Establishing the Prayer and the Sunnah Regarding Them

It wasnarrated from Anas bin Malik that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Bebalanced in prostration; none of you should prostrate with his armsspread out like a dog.”

It wasnarrated that ‘Aishah said: “When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)raised his head from bowing, he would not prostrate until he hadstoodup straight. When he prostrated, he would raise his head andnotprostrate again until he had sat up straight. And he used tospreadout his left leg.”

It wasnarrated that ‘Ali said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said tome:“Do not squat between the two prostrations.”

It wasnarrated that ‘Ali said: “The Prophet (ﷺ) said: ‘O ‘Ali, donot squat like a dog.’”

It wasnarrated that Anas bin Malik said: “The Prophet (ﷺ) said to me:‘When you raise your head from prostration, do not squat like adog. Put your buttocks between your feet and let the tops of yourfeet touch the ground.”

It wasnarrated from Hudhaifah that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to saybetweenthe two prostrations: “Rabbighfir li, Rabbighfir li (O Lordforgiveme, O Lord forgive me).”

It wasnarrated that Ibn ‘Abbas said: “When praying at night(Qiyamul-Lail), the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to say between thetwo prostrations: ‘Rabbighfir li warhamni wajburni warzuqniwarfa’ni(O Lord, forgive me, have mercy on me, improve mysituation, grant meprovision and raise me in status).’”

It wasnarrated that ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud said: “When we performedprayer with the Prophet (ﷺ) we said: ‘Peace be upon Allah fromHisslaves, peace be upon Jibra’il and Mika’il and so-and-so andso-and-so.’ The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) heard us and said: ‘Donot say peace(Salam) be upon Allah, for He is As-Salam. When you sit(duringprayer) say: At-Tahiyyatu lillahi was-salawatu wat-tayyibatu;as-salamu ‘alayka ayyuhan-Nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu;as-salamu ‘alayna wa ‘ala ‘ibadillahis-salihin (Allcompliments, prayersand good words are due to Allah; peace be uponyou, O Prophet, and themercy of Allah and His blessings; peace beupon us and upon therighteous slaves of Allah).” For is you saythat it will reach everyrighteous slave in the heavens and on earth.(Then say:) “Ashhadu anla ilaha illallah wa ashhadu annaMuhammadan ‘abduhu wa Rasuluhu (Ibear witness that none has theright to be worshipped but Allah, and Ibear witness that Muhammad isHis slave and Messenger).”

It wasnarrated that Ibn ‘Abbas said: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)usedto teach us the Tashah-hud as he used to teach us a Surah of theQur’an. He used to say: ‘At-Tahiyyatul-Mubarakatussalawatut-tayyibatulillah; As-salamu ‘alayka ayyuhan-Nabiyyu warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu; as-salamu ‘alayna wa ‘ala‘ibadillahis-salihin. Ashhadu anla ilaha illallah wa ashhadu annaMuhammadan ‘abduhu wa Rasuluhu (Allblessed compliments and goodprayers are due to Allah; peace be uponyou, O Prophet, and the mercyof Allah and His blessings; peace beupon us and upon the righteousslaves of Allah. I bear witness thatnone has the right to beworshipped but Allah and I bear witness thatMuhammad is His slaveand Messenger).’”

It wasnarrated from Abu Musa Al-Ash’ari: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)addressed us and explained the Sunnah for us, and he taught us ourprayer. He said: ‘When you perform prayer, and you are sitting, letthe first thing you say be: At-Tahiyyatut-tayyibatus-salawatu lillah;as-salamu ‘alayka ayyuhan-Nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu;as-salamu ‘alayna wa ‘ala ‘ibadillahis-salihin. Ashhadu an lailaha illallah wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa Rasuluhu (Allcompliments, good words and prayers are due to Allah; peace be uponyou, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings; peace beupon us and upon the righteous slaves of Allah. I bear witness thatnone has the right to be worshipped but Allah and I bear witness thatMuhammad is His slave and Messenger). Seven phrases which are thegreeting of the prayer.’”

