(1) The name ‘Absah has been misprinted in the edition as ‘Anbasah. (2) This passage is an extract from a hadith recorded by Muslim (no. 832) in “The Prayer of Travellers”, chapter: “The Conversion of ‘Amr b. ‘Absah.” It is narrated from Abu Umamah that ‘Amr b. ‘Absah al-Sulami said: “While I was still in the Jahiliyya (pre-Islamic period) I believed that people were astray and possessed nothing of value, for they worshipped idols. I heard of a man in Makka who was reporting extraordinary things, so I mounted my riding-beast and travelled to him. I found the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, keeping himself hidden, his people treating him harshly. I acted discreetly until I entered upon him in Makka. I said, ‘Who are you?’ He replied, ‘I am a prophet.’ I asked, ‘What is a prophet?’ He said, ‘Allah has sent me.’ I said, ‘With what has He sent you?’ He answered, ‘With maintaining family ties, smashing idols, and that Allah be worshipped alone without any partner.’ I asked, ‘Who is with you on this?’ He said, ‘A free man and a slave’ (and on that day Abu Bakr and Bilal were among those who had believed in him). I said, ‘I will follow you.’ He replied, ‘For now you cannot; do you not see my situation and that of the people? Return to your family, and when you hear that I have prevailed, come to me.’ So I went back to my family. When the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, emigrated to Madina I stayed with my people, continually seeking news and questioning travellers until some men from Yathrib came by. I asked, ‘What has become of the man who has settled in Madina?’ They said, ‘People are flocking to him; his own tribe wished to kill him but could not.’ I travelled to Madina, entered upon him and said, ‘Messenger of Allah, do you recognise me?’ He said, ‘Yes – you are the one who met me in Makka.’ I replied, ‘Indeed.’ I then said, ‘Prophet of Allah, teach me what Allah has taught you and of which I am ignorant. Tell me about the prayer.’ He said, ‘Pray the dawn prayer (subh), then refrain from prayer until the sun rises and has ascended, for it rises between the two horns of Satan and at that moment the unbelievers prostrate to it. Then pray, for the prayer is witnessed and attended, until the shadow of a spear equals its length; then stop praying, for at that time Jahannam is stoked. When the shadow lengthens, pray, for the prayer is witnessed and attended, until you perform the afternoon prayer (‘asr); then refrain from prayer until the sun sets, for it sets between the two horns of Satan and at that moment the unbelievers prostrate to it.’ I asked, ‘Prophet of Allah, tell me about ablution (wudu).’ He said, ‘Whenever any one of you draws near to his water, rinses his mouth and inhales water into his nose and expels it, the sins of his face, mouth and nostrils fall away. When he washes his face as Allah has commanded, the sins of his face fall from the edges of his beard with the water. When he washes his hands up to the elbows, the sins of his hands depart with the water from his fingertips. When he wipes his head, the sins of his head depart with the water from the ends of his hair. When he washes his feet up to the ankles, the sins of his feet depart with the water from his toes. If he then stands to pray, praises Allah, extols Him and glorifies Him as He deserves, and directs his heart wholly to Allah, he returns from his sins as on the day his mother bore him.’ Jurra’ is the plural of jari’ (bold, daring). Jar’a (boldness) means courage and audacity. The expression atakhabbiru l-akhbar means “I inquire about the news”. Mashhuda (“attended”) means a prayer witnessed by the angels.