Musnad Ahmad

It was heard from Hazrat Abu Humaid Sa’idi (may Allah be pleased with him) in the presence of ten companions (may Allah be pleased with them), among whom was Hazrat Abu Qatadah bin Rabi’i (may Allah be pleased with him), that he said: “I know the prayer of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) better than all of you.” The other companions (may Allah be pleased with them) said to him: “You do not have older companionship than us, nor did you stay with him more than us.” He replied: “When the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) would stand for prayer, he would stand straight and raise his hands up to his shoulders. When he intended to bow (ruku’), he would raise his hands up to his shoulders and perform takbeer, then bow with moderation, neither lowering his head too much nor raising it too high, and he would place his hands on his knees. Then he would say ‘Sami’ Allahu liman hamidah’ and raise his head, standing straight until every bone returned to its place. Then, saying ‘Allahu Akbar’, he would go into prostration (sajdah), keeping his arms apart and open, not letting them touch his sides, and spreading the toes of his feet. Then he would bend his left foot and sit on it, sitting with moderation so that every bone returned to its place. Then, saying ‘Allahu Akbar’, he would perform the second prostration, then bend his feet and sit, sitting with moderation so that every bone returned to its place. Then he would stand up and perform the second rak’ah in the same manner. When the last rak’ah came, in which the prayer ends, he would move his left foot back and sit on his side on his buttocks, and at the end, he would turn for salam (salutation).