HasanNarrated by Abu Dawud
The Hadīth of the one harming his prayer as reported by Rifā‘ah (may Allah be pleased with him)
Rifā‘ah ibn Rāfi‘ Az-Zuraqi, a Companion of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) was sitting in the mosque when a man came in and prayed near him. When the man moved toward the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) to greet him after the prayer, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Go back and pray again, for you have not prayed." The man went back and prayed as he had prayed before and he came to the Messenger (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) who said: "Go back and pray again, for you have not prayed." The man said: "O Messenger of Allah, teach me how to do it." He said: "When you stand facing the Qiblah, say the Takbīr and recite the Mother of the Qur’an (Sūrat al-Fātihah), then recite whatever you like of the Qur’an. Then bow with your palms resting on your knees and your back unbent for enough time. When you rise your head, stand up straight until the bones fit well in their joints. Then prostrate until you are at ease in prostration, and when you raise your head, sit on your left thigh. Then do that in every bowing and prostration."
In another narration, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The prayer of any one of you is not complete until he performs ablution perfectly, as Allah, the Almighty, has ordered. He should wash his face and then his hands up to the elbows, wipe his head and (wash) his feet up to the ankles. Then he should say the Takbīr and praise Allah, the Almighty. He should then recite the Qur'an as much as it is convenient for him.” He said: “He then says the Takbīr and prostrates himself, so his face or forehead is at rest on the ground and his joints return to their places and are loosened. Then he should say the Takbīr and sit to the right on his hips and keep his back erect.” He described the nature of prayer in this way by offering four Rak‘ahs until he finished it. Then he said: “The prayer of any of you is not complete unless he does this.”
In another version, he said: “Perform ablution as Allah, the Almighty, ordered you to, then utter the two testimonies of faith, announce the Iqāmah, and say the Takbīr. If you have memorized some parts of the Qur’an, recite them, otherwise, busy yourself praising and exalting Allah.”
SahihNarrated by Abu Dawud
Abu Humayd As-Sā‘idi, while he was sitting with ten of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) including Abu Qatādah, said: I am the most knowledgeable among you about the Prophet's prayer
Muhammad ibn ‘Amr ibn ‘Atā reported: While Abu Humayd As-Sā‘idi was sitting among ten of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) including Abu Qatādah, he said: "I am the most knowledgeable among you about the (manner of the) prayer of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him)." They said: "Why? By Allah, you did not follow him more than we did, nor did you accompany him before us." He said: "Indeed, I am." They said: "Then show us." He said: "When the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) stood up for prayer, he would raise his hands parallel to his shoulders, say Takbīr, and then wait until every bone of his body would settle properly in its place. Then he would recite (the Qur’an), then he would raise his hands parallel to his shoulders and say Takbīr, and then bow, placing his palms on his knees. Then he would stand up straight, and he would neither lower his head nor raise it much. Then he would say: ‘Allah hears those who praise Him'; and he would then raise his hands to the level of his shoulders while standing straight. Then he would say Takbīr and prostrate himself on the ground, keeping his arms away from his sides. Then he would raise his head and tuck his left foot and sit on it, and he would spread out his toes while prostrating. Then he would prostrate, then say Takbīr, raise his head, tuck his left foot, and sit on it until every bone returned to its place. Then he would stand up and do the same in the next Rak‘ah. Then, when he stood up after two Rak‘ahs, he would raise his hands up to the level of his shoulders as he did at the beginning of the prayer. Then he would offer the rest of his prayer in the same manner, and when he came to the prostration that is followed by Taslīm, he would draw his left foot backward and sit, placing his left posterior on the ground." They said: "You have spoken the truth; this is how the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to perform the prayer."
SahihNarrated by Ibn Majah - al-Nasa'i - Narrated by Abu Dawud - Narrated by Ahmad
When the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) got up to pray at night, he would make Takbīr and then say: Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise. Blessed is Your name, exalted is Your greatness, and there is nothing worthy of worship but You
Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: When the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) got up to pray at night, he would make Takbīr and then say: "Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise. Blessed is Your name, exalted is Your greatness, and there is nothing worthy of worship but You," three times. Thereafter, he would say: "Allah is the absolute Greatest," three times, and: "I seek refuge in Allah, the All-Hearing and All-Knowing, from the accursed Devil, from his evil suggestions, blowing, and spitting." After that, he would recite.
SahihNarrated by Muslim
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to start the prayer with Takbīr and then recite: {All praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds}
‘Ā’ishah, the Mother of the Believers (may Allah be pleased with her), reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to start the prayer with Takbīr and then recite: {All praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds}. When he bowed, he neither raised his head nor lowered it, but kept it level. When he raised his head from bowing, he would not prostrate until he had fully stood upright. When he raised his head from prostration, he would not prostrate (again) until he had sat upright. After each two Rak‘ahs (units of prayer), he would recite the Tahiyyah (greeting). He would spread his left foot out and erect his right foot. He would forbid sitting in the manner of the devil and resting the forearms on the ground, as a wild beast (i.e., lion) does. He would conclude the prayer with Taslīm (a salutation of peace that ends the prayer).
