Hadith

Source: HadeethEnc.com, published by HadeethEnc.com. Version API snapshot retrieved 2026-10-11 (the source publishes no version number) (retrieved 2026-10-11). Published by HadeethEnc.com. Shown unmodified; not reviewed by a scholar.

53 hadith in Method of Prayer.

• That is Satan who is known as Khinzab. If you perceive his effect, seek refuge with Allah from him and spit three times to your left

  عن عُثْمَانَ بْنَ أَبِي الْعَاصِ رضي الله عنه: أنه أَتَى النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ، إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ قَدْ حَالَ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ صَلَاتِي وَقِرَاءَتِي يَلْبِسُهَا عَلَيَّ، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «ذَاكَ شَيْطَانٌ يُقَالُ لَهُ خِنْزَِبٌ، فَإِذَا أَحْسَسْتَهُ فَتَعَوَّذْ بِاللهِ مِنْهُ، وَاتْفُلْ عَلَى يَسَارِكَ ثَلَاثًا»، قَالَ: فَفَعَلْتُ ذَلِكَ فَأَذْهَبَهُ اللهُ عَنِّي.

  ‘Uthmān ibn Abi al-‘Ās (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I came to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and said: "O Messenger of Allah, Satan intervenes between me and my prayer and my recitation of the Qur'an, confounding me." So, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "That is Satan who is known as Khinzab. If you perceive his effect, seek refuge with Allah from him and spit three times to your left." He said: I did that, and Allah caused him to depart from me.

  Narrated by Muslim

• I have been commanded to prostrate on seven bones

  عن ابنِ عَبَّاسٍ رضي الله عنهما عن النبيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: «أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَسْجُدَ عَلَى سَبْعَةِ أَعْظُمٍ: عَلَى الْجَبْهَةِ وَأَشَارَ بِيَدِهِ عَلَى أَنْفِهِ، وَالْيَدَيْنِ، وَالرُّكْبَتَيْنِ، وَأَطْرَافِ الْقَدَمَيْنِ، وَلَا نَكْفِتَ الثِّيَابَ وَالشَّعَرَ».

  Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "I have been commanded to prostrate on seven bones: the forehead (and he pointed to his nose), the hands, the knees, and the extremities of the feet, and not to tuck up the clothes and hair."

  Agreed upon

• The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to say between the two prostrations: "Allahumma ighfir li warhamni wa ‘āfeni wahdeni warzuqni (O Allah, forgive me, have mercy on me, grant me safety, guide me, and provide for me)

  عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما: كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول بين السجدتين: «اللَّهمَّ اغْفِرْ لي، وارْحَمْنِي، وعافِني، واهْدِني، وارزقْنِي».

  Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to say between the two prostrations: "Allahumma ighfir li warhamni wa ‘āfeni wahdeni warzuqni (O Allah, forgive me, have mercy on me, grant me safety, guide me, and provide for me)".

  Narrated by Abu Dāwūd, At-Tirmidhi, Ibn Mājah, and Ahmad

• The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to raise his hands in line with his shoulders when commencing the prayer,

  عَن ابْنِ عُمَرَ رضي الله عنهما: أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ يَرْفَعُ يَدَيْهِ حَذْوَ مَنْكِبَيْهِ إِذَا افْتَتَحَ الصَّلَاةَ، وَإِذَا كَبَّرَ لِلرُّكُوعِ، وَإِذَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ الرُّكُوعِ، رَفَعَهُمَا كَذَلِكَ أَيْضًا، وَقَالَ: «سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ، رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الحَمْدُ»، وَكَانَ لاَ يَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ فِي السُّجُودِ.

  Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to raise his hands in line with his shoulders when commencing the prayer, when saying Takbīr (proclaiming Allah's greatness) for Rukū‘ (bowing), and when raising his head from Rukū‘ he would raise them as well and say: "Sami‘allāhu liman hamidah, rabbana wa laka al-hamd" (Allah hears whoever praises Him, O our Lord, praise be to You). He did not use to do this in Sujūd (prostration).

  Agreed upon

• The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) taught me the Tashahhud, with my hand between his two hands, as he would teach me a Surah from the Qur’an

  عَنِ ابْنَ مَسْعُودٍ رضي الله عنه قَالَ: عَلَّمَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، وَكَفِّي بَيْنَ كَفَّيْهِ، التَّشَهُّدَ، كَمَا يُعَلِّمُنِي السُّورَةَ مِنَ القُرْآنِ: «التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ، وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ». وفي لفظ لهما: «إِنَّ اللهَ هُوَ السَّلَامُ، فَإِذَا قَعَدَ أَحَدُكُمْ فِي الصَّلَاةِ فَلْيَقُلْ: التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللهِ الصَّالِحِينَ، فَإِذَا قَالَهَا أَصَابَتْ كُلَّ عَبْدٍ لِلَّهِ صَالِحٍ فِي السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ، ثُمَّ يَتَخَيَّرُ مِنَ الْمَسْأَلَةِ مَا شَاءَ».

  Ibn Mas‘ūd (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) taught me the Tashahhud, with my hand between his two hands, as he would teach me a Surah from the Qur’an: "At-tahiyyātu lillāhi was-salawātu wat-tayyibātu as-Salāmu ‘alayka ayyuha an-nabiyyu wa rahmatullāhi wa barakātuh, as-salāmu ‘alayna wa ‘ala ‘ibādillāhi as-sālihīn, ash-hadu alla ilāha illallāh wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasūluh (Greetings, prayers, and good things are due to Allah. May the peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you, O Prophet. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous slaves of Allah. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger)." Another wording reads: "Verily, Allah is the Giver of Peace, so when any of you sits in prayer, let him say: 'At-tahiyyātu lillāhi was-salawātu wat-tayyibātu as-salāmu ‘alayka ayyuha an-nabiyyu wa rahmatullāhi wa barakātuh, as-salāmu ‘alayna wa ‘ala ‘ibādillāhi as-sālihīn (Greetings, prayers, and good things are due to Allah. May the peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you, O Prophet. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous slaves of Allah).' If you say this, it will benefit every righteous slave of Allah in heaven and on earth. (Then, say:) 'Ash-hadu alla ilāha illallāh wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasūluh (I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger).' Then, let him choose whatever supplication he would like."

  Agreed upon

• Be moderate in prostration, and let none of you spread his forearms on the ground like a dog

  عن أَنَس بن مالك رضي الله عنه عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ: «اعْتَدِلُوا في السجود، ولا يَبْسُطْ أحدكم ذِرَاعَيْهِ انْبِسَاطَ الكلب».

  Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Be moderate in prostration, and let none of you spread his forearms on the ground like a dog."

  Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim

• When the Imām says amen, you too say amen, for whoever says amen at the same time the angels say amen will have his previous sins forgiven

  عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه مرفوعاً: «إذا أَمَّنَ الإمام فأمنوا، فإنه من وافق تأمينه تأمين الملائكة: غفر له ما تقدم من ذنبه».

  Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When the Imām says amen, you too say amen, for whoever says amen at the same time the angels say amen will have his previous sins forgiven."

  Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim

• When you prostrate, place your palms and raise your elbows

  عَنِ الْبَرَاءِ رضي الله عنه قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِذَا سَجَدْتَ، فَضَعْ كَفَّيْكَ وَارْفَعْ مِرْفَقَيْكَ».

  Al-Barā’ (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When you prostrate, place your palms and raise your elbows."

  Narrated by Muslim

• When any of you prostrates, he should not kneel down like a camel; rather, he should put down his hands before his knees

  عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه مرفوعًا: «إذا سجد أَحَدُكُمْ فَلَا يَبْرُك كَمَا يَبْرُكُ البَعِير، وَلْيَضَعْ يديه قبل ركبتيه».

  Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: “When any of you prostrates, he should not kneel down like a camel; rather, he should put down his hands before his knees.”

  Narrated by At-Termedhy - An-Nasaa’i - Narrated by Abu Daoud - Narrated by Ahmad - Ad-Daarimi

• Ibn ‘Umar used to put his hands down before his knees, and he said: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to do that

  كان ابن عمر يَضع يديه قبل رُكْبَتَيِه، وقال: كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يَفعل ذلك.

  Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) used to put his hands down before his knees, and he said: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to do that.

  Ibn Khuzaymah

• I prayed with the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), and he used to make Taslīm (salutation of peace ending the prayer) to his right saying: "May Allah's peace, mercy, and blessings be upon you," and to his left saying: "May Allah's peace and mercy be upon you

  عَنْ وَائِل بن حُجرٍ رضي الله عنه قَالَ: صَلَّيْتُ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَكَانَ يُسَلِّمُ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ: «السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ»، وَعَنْ شِمَالِهِ: «السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ».

