Aḥmad also recorded it, saying: “ʿAlī ibn ʿĀṣim narrated to us from Ḥumayd—on his authority—and Khālid from Muḥammad, from Abū Hurayrah with the same wording.”

Aḥmad, Abū Dāwūd, Abū ʿAwānah, and al-Ṭaḥāwī then transmitted it again through other routes from Ḥumayd with roughly the same wording, and in that version appears the story that will be mentioned under (Istiftāḥ) no. (8).

There is a sound chain that meets Muslim’s conditions which omits this particular clause, as will be shown in that place.

A further supporting report comes from Abū Qatādah with similar wording and will be cited, Allah willing.

We shall also bring the ḥadith later, under “Legal Rulings Pertaining to Mosques,” section (3) on etiquette.

The report strongly recommends approaching the prayer with composure and dignity and forbids coming to it at a run, whether for Friday prayer or any other, and whether or not one fears missing the opening takbīr. This is how al-Nawawī states it in his commentary on Muslim.

Al-Tirmidhī said:

“The scholars have differed regarding one’s manner of walking to the mosque. Some held that one should hasten if he fears missing the first takbīr—even to the point that it is related of some of them that they would jog to the prayer. Others disliked hurrying and preferred that he walk with deliberation and dignity; this is the view of Aḥmad and Isḥāq, who both said that practice follows the ḥadith of Abū Hurayrah. Isḥāq added: If he fears missing the first takbīr, then there is no harm in quickening his pace.”