The Nature of Prayer - Section 1

Abu Huraira said that a man entered the mosque when God’s Messenger was sitting in it and prayed. He then came and said, “Peace be upon you,” and God’s Messenger replied, “And upon you be peace. Go back and pray, for you have not prayed.” He returned and prayed, then came and said, “Peace be upon you,” to which he replied, “And upon you be peace. Go back and pray, for you have not prayed.” On the third or fourth occasion he said, “Teach me, Messenger of God,” so he said:

“When you get up to pray perform the ablution perfectly, then face the <i>qibla</i> and say, “God is most great.” Then recite a convenient portion of the Qur’an; then bow and remain quietly in that attitude; then raise yourself and stand erect; then prostrate yourself and remain quietly in that attitude; then raise yourself and sit quietly; then prostrate yourself and remain quietly in that attitude; then raise yourself and sit quietly.” A version has, “Then raise yourself and stand erect; then do that throughout all your prayer.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ: أَنَّ رَجُلًا دَخَلَ الْمَسْجِدَ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ جَالِسٌ فِي نَاحِيَةِ الْمَسْجِدِ فَصَلَّى ثُمَّ جَاءَ فَسَلَّمَ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسلم: «وَعَلَيْك السَّلَام ارْجِعْ فَصَلِّ فَإِنَّكَ لَمْ تُصَلِّ» . فَرَجَعَ فَصَلَّى ثُمَّ جَاءَ فَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ: «وَعَلَيْكَ السَّلَامُ ارْجِعْ فَصَلِّ فَإِنَّكَ لَمْ تُصَلِّ» فَقَالَ فِي الثَّالِثَةِ أَوْ فِي الَّتِي بَعْدَهَا عَلِّمْنِي يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ: «إِذَا قُمْتَ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ فَأَسْبِغِ الْوُضُوءَ ثُمَّ اسْتَقْبِلِ الْقِبْلَةَ فَكَبِّرْ ثُمَّ اقْرَأْ بِمَا تَيَسَّرَ مَعَكَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ ثُمَّ ارْكَعْ حَتَّى تَطْمَئِنَّ رَاكِعًا ثُمَّ ارْفَعْ حَتَّى تَسْتَوِّيَ قَائِمًا ثُمَّ اسْجُدْ حَتَّى تَطْمَئِنَّ سَاجِدًا ثُمَّ ارْفَعْ حَتَّى تَطْمَئِنَّ جَالِسًا ثُمَّ اسْجُدْ حَتَّى تَطْمَئِنَّ سَاجِدًا ثُمَّ ارْفَعْ حَتَّى تَطْمَئِنَّ جَالِسًا» . وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ: «ثُمَّ ارْفَعْ حَتَّى تَسْتَوِيَ قَائِمًا ثمَّ افْعَل ذَلِك فِي صَلَاتك كلهَا»

‘A’isha said that God’s Messenger used to begin prayer with the <i>takbir</i>[1] and the recitation of “Praise be to God, the Lord of the universe.”[2] When he bowed he neither kept his head up nor bent it down, but kept it between these extremes; when he raised his head after bowing he did not prostrate himself till he had stood erect; when he raised head after a prostration he did not prostrate himself again till he had sat up. At the end of every two <i>rak'as</i> he said the <i>tahiya</i>;[3] and he used to bend his left foot and raise up the right; he prohibited the devil’s way of sitting on the heels, and he forbade people to spread out their arms like a wild beast. And he used to finish the prayer with the <i>taslim</i>[4]. Muslim transmitted it. 1. i.e. saying <i>Allahu Akbar</i> (God is most great). 2. Al-Qur’an; 1. 3. This is a part of the prayers which comes at the end of every two <i>rak'as</i>, beginning with <i>at-tahiyat lillah</i> and ending with the testimony that there is no god but God and that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. <i>Tahiyat</i> is the plural of <i>tahiya</i> and the phrase quoted above is variously explained as meaning that endless existence, or dominion, or kingship, or freedom from all evils, or freedom from all causes of cessation of existence belong to God. Alternatively it is taken in its usual meaning of salutations. 4. Saying, “The peace and mercy of God be upon you,” first with the head turned to the right and then with the head turned to the left. This is said at the end of the prayers.