  Wā’il ibn Hujr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I prayed with the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), and he used to make Taslīm (salutation of peace ending the prayer) to his right saying: "May Allah's peace, mercy, and blessings be upon you," and to his left saying: "May Allah's peace and mercy be upon you."

  Narrated by Abu Dāwūd

• The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) recited: {Say, “O disbelievers”} and {Say: “He is Allah, the One”} in the two Rak‘ahs of Fajr

  عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رضي الله عنه: أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَرَأَ فِي رَكْعَتَيِ الْفَجْرِ: {قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا الْكَافِرُونَ}، وَ{قُلْ هُوَ اللهُ أَحَدٌ}.

  Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) recited: {Say, “O disbelievers”} and {Say: “He is Allah, the One”} in the two Rak‘ahs of Fajr.

  Narrated by Muslim

• O people, I only did this so that you can follow my example and learn my prayer.'

  عن أَبِي حَازِمِ بْن دِينَارٍ: أَنَّ رِجَالًا أَتَوْا سَهْلَ بْنَ سَعْدٍ السَّاعِدِيَّ، وَقَدِ امْتَرَوْا فِي الْمِنْبَرِ مِمَّ عُودُهُ، فَسَأَلُوهُ عَنْ ذَلِكَ، فَقَالَ: وَاللهِ إِنِّي لَأَعْرِفُ مِمَّا هُوَ، وَلَقَدْ رَأَيْتُهُ أَوَّلَ يَوْمٍ وُضِعَ، وَأَوَّلَ يَوْمٍ جَلَسَ عَلَيْهِ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، أَرْسَلَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِلَى فُلَانَةَ -امْرَأَةٍ من الأنصار قَدْ سَمَّاهَا سَهْلٌ-: «مُرِي غُلَامَكِ النَّجَّارَ أَنْ يَعْمَلَ لِي أَعْوَادًا أَجْلِسُ عَلَيْهِنَّ إِذَا كَلَّمْتُ النَّاسَ»، فَأَمَرَتْهُ فَعَمِلَهَا مِنْ طَرْفَاءِ الْغَابَةِ، ثُمَّ جَاءَ بِهَا، فَأَرْسَلَتْ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَأَمَرَ بِهَا فَوُضِعَتْ هَاهُنَا، ثُمَّ رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ صَلَّى عَلَيْهَا وَكَبَّرَ وَهُوَ عَلَيْهَا، ثُمَّ رَكَعَ وَهُوَ عَلَيْهَا، ثُمَّ نَزَلَ الْقَهْقَرَى، فَسَجَدَ فِي أَصْلِ الْمِنْبَرِ ثُمَّ عَادَ، فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ أَقْبَلَ عَلَى النَّاسِ فَقَالَ: «أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ، إِنَّمَا صَنَعْتُ هَذَا لِتَأْتَمُّوا وَلِتَعَلَّمُوا صَلَاتِي».

  Abu Hāzim ibn Dinār reported: Some men came to Sahl ibn Sa'd as-Sā‘idi. They were wondering what kind of wood the Pulpit was made of. So, they asked him about it, and he said: "By Allah, I know what it is made of. I saw it the first day it was set up, and the first day the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) sat on it. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) sent to so-and-so - a woman from the Ansār whose name was mentioned by Sahl - telling her: 'Tell your carpenter slave to make for me some pieces of wood that I can sit on when I speak to the people.' So, she told him, and he made it from Tamarisk wood from Al-Ghābah (a place near Madīnah). Then, he brought it, and it was sent to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), who commanded that it be set up here. Then, I saw the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) pray on it and say the takbīr while he was on it, and then he bowed while he was on it, and then he came down backwards and prostrated at the base of the Pulpit; and then he went back. When he finished, he turned to the people and said: 'O people, I only did this so that you can follow my example and learn my prayer.'"

  Agreed upon

• 'When you pray, straighten your rows and let one of you lead in prayer, and when he says takbīr, say takbīr

  عَنْ ‌حِطَّانَ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللهِ الرَّقَاشِيِّ قَالَ: صَلَّيْتُ مَعَ ‌أَبِي مُوسَى الْأَشْعَرِيِّ صَلَاةً، فَلَمَّا كَانَ عِنْدَ الْقَعْدَةِ قَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ: أُقِرَّتِ الصَّلَاةُ بِالْبِرِّ وَالزَّكَاةِ، قَالَ: فَلَمَّا قَضَى أَبُو مُوسَى الصَّلَاةَ وَسَلَّمَ انْصَرَفَ فَقَالَ: أَيُّكُمُ الْقَائِلُ كَلِمَةَ كَذَا وَكَذَا؟ قَالَ: فَأَرَمَّ الْقَوْمُ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: أَيُّكُمُ الْقَائِلُ كَلِمَةَ كَذَا وَكَذَا؟ فَأَرَمَّ الْقَوْمُ، فَقَالَ: لَعَلَّكَ يَا حِطَّانُ قُلْتَهَا؟ قَالَ: مَا قُلْتُهَا، وَلَقَدْ رَهِبْتُ أَنْ تَبْكَعَنِي بِهَا، فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ: أَنَا قُلْتُهَا، وَلَمْ أُرِدْ بِهَا إِلَّا الْخَيْرَ، فَقَالَ أَبُو مُوسَى: أَمَا تَعْلَمُونَ كَيْفَ تَقُولُونَ فِي صَلَاتِكُمْ؟ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ خَطَبَنَا فَبَيَّنَ لَنَا سُنَّتَنَا وَعَلَّمَنَا صَلَاتَنَا، فَقَالَ: «إِذَا صَلَّيْتُمْ فَأَقِيمُوا صُفُوفَكُمْ، ثُمَّ لِيَؤُمَّكُمْ أَحَدُكُمْ فَإِذَا كَبَّرَ فَكَبِّرُوا، وَإِذْ قَالَ: {غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلا الضَّالِّينَ} [الفاتحة: 7]، فَقُولُوا: آمِينَ، يُجِبْكُمُ اللهُ، فَإِذَا كَبَّرَ وَرَكَعَ فَكَبِّرُوا وَارْكَعُوا، فَإِنَّ الْإِمَامَ يَرْكَعُ قَبْلَكُمْ، وَيَرْفَعُ قَبْلَكُمْ»، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «فَتِلْكَ بِتِلْكَ، وَإِذَا قَالَ: سَمِعَ اللهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ، فَقُولُوا: اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ، يَسْمَعِ اللهُ لَكُمْ، فَإِنَّ اللهَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى قَالَ عَلَى لِسَانِ نَبِيِّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: سَمِعَ اللهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ، وَإِذَا كَبَّرَ وَسَجَدَ فَكَبِّرُوا وَاسْجُدُوا، فَإِنَّ الْإِمَامَ يَسْجُدُ قَبْلَكُمْ وَيَرْفَعُ قَبْلَكُمْ»، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «فَتِلْكَ بِتِلْكَ، وَإِذَا كَانَ عِنْدَ الْقَعْدَةِ فَلْيَكُنْ مِنْ أَوَّلِ قَوْلِ أَحَدِكُمُ: التَّحِيَّاتُ الطَّيِّبَاتُ الصَّلَوَاتُ لِلهِ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللهِ الصَّالِحِينَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ».

  Hittān ibn' Abdullāh ar-Raqāshi reported: I observed prayer with Abu Mūsa al-Ash'ari, and when he was in the tashahhud, someone among the people said: "The prayer has been made obligatory along with benevolence and Zakah." When Abu Mūsa finished the prayer and made taslīm, he turned to the people and said: "Who amongst you said such and such thing?" A hush fell on the people. He again said: "Who amongst you has said such and such thing?" A hush fell on the people. He said, "O Hittān, perhaps you have uttered it." Hittān said: "No, I have not uttered it. I feared you might be annoyed with me because of this." A person amongst the people said: "It was I who said it, and I intended nothing but good with it." Abu Mūsa said: "Do you not know what you have to say in your prayers? Verily, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) addressed us, explaining to us our Sunnah and teaching us our prayer, and said: 'When you pray, straighten your rows and let one of you lead in prayer, and when he says takbīr, say takbīr; when he recites {Not of those who incurred Your Wrath, or of those who went astray} [Surat al-Fātihah: 7], say 'amen'; and Allah will respond to you. And when he says takbīr, you also say takbīr, for the Imām bows and rises before you.' Then, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'This is equivalent to that. And when he says, 'Sami'a Allāhu liman hamidah' (Allah hears he who praises Him), you should say: 'Allahumma rabbanā laka al-hamd' (O Allah, our Lord, praise be to You), and Allah will hear you, for Allah Almighty said through the tongue of His Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him): Allah hears he who praises Him. And when he says takbīr and prostrates, you should also say takbīr and prostrate, for the Imām prostrates before you and rises before you.' Then, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'This is equivalent to that. And when he sits for tashahhud, the first words of everyone amongst you should be: 'Attaḥiyyāt at-ṭayyibāt aṣ-ṣalawātu lillāhi, assalāmu 'alayka 'ayyuh an-nabiyyu wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuh, assalāmu' alayna wa 'alā 'ibadillāhi aṣ-ṣāliḥīn. Ash'hadu an lā 'ilāha illā Allah wa ash'hadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasūluh.' (All greetings, good things, and prayers are due to Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and Allah's mercy and blessings. Peace be upon us and the righteous servants of Allah. I testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger)."

