Subchapter

Narrated Abu Hurairah (RA): The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "When you get up to pray, perform ablution perfectly, then face the Qiblah and say: 'Allahu Akbar' (Allah is the Most Great). Then recite a convenient portion of the Qur'an; then bow and remain calmly in that position for a moment, then rise up and stand erect; then prostrate and remain calmly in that position for a moment, then rise up and sit calmly, then prostrate and remain calmly in that position for a moment; then do that throughout your prayer." [Reported by as-Sab'a and the wording is that of al-Bukhari]. The narration of Ibn Majah through a chain of Muslim has: "Then rise up and stand erect calmly." And in the narration of Ibn Hibban and Ahmad the Hadith of Rifa'a bin Rafi' bin Malik is similar to the above. And Ahmad has: "Keep your back straight till the bones return (to their positions)." And in the narration of an-Nasa'i and Abu Dawud from the Hadith of Rifa'a bin Rafi': "The Salat (prayer) of one of you will not be complete until he performs Wudu' (ablution) properly as Allah commanded him, then he says Allahu Akbar and Alhamdu lillah and praises Him." It is also mentionmed in the same Hadith, "If you know any portion of the Qur'an, read it or else say: Alhamdu lillah, Allahu Akbar and La ilaha ill-Allah." And Abu Dawud has "Then read the Ummul-Qur'an (i.e. Surah al-Fatiha) and what ever Allah wishes". Ibn Hibban also has: "and then (read) whatever you wish."

Narrated Abu Humaid As-Sa'idi (RA): "I saw Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) when he uttered the Takbir, he placed his hands parallel to his shoulders; and when he bowed down, he rested his hands on his knees, then bent his back. When he raised his head up, he stood erect until the bones of his spine became straight. When he prostrated, he placed his arms such that they were neither spread out nor drawn in, and the tips of his toes were facing the Qiblah; when he sat up, at the end of two Rak'a, he sat on his left foot and put erect the right one; and when he sat up after the last Rak'a he put forward the left foot, put erect the other one and sat on his buttock." [Reported by al-Bukhari].

Narrated 'Ali bin Abi Talib (RA): Whenever Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) stood for Salat (prayer), he used to say: "I have turned my face (as a monotheist) towards Him who created the heavens and the earth and I am not from the polytheists. My prayer and my devotion, my life and my death belong to Allah, the Lord of the universe, Who has no partner. That is what I have been commanded, and I am a Muslim. O Allah, You are the King. There is nothing which deserves to be worshipped but You. You are my Rabb (Lord) and I am Your slave. I have wronged myself, but I acknowledge my sin, so forgive me all my sins, You alone can forgive sins; and guide me to the best qualities, You alone can guide to the best of them: and turn me from evil ones, You alone can turn from evil qualities. I come to serve and please You. All good is in Your Hands and evil does not pertain to You. I seek refuge in You and turn to You, You are the Blessed and the Exalted. I ask Your forgiveness and turn to You in repentance." [Reported by Muslim]. And in another narration of Muslim: "he used to say that in the night prayer..."

Narrated Abu Hurairah (RA) Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to keep silent - between the opening Takbir of the prayer and the recitation of the Qur'an - for a short while. Then, I asked him (about that) and he replied, "I say, 'O Allah! Keep me apart from my sins (faults) as you have kept apart the east and west. O Allah clean me from my sins as a white garment is cleaned from dirt. O Allah wash me of my sins with water, snow and hail." [Agreed upon].

Narrated 'Umar (RA): He (ﷺ) used to say, "How perfect You are O Allah, and Praise is for You, Blessed is Your Name and Exalted is Your Majesty and there is nothing which deserves to be worshipped besides You." [Reported by Muslim with a Munqati' (broken) chain. And in the version of ad-Daraqutni, it is Mawsul (unbroken chain), and it is Mawquf (saying of a companion ('Umar)]. Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (RA) narrated a similar report Marfu' [reaching back to the Prophet (ﷺ)] collected by al-Khamsah. Containing the words: He (ﷺ) used to say after the (opening) Takbir (for prayer), "I seek refuge in Allah, the All-Hearing and the All-Knowing from the accursed devil, from his madness or evil suggestion (Hamz), from his puffing up (Nafkh), and from his witchcraft (Nafth)."