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَسْتَفْتِحُ الصَّلَاةَ بِالتَّكْبِيرِ وَالْقِرَاءَةِ بِ (الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ) وَكَانَ إِذَا رَكَعَ لَمْ يُشْخِصْ رَأْسَهُ وَلَمْ يُصَوِّبْهُ وَلَكِنْ بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ وَكَانَ إِذَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ الرُّكُوعِ لَمْ يَسْجُدْ حَتَّى يَسْتَوِيَ قَائِمًا وَكَانَ إِذَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ السَّجْدَةِ لَمْ يَسْجُدْ حَتَّى يَسْتَوِيَ جَالِسًا وَكَانَ يَقُولُ فِي كُلِّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ التَّحِيَّةَ وَكَانَ يَفْرِشُ رِجْلَهُ الْيُسْرَى وَيَنْصِبُ رِجْلَهُ الْيُمْنَى وَكَانَ يَنْهَى عَنْ عُقْبَةِ الشَّيْطَانِ وَيَنْهَى أَنْ يَفْتَرِشَ الرَّجُلُ ذِرَاعَيْهِ افْتِرَاشَ السَّبُعِ وَكَانَ يخْتم الصَّلَاة بِالتَّسْلِيمِ. رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Abu Humaid as-Sa'idi said among a company of the companions of God’s Messenger, “I am the one among you who is best versed in the way God’s Messenger prayed. I saw that when he uttered the <i>takbir</i> he placed his hands opposite his shoulders; when he bowed he rested his hands on his knees, then bent his back; when he raised his head he stood erect with his spine straight; when he prostrated himself he placed his arms so that they were not spread out, and the fingers were not drawn in, and the points of his toes were facing the <i>qibla</i>; when he sat up at the end of two <i>rak'as</i> he sat on his left foot and raised the right; and when he sat up after the last <i>rak'a</i> he put forward the left foot, raised the other, and sat on his hips.” Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَن أبي حميد السَّاعِدِيّ قَالَ: فِي نَفَرٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: أَنَا أَحْفَظُكُمْ لِصَلَاةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ رَأَيْتُهُ إِذَا كَبَّرَ جَعَلَ يَدَيْهِ حِذَاءَ مَنْكِبَيْهِ وَإِذَا رَكَعَ أَمْكَنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنْ رُكْبَتَيْهِ ثُمَّ هَصَرَ ظَهْرَهُ فَإِذَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ اسْتَوَى حَتَّى يَعُودَ كُلُّ فَقَارٍ مَكَانَهُ فَإِذَا سَجَدَ وَضَعَ يَدَيْهِ غَيْرَ مُفْتَرِشٍ وَلَا قَابِضِهِمَا وَاسْتَقْبَلَ بِأَطْرَافِ أَصَابِعِ رِجْلَيْهِ الْقِبْلَةَ فَإِذَا جَلَسَ فِي الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ جَلَسَ على رجله الْيُسْرَى وَنصب الْيُمْنَى وَإِذا جَلَسَ فِي الرَّكْعَةِ الْآخِرَةِ قَدَّمَ رِجْلَهُ الْيُسْرَى وَنَصَبَ الْأُخْرَى وَقَعَدَ عَلَى مَقْعَدَتِهِ. رَوَاهُ الْبُخَارِيُّ