  Narrated by Muslim

• By the One in Whose Hand my soul is, I am the closest among you to the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). Such was his prayer until he departed this world

  عن أَبي هُرَيْرَةَ رضي الله عنه: أنه كَانَ يُكَبِّرُ فِي كُلِّ صَلَاةٍ مِنَ الْمَكْتُوبَةِ وَغَيْرِهَا، فِي رَمَضَانَ وَغَيْرِهِ، فَيُكَبِّرُ حِينَ يَقُومُ، ثُمَّ يُكَبِّرُ حِينَ يَرْكَعُ، ثُمَّ يَقُولُ: سَمِعَ اللهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ، ثُمَّ يَقُولُ: رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ، قَبْلَ أَنْ يَسْجُدَ، ثُمَّ يَقُولُ: اللهُ أَكْبَرُ حِينَ يَهْوِي سَاجِدًا، ثُمَّ يُكَبِّرُ حِينَ يَرْفَعُ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ السُّجُودِ، ثُمَّ يُكَبِّرُ حِينَ يَسْجُدُ، ثُمَّ يُكَبِّرُ حِينَ يَرْفَعُ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ السُّجُودِ، ثُمَّ يُكَبِّرُ حِينَ يَقُومُ مِنَ الْجُلُوسِ فِي الِاثْنَتَيْنِ، وَيَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ فِي كُلِّ رَكْعَةٍ، حَتَّى يَفْرُغَ مِنَ الصَّلَاةِ، ثُمَّ يَقُولُ حِينَ يَنْصَرِفُ: وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ، إِنِّي لَأَقْرَبُكُمْ شَبَهًا بِصَلَاةِ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، إِنْ كَانَتْ هَذِهِ لَصَلَاتَهُ حَتَّى فَارَقَ الدُّنْيَا.

  Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that he used to say takbīr in every obligatory and supererogatory prayer during Ramadan and others. He would say takbīr when he rose and say takbīr when he bowed. Then, he would say: "Sami'a allāhu liman hamidah" (Allah hears he who praises Him). Then, he would say, "Rabbanā wa laka al-hamd" (Our Lord, praise be to You) before prostrating. Then, he would say: "Allāhu akbar" (Allah is the Greatest) as he went down to prostration. Then, he would say takbīr upon raising his head from prostration, then say takbīr upon prostrating, and then say takbīr upon raising his head from prostration. Then, he would say takbīr upon rising from the sitting position both times. He would do so in every Rak'ah until he finished the prayer. Then, he would say as he left: "By the One in Whose Hand my soul is, I am the closest among you to the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). Such was his prayer until he departed this world."

  Agreed upon

• The worst of thieves among people is the one who steals his prayer." He said: "How does he steal his prayer?" He said: "He does not perform its Rukū‘ or prostration perfectly

  عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رضي الله عنه قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «أَسْوَأُ النَّاسِ سَرَقَةً الَّذِي يَسْرِقُ صَلَاتَهُ» قَالَ: وَكَيْفَ يَسْرِقُ صَلَاتَهُ؟ قال: «لَا يُتِمُّ رُكُوعَهَا، وَلَا سُجُودَهَا».

  Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The worst of thieves among people is the one who steals his prayer." He said: "How does he steal his prayer?" He said: "He does not perform its Rukū‘ or prostration perfectly."

  Narrated by Ibn Hibbaan

• When the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) raised his back from Rukū‘ (bowing), he would say: "Sami‘a allāhu liman hamidah

  عَنِ ‌ابْنِ أَبِي أَوْفَى رضي الله عنه قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا رَفَعَ ظَهْرَهُ مِنَ الرُّكُوعِ قَالَ: «سَمِعَ اللهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ، اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ، مِلْءَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمِلْءَ الْأَرْضِ وَمِلْءَ مَا شِئْتَ مِنْ شَيْءٍ بَعْدُ».

  Ibn Abi Awfa (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: When the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) raised his back from Rukū‘ (bowing), he would say: "Sami‘a allāhu liman hamidah, allāhumma rabbana laka al-hamd mil’a as-samawāt wa mil’a al-ard wa mil’a ma shi’ta min shay’in ba‘d" (Allah hears he who praises Him. O Allah, our Lord, to You is the praise as much as fills the heavens, as much as fills the earth, and as much as fills whatever You will thereafter).

  Narrated by Muslim

• The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to say between the two prostrations: "Rabbi ighfir li, rabbi ighfir li" (My Lord, forgive me; my Lord, forgive me)

  عن حُذَيْفَةَ رضي الله عنه: أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ يَقُولُ بَيْنَ السَّجْدَتَيْنِ: «رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي، رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي».

  Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to say between the two prostrations: "Rabbi ighfir li, rabbi ighfir li" (My Lord, forgive me; my Lord, forgive me).

  Narrated by Abu Dāwūd, An-Nasā’i, Ibn Mājah, and Ahmad

• When the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) got up for prayer, he would say Takbīr when he stands. Then he would say Takbīr when he bows. Then he would say: "Allah hears the one who praised Him" when he raises his back from bowing

  عن أبي هُرَيْرَةَ رضي الله عنه قال: كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا قام إلى الصلاة يُكَبِّرُ حين يقوم، ثم يُكَبِّرُ حين يركع، ثم يقول: سَمِعَ اللَّه لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ، حين يَرْفَعُ صُلْبَهُ من الرَّكْعَةِ، ثم يقول وهو قائم: ربنا ولك الحمد، ثم يُكَبِّرُ حين يَهْوِي، ثم يُكَبِّرُ حين يَرْفَعُ رأسه، ثم يُكَبِّرُ حين يَسْجُدُ، ثم يُكَبِّرُ حين يَرْفَعُ رأسه، ثم يفعل ذلك في صلاته كلها حتى يقضيها، ويُكَبِّرُ حين يقوم من الثِّنْتَيْنِ بعد الجلوس، ثم يقول: أبو هريرة «إني لأشَبَهُكم صلاة برسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ».

  Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: 'When the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) got up for prayer, he would say Takbīr when he stands. Then he would say Takbīr when he bows. Then he would say: "Allah hears the one who praised Him" when he raises his back from bowing. Then he would say while standing: "O Lord, to you belongs the praise!" Then he would say Takbīr when he goes down (to prostrate) and would say Takbīr when he raises his head. Then he would say Takbīr when he prostrates himself, then he would say Takbīr on raising his head. He would do that throughout the whole prayer until he completes it. He would also say Takbīr when he gets up at the end of the two Rak‘ahs Abu Hurayrah then said: ''My prayer has the closest resemblance to the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him).''

  Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim

• I watched the prayer of Muhammad (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and found his standing, his bowing, standing after bowing, prostration, sitting between the two prostrations, prostration, and sitting between Taslīm (end of the prayer) and going away nearly equal to one another

  عن الْبَرَاءِ بْنِ عَازِبٍ رضي الله عنهما قال: «رَمَقْتُ الصلاة مع محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم فوجدت قيامه، فَرَكْعَتَهُ، فاعتداله بعد ركوعه، فسجدته، فَجِلْسَتَهُ بين السجدتين، فسجدته، فَجِلْسَتَهُ ما بين التسليم والانصراف: قريبا من السَّوَاء». وفي رواية: «ما خلا القيام والقعود، قريبا من السَّوَاءِ».

  Al-Barā' ibn ‘Āzib (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I watched the prayer of Muhammad (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and found his standing, his bowing, standing after bowing, prostration, sitting between the two prostrations, prostration, and sitting between Taslīm and going away, nearly equal to one another.' Another narration reads: ''Except the standing and the sitting, (other postures) were nearly equal.”

  Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim

• The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to pray while carrying Umāmah the daughter of Zaynab, daughter of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him)

  عن أبي قَتَادَةَ الأَنْصَارِيِّ رضي الله عنه قال: «أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يُصَلِّي وهو حامل أُمَامَةَ بنت زينب بنت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ». ولأبي العاص بن الربيع بن عبد شَمْسٍ رضي الله عنه : «فإذا سجد وضعها، وإذا قام حملها».

