Attention should therefore be paid to this, for I know that many who have taken up this profession are unaware of this reality. If they persist in their practice, I advise them not to say anything further when addressing them than the Prophet’s words, peace and blessings be upon him: “Leave, enemy of Allah!” I also remind them of Allah Most High’s saying:

“Let those who oppose his command beware lest a trial befall them or a painful punishment befall them.”

Allah is the One whose help is sought, and there is no power nor strength except through Allah.

2919 — “Make the prayer brief for the people, limiting it to the length of ‘Glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most High,’ ‘Read in the Name of your Lord Who created,’ and similar passages from the Quran.”

Recorded by Ahmad (4/218) and al-Tabarani in al-Muʿjam al-Kabir (9/38–39), through the route of Ibn Khuthaym: Dawud ibn Abi ʿAsim al-Thaqafi informed us, from ʿUthman ibn Abi al-ʿAs, who said: “The last thing the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said to me when he appointed me over Taif was...” He then related it.

I say: Its chain of transmission is authentic; all its narrators are trustworthy. I have cited it only because it specifies the surahs mentioned as the measure, for the basic hadith is found in Sahih Muslim and elsewhere in a more complete version. It is also documented in Sahih Abi Dawud under hadith 541.

2920 — “He would not omit two rakʿahs before dawn and two rakʿahs after ʿAsr.”

Recorded by Ibn Abi Shaybah in al-Musannaf (2/352): ʿAffan narrated to us; Abu ʿAwanah informed us; Ibrahim ibn Muhammad ibn al-Muntashir narrated to us from his father that he used to pray two rakʿahs after ʿAsr. He was asked about this, and he replied: “Even if the only reason I prayed them were that I saw Masruq praying them, that would suffice, for he was trustworthy. But I asked Aishah, and she said...” He then related it.