1186 - Al-Qasim ibn Umayyah narrated to us, saying: Mulazim ibn 'Amr narrated to us, saying: 'Abd Allah ibn Badr narrated to us, from 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Ali ibn Shayban, from his father, 'Ali ibn Shayban, who said: We prayed with the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him. A man came and prayed alone behind the row. When the Prophet, peace be upon him, finished [the prayer], he stood over him and said: "Repeat your prayer, for there is no prayer for one who is alone behind the row."

Chapter: Leveling the Pebbles During Prayer

• I heard Ahmad say: "There is no harm in leveling the pebbles if one is compelled to do so."

1187 - Ahmad ibn 'Isa al-Masri narrated to us, saying: Bishr ibn Bakr narrated to us, from al-Awza'i, who said: Yahya ibn Abi Kathir narrated to me, saying: Abu Salamah ibn 'Abd al-Rahman narrated to us, saying: Mu'ayqib narrated to me, saying: The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "If you must do so, then [only] once," meaning: smoothing the pebbles.

1188 - 'Abd Allah ibn Muhammad narrated to us, saying: Juwayriyah narrated to us, from al-Walid—meaning: Ibn Abi Hashim—from Nafi', that 'Abd Allah, when he prayed, would smooth the pebbles with his foot before saying the takbir [initiating prayer].

Chapter: The Imam Waiting for a Man While Bowing

• It was said to Ahmad: "Does the Imam wait if he hears the sound of a man's sandals?" He said: "Yes, as long as it is not burdensome for those behind him."