  Abu Qatādah al-Ansāri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to pray while carrying Umāmah the daughter of Zaynab, daughter of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). Another narration reported by Abu al-‘Ās ibn Ar-Rabī‘ ibn ‘Abd Shams (may Allah be pleased with him) reads: “When he prostrated himself, he would put her on the ground, and when he stood up, he would carry her.”

  Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim

• I prayed with Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, and ‘Uthmān and I did not hear any one of them recite "In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful"

  عن أَنَس بن مالك رضي الله عنه «أنّ النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم وأبا بكر وعمر رضي الله عنهما : كانوا يَسْتَفْتِحُونَ الصلاة بـ"الحمد لله رب العالمين"». وفي رواية: « صَلَّيْتُ مع أبي بكر وعمر وعثمان، فلم أسمع أحدا منهم يقرأ "بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم"». ولمسلم: « صَلَّيْتُ خلف النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم وأبي بكر وعمر وعثمان فكانوا يَسْتَفْتِحُونَ بـ"الحمد لله رب العالمين"، لا يَذْكُرُونَ "بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم" في أول قراءة ولا في آخرها».

  Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) Abu Bakr and ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with both of them) used to start the prayer with {[All] praise is [due] to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.} [Sūrat al-Fātihah: 1] Another narration reads: "I prayed with Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, and ‘Uthmān and I did not hear any one of them recite "In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful." A narration of Muslim reads: "I prayed behind the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, and ‘Uthmān, and they used to start the prayer with {[All] praise is [due] to Allah, the Lord of the worlds} [Sūrat al-Fātihah: 1], without saying 'In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful', neither in the beginning nor at the end.”

  Narrated by Muslim - Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim

• The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) appointed a man in charge of an army unit who led them in prayer; he always concluded his recitation with Sūrat al-Ikhlās

  عن عائشة رضي الله عنها «أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بعث رجلا على سَرِيَّةٍ فكان يَقْرَأ لأصحابه في صلاتهم، فَيَخْتِمُ بـ«قل هو الله أحد» فلما رجعوا ذكروا ذلك لرسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال: سَلُوهُ لأَيِّ شيء صَنَع ذلك؟ فسألُوه، فقال: لِأنَّها صِفَةُ الرحمن عز وجل ، فأنا أُحِب أَنْ أَقْرَأ بها، فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : أَخْبِرُوه: أنَّ الله تعالى يُحِبُّه».

  ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) appointed a man in charge of an army unit who led them in prayer; he always concluded his recitation with Sūrat al-Ikhlās. Upon their return to Madīnah, they mentioned this to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), who said: "Ask him why he did so?" He was asked, and he responded: "This Sūrah contains the Attributes of Allah, the Gracious, and I love to recite it." The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) then told them: "Tell him that Allah loves him."

  Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim

• I prayed with ‘Imrān ibn Husayn behind ‘Ali ibn Abi Tālib. When he prostrated, he made Takbīr, when he raised his head he made Takbīr, and when he stood up after two Rak‘ahs, he made Takbīr

  عن مُطَرِّفِ بن عبد الله قال: « صَلَّيْتُ أنا وعِمْرَانُ بْنُ حُصَيْنٍ خَلْفَ علِيِّ بنِ أَبِي طالب، فكان إذا سجد كَبَّرَ، وإذا رفع رأسه كَبَّرَ، وإذا نهض من الركعتين كَبَّرَ، فلمَّا قضَى الصلاةَ أَخَذَ بيدَيَّ عِمْرَانُ بْنُ حُصَيْنٍ، وقال: قد ذكَّرني هذا صلاةَ محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم أو قال: صَلَّى بنا صلاة محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم ».

  Mutarrif ibn ‘Abdullāh reported: I prayed with ‘Imrān ibn Husayn behind ‘Ali ibn Abi Tālib. When he prostrated, he made Takbīr, when he raised his head he made Takbīr, and when he stood up after two Rak‘ahs, he made Takbīr. After he had finished praying, ‘Imrān took my hand and said: "This reminded me of the prayer of Muhammad (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him)." Or he said: "He led us in prayer the same way Muhammad (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) did."

  Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim

• I heard the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) reciting Sūrat At-Tūr in the Maghrib prayer

  عن جُبَيْرُ بْنُ مُطْعِم رضي الله عنه قال: «سمعت النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يقرأ في المغرب بِالطُّور».

  Jubayr ibn Mut‘im (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) reciting Sūrat At-Tūr in the Maghrib prayer

  Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim

• I will lead you in prayer; although I do not intend to pray, it is just to show you how I witnessed the Messenger of Allah pray

  عن أبي قِلابَةَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ زَيْدٍ الْجَرْمِيِّ الْبَصْرِيِّ قال: «جاءنا مالك بن الْحُوَيْرِث في مسجدنا هذا، فقال: إني لَأُصَلِّي بكم، وما أُرِيدُ الصلاة، أُصَلِّي كيف رأيت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يُصَلِّي، فقلت لأبي قِلَابَةَ كيف كان يُصَلِّي؟ فقال: مثل صلاة شيخنا هذا، وكان يَجْلِسُ إذا رفع رأسه من السجود قبل أن يَنْهَضَ». أراد بشيخهم: أبا بُرَيد، عمرو بن سلمة الجرمي.

  Abu Qilābah reported that ‘Abdullāh ibn Zayd al-Jarmi al-Basri reported: Mālik ibn Huwayrith came to this mosque of ours and said: "I will lead you in prayer; although I do not intend to pray, it is just to show you how I witnessed the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) pray." I asked Abu Qilābah: "How did he pray?" He replied: "Just as this Sheikh of ours prays", and he would sit after lifting his head from prostration and before standing up. Their Sheikh was Abu Burayd ‘Amr ibn Salāmah al-Jarmi.

  Narrated by Bukhari

• O Allah, forgive my past and future sins, my hidden and apparent sins, my transgression, and the sins that You know of more than I do. You are the One who puts forward and the One who holds back. There is no god but You

  عن علي بن أبي طالب رضي الله عنه أنَّ رسولَ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كان إذا قامَ إلى الصلاة، قال: «وَجَّهتُ وجهي للذي فطر السماوات والأرض حنيفًا، وما أنا من المشركين، إنَّ صلاتي، ونُسُكي، ومَحياي، ومماتي لله رب العالمين، لا شريك له، وبذلك أُمِرتُ وأنا من المسلمين، اللهمَّ أنت المَلِك لا إله إلَّا أنت، أنت ربي، وأنا عبدك، ظلمتُ نفسي، واعترفتُ بذنبي، فاغفر لي ذنوبي جميعًا، إنه لا يغفر الذنوب إلا أنت، واهدني لأحسن الأخلاق لا يهدي لأحسنها إلا أنت، واصرف عني سيئَها لا يصرف عني سيئها إلا أنت، لبَّيْك وسَعْدَيْك، والخيرُ كله في يديك، والشر ليس إليك، أنا بك وإليك، تباركتَ وتعاليتَ، أستغفرك وأتوب إليك»، وإذا ركع، قال: «اللهمَّ لك ركعتُ، وبك آمنتُ، ولك أسلمتُ، خشع لك سمعي، وبصري، ومُخِّي، وعظمي، وعَصَبي»، وإذا رفع، قال: «اللهم ربنا لك الحمد مِلءَ السماوات، ومِلءَ الأرض، ومِلءَ ما بينهما، ومِلءَ ما شئتَ من شيء بعد»، وإذا سجد، قال: «اللهم لك سجدتُ، وبك آمنتُ، ولك أسلمتُ، سجد وجهي للذي خلقه، وصوَّره، وشقَّ سمعَه وبصرَه، تبارك الله أحسنُ الخالقين»، ثم يكون من آخر ما يقول بين التشهُّد والتسليم: «اللهم اغفر لي ما قدَّمتُ وما أخَّرتُ، وما أسررتُ وما أعلنتُ، وما أسرفتُ، وما أنت أعلم به مني، أنت المُقَدِّم وأنت المؤَخِّر، لا إله إلا أنت».

