The Book of Prayer

Narrated Ibn 'Abbas (RA):

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: "I have been forbidden to recite the Qur'an while bowing or prostrating; so while in the bowing (position) glorify (the Perfection of) the Rabb (Lord), and while in the prostrating (position) be earnest in supplication, for it is fitting that your supplications may be answered." [Reported by Muslim].

وَعَنْ اِبْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ‏- رضى الله عنه ‏- قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-{ أَلَا وَإِنِّي نُهِيتُ أَنْ أَقْرَأَ اَلْقُرْآنَ رَاكِعًا أَوْ سَاجِدًا , فَأَمَّا اَلرُّكُوعُ فَعَظِّمُوا فِيهِ اَلرَّبَّ , وَأَمَّا اَلسُّجُودُ فَاجْتَهِدُوا فِي اَلدُّعَاءِ , فَقَمِنٌ أَنْ يُسْتَجَابَ لَكُمْ } رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ [1]‏

Narrated 'Aishah (RA):

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to say while bowing and prostrating Subhanaka Allahumma Rabbana wa bihamdika, Allahumma ighfir li (How Perfect You are, O Allah, Our Rabb, and praise is to You, O Allah, forgive me)." [Agreed upon].

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ ‏-رَضِيَ اَللَّهُ عَنْهَا‏- قَالَتْ : { كَانَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-يَقُولُ: فِي رُكُوعِهِ وَسُجُودِهِ : "سُبْحَانَكَ اَللَّهُمَّ]رَبَّنَا] [1]‏ وَبِحَمْدِكَ , اَللَّهُمَّ اِغْفِرْ لِي } مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ [2]‏

Narrated Abu Hurairah (RA):

When Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) got up to pray, he would say the Takbir when standing up, then would say the Takbir when bowing, then he would say Sami'Allahu liman hamidah (Allah listens to him who praises Him) when rising up from the bowing position, then he would say while standing Rabbana wa lakal-hamd (our Rabb, the praise is Yours), then he would say the Takbir when going down for prostration, then when raising his head up, then when he prostrated again, then when raising his head up. He would then do that throughout the whole Salat (prayer) and he would say the Takbir when he got up - at the end of two Rak'a - from the sitting position." [Agreed upon].

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ‏-‏-رَضِيَ اَللَّهُ عَنْهُ‏-‏- قَالَ : { كَانَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-إِذَا قَامَ إِلَى اَلصَّلَاةِ يُكَبِّرُ حِينَ يَقُومُ , ثُمَّ يُكَبِّرُ حِينَ يَرْكَعُ , ثُمَّ يَقُولُ : "سَمِعَ اَللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ" حِينَ يَرْفَعُ صُلْبَهُ مِنْ اَلرُّكُوعِ , ثُمَّ يَقُولُ وَهُوَ قَائِمٌ : "رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ اَلْحَمْدُ" ثُمَّ يُكَبِّرُ حِينَ يَهْوِي سَاجِدًا , ثُمَّ يُكَبِّرُ حِينَ يَرْفَعُ رَأْسَهُ, ثُمَّ يُكَبِّرُ حِينَ يَسْجُدُ [1]‏ ثُمَّ يُكَبِّرُ حِينَ يَرْفَعُ , ثُمَّ يَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ فِي اَلصَّلَاةِ كُلِّهَا , وَيُكَبِّرُ حِينَ يَقُومُ مِنْ اِثْنَتَيْنِ بَعْدَ اَلْجُلُوسِ } مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ .‏ [2]‏

Narrated Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri (RA) Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to say while raising his head after bowing:

"Allahumma Rabbana lakal-hamdu mil'as-samawati wal-ardi, wa mil'a ma shi'ta min shai'in ba'du, ahlaththana'i wal-majdi, ahaqqu ma qal-al'abdu, wa kulluna laka 'abdun. Allahumma la mani'a lima a'taita, wa la mu'tiya lima man'ata, wa la yanfa'u dhal-jaddi minka-l-jaddu (O Allah, our Rabb (Lord), to You is praise in all the heavens and all the earth, and all that You Will (to create) afterwards, O You, Who are worthy of praise and glory, the most worthy of what a slave says - and we are all Your slaves: no one can withhold what You give, or give what You withhold, and riches cannot avail a wealthy person against You." [Reported by Muslim].

وَعَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ اَلْخُدْرِيِّ ‏-‏-رَضِيَ اَللَّهُ عَنْهُ‏-‏- قَالَ : { كَانَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-إِذَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنْ اَلرُّكُوعِ قَالَ : " اَللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا لَكَ اَلْحَمْدُ مِلْءَ اَلسَّمَوَاتِ وَمِلْءَ اَلْأَرْضِ , وَمِلْءَ مَا شِئْتَ مِنْ شَيْءٍ بَعْدُ , أَهْلَ اَلثَّنَاءِ وَالْمَجْدِ , أَحَقُّ مَا قَالَ اَلْعَبْدُ ‏- وَكُلُّنَا لَكَ عَبْدٌ ‏- اَللَّهُمَّ لَا مَانِعَ لِمَا أَعْطَيْتَ , وَلَا مُعْطِيَ لِمَا مَنَعْتَ , وَلَا يَنْفَعُ ذَا اَلْجَدِّ مِنْكَ اَلْجَدُّ } رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ .‏ [1]‏

Narrated Ibn 'Abbas (RA):

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: "I have been commanded to prostrate on seven bones; on the forehead - and he pointed at his nose, the hands (the palms), the knees and the tips (toes) of the feet." [Agreed upon].

وَعَنْ اِبْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ‏-رَضِيَ اَللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا‏- قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-{ أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَسْجُدَ عَلَى سَبْعَةِ أَعْظُمٍ : عَلَى اَلْجَبْهَةِ ‏- وَأَشَارَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى أَنْفِهِ ‏- وَالْيَدَيْنِ , وَالرُّكْبَتَيْنِ , وَأَطْرَافِ اَلْقَدَمَيْنِ } مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ .‏ [1]‏

Narrated Ibn Buhainah (RA):

When the Prophet (ﷺ) prostrated while praying, he used to spread out his arms so that the whiteness of his armpits would be visible. [Agreed upon].

وَعَنْ اِبْنِ بُحَيْنَةَ ‏- رضى الله عنه ‏- { أَنَّ اَلنَّبِيَّ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-كَانَ إِذَا صَلَّى فَرَّجَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ , حَتَّى يَبْدُوَ بَيَاضُ إِبِطَيْهِ } مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ .‏ [1]‏

Narrated Al-Bara' bin 'Azib (RA):

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: "When you prostrate, place the palms of your hands on the ground and raise your elbows." [Reported by Muslim).

وَعَنْ اَلْبَرَاءِ بْنِ عَازِبٍ ‏-رَضِيَ اَللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا‏- قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-{ إِذَا سَجَدْتَ فَضَعْ كَفَّيْكَ , وَارْفَعْ مِرْفَقَيْكَ } رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ .‏ [1]‏

Narrated Wa'il bin Hujr (RA):

Whenever the Prophet (ﷺ) bowed, he would spread out his fingers and when he prostrated he would bring his fingers together. [Reported by al-Hakim).

وَعَنْ وَائِلِ بْنِ حُجْرٍ ‏- رضى الله عنه ‏- { أَنَّ اَلنَّبِيَّ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-كَانَ إِذَا رَكَعَ فَرَّجَ بَيْنَ أَصَابِعِهِ , وَإِذَا سَجَدَ ضَمَّ أَصَابِعَهُ } رَوَاهُ اَلْحَاكِمُ .‏ [1]‏

Narrated 'Aishah (RA):

I saw Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) praying while he sat cross-legged. [Reported by an-Nasa'i, and Ibn Khuzaimah graded it Sahib (authentic)].

