Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Prayer performed in congregation is twenty-five times superior to prayer performed alone."

Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "I intended to order someone to lead the prayer, then I would go with some young men carrying bundles of wood to those who do not attend the congregation and burn their houses down. If anyone knew that he would get a meaty bone or two fine shanks, he would surely attend the ‘Isha prayer."

Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "When you come for prayer, do not run, but come walking calmly. Whatever part of the prayer you catch, perform it, and whatever you miss, complete it."

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When the iqamah is pronounced...." etc. In the narrations of Shu'ayb, 'Aqil, Ibn Abi Dhi'b, and others, the words are «فَأَتِمُّوا» .

Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) narrates that when the Muhajirun migrated from Makkah to Madinah, they camped at a place called Usbah near Quba. So, Salim, the freed slave of Abu Hudhaifah (may Allah be pleased with him), led them in prayer because he knew the most Qur'an among them. Among them were also Abu Salamah bin Abd al-Asad (may Allah be pleased with him) and Umar (may Allah be pleased with him).

Sayyiduna Abu Mas’ud Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:“The one who should lead the people in prayer is the one who recites the Book of Allah (Qur’an) the most among them. If they are equal in recitation, then the one who knows the Sunnah more. If they are equal in the Sunnah, then the one who migrated earlier. If they are equal in migration, then the one who is oldest in age. No one should lead in someone’s domain without his permission, nor should he sit in his place of honor without permission.”

Sayyiduna Abu Yazid Jarami Amr bin Salamah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that we used to live near the water on the path where people would pass by, so we used to ask them about this religion. He narrated the hadith, saying: My father went on behalf of the people of his tribe to gather information about Islam, and he stayed with the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) for as long as Allah willed. Then when he returned, we welcomed him. Seeing us, he said, "By Allah! I am coming from a true Messenger." Then he said: "He commands you to do such and such things and forbids you from such and such things. He also commands you to pray such and such prayer at such and such time, and such and such prayer at such and such time. When the time for prayer comes, one man should give the adhan, then he should lead the prayer, the one among you who knows the Qur'an the most." The people of our tribe considered, and did not find anyone who knew more Qur'an than me, because I used to memorize the Qur'an from the travelers. So they put me forward, and I used to lead them in prayer at the age of six years.

Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) appointed Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Umm Maktum (may Allah be pleased with him) as his deputy in Madinah twice. I saw him on the day of the Battle of Qadisiyyah; he had a black flag with him.

Sayyiduna Sahl bin Sa’d (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that due to a disagreement from the time of ignorance, there was a bitter exchange of words between two Ansari tribes, to the extent that Satan intervened (i.e., they started fighting). And in another narration: to the extent that they grabbed each other. When the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) found out, he came to reconcile them. He was delayed for a while (until the prayer time), so Sayyiduna Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) gave the call to prayer (adhan). The Prophet (peace be upon him) was further delayed and did not come, so Sayyiduna Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) gave the iqamah, and Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) stepped forward (to lead the prayer) and began the leadership. Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) arrived, and as he passed through the rows, he stood in the first row. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) would not usually turn his attention here and there during the prayer, but when people started clapping, and when he heard the sound of clapping, he turned and saw that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was present. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) signaled him to remain standing in his place, but Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) raised his head towards the sky and stepped back on his heels. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) moved forward, and after completing the prayer, asked:“Abu Bakr! Why did you not continue leading the prayer?”He replied:“Allah does not want the son of Abu Quhafa to stand in front of His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).”

Sayyiduna Sahl bin Sa’d (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that one day the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) led the prayer on the pulpit, while the people were behind him. When he rose from bowing (ruku’), he stepped backward and prostrated on the ground, then climbed the pulpit again, and for prostration descended again. After finishing, he said: O people! I have led you in this prayer so that you may follow me in the same manner as you have seen me.