنَّ الْحَسَناتِ يُذْهِبْنَ السَّيِّئاتِ قَالَ صَلاَةُ الْمُؤْمِنِ بِاللَّيْلِ تَذْهَبُ بِمَا عَمِلَ مِنْ ذَنْبٍ بِالنَّهَارِ.

10. Muhammad ibn Isma’il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from Ibrahim ibn ‘Umar al-Yamaniy from those who narrated to him the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, ‘Good deeds eliminate bad deeds 5 (11:116) has said, ‘It is a reference to the Salah (prayer) of a believing person during the night that eliminate his bad deeds he has done during the day.

11ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَفْصِ بْنِ الْبَخْتَرِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) قَالَ مَنْ قَبِلَ الله مِنْهُ صَلاَةً وَاحِدَةً لَمْ يُعَذِّبْهُ وَمَنْ قَبِلَ مِنْهُ حَسَنَةً لَمْ يُعَذِّبْهُ.

11. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from Hafs ibn al-Bakhtariy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that whoever 5 s one Salah (prayer) Allah accepts He does not punish him and whoever 5 s one good deed He accepts He does not punish him. 55

12ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ سَلَمَةَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَيْفٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مَنْ سَمِعَ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) يَقُولُ مَنْ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ يَعْلَمُ مَا يَقُولُ فِيهِمَا انْصَرَفَ وَلَيْسَ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ الله ذَنْبٌ.

12. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Salmah ibn al-Khattab from al-Husayn ibn Sayf from his father who has said the following: “Narrated to me the one who had heard abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, say, ‘Whoever performs a Salah (prayer) of two Rak’ah in which he is aware of what he says, when he finishes them no sin remains upon him before Allah.

13ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ عَنِ السَّكُونِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صلّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) الصَّلاَةُ مِيزَانٌ مَنْ وَفَّى اسْتَوْفَى.

13. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from ‘Abd Allah ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from his father from ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Mughirah formal-Sakuniy who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Salah (prayer) is a balance. Whoever maintains it balanced receives his part properly balanced.