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ ‏-رَضِيَ اَللَّهُ عَنْهَا‏- قَالَتْ : { رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اَللَّهِ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-يُصَلِّي مُتَرَبِّعًا } رَوَاهُ النَّسَائِيُّ , وَصَحَّحَهُ اِبْنُ خُزَيْمَةَ .‏ [1]‏

Narrated Ibn 'Abbas (RA):

The Prophet (ﷺ) used to say between the two prostrations: "Allahumma ighfir li, warhamni, wahdini, wa 'afini, warzuqni (O Allah, forgive me, have mercy on me, guide me, grant me health and well-being, and provide sustenance for me)." [Reported by al-Arba'a except An-Nasa'i, and this is the wording of Abu Dawud. Al-Hakim graded it Sahih (authentic)].

وَعَنْ اِبْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ‏-رَضِيَ اَللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا‏- أَنَّ اَلنَّبِيَّ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-كَانَ يَقُولُ بَيْنَ اَلسَّجْدَتَيْنِ : { اَللَّهُمَّ اِغْفِرْ لِي , وَارْحَمْنِي , وَاهْدِنِي , وَعَافِنِي , وَارْزُقْنِي } رَوَاهُ اَلْأَرْبَعَةُ إِلَّا النَّسَائِيُّ , وَاللَّفْظُ لِأَبِي دَاوُدَ , وَصَحَّحَهُ اَلْحَاكِمُ .‏ [1]‏

Narrated Malik bin Al-Huwairith (RA):

He saw the Prophet (ﷺ) praying and when he had prayed an odd number of Rak'a, he did not stand up till he had sat up properly. [Reported by al-Bukhari].

وَعَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ الْحُوَيْرِثِ ‏- رضى الله عنه ‏- { أَنَّهُ رَأَى اَلنَّبِيَّ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-يُصَلِّي , فَإِذَا كَانَ فِي وِتْرٍ مِنْ صَلَاتِهِ لَمْ يَنْهَضْ حَتَّى يَسْتَوِيَ قَاعِدًا } رَوَاهُ اَلْبُخَارِيُّ .‏ [1]‏

Narrated Anas bin Malik (RA):

The Prophet (ﷺ) recited Qunut (supplication in the prayer) for one month after (rising up from the) bowing (position), invoking curse on some Arab tribes. Afterwards, he gave it up. [Agreed upon].

وَعَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ ‏- رضى الله عنه ‏- { أَنَّ رَسُولَ اَللَّهِ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-قَنَتَ شَهْرًا بَعْدَ اَلرُّكُوعِ , يَدْعُو عَلَى أَحْيَاءٍ مِنْ أَحْيَاءِ اَلْعَرَبِ , ثُمَّ تَرَكَهُ } مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ .‏ [1]‏

Ahmad and ad-Daraqutni narrated something similar, adding that he (ﷺ) continued to recite Qunut (supplication in prayer) in the Fajr prayer till he separated from this world.

وَلِأَحْمَدَ وَاَلدَّارَقُطْنِيِّ نَحْوُهُ مِنْ وَجْهٍ آخَرَ , وَزَادَ : { فَأَمَّا فِي اَلصُّبْحِ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ يَقْنُتُ حَتَّى فَارَقَ اَلدُّنْيَا } .‏ [1]‏

Narrated [Anas (RA)]:

The Prophet (ﷺ) never used to supplicate [i.e. Qunut in the prayer) except when he prayed for a people or when he prayed against a people. [Ibn Khuzaimah graded it Sahih (authentic)].

وَعَنْهُ أَنَّ اَلنَّبِيَّ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-{ كَانَ لَا يَقْنُتُ إِلَّا إِذَا دَعَا لِقَوْمٍ , أَوْ دَعَا عَلَى قَوْمٍ } صَحَّحَهُ اِبْنُ خُزَيْمَةَ .‏ [1]‏

Narrated Sa'd bin Tariq al-Ashja'i (RA):

I said to my father, "You have prayed behind Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), Abu Bakr, 'Umar, Uthman, and 'Ali. Did they supplicate (with Qunut while standing) in the Fajr prayer?" He replied, "O my son, it is an innovation." [Reported by Al-Khamsah, except Abu Dawud].

وَعَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ طَارِقِ الْأَشْجَعِيِّ ‏- رضى الله عنه ‏- قَالَ : { قُلْتُ لِأَبِي : يَا أَبَتِ ! إِنَّكَ قَدْ صَلَّيْتُ خَلْفَ رَسُولِ اَللَّهِ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-وَأَبِي بَكْرٍ , وَعُمَرُ , وَعُثْمَانُ , وَعَلَيَّ , أَفَكَانُوا يَقْنُتُونَ فِي اَلْفَجْرِ ? قَالَ : أَيْ بُنَيَّ , مُحْدَثٌ } رَوَاهُ اَلْخَمْسَةُ , إِلَّا أَبَا دَاوُدَ .‏ [1]‏

Narrated al-Hasan bin 'Ali (ﷺ):

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) taught me some words to say when standing in supplication during the Witr, they were: "O Allah, guide me among those You have guided, grant me well-being among those You have granted well-being, take me into Your charge among those You have taken into Your charge, bless me in what You have given, guard me from the evil of what You have decreed, for You decree and none can decree over You. He whom You befriend is not humbled. Blessed and Exalted are You, our Rabb (Lord)." [Reported by Al-Khamsah]. at-Tabarani and al-Baihaqi added: "He whom You hold as enemy is not honoured." an-Nasa'i reported through another chain of narrators, adding at its end: "May Allah the Most High send His Salat on the Prophet (praising him in the highest assemblies of the angels)."

وَعَنْ اَلْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ ‏-رَضِيَ اَللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا‏- ; قَالَ : { عَلَّمَنِي رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-كَلِمَاتٍ أَقُولُهُنَّ فِي قُنُوتِ اَلْوِتْرِ : " اَللَّهُمَّ اِهْدِنِي فِيمَنْ هَدَيْتَ , وَعَافِنِي فِيمَنْ عَافَيْتَ , وَتَوَلَّنِي فِيمَنْ تَوَلَّيْتَ , وَبَارِكْ لِي فِيمَا أَعْطَيْتَ , وَقِنِي شَرَّ مَا قَضَيْتَ , فَإِنَّكَ تَقْضِي وَلَا يُقْضَى عَلَيْكَ , إِنَّهُ لَا يَذلُّ مَنْ وَالَيْتَ , تَبَارَكْتَ رَبَّنَا وَتَعَالَيْتَ } رَوَاهُ اَلْخَمْسَةُ .‏ [1]‏ وَزَادَ اَلطَّبَرَانِيُّ وَالْبَيْهَقِيُّ : { وَلَا يَعِزُّ مَنْ عَادَيْتَ } .‏ [2]‏ زَادَ النَّسَائِيُّ مِنْ وَجْهٍ آخَرَ فِي آخِرِهِ : { وَصَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَى اَلنَّبِيِّ } [3]‏

Narrated Ibn 'Abbas (RA):

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to teach us a supplication to say in the Qunut of the morning prayer. [al-Baihaqi reported it and there is a weakness in its chain of narrators].

وَلِلْبَيْهَقِيِّ عَنْ اِبْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ‏-رَضِيَ اَللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا‏- : { كَانَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-يُعَلِّمُنَا دُعَاءً نَدْعُو بِهِ فِي اَلْقُنُوتِ مِنْ صَلَاةِ اَلصُّبْحِ } وَفِي سَنَدِهِ ضَعْفٌ .‏ [1]‏

Narrated Abu Hurairah (RA):

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: "When one of you prostrates, he should not kneel in the manner of a camel, but should put down his hands before his knees." [Reported by ath-Thalathah]. This Hadith is more authentic than the Hadith narrated by Wa'il bin Hujr (RA).