Ibn ‘Umar said that God’s Messenger used to raise his hands opposite his shoulders when he began prayer and when he said the <i>takbir</i> before bowing; and when he raised his head after bowing he raised them in the same way and said, “God listens to him who praises Him. To You, our Lord, be the praise!” But he did not do that when he prostrated himself. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ: أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ يَرْفَعُ يَدَيْهِ حَذْوَ مَنْكِبَيْهِ إِذَا افْتَتَحَ الصَّلَاةَ وَإِذَا كَبَّرَ لِلرُّكُوعِ وَإِذَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ الرُّكُوعِ رَفَعَهُمَا كَذَلِكَ وَقَالَ: سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ وَكَانَ لَا يَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ فِي السُّجُودِ

Nafi‘ said that when Ibn ‘Umar began prayer he said the <i>takbir</i> and raised his hands; when he bowed he raised his hands; when he said, “God listens to him who praises Him” he raised his hands; and when he got up at the end of two <i>rak'as</i> he raised his hands. Ibn ‘Umar traced that back to the Prophet. Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَنْ نَافِعٍ: أَنَّ ابْنَ عُمَرَ كَانَ إِذَا دَخَلَ فِي الصَّلَاةِ كَبَّرَ وَرَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ وَإِذَا رَكَعَ رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ وَإِذَا قَالَ سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ وَإِذَا قَامَ مِنَ الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ وَرَفَعَ ذَلِكَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ إِلَى نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ. رَوَاهُ الْبُخَارِيُّ

Malik b. al-Huwairith said that when God’s Messenger said the <i>takbir</i> he raised his hands and placed them opposite his ears, and when he raised his head after bowing and said, “God listens to him who praises Him,” he did the same. A version has, “and placed them opposite the tops of his ears.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَن مَالك بن الْحُوَيْرِث قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا كَبَّرَ رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ حَتَّى يُحَاذِيَ بِهِمَا أُذُنَيْهِ وَإِذَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ الرُّكُوعِ فَقَالَ: سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ فَعَلَ مِثْلَ ذَلِك. وَفِي رِوَايَة: حَتَّى يُحَاذِي بهما فروع أُذُنَيْهِ

He said that he saw the Prophet (ﷺ) praying, and when he had prayed an odd number of <i>rak'as</i> he did not stand up till after he had adopted a sitting position. Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَنْهُ أَنَّهُ رَأَى النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُصَلِّي فَإِذَا كَانَ فِي وِتْرٍ مِنْ صَلَاتِهِ لَمْ يَنْهَضْ حَتَّى يَسْتَوِيَ قَاعِدًا. رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

Wa’il b. Hujr said that he saw the Prophet (ﷺ) raise his hands when he began prayer. He said the <i>takbir</i>, then pulled his garment round him, then placed his right hand on his left. When he was about to bow he took his hands out of his garment, and after he had raised (them and said the <i>takbir</i> he bowed. When he said, “God listens to him who praises Him” he raised his hands, and when he prostrated himself he did it between his hands. Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَن وَائِل بن حجرأنه رأى النَّبِي صلى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسلم رفع يَدَيْهِ حِينَ دَخَلَ فِي الصَّلَاةِ كَبَّرَ ثُمَّ الْتَحَفَ بِثَوْبِهِ ثُمَّ وَضَعَ يَدَهُ الْيُمْنَى عَلَى الْيُسْرَى فَلَمَّا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَرْكَعَ أَخْرَجَ يَدَيْهِ من الثَّوْب ثمَّ رفعهما ثمَّ كبر فَرَكَعَ فَلَمَّا قَالَ سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ فَلَمَّا سَجَدَ سَجَدَ بَيْنَ كَفَّيْهِ. رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Sahl b. Sa'd said that the people received command that a man should place the right hand on the left forearm in prayer. Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَن سهل بن سعد قَالَ: كَانَ النَّاسُ يُؤْمَرُونَ أَنْ يَضَعَ الرَّجُلُ الْيَدَ الْيُمْنَى عَلَى ذِرَاعِهِ الْيُسْرَى فِي الصَّلَاةِ. رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