Narrated 'Aishah (RA) Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to begin the Salat (prayer) with Takbir (Allahu Akbar - Allah is the Most Great) and the recitation with Alhamdu lillahi Rabbil' alamin (praise is to Allah, the Rabb of the universe)." And when he bowed down, he neither kept his head up nor bent it down, but kept it between that (two positions). When he raised his head from the bowing position, he did not prostrate till he had stood erect; and when he raised his head after a prostration, he did not prostrate again till he had sat up. And at the end of every two Rak'ah he said the Tahiyyah, and he used to sit on his left foot and position he right one vertically, and he prohibited the devil's way of sitting on the buttocks. He forbade people to spread out their arms like a wild beast. And he used to finish the prayer with the Taslim (i.e. saying As-Salamu 'alaikum). [Reported by Muslim and it has an 'illa (defect)].

Narrated Ibn 'Umar (RA): The Prophet (ﷺ) used to raise his hands parallel to his shoulders when he started the prayer (by saying Allahu Akbar), when he uttered the Takbir to bow and when he raised his head from the Ruku' (bowing posture). [Agreed upon]. Abu Dawud reported a Hadith narrated by Abu Humaid (RA) to the effect that he [Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)] used to raise his hands and bring them parallel to his shoulders, and then utter the Takbir. Muslim has a Hadith narrated by Malik bin Huwairith (ﷺ) similar to the Hadith narrated by Ibn 'Umar (RA). But he (Malik bin Huwairith) mentioned: "He [the Prophet (ﷺ)] raised his hands parallel to the end of his ears."

Narrated Wa'il bin Hujr (RA): I prayed with the Prophet (ﷺ) and he put his right hand on his left (and then placed them) on his chest. [Reported by Ibn Khuzaimah].

Narrated 'Ubada bin As-Samit (ﷺ): Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: "There is no Salat (prayer) for him who does not recite Ummul-Qur'an (Surat al-Fatiha)". (Agreed upon]. In the narration of Ibn Hibban and ad-Daraqutni is mentioned: "The Salat (prayer) is not complete if one does not recite (Surat) Fatiha al-Kitab."

Narrated Anas (RA): "The Prophet (ﷺ), Abu Bakr and 'Umar used to begin the Salat (prayer) with Al-hamdu lillahi Rabbil-'alamin." [Agreed upon]. And Muslim added: "They would not recite Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim, neither in the beginning of the recitation nor at the end of it." In another narration from Ahmad, an-Nasa'i and Ibn Khuzaimah: "They never used to recite Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim aloud." And in another report from Ibn Khuzaimah: "They used to recite Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim silently." The negation (of recitation of the Bismillah) in the report of Muslim can be understood in light of this report (i.e. it was recited silently), as opposed to those who declared Muslim's report as being defective.

Narrated Nu'aim Mujmir (RA): "I prayed behind Abu Hurairah (RA) and he recited Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim, and then recited Umm-ul-Qur'an (Al-Fatiha) and when he reached walad-dallin, he said Amin; and then said Allahu Akbar, when he prostrated and when he stood up from his sitting position. And when he uttered the Taslim (i.e. As-Salamu 'Alaikum), he said, "I swear by the One (i.e. Allah) in Whose Hand my soul is, my Salat (prayer) resembles most that of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) than that of anyone among you." [Reported by an-Nasa'i and lbn Khuzaimah].

Narrated Abu Hurairah (RA): Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: "Whenever you recite Surat Al-Fatiha, recite Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim, for it is one of its Ayat (Verses)." [Reported by ad-Daraqutni who verified it as Mawquf - the saying of Abu Hurairah (RA)].

