those praying behind him and others, even as he was fully devoted to Allah, close to Him, his heart present before Him and wholly focused on Him. He would begin praying with the intention of prolonging the prayer, but upon hearing a child cry, he would shorten it for fear of causing hardship to the child’s mother (1).

Once, he sent a mounted scout ahead, then stood to pray, repeatedly looking towards the mountain pass from which the rider would return (2). His absorption in prayer did not distract him from attending to his rider’s situation.

Likewise, he would perform the obligatory prayer carrying his granddaughter Umāmah, daughter of Abu al-ʿĀs ibn al-Rabīʿ, on his shoulder. When he stood, he carried her, and when he bowed or prostrated, he set her down (3).

While he was praying, al-Hasan or al-Husayn (4) would come and climb onto his back. He would prolong his prostration, not wanting (5) to dislodge him from his back (6).

While he was praying, ʿĀishah would return after attending to her needs and find the door closed. He would walk over and open it for her, then return to his place of prayer (7) (8).