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ‏- رضى الله عنه ‏- قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-{ إِذَا سَجَدَ أَحَدُكُمْ فَلَا يَبْرُكْ كَمَا يَبْرُكُ اَلْبَعِيرُ , وَلْيَضَعْ يَدَيْهِ قَبْلَ رُكْبَتَيْهِ } أَخْرَجَهُ اَلثَّلَاثَةُ .‏ [1]‏ وَهُوَ أَقْوَى مِنْ حَدِيثِ وَائِلٍ :

I saw the Prophet (ﷺ) placing his knees (on the ground) before his hands when he prostrated. [Reported by al-Arba'ah].

{ رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اَللَّهِ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-إِذَا سَجَدَ وَضَعَ رُكْبَتَيْهِ قَبْلَ يَدَيْهِ } أَخْرَجَهُ اَلْأَرْبَعَةُ .‏ [1]‏

The first Hadith has a Shahid (supporting evidence) in the Hadith

فَإِنْ لِلْأَوَّلِ شَاهِدًا مِنْ حَدِيثِ :

of Ibn 'Umar (RA) (coming next), which is authenticated by Ibn Khuzaimah. al-Bukhari mentioned it as a Hadith Mu'allaq (missing links from the side of the Haditb collector) and Mawquf (saying of a companion).

اِبْنِ عُمَرَ ‏- رضى الله عنه ‏- صَحَّحَهُ اِبْنُ خُزَيْمَةَ , وَذَكَرَهُ اَلْبُخَارِيُّ مُعَلَّقًا مَوْقُوفًا .‏ [1]‏

Narrated Ibn 'Umar (RA):

When Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) sat for at-Tashahhud, he placed his left hand on his left knee, and his right hand on his right knee, folded its fingers and pointed with his right index finger. [Reported by Muslim].

وَعَنْ اِبْنِ عُمَرَ ‏-رَضِيَ اَللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا‏- { أَنَّ رَسُولَ اَللَّهِ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-كَانَ إِذَا قَعَدَ لِلتَّشَهُّدِ وَضَعَ يَدَهُ اَلْيُسْرَى عَلَى رُكْبَتِهِ اَلْيُسْرَى , وَالْيُمْنَى عَلَى اَلْيُمْنَى , وَعَقَدَ ثَلَاثَةً وَخَمْسِينَ , وَأَشَارَ بِإِصْبَعِهِ اَلسَّبَّابَةِ } رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ

In another narration of Muslim:

'and he clenched all his (right hand) fingers and pointed with the index finger.'

وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ لَهُ : { وَقَبَضَ أَصَابِعَهُ كُلَّهَا , وَأَشَارَ بِاَلَّتِي تَلِي اَلْإِبْهَامَ } [1]‏

Narrated 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud (RA):

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) looked at us and said, "When one of you is (sitting) in prayer, he should say, 'All services reported by words, by prayers (acts of worship), and all good things are due to Allah, peace be upon you, O Prophet, and Allah's mercy and blessings, peace be upon us and upon Allah's upright slaves. I testify that nothing deserves to be worshipped except Allah and I testify that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.' Then he may choose any supplication which pleases him most and recite it." [Agreed upon, and this wording is from al-Bukhari].

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ ‏- رضى الله عنه ‏- قَالَ : { اِلْتَفَتَ إِلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-فَقَالَ : " إِذَا صَلَّى أَحَدُكُمْ فَلْيَقُلْ : اَلتَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ , وَالصَّلَوَاتُ , وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ , اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا اَلنَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةَ اَللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ , اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اَللَّهِ اَلصَّالِحِينَ , أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اَللَّهُ , وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ , ثُمَّ لِيَتَخَيَّرْ مِنْ اَلدُّعَاءِ أَعْجَبُهُ إِلَيْهِ , فَيَدْعُو } مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ , وَاللَّفْظُ لِلْبُخَارِيِّ .‏ [1]‏

In the narration of an-Nasa'i:

'We used to say before at-Tashahhud become obligatory on us'.

وَلِلنَّسَائِيِّ : { كُنَّا نَقُولُ قَبْلِ أَنْ يُفْرَضَ عَلَيْنَا اَلتَّشَهُّدُ } .‏ [1]‏