Narrated to me Ahmad ibn Ja‘far al-Ma‘qiri, narrated to us al-Nadr ibn Muhammad, narrated to us ‘Ikrimah ibn ‘Ammar, narrated to us Shaddad ibn ‘Abdullah Abu ‘Ammar and Yahya ibn Abi Kathir, from Abu Umamah — ‘Ikrimah said: Shaddad met Abu Umamah and Wathilah, and accompanied Anas to Syria, and he praised him for his virtue and goodness — from Abu Umamah, who said: ‘Amr ibn ‘Abasah al-Sulami said: While I was in the pre-Islamic period of ignorance, I used to think that people were in error and that they were upon nothing, as they worshipped idols. Then I heard of a man in Mecca who was telling news, so I mounted my riding beast and came to him. There was the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, in hiding, with his people being bold against him. I acted discreetly until I entered upon him in Mecca, and I said to him: “What are you?” He said: “I am a Prophet.” I said: “And what is a Prophet?” He said: “Allah has sent me.” I said: “And with what has He sent you?” He said: “He sent me with the joining of kinship ties, the breaking of idols, and that Allah be worshipped alone, with nothing associated with Him.” I said to him: “And who is with you in this?” He said: “A free man and a slave.” He said: And with him that day were Abu Bakr and Bilal, among those who believed in him. I said: “I will follow you.” He said: “You cannot do that on this day of yours. Do you not see my condition and the condition of the people? But return to your family, and when you hear that I have emerged openly, then come to me.” He said: So I went to my family, and the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, arrived in Medina, while I was with my family. I kept seeking news and asking people when he arrived in Medina, until a group of people from Yathrib, from the people of Medina, came to me. I said: “What has happened to this man who has arrived in Medina?” They said: The people are hastening to him, and his people had wanted to kill him but could not do so. So I came to Medina and entered upon him, and I said: “O Messenger of Allah, do you recognize me?” He said: “Yes, you are the one who met me in Mecca.” He said: I said: “Indeed.” Then I said: “O Prophet of Allah, tell me about what Allah has taught you and I do not know. Tell me about the prayer.” He said: “Pray the morning prayer, then refrain from prayer until the sun rises until it has risen high, for it rises between the two horns of Satan, and at that time the disbelievers prostrate to it. Then pray, for the prayer is witnessed and attended, until the shadow stands at the length of a spear. Then refrain from prayer, for at that time Hell is stoked. Then when the shade returns, pray, for the prayer is witnessed and attended, until you pray the afternoon prayer. Then refrain from prayer until the sun sets, for it sets between the two horns of Satan, and at that time the disbelievers prostrate to it.” He said: I said: “O Prophet of Allah, then the ablution — tell me about it.” He said: “There is no man among you who brings his water for ablution, rinses his mouth and snuffs water into his nose and expels it, except that the sins of his face, his mouth, and his nostrils fall away. Then when he washes his face as Allah has commanded him, except that the sins of his face fall away from the edges of his beard with the water. Then he washes his hands up to the elbows, except that the sins of his hands fall away from his fingertips with the water. Then he wipes his head, except that the sins of his head fall away from the ends of his hair with the water. Then he washes his feet up to the ankles, except that the sins of his feet fall away from his toes with the water. Then if he stands and prays, and praises Allah, extols Him, and glorifies Him as is befitting to Him, and empties his heart for Allah, except that he departs from his sin like the day his mother bore him.” Then ‘Amr ibn ‘Abasah narrated this hadith to Abu Umamah, the companion of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and Abu Umamah said to him: “O ‘Amr ibn ‘Abasah, consider what you are saying — that a man is given all this in a single standing?” ‘Amr said: “O Abu Umamah, my age has grown old, my bones have become frail, and my death has drawn near. I have no need to lie against Allah or against the Messenger of Allah. Had I not heard it from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, only once or twice or three times — until he counted seven times — I would never have narrated it. But I heard it more than that.”