Life of Muhammad — Page 206
sa 206 should lead the prayers. Shortly thereafter he was able to conclude the business upon which he was engaged and proceeded at once to the mosque. Ab u Bakr ra was leading the prayers but when the congregation perceived that the Holy Prophet sa had arrived, they began to clap their hands for the purpose both of giving expression to their joy at his arrival and also to draw Ab u Bakr ra 's attention to the fact that the Prophet sa himself had arrived. Thereupon Ab u Bakr ra stepped back and made room for the Holy Prophet sa to lead the prayers. When the prayers were over, the Prophet sa addressed Ab u Bakr ra and said: "Why did you step back after I had directed you to lead the prayers?" Ab u Bakr ra replied: "O Messenger of Allah sa ! How would it befit the son of Ab u Qu ha fa ra to lead the prayers in the presence of the Messenger of Allah sa ?" Then addressing the congregation the Prophet sa said: "Why did you clap your hands? It is not seemly that while you are engaged in the remembrance of God you should clap your hands. If it should so happen that during the course of prayers attention has to be drawn to some matter, instead of clapping your hands you should utter the name of God aloud. This would draw attention to whatever may have to be taken note of " ( Bukh a r i ). The Prophet sa did not approve of prayers or worship being carried on as a penance or imposition. On one occasion he came home and observed a rope dangling between two pillars. He inquired what its purpose was, and was informed that his wife Zainab ra was in the habit of supporting herself by means of the rope when she became tired in the course of her prayers. He directed the rope to be removed and said that prayers should be continued only so long as one felt easy and cheerful and that if a person became tired he should sit down. Prayers were not an imposition, and if carried on after the body became fatigued they failed of their purpose ( Bukh a r i , Kit ab ul Kus u f ). He abhorred every action and practice which savoured even remotely of idolatry. When his end was