Abu Huraira said that when God’s Messenger got up to pray he would say the <i>takbir</i> when standing, then say the <i>takbir</i> when bowing, then say, “God listens to him who praises Him” when coming to an erect position after bowing, then say while standing, “To You, our Lord, be the praise,” then say the <i>takbir</i> when getting down for prostration, then say the <i>takbir</i> when he raised his head, then say the <i>takbir</i> when he prostrated himself, then say the <i>takbir</i> when he raised his head. He would do that throughout the whole prayer till he finished it, and he would say the <i>takbir</i> when he got up at the end of two <i>rak'as</i> after adopting the sitting posture. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا قَامَ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ يُكَبِّرُ حِينَ يَقُومُ ثُمَّ يُكَبِّرُ حِينَ يَرْكَعُ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ: «سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ» حِينَ يَرْفَعُ صُلْبَهُ مِنَ الرَّكْعَةِ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ وَهُوَ قَائِمٌ: «رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ» ثُمَّ يُكَبِّرُ حِينَ يَهْوِي ثُمَّ يُكَبِّرُ حِينَ يسْجد ثمَّ يكبر حِين يرفع رَأسه يَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ فِي الصَّلَاةِ كُلِّهَا حَتَّى يَقْضِيَهَا وَيُكَبِّرُ حِينَ يَقُومُ مِنَ الثِّنْتَيْنِ بَعْدَ الْجُلُوسِ

Jabir reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The most excellent prayer consists in long standing in prayer.” Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «أَفْضَلُ الصَّلَاةِ طُولُ الْقُنُوتِ» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Abu Humaid as-Sa‘idi once told a company of ten of the Prophet’s companions that he was more informed than any of them regarding the manner in which God’s Messenger conducted his prayer, and when they asked him to expound it to them, he said:

When God’s Messenger stood up to pray he raised his hands so as to bring them opposite his shoulders and said the <i>takbir</i>; then he recited some verses; then said the <i>takbir</i>, raising his hands so as to bring them opposite his shoulders; then he bowed, placing the palms of his hands on his knees and keeping himself straight neither raising nor lowering his head; then raised his head saying, “God listens to him who praises Him”; then raised his hands placing them exactly opposite his shoulders; then said the <i>takbir</i>; then lowered himself to the ground in prostration, keeping his arms away from his sides and bending his toes; then raised his head, bent his left foot and sat on it; then he adopted a natural position so that every bone returned properly to its place; then he prostrated himself; then he said the <i>takbir</i>, raised himself and bent his left foot and sat on it: then he adopted a natural position so that every bone returned to its place; then he got up, and did the same as that in the second <i>rak'a</i>. At the end of two <i>rak'as</i> he stood up and said the <i>takbir</i>, raising his hands so as to bring them opposite his shoulders in the way he had said the <i>takbir</i> on beginning to pray; then he did that in the remainder of his prayer, and after the <i>sajda</i>* which is followed by the <i>taslim</i> he put out his left foot and sat on his left hip; then he uttered the <i>taslim</i>. They said, “You have spoken the truth. This is how he used to pray.” *i.e. prostration Abu Dawud and Darimi transmitted it. And Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted something to the same effect. Tirmidhi saying that this is a <i>hasan sahih</i> tradition. Then he bowed and placed his hands on his knees as though he were clutching them, and he bent his arms and kept them away from his sides. He (i.e. the narrator) said that he then prostrated himself placing his nose and his forehead on the ground, keeping his arms away from his sides, placing the palms of his hands [on the ground] opposite his shoulders, keeping his thighs separate and not letting his stomach press on any part of his thighs till he finished; then he sat up and spread out his left foot, putting forward the front of his right foot towards his <i>qibla</i>, placing the palm of his right hand on his right knee and the palm of his left hand on his left knee, and he pointed with his finger, i.e., his forefinger. In another version by him [it says]: When he sat at the end of two <i>rak'as</i> he sat on the sole of his left foot and raised the right, and after the fourth he placed his left hip on the ground and put out both feet on one side. A version by Abu Dawud of the tradition of Abu Humaid.