It wasnarrated that Jabir bin ‘Abdullah said: “The Messenger ofAllah(ﷺ) used to teach us the Tashah-hud as he used to teach us aSurahfrom the Qur’an: ‘Bismillahi wa Billahi; at-tahiyyatu lillahiwas-salawatu wat-tayyibatu lillahi lillahi; as-salamu ‘alaykaayyuhan-Nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu; as-salamu ‘alayna wa‘ala‘ibadillahis-salihin. Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah waashhadu annaMuhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasuluhu. As’aluAllahal-jannah, wa a’udhubillahi minannar (In the name of Allahand by the grace of Allah. Allcompliments are due to Allah and allprayers and good words are gue toAllah. Peace be upon you, OProphet, and the mercy of Allah and Hisblessings; peace be upon usand upon the righteous slaves of Allah. Ibear witness that none hasthe right to be worshipped but Allah and Ibear witness that Muhammadis His slave and Messenger. I ask Allah forParadise and I seekrefuge with Allah from the Fire).’”

It wasnarrated that Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri said: “We said: ‘O Messengerof Allah! We know what it means to send greetings upon you, but whatdoes it mean to send peace and blessings upon you?’ He said: ‘Say:“Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammadin ‘abdika wa Rasulika kamasalayta ‘ala Ibrahima, wa barik ‘ala Muhammad (wa ‘ala aliMuhammadin) kama barakta ‘ala Ibrahima [O Allah, send Your grace,honor and mercy upon Muhammad, Your slave and Messenger, as You sentYour (grace, honour and mercy) upon Ibrahim, and send Your blessingsupon Muhammad (and the family of Muhammad) as You sent Your blessingsupon Ibrahim].”

It wasnarrated that Hakam said: “I heard Ibn Abi Laila say: ‘Ka’bbin‘Ujrah met me and said: “Shall I not give you a gift? TheMessenger of Allah (ﷺ) came out to us and we said: ‘We know whatitmeans to send greetings on you, but what does it mean to sendpeaceand blessings upon you?’ He said: ‘Say: Allahumma salli‘alaMuhammadin wa ‘ala ali Muhammadin, kama sallayta ‘alaIbrahima, innakaHamidun Majid; Allahumma barik ‘ala Muhammadin wa‘ala ali Ibrahima,innaka Hamidun Majid (O Allah, send your grace,honour and mercy uponMuhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, asYou sent Your grace,honour and mercy upon Ibrahim, You are indeedPraiseworthy, MostGlorious. O Allah, send Your blessings uponMuhammad and the family ofMuhammad, as You sent Your blessings uponIbrahim, You are indeedPraiseworthy, Most Glorious).’”

It wasnarrated from Abu Humaid As-Sa’di that they said: “O MessengerofAllah! We have been commanded to send peace and blessings upon you.How should we send peace and blessings upon you?” He said: “Say:Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammadin wa azwajihi wa dhurriyatihi, kamasallayta ‘ala Ibrahim; wa barik ‘ala Muhammadin wa azwajihi wadhurriyatihi kama barakta ‘ala ali Ibrahim fil-‘alamin, innakaHamidumMajid (O Allah, send Your grace, honour and mercy uponMuhammad andhis wives and offspring, as You sent Your grace, honourand mercy uponIbrahim. O Allah, send Your blessings upon Muhammadand his wives andoffspring, as You sent Your blessings upon thefamily of Ibrahim amongthe nations, You are indeed Praiseworthy,Most Glorious).”

