Feet Should Be Upright and Toes Facing the Qibla in Sujood

Hadith on Proper Posture in Prayer​

It is narrated from Aisha (رضي الله عنها) that she said:
"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would begin the prayer with Takbir and start his recitation with الحمد لله رب العالمين. When he would go into Ruku' (bowing), he would neither raise his head too high nor lower it too much, but he would keep it in between. When he raised his head from Ruku', he would not go into Sujood (prostration) until he stood up straight. When he raised his head from Sujood, he would not perform the second Sujood until he had sat up straight. He would recite Tashahhud after every two Rak’ahs. He would spread his left foot flat and keep his right foot upright. He prohibited sitting in the manner of a beast and forbade placing the forearms on the ground like a predatory animal. He concluded the prayer with Tasleem (saying: 'As-salamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah')."
[Sahih Muslim: 498]

Key Benefits and Lessons​

➊ Each limb should return to its natural position before moving to the next posture.

• For example, after raising the head from Sujood, one should sit briefly before going into the next Sujood, ensuring that all joints return to their place.

➋ Feet should be upright in Sujood, and the toes should face the Qibla.

• During prostration, both hands should be raised slightly off the ground and kept at a distance from the body.
• Hands should neither be completely placed flat on the ground nor too close to the body.

➌ In the final Tashahhud, the left foot should be placed under the right leg, and one should sit on their buttocks.

• This is the Sunnah method of sitting in the last Tashahhud.

➍ Reciting Surah Al-Fatiha in prayer is obligatory.

• Whether one is praying alone or behind an Imam, Surah Al-Fatiha must be recited.
• A prayer without Surah Al-Fatiha is incomplete.

➎ The prayer should begin with "Allahu Akbar" and conclude with "As-Salamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah".

• This is the proper Sunnah way to start and end the Salah.

[This content is extracted from the book Diya al-Islam fi Sharh al-Imam bi Ahadith al-Ahkam by Sheikh Taqi al-Din Abi al-Fath, translated by Maulana Mahmood Ahmad Ghaznfar.]