عَن أبي حميد السَّاعِدِيّ قَالَ فِي عشرَة مِنْ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: أَنَا أَعْلَمُكُمْ بِصَلَاةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالُوا فَاعْرِضْ. قَالَ: كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا قَامَ إِلَى الصَّلَاة يرفع يَدَيْهِ حَتَّى يُحَاذِيَ بِهِمَا مَنْكِبَيْهِ ثُمَّ يُكَبِّرُ ثُمَّ يَقْرَأُ ثُمَّ يُكَبِّرُ وَيَرْفَعُ يَدَيْهِ حَتَّى يُحَاذِيَ بِهِمَا مَنْكِبَيْهِ ثُمَّ يَرْكَعُ وَيَضَعُ رَاحَتَيْهِ عَلَى رُكْبَتَيْهِ ثُمَّ يَعْتَدِلُ فَلَا يُصَبِّي رَأْسَهُ وَلَا يُقْنِعُ ثُمَّ يَرْفَعُ رَأْسَهُ فَيَقُولُ: «سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ» ثُمَّ يَرْفَعُ يَدَيْهِ حَتَّى يُحَاذِيَ بِهِمَا مَنْكِبَيْهِ مُعْتَدِلًا ثُمَّ يَقُولُ: «اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ» ثُمَّ يَهْوِي إِلَى الْأَرْضِ سَاجِدًا فَيُجَافِي يَدَيْهِ عَن جَنْبَيْهِ وَيفتح أَصَابِعَ رِجْلَيْهِ ثُمَّ يَرْفَعُ رَأْسَهُ وَيُثْنِي رِجْلَهُ الْيُسْرَى فَيَقْعُدُ عَلَيْهَا ثُمَّ يَعْتَدِلُ حَتَّى يَرْجِعَ كل عظم إِلَى مَوْضِعِهِ مُعْتَدِلًا ثُمَّ يَسْجُدُ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ: «اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ» وَيَرْفَعُ وَيَثْنِي رِجْلَهُ الْيُسْرَى فَيَقْعُدُ عَلَيْهَا ثُمَّ يَعْتَدِلُ حَتَّى يَرْجِعَ كُلُّ عَظْمٍ إِلَى مَوْضِعِهِ ثُمَّ يَنْهَضُ ثُمَّ يَصْنَعُ فِي الرَّكْعَةِ الثَّانِيَةِ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ إِذَا قَامَ مِنَ الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ كَبَّرَ وَرَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ حَتَّى يُحَاذِيَ بِهِمَا مَنْكِبَيْهِ كَمَا كَبَّرَ عِنْدَ افْتِتَاحِ الصَّلَاةِ ثُمَّ يَصْنَعُ ذَلِكَ فِي بَقِيَّةِ صَلَاتِهِ حَتَّى إِذَا كَانَتِ السَّجْدَةُ الَّتِي فِيهَا التَّسْلِيمُ أَخَّرَ رِجْلَهُ الْيُسْرَى وَقَعَدَ مُتَوَرِّكًا عَلَى شِقِّهِ الْأَيْسَرِ ثُمَّ سَلَّمَ. قَالُوا: صَدَقْتَ هَكَذَا كَانَ يُصَلِّي. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد والدارمي وَرَوَى التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ مَعْنَاهُ وَقَالَ التِّرْمِذِيُّ: هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ لِأَبِي دَاوُدَ مِنْ حَدِيثِ أَبِي حُمَيْدٍ: ثُمَّ رَكَعَ فَوَضَعَ يَدَيْهِ عَلَى رُكْبَتَيْهِ كَأَنَّهُ قَابِضٌ عَلَيْهِمَا وَوَتَّرَ يَدَيْهِ فَنَحَّاهُمَا عَنْ جَنْبَيْهِ وَقَالَ: ثُمَّ سَجَدَ فَأَمْكَنَ أَنْفَهُ وَجَبْهَتَهُ الْأَرْضَ وَنَحَّى يَدَيْهِ عَنْ جَنْبَيْهِ وَوَضَعَ كَفَّيْهِ حَذْوَ مَنْكِبَيْهِ وَفَرَّجَ بَيْنَ فَخِذَيْهِ غَيْرَ حَامِلٍ بَطْنَهُ عَلَى شَيْءٍ مِنْ فَخِذَيْهِ حَتَّى فَرَغَ ثُمَّ جَلَسَ فَافْتَرَشَ رِجْلَهُ الْيُسْرَى وَأَقْبَلَ بِصَدْرِ الْيُمْنَى عَلَى قِبْلَتِهِ وَوَضَعَ كَفَّهُ الْيُمْنَى عَلَى رُكْبَتِهِ الْيُمْنَى وَكَفَّهُ الْيُسْرَى عَلَى رُكْبَتِهِ الْيُسْرَى وَأَشَارَ بِأُصْبُعِهِ يَعْنِي السَّبَّابَةَ. وَفِي أُخْرَى لَهُ: وَإِذَا قَعَدَ فِي الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ قَعَدَ عَلَى بَطْنِ قَدَمِهِ الْيُسْرَى وَنَصَبَ الْيُمْنَى وَإِذَا كَانَ فِي الرَّابِعَةِ أَفْضَى بِوَرِكِهِ الْيُسْرَى إِلَى الْأَرْضِ وَأَخْرَجَ قَدَمَيْهِ مِنْ نَاحِيَةٍ وَاحِدَة