  ‘Ali ibn Abi Tālib (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that when the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) got up to pray, he would say: “I have turned my face in complete devotion to the One Who created the heavens and the earth, and I am not one of the polytheists. Verily my prayer, my sacrifice, my life and my death are for Allah, the Lord of the worlds; there is no partner with Him and this is what I have been commanded (to profess and believe) and I am of the Muslims. O Allah, You are the Sovereign, there is no god but You. You are my Lord and I am Your slave. I have wronged myself and I have admitted my sin, so forgive all my sins, for no one forgives sins but You. Guide me to the best of morals for none can guide to them but You, and deliver me from the worst of morals for none can deliver me from them but You. Here I am, in answer to Your call, happy to serve You. All good is within Your hands and evil does not stem from You. I exist by You and I turn to You. Blessed and Exalted. I seek Your forgiveness and repent to You.” When he bowed, he would say: “O Allah, it is for You that I bowed, it is in You that I believed, and it is to You that I submitted. Humbled to You are my hearing, my eyesight, my mind, my bones, and my tendons.” When he rose from bowing, he would say: “O Allah, our Lord, praise is due to You, (praise) that fills the heavens and the earth, that fills what exists between them, and that fills anything You desire afterward.” When he prostrated himself, he would say: “O Allah, it is to You that I prostrated myself, it is in You that I affirmed my faith, and it is to You that I submitted. My face has prostrated to the One who created it and shaped it and split open its faculties of hearing and seeing. Blessed is Allah, the best of Creators.” Then, one of the last things he would say between the Tashahhud and Taslīm is: “O Allah, forgive my past and future sins, my hidden and apparent sins, my transgression, and the sins that You know of more than I do. You are the One who puts forward and the One who holds back. There is no god but You.”

  Narrated by Muslim

• The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) went out to Qubā' Mosque to pray in it

  عن عبد الله بن عمر رضي الله عنهما قال: «خرج رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إلى قُبَاءَ يُصَلِّي فيه»، قال: «فَجَاءَتْه الأنصار، فَسَلَّمُوا عليه وهو يُصلِّي»، قال: " فقلت لبِلاَل: كيف رأَيْت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يَرُدُّ عليهم حِين كانوا يُسَلِّمُونَ عليه وهو يُصلِّي؟ "، قال: يقول هَكَذا، وبَسَطَ كفَّه، وجعل بطنه أسفل، وجعل ظَهْرَه إلى فوْق.

  ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) went out to Qubā' Mosque to pray in it. He added: "Some of the Ansār came to him and greeted him while he was praying." He then added: "I asked Bilāl: "How did you see the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) return their greeting when they greeted him while he was praying?" Bilāl said: "He made this gesture," and he stretched out his hand with the palm facing down and the back facing up.

  Narrated by At-Termedhy - Narrated by Abu Daoud - Narrated by Ahmad

• I saw the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) leading people in prayer and carrying Umāmah bint Abu al-‘Ās, the daughter of the Prophet's daughter Zaynab, on his shoulder. He put her down when he wanted to bow, and he picked her up again when he got up after prostration

  عن أبي قتادة الأنصاري رضي الله عنه ، قال: «رأيتُ النبيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَؤُمُّ الناس وأُمَامَة بِنْت أَبِي العَاصِ وهي ابنةُ زينب بنتِ النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم على عاتِقِه، فإذا ركَع وضَعها، وإذا رفَع مِن السُّجُود أعَادَها».

  Abu Qatādah al-Ansāri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I saw the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) leading people in prayer and carrying Umāmah bint Abu al-‘Ās, the daughter of the Prophet's daughter Zaynab, on his shoulder. He put her down when he wanted to bow, and he picked her up again when he got up after prostration.

  Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim

• Kill the two blacks during prayer: the snake and the scorpion

  عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : «اقتلوا الأسودَين في الصلاة: الحيَّة، والعقرب».

  Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Kill the two blacks during prayer: the snake and the scorpion."

  Narrated by Ibn Majah - Narrated by At-Termedhy - An-Nasaa’i - Narrated by Abu Daoud - Narrated by Ahmad - Ad-Daarimi

• The Hadīth of the one harming his prayer as reported by Rifā‘ah (may Allah be pleased with him)

  عن رفاعة بن رافع الزرقي رضي الله عنه ، وكان من أصحاب النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: جاء رجل ورسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم جالس في المسجد، فصلى قريبا منه، ثم انْصَرَف إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ، فَسَلَّمَ عليه فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : أعِد صَلَاتَك، فإنك لم تصل، قال: فرجع فصلى كَنَحْو مِمَّا صَلَّى، ثم انصرف إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ، فقال له: " أَعِدْ صلاتك، فإنك لم تُصَلِّ ". فقال: يا رسول الله، عَلِّمْنِي كيف أَصْنَع، قال: "إذا اسْتَقْبَلت القبلة فَكَبِّر، ثُمَّ اقْرَأ بأمِّ القرآن، ثم اقرأ بما شِئْت، فإذا رَكَعْت، فَاجْعَل رَاحَتَيْكَ على رُكْبَتَيك، وامْدُد ظَهْرَك وَمَكِّنْ لِرُكُوعِك، فإذا رفعت رأسك فأَقِم صُلْبَكَ حتى ترجع العظام إلى مَفَاصِلَها، وإذا سَجَدتَ فَمَكِّنْ لِسُجُودِك، فإذا رَفَعْت رَأْسَك، فَاجْلِس على فَخِذِك اليسرى، ثم اصْنَع ذلك في كل ركعة وسجدة. وفي رواية: «إنها لا تَتِمُّ صلاة أَحَدِكُم حتى يُسْبِغَ الوُضُوء كما أمره الله عز وجل، فيغسل وجهه ويديه إلى المرفقين، ويمسح برأسه ورجليه إلى الكعبين، ثم يكبر الله عز وجل ويحمده، ثم يقرأ من القرآن ما أَذِن له فيه وتَيَسَّر، ثم يُكَبِّرَ فيَسْجُد فَيُمَكِّن وَجْهَه -وربما قال: جَبْهَتَه من الأرض- حتى تَطْمَئِنَّ مَفَاصِلُه وَتَسْتَرْخِيَ، ثم يكبر فَيَسْتَوِي قاعدا على مَقْعَدَه ويقيم صُلْبَهُ، فوصف الصلاة هكذا أربع ركعات تَفْرَغ، لا تَتِمُّ صلاة أحدكم حتى يفعل ذلك. وفي رواية: «فتوضأ كما أمرك الله جل وعز، ثم تَشَهَّدْ، فأقم ثم كبر، فإن كان معك قرآن فاقرأ به، وإلا فاحمد الله وَكَبِّرْهُ وَهَلِّلْهُ».

  Rifā‘ah ibn Rāfi‘ Az-Zuraqi, a Companion of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) was sitting in the mosque when a man came in and prayed near him. When the man moved toward the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) to greet him after the prayer, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Go back and pray again, for you have not prayed." The man went back and prayed as he had prayed before and he came to the Messenger (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) who said: "Go back and pray again, for you have not prayed." The man said: "O Messenger of Allah, teach me how to do it." He said: "When you stand facing the Qiblah, say the Takbīr and recite the Mother of the Qur’an (Sūrat al-Fātihah), then recite whatever you like of the Qur’an. Then bow with your palms resting on your knees and your back unbent for enough time. When you rise your head, stand up straight until the bones fit well in their joints. Then prostrate until you are at ease in prostration, and when you raise your head, sit on your left thigh. Then do that in every bowing and prostration." In another narration, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The prayer of any one of you is not complete until he performs ablution perfectly, as Allah, the Almighty, has ordered. He should wash his face and then his hands up to the elbows, wipe his head and (wash) his feet up to the ankles. Then he should say the Takbīr and praise Allah, the Almighty. He should then recite the Qur'an as much as it is convenient for him.” He said: “He then says the Takbīr and prostrates himself, so his face or forehead is at rest on the ground and his joints return to their places and are loosened. Then he should say the Takbīr and sit to the right on his hips and keep his back erect.” He described the nature of prayer in this way by offering four Rak‘ahs until he finished it. Then he said: “The prayer of any of you is not complete unless he does this.” In another version, he said: “Perform ablution as Allah, the Almighty, ordered you to, then utter the two testimonies of faith, announce the Iqāmah, and say the Takbīr. If you have memorized some parts of the Qur’an, recite them, otherwise, busy yourself praising and exalting Allah.”