HasanNarrated by al-Tirmidhi - Narrated by Abu Dawud - Narrated by Ahmad
Perhaps you recite behind your Imām? We said: Yes, that is so, O Messenger of Allah. He said: Do not do so except with Sūrat al-Fātihah, since the prayer is invalid for the one who does not recite it
‘Ubādah ibn As-Sāmit (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: We were praying the Fajr prayer behind the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). He started to recite, but the recitation became difficult for him. When he finished, he said: "Perhaps you recite behind your Imām?" We said: "Yes, that is so, O Messenger of Allah." He said: "Do not do so except with Sūrat al-Fātihah, since the prayer is invalid for the one who does not recite it."
SahihIbn Khuzaymah - al-Nasa'i - Narrated by Ahmad - Narrated by al-Bukhari & Muslim
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) as well as Abu Bakr and ‘Umar, used to begin the prayer with {All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds}
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) as well as Abu Bakr and ‘Umar, used to begin the prayer with {All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds}Lord of the worlds)".
Imām Muslim added: "They did not recite 'In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful' at the beginning of the recitation or at the end of it."
Another narration reported by Ahmad, An-Nasā'i, and ibn Khuzaymah reads: "They did not recite 'In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful' loudly."
Another narration reported by Ibn Khuzaymah reads: "They used to recite it silently." This explains the negation mentioned in Imām Muslim's narration and answers the questions raised by scholars about it.
HasanNarrated by Abu Dawud - Narrated by Ahmad
As for this man, he has filled his hand with good
‘Abdullāh ibn Abu Awfa (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that a man came to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and said: "I cannot retain any of the Qur'an. Teach me what suffices me." He said: "Say: 'Glory to Allah, praise to Allah, there is no god but Allah, Allah is the greatest, and there is no power and no strength but from Allah, the Exalted, the Great.'" The man said: "O Messenger of Allah, these words are for Allah, Exalted and Glorified, what is for me?" He said: "Say: 'O Allah, have mercy on me, give me provision, keep me sound, and guide me.'" When the man stood up, he made a gesture with his hand [that he received a lot], the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "As for this man, he has filled his hand with good."
SahihNarrated by Muslim
O people, there is nothing remaining of the glad tidings of prophet-hood except a good vision that a Muslim sees or someone else sees it for him. Verily, I have been forbidden to recite the Qur'an while bowing or prostrating
Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) drew the curtain (of his chamber) aside to see the people standing in rows behind Abu Bakr in prayer. He then said: "O people, there is nothing remaining of the glad tidings of prophet-hood except a good vision that a Muslim sees or someone else sees it for him. Verily, I have been forbidden to recite the Qur'an while bowing or prostrating. So, while bowing, glorify the Lord, and while prostrating, engage in supplication diligently, for it is most likely that your supplications would be answered."
SahihNarrated by Muslim
In the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) the bowing, rising from bowing, prostration, and sitting between the two prostrations were all roughly the same (in length)
Al-Hakam reported: Kufah was conquered by a man called Zamān ibn al-Ash‘ath. He ordered Abu ‘Ubaydah ibn ‘Abdullāh to lead people in prayer. When he performed the prayer, he would rise from bowing and stand for as long it took me to say: "O Allah, our Lord, to You is all praise that fills the heavens and earth and whatever You will beyond that. All praise and glory belong to You. No one can withhold what You have given and no one can give what You have withheld. And the good fortune of a person will not avail him before You." Al-Hakam added: "I mentioned this to ‘Abdur-Rahmān ibn Abu Layla and he said: ‘I head Al-Barā' ibn ‘Āzib say: 'In the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), the bowing, rising from bowing, prostration, and sitting between the two prostrations were all roughly the same (in length).''' Shu‘bah said: "I related this to ‘Amr ibn Murrah and he said: ‘I saw Ibn Abu Layla, and his prayer was not like that.'"
HasanNarrated by Abu Dawud, al-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, and Ahmad
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to say between the two prostrations: "Allahumma ighfir li warhamni wa ‘āfeni wahdeni warzuqni (O Allah, forgive me, have mercy on me, grant me safety, guide me, and provide for me)
Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to say between the two prostrations: "Allahumma ighfir li warhamni wa ‘āfeni wahdeni warzuqni (O Allah, forgive me, have mercy on me, grant me safety, guide me, and provide for me)".
SahihNarrated by Ibn Majah - Narrated by al-Tirmidhi - Narrated by Ahmad
O father, you prayed behind the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, ‘Uthmān, and ‘Ali here in Kufah for about five years. Did they use to recite the Qunūt in the Fajr prayer? He said: O son, this is an innovation in religion
Abu Mālik al-Ashja‘i Sa‘d ibn Tāriq (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I said to my father: "O father, you prayed behind the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, ‘Uthmān, and ‘Ali here in Kufah for about five years. Did they use to recite the Qunūt in the Fajr prayer?" He said: "O son, this is an innovation in religion."
HasanNarrated by Abu Dawud
I prayed with the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), and he used to make Taslīm (salutation of peace ending the prayer) to his right saying: "May Allah's peace, mercy, and blessings be upon you," and to his left saying: "May Allah's peace and mercy be upon you
Wā’il ibn Hujr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I prayed with the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), and he used to make Taslīm (salutation of peace ending the prayer) to his right saying: "May Allah's peace, mercy, and blessings be upon you," and to his left saying: "May Allah's peace and mercy be upon you."