Narrated [Abu Hurairah (RA)]: When Allah's Messenger (RA) completed the recitation of Surat Al-Fatiha, he raised his voice and said Amin. [Reported by ad-Daraqutni who graded it Hasan (good) and Al-Hakim who graded it Sahih (authentic)). The narrations of Abu Dawud and at-Tirmidhi from the Hadith of Wa'il bin Hujr (RA) are similar to this one.

Narrated 'Abdullah bin Abi Aufa (RA): A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said, "I cannot memorize anything from the Qur'an, so teach me something which can be a substitute for me." He said, "Say Subhan Allah (Allah is Free of Imperfections) walhamdu lillah (and praise is to Allah), wa la ilaha illa-Allah (and there is nothing worthy of worship except Allah), wallahu akbar (and Allah is the Most Great), wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah al-'Ali al-'Adheem (and there is no might and no strength but in Allah, the Most High, the Supreme)" [Reported by Ahmad, Abu Dawud and An-Nasa'i; and Ibn Hibban, ad-Daraqutni and Al-Hakim graded it Sahih (authentic)].

Narrated Abu Qatadah (RA): Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to lead us in prayer and recite in the first two Rak'a of the Zuhr and 'Asr prayers Surat Al-Fatiha and two (other) Surah. And he would sometimes recite loud enough for us to hear the Verses. He would prolong the first Rak'a, and would recite in the last two Rak'a Surat Al-Fatiha (only). [Agreed upon].

Narrated Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri (RA): We used to estimate the length of the standing position of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) in the Zuhr and 'Asr prayers, and we estimated that he stood in the first two Rak'a of the Zuhr prayer as long as it takes to recite Alif-Lam-Mim, Tanzil (Surat As-Sajdah) and in the last two Rak'a, half the time of that. And in the first two Rak'a of 'Asr, he used to stand as long as the last two of the Zuhr. And the last two Rak'a of 'Asr used to be of about half the time of the first two." [Reported by Muslim).

Narrated Sulaiman bin Yasar: So-and-so used to prolong the first two Rak'a of the Zuhr prayer and shorten the 'Asr prayer, and recite the short Surah of Mufassal at Maghrib prayer, its medium Surah at the 'Isha' prayer, and its long ones at the Fajr prayer. Then Abu Hurairah (RA) said: "I never prayed behind anyone whose prayer more closely resembles that of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) than this person." [Reported by an-Nasa'i with a Sahih (authentic) Isnad].

Narrated Jubair bin Mut'im (RA): I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) reciting at-Tur (the Mountain - Surat No. 52) in the Maghrib (sunset) prayer. [Agreed upon).

Narrated Abu Hurairah (RA): Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to recite during the Fajr prayer of Friday Alif-Lam-Mim, Tanzil... (as-Sajdab - Surat no. 32) and Hal ata 'alal-Insani... (al-Insan - Surat no. 76), which is also called Surat ad-Dahr). [Agreed upon]. at-Tabarani narrated the Hadith of Ibn Mas'ud which has the addition "... he [the Prophet (ﷺ)] did that constantly."

Narrated Hudhaifah (RA): I prayed with the Prophet (ﷺ) and (noticed that) whenever he came to a verse which spoke of mercy, he stopped and made supplication, and whenever he came to a verse which spoke of punishment, he stopped and sought refuge in Allah against it." [Reported by Al-Khamsah, and at-Tirmidhi graded it Hasan (good)].

Narrated Ibn 'Abbas (RA): Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: "I have been forbidden to recite the Qur'an while bowing or prostrating; so while in the bowing (position) glorify (the Perfection of) the Rabb (Lord), and while in the prostrating (position) be earnest in supplication, for it is fitting that your supplications may be answered." [Reported by Muslim].

Narrated 'Aishah (RA): Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to say while bowing and prostrating Subhanaka Allahumma Rabbana wa bihamdika, Allahumma ighfir li (How Perfect You are, O Allah, Our Rabb, and praise is to You, O Allah, forgive me)." [Agreed upon].

