the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. Anyone who omits any part of this has diminished his prayer by omitting some of what Allah made obligatory in it. The same applies to his statement in the other hadith: “When he has done this, his prayer is complete.”

This is further supported by the fact that the Prophet commanded him to repeat the prayer. Had the omitted act merely been recommended, he would not have commanded him to repeat it. Accordingly, anyone who performs his prayer improperly in this manner is commanded to repeat it, just as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, commanded this man. If, however, he does not repeat it and leaves it deficient, should its performance be regarded as equivalent to its nonperformance, such that he is punished for having failed to perform it? Or should it be said that he is rewarded for what he performed and punished for what he omitted, with the obligatory elements he omitted being made good by the voluntary prayers he performed? There is disagreement concerning this, though the second view is more compelling. This is based on what Abū Dāwūd and Ibn Mājah recorded on the authority of Anas ibn Hakīm al-Dabbī, who said:

“A man became afraid of Ziyād—or Ibn Ziyād—so he went to Medina and met Abū Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him. He asked me about my lineage, and I told him. He then said, ‘Young man, shall I not relate a hadith to you?’ I replied, ‘Yes, may Allah have mercy upon you.’” Yūnus said, “I believe he related it from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, who said: ‘The first of their deeds for which people will be called to account on the Day of Resurrection is the prayer. Our Lord, Blessed and Exalted is He, will say to His angels—though He knows best: “Examine My servant’s prayer. Did he complete it, or did he leave it deficient?” If it was complete, it will be recorded for him as complete. If anything was lacking from it, He will say: “See whether My servant has any voluntary prayers.” If he has voluntary prayers, He will say: “Complete it from his voluntary prayers.” All other deeds will then be dealt with on that basis.’”

In another wording, Abū Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “The first of his deeds for which the servant will be called to account on the Day of Resurrection is his prayer. If it is sound, he will have prospered and succeeded; but if it is corrupt, he will have failed and lost. If anything is lacking from his obligatory prayer, the Lord will say: ‘See whether My servant has any voluntary prayers.’ Then with them He completes whatever