① Warning to the One Who Performs Ruku‘ and Sujood Improperly
Sayyiduna Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman رضي الله عنه saw a man who was not completing his ruku‘ and sujood properly. He said:
"You have not prayed. If you die while praying like this, you will not die upon the way Allah created Muhammad ﷺ."
(Bukhari, Al-Adhan, Chapter: If One Does Not Complete Ruku‘, 791)
② Prohibition of Pecking Like a Crow and Sitting Like a Beast
Sayyiduna ‘Abdur-Rahman ibn Shibl رضي الله عنه narrated:
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ forbade pecking like a crow (i.e., hastily touching the ground in sujood) and spreading the arms like a beast."
(Abu Dawood: 893)
③ The Worst Form of Theft in Salah
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"The worst thief is the one who steals from his prayer."
The Companions asked: "O Messenger of Allah, how does one steal from his prayer?"
He replied:
"By not completing its ruku‘ and sujood."
(Muwatta’ Malik 1/171 — authenticated by Al-Hakim & Al-Dhahabi)
④ The Fate of Incomplete Prayers
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"A man may pray for sixty years, yet not one of his prayers is accepted — because when he completes the ruku‘, he fails to complete the sujood, and when he completes the sujood, he fails to complete the ruku‘."
(Silsilah al-Ahadith as-Sahihah by al-Albani, 2535)
⑤ Importance of Tranquility in Salah
It is wajib to perform each posture of Salah with complete calmness and stillness (ṭuma’ninah), ensuring that ruku‘, sujood, and all other actions are done fully and with humility. Neglecting this risks having the prayer rejected, no matter how many years one has prayed.