Aswad binYazid narrated that ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud said: “When yousendpeace and blessings upon the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), then do itwell, for you do not know, that may be shown to him.” They said tohim: “Teach us.” He said: “Say: ‘Allahumma aj’al salatakawa rahmatakawa barakatika ‘ala sayyidil-mursalin waimamil-muttaqin wa khatamin-nabiyyin, Muhammad ‘abdika wa Rasulikaimamil-khayri (wa qa’idil-khair), wa Rasulir-Rahmah.Allahummab’athhu maqaman mahmudanyaghbituhu bihil-awwalunawal-akhirun. Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammadinwa ‘ala aliMuhammadin kama sallayta ‘ala Ibrahim wa ‘ala ali Ibrahim;Allahumma barik ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala ali Muhammadin kamabarakta‘ala Muhammadin kama barakta ‘ala Ibrahim wa ‘ala aliIbrahim, innakaHamidum Majid (O Allah, send Your grace, honour,mercy and blessingsupon the leader of the Messengers, the imam ofthe pious and the sealof the Prophets, Muhammad, Your slave andMessenger, the Imam of thegood (and the leader) of the good, and theMessenger of mercy. OAllah, raise him to a station of praise andglory that will be theenvy of the first and the last. O Allah, sendYour grace, honour andmercy upon Muhammad and upon the family ofMuhammad, as You sent Yourgrace, honour and mercy upon Ibrahim, Youare indeed Praiseworthy,Most Glorious. O Allah, send blessings uponMuhammad and upon thefamily of Muhammad as You sent blessings uponIbrahim and the familyof Ibrahim, You are Praiseworthy, MostGlorious).’”

It wasnarrated that ‘Asim bin ‘Ubaidullah said: “I heard ‘Abdullahbin ‘Amir bin Rabi’ah narrating from his father that the Prophet(ﷺ)said: “There is no Muslim who sends peace and blessings uponme, butthe angels will send peace and blessings upon him as long ashe sendspeace and blessings upon me. So let a person do a little ofthat or alot.”

It wasnarrated that Ibn ‘Abbas said: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)said: ‘Whoever forgets to send peace and blessings upon me, then hehas missed the road to Paradise.’”

Muhammadbin Abi ‘Aishah said: “I heard Abu Hurairah say that theMessenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘When anyone of you finishes thelastTashah-hud, let him seek refuge with Allah from four things:From thetorment of Hell, from the torment of the grave, from thetrials oflife and death, and from the Fitnah (tribulation) ofMasihud-Dajjal.’

It wasnarrated that Abu Hurairah said: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)saidto a man: ‘What do you say during your Salat?’ He said: ‘TheTashah-hud, then I ask Allah for Paradise, and I seek refuge with Himfrom Hell, but I do not understand what you and Mu’adh murmur(duringSalat). He said: ‘Our murmuring revolves around the samethings.’”

It wasnarrated from Malik bin Numair Al-Khuza’i that his father said: “Isaw the Prophet (ﷺ) putting his right hand on his right thighduring prayer, and pointing with his finger.”

It wasnarrated that Wa’il bin Hujr said: “I saw the Prophet (ﷺ)making a circle with his thumb and middle finger, and raising the onenext to it (the index finger), supplicating with it during theTashah-hud.”

It wasnarrated from Ibn ‘Umar that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to sitduringprayer, putting his hands on his knees and raising his rightfingerwhich was next to his thumb, supplicating with it, and with hislefthand (spread out) on his knee.

It wasnarrated from ‘Abdullah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) usedtosay the Salam to his right and his left, until the whiteness of hischeek could be seen (saying): “As-salamu ‘alaikum wa rahmatullah(Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah).”

It wasnarrated from ‘Amir bin Sa’d, from his father, that theMessengerof Allah (ﷺ) used to say the Salam to his right and to hisleft.

It wasnarrated that ‘Ammar bin Yasir said: “The Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) used to say the Salam to his right and to his left, until thewhiteness of his cheek could be seen (saying): ‘As-salamu ‘alaikumwarahmatullah, as-salamu ‘alaikum wa rahmatullah.’”

It wasnarrated that Abu Musa said: “Ali led us in prayer on the dayof(the battle of) the Camel, in a way that reminded us of the prayerofthe Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). Either we had forgotten it or we hadabandoned it. He said the Salam to his right and to his left.”

‘Abdul-Muhaimin bin ‘Abbas bin Sahl bin Sa’d As-Sa’idinarrated fromhis father, from his grandfather, that the Messenger ofAllah (ﷺ)said one Taslim to the front.