Majma al-Zawaid — Hadith 2788

Abd al-Rahman bin Ghanm said: Sayyiduna Abu Malik al-Ash'ari gathered the people of his tribe and said: "O people of the Ash'ar tribe, gather together and gather your women and your children as well, so that I may teach you the manner of the prayer of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)." They gathered and also gathered their women and children. Then Sayyiduna Abu Malik al-Ash'ari demonstrated to them how the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) performed ablution; he carefully covered all the parts of ablution. Then, when the shadow had declined and the shade had shifted, he stood up and gave the adhan. The men formed the row closest to the imam, then the children formed a row, and behind them the women formed a row, which was behind the children's row. Then Sayyiduna Abu Malik al-Ash'ari led the prayer. He stepped forward, raised both his hands and said the takbir, recited Surah al-Fatihah and a surah along with it, reciting both of them quietly. Then he said the takbir and went into bowing, and said "Subhanallahi wa bihamdihi" three times. Then he said "Sami'allahu liman hamidah" and stood up straight. Then he said the takbir and went into prostration, then he said the takbir and raised his head, then he said the takbir and went into prostration, then he said the takbir and stood up straight. Thus there were six takbirs in his first rak'ah, and when he stood up for the second rak'ah he said the takbir at that time as well. When he had completed the prayer, he turned towards the people and said: "Remember my takbirs, and learn the manner of my bowing and my prostrations, for this is the manner of the prayer of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in which he used to lead us in prayer during the day." After this the narrator mentioned the complete hadith; the rest of this narration will come in the section on love, within the discussion of zuhd (asceticism), if Allah wills.
Imam Ahmad recorded it.