I asked, “What has become of that man who went to Medina?” They said, “People are flocking to him, and his own tribe tried to kill him but could not.” So I set out for Medina, entered upon him, and said, “O Messenger of Allah, do you recognize me?”

He replied, “Yes—you are the one who met me in Mecca.”

I said, “O Messenger of Allah, teach me what Allah has taught you but of which I am ignorant. Tell me about the prayer.”

He said, “Pray the dawn prayer, then refrain from praying until the sun has risen a spear’s length, for it rises between the two horns of Satan, and at that moment the unbelievers prostrate to it. After that, pray, for the prayer at that time is witnessed and attended, until a spear casts no shadow. Then stop praying, for at that hour Hell-fire is stoked. When the shadow lengthens, pray, for the prayer is witnessed and attended, until you have prayed the afternoon prayer. Then refrain from praying until the sun sets, for it sets between the two horns of Satan, and at that moment the unbelievers prostrate to it.”

I said, “O Prophet of Allah, tell me about ablution.”

He replied, “When one of you approaches his ablution, rinses his mouth and snuffs 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 drop away with the water from the edges of his beard. When he washes his hands up to the elbows, the sins of his hands fall away with the water from the fingertips. When he wipes his head, the sins of the head fall away with the water from the tips of the hair. When he washes his feet up to the ankles, the sins of his feet fall away with the water from the toes. Then, if he stands and prays, praising Allah, extolling and glorifying Him as He deserves, and directs his heart wholly to Allah, he leaves his sins as free of them as on the day his mother bore him.”