The praying of husband and wife together

Under category: The Etiquettes Of Marriage And Wedding

it is desirable for the husband and wife to pray 2 rakaat together on their wedding night. this has been narrated from the earliest generation of muslims, as in the following 2 narrations:

• first: on the authority of abu sa'eed mawla abu asyad who said: "i got married while i was a slave. i invited a number of the companions of the prophet, among them was ibn mas'ood, abu dharr and hudhaifa. when the prayer was called, abu dharr began to step forward when the others said to him: 'no!' he said: 'is it so?' and they said: 'yes.' then, i stepped forward and led the prayer though i was a slave owned. they taught me, saying: 'when your wife comes to you, pray 2 rakaat. then, ask allaah for the good of that which has come to you, and seek refuge in him from its evil. then it is up to you and it is up to your wife.'" [ibn abi shaibah and 'abdur-razzaaq]
• second: on the authority of shaqeeq who said: "a man named abu hareez came and said: 'i have married a young girl, and i am afraid that she will despise me.' 'abdullah ibn mas'ood said to him: "verily, closeness is from allaah, and hatred is from shaitaan, who wishes to make despicable that which allaah has allowed. so, when your wife comes to you, tell her to pray behind you 2 rakaat.'" in another version of the same story, "'abdullah went on to say: 'and say: 'o allah give your blessings on me in my wife, and to her in me. o allaah join us together as long as you join us in good, and split us apart if you send to us that which is better.'" [ibn abi shaibah and at-tabaraani and 'abdur-razzaaq: saheeh].