Narrated Abu Hurairah (RA): When Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) got up to pray, he would say the Takbir when standing up, then would say the Takbir when bowing, then he would say Sami'Allahu liman hamidah (Allah listens to him who praises Him) when rising up from the bowing position, then he would say while standing Rabbana wa lakal-hamd (our Rabb, the praise is Yours), then he would say the Takbir when going down for prostration, then when raising his head up, then when he prostrated again, then when raising his head up. He would then do that throughout the whole Salat (prayer) and he would say the Takbir when he got up - at the end of two Rak'a - from the sitting position." [Agreed upon].

Narrated Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri (RA) Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to say while raising his head after bowing: "Allahumma Rabbana lakal-hamdu mil'as-samawati wal-ardi, wa mil'a ma shi'ta min shai'in ba'du, ahlaththana'i wal-majdi, ahaqqu ma qal-al'abdu, wa kulluna laka 'abdun. Allahumma la mani'a lima a'taita, wa la mu'tiya lima man'ata, wa la yanfa'u dhal-jaddi minka-l-jaddu (O Allah, our Rabb (Lord), to You is praise in all the heavens and all the earth, and all that You Will (to create) afterwards, O You, Who are worthy of praise and glory, the most worthy of what a slave says - and we are all Your slaves: no one can withhold what You give, or give what You withhold, and riches cannot avail a wealthy person against You." [Reported by Muslim].

Narrated Ibn 'Abbas (RA): Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: "I have been commanded to prostrate on seven bones; on the forehead - and he pointed at his nose, the hands (the palms), the knees and the tips (toes) of the feet." [Agreed upon].

Narrated Ibn Buhainah (RA): When the Prophet (ﷺ) prostrated while praying, he used to spread out his arms so that the whiteness of his armpits would be visible. [Agreed upon].

Narrated Al-Bara' bin 'Azib (RA): Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: "When you prostrate, place the palms of your hands on the ground and raise your elbows." [Reported by Muslim).

Narrated Wa'il bin Hujr (RA): Whenever the Prophet (ﷺ) bowed, he would spread out his fingers and when he prostrated he would bring his fingers together. [Reported by al-Hakim).

Narrated 'Aishah (RA): I saw Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) praying while he sat cross-legged. [Reported by an-Nasa'i, and Ibn Khuzaimah graded it Sahib (authentic)].

Narrated Ibn 'Abbas (RA): The Prophet (ﷺ) used to say between the two prostrations: "Allahumma ighfir li, warhamni, wahdini, wa 'afini, warzuqni (O Allah, forgive me, have mercy on me, guide me, grant me health and well-being, and provide sustenance for me)." [Reported by al-Arba'a except An-Nasa'i, and this is the wording of Abu Dawud. Al-Hakim graded it Sahih (authentic)].

Narrated Malik bin Al-Huwairith (RA): He saw the Prophet (ﷺ) praying and when he had prayed an odd number of Rak'a, he did not stand up till he had sat up properly. [Reported by al-Bukhari].

Narrated Anas bin Malik (RA): The Prophet (ﷺ) recited Qunut (supplication in the prayer) for one month after (rising up from the) bowing (position), invoking curse on some Arab tribes. Afterwards, he gave it up. [Agreed upon]. Ahmad and ad-Daraqutni narrated something similar, adding that he (ﷺ) continued to recite Qunut (supplication in prayer) in the Fajr prayer till he separated from this world.

Narrated [Anas (RA)]: The Prophet (ﷺ) never used to supplicate [i.e. Qunut in the prayer) except when he prayed for a people or when he prayed against a people. [Ibn Khuzaimah graded it Sahih (authentic)].

Narrated Sa'd bin Tariq al-Ashja'i (RA): I said to my father, "You have prayed behind Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), Abu Bakr, 'Umar, Uthman, and 'Ali. Did they supplicate (with Qunut while standing) in the Fajr prayer?" He replied, "O my son, it is an innovation." [Reported by Al-Khamsah, except Abu Dawud].