  Narrated by Abu Daoud

• Abu Humayd As-Sā‘idi, while he was sitting with ten of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) including Abu Qatādah, said: I am the most knowledgeable among you about the Prophet's prayer

  عن محمد بن عمرو بن عطاء، قال: سمعت أبا حميد الساعدي، في عشرة من أصحاب رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم منهم أبو قتادة، قال أبو حميد: أنا أَعلمُكم بصلاة رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ، قالوا: فَلِمَ؟ فوالله ما كنتَ بأكثرنا له تبعا ولا أقدمنا له صحبة، قال: بلى، قالوا: فاعْرِض، قال: " كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا قام إلى الصلاة يرفع يديه حتى يُحَاذِيَ بهما مَنْكِبَيْهِ ، ثم يُكبِّر حتى يَقِرَّ كل عظم في موضعه معتدلا، ثم يقرأ، ثم يكبِّر فيرفع يديه حتى يُحاذي بهما مَنْكبيه، ثم يركع ويضع رَاحَتَيْهِ على رُكبتيه، ثم يعتدل فلا يَصُبُّ رأسه ولا يُقْنِعُ ، ثم يرفع رأسه، فيقول: سمع الله لمن حمده، ثم يرفع يديه حتى يُحاذي بهما منكبيه معتدلا، ثم يقول: الله أكبر ثم يهوي إلى الأرض فيُجافي يديه عن جنبيه، ثم يرفع رأسه ويَثْني رجله اليسرى فيقعد عليها، ويفتح أصابع رجليه إذا سجد، ويسجد ثم يقول: الله أكبر، ويرفع رأسه ويَثْني رجله اليسرى فيقعد عليها حتى يرجع كل عظم إلى موضعه، ثم يصنع في الأخرى مثل ذلك، ثم إذا قام من الركعتين كبر ورفع يديه حتى يحاذي بهما منكبيه كما كبر عند افتتاح الصلاة، ثم يصنع ذلك في بقية صلاته حتى إذا كانت السجدة التي فيها التسليم أخر رجله اليسرى وقعد مُتَوَرِّكًا على شقه الأيسر، قالوا: صدقت هكذا كان يصلي صلى الله عليه وسلم .

  Muhammad ibn ‘Amr ibn ‘Atā reported: While Abu Humayd As-Sā‘idi was sitting among ten of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) including Abu Qatādah, he said: "I am the most knowledgeable among you about the (manner of the) prayer of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him)." They said: "Why? By Allah, you did not follow him more than we did, nor did you accompany him before us." He said: "Indeed, I am." They said: "Then show us." He said: "When the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) stood up for prayer, he would raise his hands parallel to his shoulders, say Takbīr, and then wait until every bone of his body would settle properly in its place. Then he would recite (the Qur’an), then he would raise his hands parallel to his shoulders and say Takbīr, and then bow, placing his palms on his knees. Then he would stand up straight, and he would neither lower his head nor raise it much. Then he would say: ‘Allah hears those who praise Him'; and he would then raise his hands to the level of his shoulders while standing straight. Then he would say Takbīr and prostrate himself on the ground, keeping his arms away from his sides. Then he would raise his head and tuck his left foot and sit on it, and he would spread out his toes while prostrating. Then he would prostrate, then say Takbīr, raise his head, tuck his left foot, and sit on it until every bone returned to its place. Then he would stand up and do the same in the next Rak‘ah. Then, when he stood up after two Rak‘ahs, he would raise his hands up to the level of his shoulders as he did at the beginning of the prayer. Then he would offer the rest of his prayer in the same manner, and when he came to the prostration that is followed by Taslīm, he would draw his left foot backward and sit, placing his left posterior on the ground." They said: "You have spoken the truth; this is how the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to perform the prayer."

  Narrated by Abu Daoud

• The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to start the prayer with Takbīr and then recite: {All praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds}

  عَنْ عَائِشَةَ أُمِّ المُؤْمِنين رَضيَ اللهُ عنها قَالَتْ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَسْتَفْتِحُ الصَّلَاةَ بِالتَّكْبِيرِ، وَالقِرَاءَةِ، بِـ الحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ العَالَمِينَ، وَكَانَ إِذَا رَكَعَ لَمْ يُشْخِصْ رَأْسَهُ وَلَمْ يُصَوِّبْهُ، وَلَكِنْ بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ، وَكَانَ إِذَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ الرُّكُوعِ لَمْ يَسْجُدْ حَتَّى يَسْتَوِيَ قَائِمًا، وَكَانَ إِذَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ السَّجْدَةِ لَمْ يَسْجُدْ حَتَّى يَسْتَوِيَ جَالِسًا، وَكَانَ يَقُولُ فِي كُلِّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ التَّحِيَّةَ، وَكَانَ يَفْرِشُ رِجْلَهُ اليُسْرَى وَيَنْصِبُ رِجْلَهُ اليُمْنَى، وَكَانَ يَنْهَى عَنْ عُقْبَةِ الشَّيْطَانِ، وَيَنْهَى أَنْ يَفْتَرِشَ الرَّجُلُ ذِرَاعَيْهِ افْتِرَاشَ السَّبُعِ، وَكَانَ يَخْتِمُ الصَّلَاةَ بِالتَّسْلِيمِ.

  ‘Ā’ishah, the Mother of the Believers (may Allah be pleased with her), reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to start the prayer with Takbīr and then recite: {All praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds}. When he bowed, he neither raised his head nor lowered it, but kept it level. When he raised his head from bowing, he would not prostrate until he had fully stood upright. When he raised his head from prostration, he would not prostrate (again) until he had sat upright. After each two Rak‘ahs (units of prayer), he would recite the Tahiyyah (greeting). He would spread his left foot out and erect his right foot. He would forbid sitting in the manner of the devil and resting the forearms on the ground, as a wild beast (i.e., lion) does. He would conclude the prayer with Taslīm (a salutation of peace that ends the prayer).

  Narrated by Muslim

• I prayed with the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and he placed his right hand above his left hand on his chest

  عن وائل بن حجر رضي الله عنه قال: «صلَّيت مع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ، ووضع يَدَه اليُمْنَى على يَدِه اليُسْرى على صَدْرِه».

  Wā’il ibn Hujr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I prayed with the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and he placed his right hand above his left hand on his chest.

  Ibn Khuzaymah

• The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) as well as Abu Bakr and ‘Umar, used to begin the prayer with {All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds}

  عن أنس رضي الله عنه : أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم وأبا بكر وعمر كانوا يفتتحون الصلاة بـ﴿الحمد لله رب العالمين﴾. زاد مسلم: لا يذكرون: ﴿بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم﴾ في أول قراءة ولا في آخرها. وفي رواية لأحمد والنسائي وابن خزيمة: لا يجهرون بـ﴿بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم﴾. وفي أخرى لابن خزيمة: كانوا يُسرُّون.

  Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) as well as Abu Bakr and ‘Umar, used to begin the prayer with {All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds}Lord of the worlds)". Imām Muslim added: "They did not recite 'In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful' at the beginning of the recitation or at the end of it." Another narration reported by Ahmad, An-Nasā'i, and ibn Khuzaymah reads: "They did not recite 'In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful' loudly." Another narration reported by Ibn Khuzaymah reads: "They used to recite it silently." This explains the negation mentioned in Imām Muslim's narration and answers the questions raised by scholars about it.

  Ibn Khuzaymah - An-Nasaa’i - Narrated by Ahmad - Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim

• The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to recite Al-Fātihah followed by another Sūrah in the first two Rak‘āhs of the Zhuhr prayer and used to recite only Al-Fātihah in the last two Rak‘āhs of it. Sometimes a verse or so was audible

  عن أبي قتادة رضي الله عنه : «أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يقرأ في الظهر في الأوليين بأم الكتاب، وسورتين، وفي الركعتين الأخريين بأم الكتاب ويسمعنا الآية، ويطول في الركعة الأولى ما لا يطول في الركعة الثانية، وهكذا في العصر وهكذا في الصبح».

  Abu Qatādah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to recite Al-Fātihah followed by another Sūrah in the first two Rak‘āhs of the Zhuhr prayer and used to recite only Al-Fātihah in the last two Rak‘āhs of it. Sometimes a verse or so was audible. He used to prolong the first Rak‘ah more than the second and used to do the same in the ‘Asr and Fajr prayers.

  Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim

• We used to estimate the time that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would stand when performing the Zhuhr and the ‘Asr prayers. We estimated that the time he stood in the first two Rak‘ahs of the Zhuhr prayer as the being the time taken to recite Sūrat As-Sajdah and it would be half of that time in the last two Rak‘ahs

  عن أبي سعيد الخدري رضي الله عنه قال: «كنا نَحْزِرُ قيام رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم في الظهر والعصر فَحَزَرْنَا قيامه في الركعتين الأُولَيَيْنِ من الظهر قَدْرَ قراءة الم تنزيل السجدة وَحَزَرْنَا قيامه في الأُخْرَيَيْنِ قدر النصف من ذلك، وَحَزَرْنَا قيامه في الركعتين الأوليين من العصر على قدر قيامه في الأُخْرَيَيْنِ من الظهر وفي الأخريين من العصر على النصف من ذلك» ولم يذكر أبو بكر في روايته: الم تنزيل وقال: قدر ثلاثين آية.

  Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: We used to estimate the time that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would stand when performing the Zhuhr and the ‘Asr prayers. We estimated that the time he stood in the first two Rak‘ahs of the Zhuhr prayer as the being the time taken to recite Sūrat As-Sajdah and it would be half of that time in the last two Rak‘ahs. We also estimated the time he stood in the first two Rak‘ahs of the ‘Asr prayer as being the same as the time he stood in the last two Rak‘ahs of the Zhuhr prayer and half of that time in the last two Rak‘ahs of the ‘Asr prayer." Abu Bakr did not mention Sūrat As-Sajdah in his narration, instead he said: “the time taken to recite thirty verses.”

  Narrated by Muslim

• I have never prayed behind anyone whose prayer more closely resembles that of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) than so-and-so. We prayed behind him and he would lengthen the first two Rak‘ahs of the Zhuhr and shorten the last two

  عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: «ما صليت وراء أحد أشبه صلاة برسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم من فلان - فصلينا وراء ذلك الإنسان وكان يطيل الأوليين من الظهر، ويخفف في الأخريين، ويخفف في العصر، ويقرأ في المغرب بقصار المفصل، ويقرأ في العشاء بالشمس وضحاها وأشباهها، ويقرأ في الصبح بسورتين طويلتين».

  Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I have never prayed behind anyone whose prayer more closely resembles that of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) than so-and-so. We prayed behind him and he would lengthen the first two Rak‘ahs (units of prayer) of the Zhuhr and shorten the last two, and he would make the ‘Asr shorter; in the Maghrib, he would recite the short Mufassal Sūrahs; and he would recite Sūrat Ash-Shams and similar-sized Sūrahs in the ‘Ishā' and recite two long Sūrahs in the Fajr prayer.

  An-Nasaa’i - Narrated by Ahmad

• I heard the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) recite Sūrah At-Tūr during the Maghrib prayer. When he reached this verse: {Were they created by nothing? Or were they themselves the creators? Or did they create the heavens and the earth? Rather, they are not certain. Or have they the depositories [containing the provision] of your Lord? Or are they the controllers [of them]?}, it was as if my heart was about to take flight

  عن جبير بن مطعم رضي الله عنه قال: سمعت النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يقرأ في المغرب بالطُّور، فلما بلغ هذه الآية: ﴿أم خُلِقُوا من غير شيء أم هم الخالقون، أم خَلَقُوا السموات والأرض بل لا يوقنون، أم عندهم خزائن ربك أم هم المسيطرون﴾. قال: كاد قلبي أن يطير.

  Jubayr ibn Mut‘im (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) recite Sūrah At-Tūr during the Maghrib prayer. When he reached this verse: {Were they created by nothing? Or were they themselves the creators? Or did they create the heavens and the earth? Rather, they are not certain. Or have they the depositories [containing the provision] of your Lord? Or are they the controllers [of them]?}, it was as if my heart was about to take flight.

  Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim

• In the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) the bowing, rising from bowing, prostration, and sitting between the two prostrations were all roughly the same (in length)

  عن الحكم قال: غَلَب على الكُوفة رجُل -قد سَمَّاه- زَمَنَ ابن الأشْعَث، فأمر أبَا عُبيدة بن عبد الله أن يصلِّي بالناس، فكان يصلِّي، فإذا رَفع رأسه من الرُّكوع قام قَدْر ما أقُول: اللَّهُم ربَّنا لك الحَمد، مِلْءَ السَّماوات ومِلْءَ الأرض، ومِلْءَ ما شِئت من شَيء بعد، أهْل الثَّناء والمَجد، لا مانع لما أعْطَيت، ولا مُعْطِي لما مَنعت، ولا يَنفع ذَا الجَدِّ مِنْك الجَدِّ. قال الحَكم: فَذَكَرت ذلك لعَبد الرَّحمن بن أبي ليلى فقال: سمعت البَرَاء بن عَازب يقول: «كانت صلاة رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وركُوعه، وإذا رفع رأسه من الرُّكوع، وسُجوده، وما بَيْن السَّجدتين، قريبًا من السَّوَاء» قال شُعبة: فذَكَرْتُه لِعَمرو بن مُرَّة فقال: قد رأيت ابن أبي ليلى، فلم تَكن صلاته هكذا.

  Al-Hakam reported: Kufah was conquered by a man called Zamān ibn al-Ash‘ath. He ordered Abu ‘Ubaydah ibn ‘Abdullāh to lead people in prayer. When he performed the prayer, he would rise from bowing and stand for as long it took me to say: "O Allah, our Lord, to You is all praise that fills the heavens and earth and whatever You will beyond that. All praise and glory belong to You. No one can withhold what You have given and no one can give what You have withheld. And the good fortune of a person will not avail him before You." Al-Hakam added: "I mentioned this to ‘Abdur-Rahmān ibn Abu Layla and he said: ‘I head Al-Barā' ibn ‘Āzib say: 'In the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), the bowing, rising from bowing, prostration, and sitting between the two prostrations were all roughly the same (in length).''' Shu‘bah said: "I related this to ‘Amr ibn Murrah and he said: ‘I saw Ibn Abu Layla, and his prayer was not like that.'"

  Narrated by Muslim

• Whenever the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) bowed, he would spread out his fingers, and whenever he prostrated, he would join them together

  عن وائل بن حجر رضي الله عنه : أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم كان إذا ركع فَرَّجَ أصابِعَه وإذا سَجد ضَمَّ أصَابِعه.

  Wā’il ibn Hujr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: Whenever the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) bowed, he would spread out his fingers, and whenever he prostrated, he would join them together.

  Narrated by Ibn Hebban

• When the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was performing an odd-numbered Rak‘ah, he would not get up until he had been settled in the sitting position

  عن مالك بن الحويرث رضي الله عنه : أنه رأى النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يصلي، فإذا كان في وِتْرٍ من صلاته لم ينهض حتى يستوي قاعداً.

  Mālik ibn al-Huwayrith (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I saw the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) pray and when he was performing an odd-numbered Rak‘ah, he would not get up until he had been settled in the sitting position.

  Narrated by Bukhari

• The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) invoked evil on the tribe of Banu Sulaym for one month after rising from Rukū‘ in prayer

  عن عاصم قال: سألتُ أنساً رضي الله عنه عن القُنُوت، قال: قبل الركوع، فقلت: إن فلاناً يزعم أنك قلت بعد الركوع؟ فقال: كَذَبَ، ثم حَدَّثَنَا، عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم : «أنه قنت شهراً بعد الركوع، يدعو على أحياء من بني سليم»، قال: «بعث أربعين -أو سبعين يشك فيه- من القراء إلى أناس من المشركين»، فعرض لهم هؤلاء فقتلوهم، وكان بينهم وبين النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم عهد، «فما رأيته وجد على أحد ما وجد عليهم».

  ‘Āsim reported: I asked Anas about the Qunūt (invocation in the prayer). Anas said: "It should be recited before Rukū‘." I said: "So-and-so claims that you said it should be recited after rising from Rukū‘." He replied: "He is mistaken." Then Anas narrated to us that the Prophet invoked evil on the tribe of Banu Sulaym for one month after rising from Rukū‘. He then said: "The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) sent 40 or 70 reciters (men well versed in the knowledge of the Qur'an) to some pagans, who killed them, even though there was a peace pact between them and the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). I never saw the Prophet hating anyone as much as he hated those pagans."

  Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim

• The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) did not say the Qunūt but he would pray for welfare of a people or doom of others

  عن أنس بن مالك رضي الله عنه أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم : كان لا يقنت إلا إذا دعا لقوم، أو دعا على قوم.

  Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) did not say the Qunūt but he would pray for welfare of a people or doom of others.

  Ibn Khuzaymah

• O father, you prayed behind the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, ‘Uthmān, and ‘Ali here in Kufah for about five years. Did they use to recite the Qunūt in the Fajr prayer? He said: O son, this is an innovation in religion

  عن أبي مالك الأشجعي سعد بن طارق رضي الله عنه قال: قلت لأبي: يا أبت إنك قد صليت خلف رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وأبي بكر وعمر وعثمان وعلي هاهنا بالكوفة، نحوًا من خمس سنين، «فكانوا يَقْنُتُونَ في الفجر؟» فقال: أَيْ بُنَيَّ مُحْدَثٌ.

  Abu Mālik al-Ashja‘i Sa‘d ibn Tāriq (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I said to my father: "O father, you prayed behind the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, ‘Uthmān, and ‘Ali here in Kufah for about five years. Did they use to recite the Qunūt in the Fajr prayer?" He said: "O son, this is an innovation in religion."