Wa il b. Hujr said he saw that when the Prophet (ﷺ) stood up to pray he raised his hands till they were in front of his shoulders and placed his thumbs opposite his ears, then he said the <i>takbir</i>. Abu Dawud transmitted it, and in a version by him it says that he raised his thumbs to the lobes of his ears.

وَعَنْ وَائِلِ بْنِ حُجْرٍ: أَنَّهُ أَبْصَرَ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ حِينَ قَامَ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ حَتَّى كَانَتَا بِحِيَالِ مَنْكِبَيْهِ وحاذى بإبهاميه أُذُنَيْهِ ثُمَّ كَبَّرَ. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ. وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ لَهُ: يَرْفَعُ إِبْهَامَيْهِ إِلَى شَحْمَةِ أُذُنَيْهِ

Qabisa b. Hulb quoted his father as saying that God’s Messenger would lead them in prayer and hold his left hand in his right. Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

وَعَنْ قَبِيصَةَ بْنِ هُلْبٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَؤُمُّنَا فَيَأْخُذُ شِمَالَهُ بِيَمِينِهِ. رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَابْنُ مَاجَه

Rifa'a b. Rafi' said that a man came and prayed in the mosque, after which he went and saluted the Prophet, who replied, “Repeat your prayer, for you have not prayed.” He asked him to teach him how to pray and he said:

When you face the <i>qibla</i> say the <i>takbir</i>; then recite <i>Umm al-Qur’an</i>* and what God wishes you to recite; when you bow place the palms of your hands on your knees, bowing completely and stretching out your back; when you raise yourself straighten your spine and raise your head so as to adopt an erect position; when you prostrate yourself do it completely; when you raise yourself sit on your left thigh; do that every time you bow and prostrate yourself till you are at rest, having finished your prayer. This is the wording of <i>al-Masabih</i>. *The first <i>sura</i>. Abu Dawud transmitted it with a slight alteration, and Tirmidhi and Nasa’i transmitted something to the same effect. In a version by Tirmidhi he said, “When you get up to pray perform the ablution as God commanded you, then say the <i>shahada</i> (The testimony that there is no god but God and that Muhammad is His messenger) and proceed with the prayer. If you know any of the Qur’an recite it, otherwise say, ‘Praise be to God; God is most great; there is no god but God.’ Then bow.”