Narrated al-Hasan bin 'Ali (ﷺ): Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) taught me some words to say when standing in supplication during the Witr, they were: "O Allah, guide me among those You have guided, grant me well-being among those You have granted well-being, take me into Your charge among those You have taken into Your charge, bless me in what You have given, guard me from the evil of what You have decreed, for You decree and none can decree over You. He whom You befriend is not humbled. Blessed and Exalted are You, our Rabb (Lord)." [Reported by Al-Khamsah]. at-Tabarani and al-Baihaqi added: "He whom You hold as enemy is not honoured." an-Nasa'i reported through another chain of narrators, adding at its end: "May Allah the Most High send His Salat on the Prophet (praising him in the highest assemblies of the angels)." Narrated Ibn 'Abbas (RA): Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to teach us a supplication to say in the Qunut of the morning prayer. [al-Baihaqi reported it and there is a weakness in its chain of narrators].

Narrated Abu Hurairah (RA): Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: "When one of you prostrates, he should not kneel in the manner of a camel, but should put down his hands before his knees." [Reported by ath-Thalathah]. This Hadith is more authentic than the Hadith narrated by Wa'il bin Hujr (RA). I saw the Prophet (ﷺ) placing his knees (on the ground) before his hands when he prostrated. [Reported by al-Arba'ah]. The first Hadith has a Shahid (supporting evidence) in the Hadith of Ibn 'Umar (RA) (coming next), which is authenticated by Ibn Khuzaimah. al-Bukhari mentioned it as a Hadith Mu'allaq (missing links from the side of the Haditb collector) and Mawquf (saying of a companion).

Narrated Ibn 'Umar (RA): When Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) sat for at-Tashahhud, he placed his left hand on his left knee, and his right hand on his right knee, folded its fingers and pointed with his right index finger. [Reported by Muslim]. In another narration of Muslim: 'and he clenched all his (right hand) fingers and pointed with the index finger.'

Narrated 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud (RA): Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) looked at us and said, "When one of you is (sitting) in prayer, he should say, 'All services reported by words, by prayers (acts of worship), and all good things are due to Allah, peace be upon you, O Prophet, and Allah's mercy and blessings, peace be upon us and upon Allah's upright slaves. I testify that nothing deserves to be worshipped except Allah and I testify that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.' Then he may choose any supplication which pleases him most and recite it." [Agreed upon, and this wording is from al-Bukhari]. In the narration of an-Nasa'i: 'We used to say before at-Tashahhud become obligatory on us'. And in the narration of Ahmad: 'The Prophet (ﷺ) taught him at-Tashahhud and ordered him to teach it to the people.' In Muslim's narration from Ibn 'Abbas (RA): Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to teach us at-Tashahhud: "All services expressed by words, increase in good, acts of worship and all good things are due to Allah ... " till the end.

Narrated Fadalah bin 'Ubaid (RA): Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) heard a man supplicating during his prayer. He did not praise Allah, nor did he invoke blessings on the Prophet (ﷺ). He (ﷺ) said, "He made haste." He then called him and said, "When any of you prays, he should begin with the glorification of his Rabb (Lord) and praise Him; he should then invoke blessings on the Prophet (ﷺ); thereafter he should supplicate Allah for anything he wishes." [Ahmad and ath-Thalathah reported it; a-Tirmidhi, Ibn Hibban and al-Hakim graded it Sahih (authentic)].

Narrated Abu Mas'ud Al-Ansari (RA): Bashir bin Sa'd said, "Allah has commanded us to invoke blessings on you, O Messenger of Allah! But how should we bless you?" Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) kept quiet (a while) and then said, "Say: 'O Allah, bless Muhammad and the members of his family as You have blessed Ibrahim, and grant favours to Muhammad and the members of his family as You have granted favours to Ibrahim. In the worlds You are indeed Praiseworthy and Glorious.' And the Taslim is as you know. [Reported by Muslim]. Ibn Khuzaimah added to it: "How should we invoke blessings on you, whenever we invoke blessing on you in our prayers?"