Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah

Sayyiduna Abu Humayd Sa’idi (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) would stand for prayer, he would stand completely straight (then a part of the hadith is narrated), and he said: Then he would say « اللهُ أَكْبَرُ » and bow (ruku’), then while performing ruku’ with moderation, he would neither lower nor raise his head (but keep it level), and he would place both his hands on his knees. Then he would say « سَمِعَ اللهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ » and stand up completely straight until every bone returned to its place. Then he would bend towards the ground for prostration (sajdah), then say « اللهُ أَكْبَرُ », then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would separate his arms from his sides and bend the toes of his feet. Then he would bend his right foot and sit on it. Then he would sit with moderation until every bone returned to its place, then he would bend for prostration again, then say « اللهُ أَكْبَرُ ». Then he would separate his elbows from his sides and spread his toes. Then he would bend his feet and sit, and sit with moderation until every bone returned to its place. Then he would stand up, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would do the same in the second rak’ah. Until, when he stood up after two rak’ahs, he would say « اللهُ أَكْبَرُ » and raise both his hands until they were level with his shoulders, just as he had done at the beginning of the prayer. Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did likewise until, when he reached the rak’ah in which the prayer was completed, he would move his left foot back and sit on his side in tawarruk, then (after the tashahhud) he would say the salam. Imam Abu Bakr (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Muhammad bin ‘Ata is Muhammad bin ‘Amr bin ‘Ata.

Hazrat Muhammad bin Amr bin Ata narrates that I heard Sayyiduna Abu Humayd As-Sa'idi (may Allah be pleased with him) saying in the presence of ten companions, among whom was also Sayyiduna Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him). He said, "I am the one among you who knows the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) the best." Then (the respected Imam's) teachers narrated the entire hadith, and at the end of the hadith, these words were narrated: (The ten companions said) "You have spoken the truth; indeed, the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to pray in this manner."

Hazrat Abbas bin Sahl al-Sa'idi narrates that some individuals from the Ansar gathered. Among them were Hazrat Sahl bin Sa'd al-Sa'idi, Abu Humayd al-Sa'idi, and Abu Usaid al-Sa'idi. They discussed the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). So, Sayyiduna Abu Humayd (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "Allow me to describe (the prayer of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him) to you, for I know it better than you." They said, "(If that is so) then describe it." He said, "I saw the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) perform the best ablution, then he entered the prayer and said the takbir, raising both his hands to the level of his shoulders. Then, when he bowed (in ruku'), he placed both his hands on his knees as if he were grasping them. (In ruku') he neither raised his head nor lowered it excessively (but kept it in a moderate position, level with his back), and he kept his arms away from his sides. Then, when he raised his head (from ruku'), he stood up straight until every bone returned to its place." Then Janab Bundar narrated the rest of the hadith, and at the end of the hadith, these words were mentioned: "All the noble companions (may Allah be pleased with them) said: 'The prayer of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was like this.'" Imam Abu Bakr (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "I heard Muhammad bin Yahya saying that whoever, after hearing this hadith, does not raise his hands when going into ruku' and when rising from ruku', his prayer is incomplete."