وَعَن رِفَاعَة بن رَافع قَالَ: جَاءَ رَجُلٌ فَصَلَّى فِي الْمَسْجِدِ ثُمَّ جَاءَ فَسَلَّمَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «أَعِدْ صَلَاتَكَ فَإِنَّكَ لَمْ تُصَلِّ» . فَقَالَ: عَلِّمْنِي يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ كَيْفَ أُصَلِّي؟ قَالَ: «إِذَا تَوَجَّهَتْ إِلَى الْقِبْلَةِ فَكَبِّرْ ثُمَّ اقْرَأْ بِأُمِّ الْقُرْآنِ وَمَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ أَنْ تَقْرَأَ فَإِذَا رَكَعَتْ فَاجْعَلْ رَاحَتَيْكَ عَلَى رُكْبَتَيْكَ وَمَكِّنْ رُكُوعَكَ وَامْدُدْ ظَهْرَكَ فَإِذَا رَفَعْتَ فَأَقِمْ صُلْبَكَ وَارْفَعْ رَأْسَكَ حَتَّى تَرْجِعَ الْعِظَامُ إِلَى مَفَاصِلِهَا فَإِذَا سَجَدْتَ فَمَكِّنِ السُّجُودَ فَإِذَا رَفَعْتَ فَاجْلِسْ عَلَى فَخِذِكَ الْيُسْرَى ثُمَّ اصْنَعْ ذَلِكَ فِي كُلِّ رَكْعَةٍ وَسَجْدَةٍ حَتَّى تَطْمَئِنَّ. هَذَا لَفَظُ» الْمَصَابِيحِ ". وَرَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدُ مَعَ تَغْيِيرٍ يَسِيرٍ وَرَوَى التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَالنَّسَائِيُّ مَعْنَاهُ. وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ لِلتِّرْمِذِيِّ قَالَ: «إِذَا قُمْتَ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ فَتَوَضَّأْ كَمَا أَمَرَكَ اللَّهُ بِهِ ثُمَّ تَشَهَّدْ فَأَقِمْ فَإِنْ كَانَ مَعَكَ قُرْآنٌ فَاقْرَأْ وَإِلَّا فَاحْمَدِ اللَّهَ وَكَبِّرْهُ وَهَلله ثمَّ اركع»

AI-Fadl b. ‘Abbas reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The prayer is in twos, every two <i>rak'as</i> containing an utterance of the <i>tahiyat</i>, and acts of submission, supplication and humility. Then you should uplift your hands, i.e., raise them to your Lord, with the palms opposite your face, and say, ‘My Lord, my Lord.’ Anyone who does not do that is such and such.”* A version has, “is guilty of imperfection.” *A vague phrase indicating that the prayer is defective. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

وَعَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «الصَّلَاةُ مَثْنَى مثنى تشهد فِي كل رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَتَخَشُّعٌ وَتَضَرُّعٌ وَتَمَسْكُنٌ ثُمَّ تُقْنِعُ يَدَيْكَ يَقُول ك تَرْفَعُهُمَا إِلَى رَبِّكَ مُسْتَقْبِلًا بِبُطُونِهِمَا وَجْهَكَ وَتَقُولُ يَا رَبِّ يَا رَبِّ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَفْعَلْ ذَلِكَ فَهُوَ كَذَا وَكَذَا» . وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ: «فَهُوَ خداج» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ

Sa'id b. al-Harith b. al-Mu‘alla said that Abu Sa'id al-Khudri led them in prayer and said the <i>takbir</i> loudly when he raised his head after the prostration, when he prostrated himself, and when he rose at the end of two <i>rak'as</i>, and he said, “Thus did I see the Prophet (ﷺ) do." Bukhari transmitted it.

عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ الْمُعَلَّى قَالَ: صَلَّى لَنَا أَبُو سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيُّ فَجَهَرَ بِالتَّكْبِيرِ حِينَ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ السُّجُودِ وَحِينَ سَجَدَ وَحِينَ رَفَعَ مِنَ الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ وَقَالَ: هَكَذَا رَأَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ. رَوَاهُ الْبُخَارِيُّ

‘Ikrima said:

I prayed behind an old man in Mecca and he said the <i>takbir</i> twenty-two times. When I said to Ibn ‘Abbas that the man was a fool, he replied, “I am surprised at you. It was the <i>sunna</i> of Abul Qasim.’’* *This is the Prophet’s <i>kunya</i>. Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ قَالَ: صَلَّيْتُ خَلْفَ شَيْخٍ بِمَكَّةَ فَكَبَّرَ ثِنْتَيْنِ وَعِشْرِينَ تَكْبِيرَةً فَقُلْتُ لِابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ: إِنَّهُ أَحْمَقُ فَقَالَ: ثَكَلَتْكَ أُمُّكَ سُنَّةُ أَبِي الْقَاسِمِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ. رَوَاهُ الْبُخَارِيُّ

‘Ali b. al-Husain told in <i>mursal</i> form that God’s Messenger said the <i>takbir</i> in prayer as often as he got down1 and got up2 and that this continued to be his method in prayer till he met God. 1. i.e. for bowing or prostration. 2. i.e. after prostration. Malik transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ مُرْسَلًا قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُكَبِّرُ فِي الصَّلَاة كلما خفض وَرفع فَلم تزل صلَاته حَتَّى لَقِي الله تَعَالَى. رَوَاهُ مَالك

‘Alqama said that Ibn Mas'ud suggested leading them in prayer in the way God’s Messenger had performed it. He prayed, raising his hands only once, along with the <i>takbir</i> at the beginning. Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it, and Abu Dawud said it is not <i>sahih</i> put this way.

وَعَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ لَنَا ابْنُ مَسْعُودٍ: أَلا أُصَلِّي بكم صَلَاة رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ؟ فَصَلَّى وَلَمْ يَرْفَعْ يَدَيْهِ إِلَّا مَرَّةً وَاحِدَةً مَعَ تَكْبِيرَةِ الِافْتِتَاحِ. رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ وَالنَّسَائِيُّ. وَقَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ: لَيْسَ هُوَ بِصَحِيح على هَذَا الْمَعْنى

Abu Humaid as-Sa‘idi said that when God’s Messenger stood up to pray, he faced the <i>qibla</i>, raised his hands and said, “God is most great." Ibn Majah transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي حُمَيْدٍ السَّاعِدِيِّ قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا قَامَ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ اسْتَقْبَلَ الْقِبْلَةَ وَرَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ وَقَالَ: الله أكبر. رَوَاهُ ابْن مَاجَه

Abu Huraira told how on an occasion when God’s Messenger led them in the noon prayer, there was a man at the back of the rows who performed the prayer badly. When he had said the <i>taslim</i> God’s Messenger called out to him, “So and so, do you not fear God? Do you not see how you should pray? You people think that part of what you are doing is hidden from me, but I swear by God that I see behind me just as I see in front of me." Ahmad transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: صَلَّى بِنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الظّهْر وَفِي مُؤخر الصُّفُوف رجل فَأَسَاءَ الصَّلَاةَ فَلَمَّا سَلَّمَ نَادَاهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «يَا فُلَانُ أَلَا تَتَّقِي اللَّهَ؟ أَلَا تَرَى كَيْفَ تُصَلِّي؟ إِنَّكُمْ تُرَوْنَ أَنَّهُ يَخْفَى عَلَيَّ شَيْءٌ مِمَّا تَصْنَعُونَ وَاللَّهِ إِنِّي لَأَرَى مِنْ خَلْفِي كَمَا أَرَى من بَين يَدي» رَوَاهُ أَحْمد