  Narrated by Ibn Majah - Narrated by At-Termedhy - Narrated by Ahmad

• When the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) sat for supplication, he would put his right hand on his right thigh and his left hand on his left thigh, point with his index finger, place his thumb on his middle finger, and cover his knee with the palm of his left hand

  عن عبد الله بن الزُّبير رضي الله عنهما قال: «كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا قَعد يَدْعُو، وضع يَده اليُمْنَى على فخِذِه اليُمْنَى، ويَده اليُسْرَى على فخِذِه اليُسْرَى، وأشَار بِإِصْبَعِهِ السَّبَّابَة، ووضَع إبْهَامَه على إِصْبَعِهِ الوُسْطَى، ويُلْقِم كَفَّه الْيُسْرَى رُكْبَتَه».

  ‘Abdullāh ibn Az-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: When the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) sat for supplication, he would put his right hand on his right thigh and his left hand on his left thigh, point with his index finger, place his thumb on his middle finger, and cover his knee with the palm of his left hand.

  Narrated by Muslim

• I used to see the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) making Taslīm (salutation of peace ending the prayer) to his right and to his left, until I could see the whiteness of his cheek

  عَنْ سَعْدٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: كُنْتُ أَرَى رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُسَلِّمُ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ، وَعَنْ يَسَارِهِ، حَتَّى أَرَى بَيَاضَ خَدِّهِ.

  Sa‘d (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I used to see the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) making Taslīm (salutation of peace ending the prayer) to his right and to his left, until I could see the whiteness of his cheek.

  Narrated by Muslim

• The people of Kufa complained to ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb about their governor Sa‘d. He dismissed him and appointed ‘Ammār as their governor

  عن جابر بن سمرة رضي الله عنهما قال: شكا أهل الكوفة سعدًا يعني: ابن أبي وقاص رضي الله عنه إلى عمر بن الخطاب رضي الله عنه فعزله، واستعمل عليهم عمارًا، فشَكَوا حتى ذكروا أنه لا يُحسن يصلي، فأرسل إليه، فقال: يا أبا إسحاق، إن هؤلاء يزعمون أنك لا تُحسن تصلي، فقال: أمَّا أنا والله فإني كنت أصلي بهم صلاة رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم لا أَخْرِمُ عنها، أصلي صلاتَي العشاء فأَرْكُدُ في الأُولَيَيْنِ، وأُخِفُّ في الأُخْرَيَيْنِ. قال: ذلك الظن بك يا أبا إسحاق، وأرسل معه رجلًا -أو رجالًا- إلى الكوفة يسأل عنه أهل الكوفة، فلم يَدَعْ مسجدًا إلا سأل عنه، ويُثْنُونَ معروفًا، حتى دخل مسجدًا لبني عَبْسٍ، فقام رجل منهم، يقال له أسامة بن قتادة، يكنى أبا سَعْدَةَ، فقال: أما إذ نشدتنا فإن سعدًا كان لا يسير بالسَّرية ولا يَقْسِم بالسَّوية، ولا يَعْدِل في القضية. قال سعد: أما والله لأدعون بثلاث: اللهم إن كان عبدك هذا كاذبًا، قام رِياء، وسُمعة، فأطل عمره، وأطل فقره، وعرضه للفتن. وكان بعد ذلك إذا سئل يقول: شيخ كبير مفتون، أصابتني دعوة سعد. قال عبد الملك بن عمير الراوي عن جابر بن سمرة: فأنا رأيته بعد قد سقط حاجباه على عينيه من الكبر، وإنه ليتعرض للجواري في الطرق فيَغْمِزُهُنَّ.

  Jābir ibn Samurah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The people of Kufa complained to ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb (may Allah be pleased with him) about their governor Sa‘d (ibn Abi Waqqās) (may Allah be pleased with him). He dismissed him and appointed ‘Ammār as their governor. They lodged many complaints against Sa‘d and even alleged that Sa‘d does not know how to perform the prayers properly. ‘Umar sent for him and said: "O Abu Is'hāq, those people claim that you do not pray properly." He replied: "By Allah, I used to lead them in prayer exactly as I learnt from the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him). I prolong the first two Rak‘ahs of the ‘Ishā' prayer and shorten the last two." ‘Umar then said: "That is what I thought of you, O Abu Is'hāq." Then he sent a man (or more) with him to Kufa to ask the people about him. This man went there and did not leave any mosque without asking about Sa‘d. All the people praised him till he came to the mosque of the tribe of Banu ‘Abs; where a man called Usāmah ibn Qatādah, with a surname of Abu Sa‘d, stood up and said: "Since you asked, I am bound to tell you that Sa‘d never marched with the armies, nor did he ever divide the spoils of war fairly, nor was he ever fair in delivering justice regarding legal verdicts." This complaint reached Sa‘d and he said: "By Allah, I shall make three supplications: O Allah, if this slave of Yours is a liar and got up for showing off and speaking boastfully, then prolong his life, make him poor for the rest of his life, and afflict him with trials." This person suffered, following the invocation of Sa‘d and would tell people he was an old man subjected to trials because of Sa‘d’s invocation. ‘Abd al-Malik ibn ‘Umayr, who narrated from Jābir ibn Samurah, said: "I saw this man afterwards in such a state that his eyebrows were shaggy and had fallen over his eyelids, because of old age; and he used to wink at young girls as they pass by in the roads.”

  Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim

• On raising his head from bowing in the final Rak‘ah of the Fajr prayer, he would say: O Allah, curse so-and-so and so-and-so, after saying: "Allah hears those who praise Him, our Lord, all praise belongs to You." So, Allah revealed: {Not for you is the decision}

  عن عبد الله بن عمر رضي الله عنهما أنه سمع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: إذا رَفَعَ رَأْسَه مِن الرُّكوع في الركعة الأخيرة مِن الفَجْر: «اللهمَّ الْعَنْ فُلانًا وفُلانًا». بعدَما يقول: «سَمِعَ الله لمن حَمِدَه رَبَّنا ولك الحَمْدُ». فأنزل الله: (لَيْسَ لَكَ مِنَ الأَمْرِ شَيْءٌ ...) الآية. وفي رواية: يَدْعُو على صَفْوَانَ بنِ أُمَيَّةَ، وسُهيْلِ بن عَمْرٍو، والحارث بن هشام، فنَزَلَتْ: (لَيْسَ لَكَ مِنَ الأَمْرِ شَيْءٌ).

  ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) on raising his head from bowing in the final Rak‘ah of the Fajr prayer, say: "O Allah, curse so-and-so and so-and-so", after saying: "Allah hears those who praise Him, our Lord, all praise belongs to You." So, Allah revealed: {Not for you (O Muhammad) is the decision.} [Sūrat āl-‘Imrān: 128] According to another narration of the Hadīth: "He was invoking against Safwān ibn Umayyah, Suhayl ibn ‘Amr, and Al-Hārith ibn Hishām, so the following verse was revealed: {Not for you (O Muhammad) is the decision.} [Sūrat āl-‘Imrān: 128]

  Narrated by Bukhari

• O Allah, save ʿAyyāsh ibn Abu Rabīʿah. O Allah, save Salamah ibn Hishām. O Allah, save Al-Walīd ibn al-Walīd. O Allah, save the oppressed believers. O Allah, be hard on [the tribe of] Mudar. O Allah, afflict them with years of famine and drought like the years of Yūsuf (Joseph)

  عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه أنَّ النبيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كان إذا رفع رأسه من الركعة الآخِرة، يقول: «اللهمَّ أَنْجِ عَيَّاش بن أبي ربيعة، اللهمَّ أَنْجِ سَلَمَة بنَ هشام، اللهم أَنْجِ الوليد بن الوليد، اللهم أَنْجِ المستضعفين من المؤمنين، اللهمَّ اشْدُدْ وَطْأَتَك على مُضَر، اللهمَّ اجعلها سنين كسِنِي يوسف». وأنَّ النبيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: «غِفَارُ غفر الله لها، وأَسْلَمُ سالمها الله» قال ابن أبي الزناد عن أبيه: هذا كلُّه في الصبح.

  Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: Whenever the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) lifted his head from bowing in the last Rakʿah, he used to say: "O Allah, save ʿAyyāsh ibn Abu Rabīʿah. O Allah, save Salamah ibn Hishām. O Allah, save Al-Walīd ibn al-Walīd. O Allah, save the oppressed believers. O Allah, be hard on [the tribe of] Mudar. O Allah, afflict them with years of famine and drought like the years of Yūsuf!" The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) further said: "[The tribe of] Ghifār, Allah forgave them. [The tribe of] Aslam, Allah had peace with them." Ibn Abu Az-Zinād, reporting from his father, said: "All that was in the Fajr Prayer.”

  Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim