The Book of the Commencement of the Prayer
كتاب الافتتاح
Read the English translation first, with the original Arabic directly underneath.
Hadith
It was narrated that 'Aishah said:
"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) heard the recitation of Abu Musa and said: 'This man has been given a Mizmar among the Mazamir of the family of Dawud, peace be upon him.'"
لَقَدْ أُوتِيَ هَذَا مِنْ مَزَامِيرِ آلِ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ
It was narrated that 'Aishah said:
"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) heard the recitation of Abu Musa and said: 'This man has been given a Mizmar among the Mazamir of the family of Dawud, peace be upon him.'"
لَقَدْ أُوتِيَ هَذَا مِزْمَارًا مِنْ مَزَامِيرِ آلِ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ
It was narrated from Ya'la bin Mamlak that :
He asked Umm Salamah about the recitation and prayer of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and she said: "Why do you want to know about his prayer?" Then she described his recitation and as being so measured and clear that each letter could be distinguished.
أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ، عَنْ يَعْلَى بْنِ مَمْلَكٍ، أَنَّهُ سَأَلَ أُمَّ سَلَمَةَ عَنْ قِرَاءَةِ، رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَصَلاَتِهِ قَالَتْ مَا لَكُمْ وَصَلاَتَهُ ثُمَّ نَعَتَتْ فَإِذَا هِيَ تَنْعَتُ قِرَاءَتَهُ مُفَسَّرَةً حَرْفًا حَرْفًا .
It was narrated from Abu Salamah bin Abdur-Rahman that:
Marwan appointed Abu Hurairah as governor of Al-Madinah. When he stood to offer an obligatory prayer, he would say the takbir, then he said the takbir when he bowed, and when he raised his head from bowing he said: "Sami' Allahu liman hamidah, Rabbana wa lakal-hamd (Allah hears those who praise Him; our Lord, and to You be the praise)." Then he would say the takbir when he went down in prostration, then he said the takbir when he stood up after two rak'ahs, after saying the Tashahhud, and he did that until he had finished the prayer. When he had finished his prayer and said the Salam, he turned to the people in the masjid and said: "By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, I am the one among you whose prayer most closely resembles that of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)."
أَخْبَرَنَا سُوَيْدُ بْنُ نَصْرٍ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ، عَنْ يُونُسَ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، أَنَّ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، حِينَ اسْتَخْلَفَهُ مَرْوَانُ عَلَى الْمَدِينَةِ كَانَ إِذَا قَامَ إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ الْمَكْتُوبَةِ كَبَّرَ ثُمَّ يُكَبِّرُ حِينَ يَرْكَعُ فَإِذَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ الرَّكْعَةِ قَالَ سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ ثُمَّ يُكَبِّرُ حِينَ يَهْوِي سَاجِدًا ثُمَّ يُكَبِّرُ حِينَ يَقُومُ مِنَ الثِّنْتَيْنِ بَعْدَ التَّشَهُّدِ يَفْعَلُ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ حَتَّى يَقْضِيَ صَلاَتَهُ فَإِذَا قَضَى صَلاَتَهُ وَسَلَّمَ أَقْبَلَ عَلَى أَهْلِ الْمَسْجِدِ فَقَالَ وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ إِنِّي لأَشْبَهُكُمْ صَلاَةً بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم .
It was narrated that Malik bin Al-Huwairith said:
"I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) raise his hands until they reached the highest part of his ears, when he said the takbir, when he bowed and when he raised his head from bowing."
أَخْبَرَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ نَصْرِ بْنِ عَاصِمٍ اللَّيْثِيِّ، عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ الْحُوَيْرِثِ، قَالَ رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَرْفَعُ يَدَيْهِ إِذَا كَبَّرَ وَإِذَا رَكَعَ وَإِذَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ الرُّكُوعِ حَتَّى بَلَغَتَا فُرُوعَ أُذُنَيْهِ .
It was narrated from Salim that:
His father said: "I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) when he started to pray, raise his hands until they were parallel to his shoulders, (and he did that) when he bowed and when he raised his head from bowing."
أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ سَالِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا افْتَتَحَ الصَّلاَةَ يَرْفَعُ يَدَيْهِ حَتَّى يُحَاذِيَ مَنْكِبَيْهِ وَإِذَا رَكَعَ وَإِذَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ الرُّكُوعِ .
It was narrated from 'Alqamah, that Abdullah said:
"Shall I not tell you about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)? He stood and raised his hands the first time and then he did not do that again."
أَخْبَرَنَا سُوَيْدُ بْنُ نَصْرٍ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ عَاصِمِ بْنِ كُلَيْبٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ الأَسْوَدِ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ أَلاَ أُخْبِرُكُمْ بِصَلاَةِ، رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ فَقَامَ فَرَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ ثُمَّ لَمْ يُعِدْ .
It was narrated that Abu Mas'ud said:
"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'The prayer is not valid if a man does not bring his backbone to rest while bowing and prostrating.'"
لاَ تُجْزِئُ صَلاَةٌ لاَ يُقِيمُ الرَّجُلُ فِيهَا صُلْبَهُ فِي الرُّكُوعِ وَالسُّجُودِ
It was narrated from Anas that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
"Be moderate in bowing and prostration, and do not rest your forearms along the ground like a dog."
اعْتَدِلُوا فِي الرُّكُوعِ وَالسُّجُودِ وَلاَ يَبْسُطْ أَحَدُكُمْ ذِرَاعَيْهِ كَالْكَلْبِ
It was narrated that Ibn Umar said:
I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) when he said the opening Takbir of the prayer, raise his hands until they were level with his shoulders. When he said the Takbir before bowing he did likewise, and when he said: 'Sami Allahu liman hamidah (Allah hears those who praise Him),' he did likewise, then he said: 'Rabbana wa lakal-hamd (Our Lord, to You be praise).' But he did not do that when he prostrated or when he raised his head from prostration.
أَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَيَّاشٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي سَالِمٌ، ح وَأَخْبَرَنِي أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ، - هُوَ ابْنُ سَعِيدٍ - عَنْ شُعَيْبٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ، - وَهُوَ الزُّهْرِيُّ - قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي سَالِمُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا افْتَتَحَ التَّكْبِيرَ فِي الصَّلاَةِ رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ حِينَ يُكَبِّرُ حَتَّى يَجْعَلَهُمَا حَذْوَ مَنْكِبَيْهِ وَإِذَا كَبَّرَ لِلرُّكُوعِ فَعَلَ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ إِذَا قَالَ " سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ " . فَعَلَ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ وَقَالَ " رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ " . وَلاَ يَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ حِينَ يَسْجُدُ وَلاَ حِينَ يَرْفَعُ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ السُّجُودِ .
It was narrated that Ibn Umar said:
"I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), when he stood to pray, raise his hands until they were in level with his shoulders, then he said the takbir. He did that when he said the Takbir before bowing, and he did that when he raised his head from bowing and said: 'Sami Allahu liman hamidah (Allah hears those who praise Him).' Bu he did not do that during the prostration."
سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ
It was narrated from Abdullah bin Umar :
that when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) started to pray, he would raise his hands in level with his shoulders, and when he bowed and when he raised his head from bowing, he would raise them likewise and say "Sami Allahu liman hamidah, Rabbana wa lakal-hamd (Allah hears those who praise Him, our Lord, to You be praise." And he did not do that when he prostrated.
سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ
It was narrated from Abdul-Jabbar bin Wa'il that his father said:
"I prayed behind the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and when he started to pray he said the Takbir and raised his hands until they were in level with his ears. Then he recited the Opening of the Book, and when he had finished he said 'Amin' and raised his voice with it."
آمِينَ
It was narrated from Malik bin Al-Huwairith- who was one of the companions of the Prophet (ﷺ)- that:
When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayed he would raise his hands-when he said the Takbir- until they were parallel to his ears, and when he wanted to bow and when he raised his head from bowing.
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الأَعْلَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ نَصْرَ بْنَ عَاصِمٍ، عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ الْحُوَيْرِثِ، وَكَانَ، مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ إِذَا صَلَّى رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ حِينَ يُكَبِّرُ حِيَالَ أُذُنَيْهِ وَإِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَرْكَعَ وَإِذَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ الرُّكُوعِ .
It was narrated from Malik bin Al-Huwairith said:
"I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), when he started to pray, raise his hands, and when he bowed, and when he raised his head from bowing, until they were parallel with the top of his ears."
أَخْبَرَنَا يَعْقُوبُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ عُلَيَّةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عَرُوبَةَ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ نَصْرِ بْنِ عَاصِمٍ، عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ الْحُوَيْرِثِ، قَالَ رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حِينَ دَخَلَ فِي الصَّلاَةِ رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ وَحِينَ رَكَعَ وَحِينَ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ الرُّكُوعِ حَتَّى حَاذَتَا فُرُوعَ أُذُنَيْهِ .
It was narrated from Abdul-Jabbar bin Wa'il, from his father, that:
He saw the Prophet (ﷺ), when he started to pray, raise his hands until his thumbs were almost level with his earlobes.
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بِشْرٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا فِطْرُ بْنُ خَلِيفَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ بْنِ وَائِلٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّهُ رَأَى النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا افْتَتَحَ الصَّلاَةَ رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ حَتَّى تَكَادَ إِبْهَامَاهُ تُحَاذِي شَحْمَةَ أُذُنَيْهِ .
Sa'eed bin Sam'an said Abu Hurairah came to the Masjid of Banu Zuraiq and said:
"There are three things that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to do and the people have abandoned; he used to raise his hands extended when praying, and he would fall silent briefly, and say takbir when he prostrated and when he sat up."
أَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي ذِئْبٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ سَمْعَانَ، قَالَ جَاءَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ إِلَى مَسْجِدِ بَنِي زُرَيْقٍ فَقَالَ ثَلاَثٌ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَعْمَلُ بِهِنَّ تَرَكَهُنَّ النَّاسُ كَانَ يَرْفَعُ يَدَيْهِ فِي الصَّلاَةِ مَدًّا وَيَسْكُتُ هُنَيْهَةً وَيُكَبِّرُ إِذَا سَجَدَ وَإِذَا رَفَعَ .
It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) entered the Masjid, then a man entered and prayed, then he came and greeted the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) with Salam. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) returned his greeting and said: Go back and pray, for you have not prayed." So he went back and prayed as he has prayed before, then he came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and greeted him with Salam, and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to him: "Wa alaika as-salam (and upon you be peace). Go back and pray for you have not prayed." He did that three times, then the man said: "By the One Who sent you with the truth, I cannot do any better than that; teach me." He said: "When you stand to pray, say the Takbir, then recite whatever is easy for you of Quran. Then bow until you have tranquility in your bowing, then stand up until you are standing straight. Then prostrate until you have tranquility in your prostration, then sit up until you have tranquility in your sitting. Then do that throughout your entire prayer."
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي سَعِيدُ بْنُ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم دَخَلَ الْمَسْجِدَ فَدَخَلَ رَجُلٌ فَصَلَّى ثُمَّ جَاءَ فَسَلَّمَ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَرَدَّ عَلَيْهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَقَالَ " ارْجِعْ فَصَلِّ فَإِنَّكَ لَمْ تُصَلِّ " . فَرَجَعَ فَصَلَّى كَمَا صَلَّى ثُمَّ جَاءَ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَسَلَّمَ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " وَعَلَيْكَ السَّلاَمُ ارْجِعْ فَصَلِّ فَإِنَّكَ لَمْ تُصَلِّ " . فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ مَا أُحْسِنُ غَيْرَ هَذَا فَعَلِّمْنِي . قَالَ " إِذَا قُمْتَ إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ فَكَبِّرْ ثُمَّ اقْرَأْ مَا تَيَسَّرَ مَعَكَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ ثُمَّ ارْكَعْ حَتَّى تَطْمَئِنَّ رَاكِعًا ثُمَّ ارْفَعْ حَتَّى تَعْتَدِلَ قَائِمًا ثُمَّ اسْجُدْ حَتَّى تَطْمَئِنَّ سَاجِدًا ثُمَّ ارْفَعْ حَتَّى تَطْمَئِنَّ جَالِسًا ثُمَّ افْعَلْ ذَلِكَ فِي صَلاَتِكَ كُلِّهَا " .
It was narrated from Abdullah bin Umar that:
A man stood behind the Prophet (ﷺ) of Allah (ﷺ) and said: "Allahu Akbaru kabira wal-hamdu Lillahi kathira, wa subhan-Allahi bukratan was asila (Allah is Most Great and much praise be to Allah and glorified be Allah at the beginning and end of the day)." The Prophet (ﷺ) of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Who spoke these words?" A man said: "I did, O Prophet (ﷺ) of Allah (SWT)." He said: "Twelve angels rushed (to take them up)."
أَخْبَرَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ وَهْبٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحِيمِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي زَيْدٌ، - هُوَ ابْنُ أَبِي أُنَيْسَةَ - عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ مُرَّةَ، عَنْ عَوْنِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ قَامَ رَجُلٌ خَلْفَ نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ كَبِيرًا وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ كَثِيرًا وَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلاً . فَقَالَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَنْ صَاحِبُ الْكَلِمَةِ " فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ أَنَا يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ . فَقَالَ " لَقَدِ ابْتَدَرَهَا اثْنَا عَشَرَ مَلَكًا " .
It was narrated that Ibn Umar said:
"While we were praying with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), a man among the people said: 'Allahu Akbaru kabira, wal-hamdu Lillahi kathira, wa subhan-Allahi bukratan was asila (Allah is Most Great and much praise be to Allah and glorified be Allah at the beginning and end of the day).' The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'Who is the one who said such and such?' A man among the people said: 'I did, O Messenger of Allah.' He said: ' I like it,' and he said words to the effect that the gates of the Heavens had been opened for it." Ibn Umar said: "I never stopped saying it since I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say that."
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ شُجَاعٍ الْمَرُّوذِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، عَنْ حَجَّاجٍ، عَنْ أَبِي الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ عَوْنِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ بَيْنَمَا نَحْنُ نُصَلِّي مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ كَبِيرًا وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ كَثِيرًا وَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلاً . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَنِ الْقَائِلُ كَلِمَةَ كَذَا وَكَذَا " . فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ أَنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ . قَالَ " عَجِبْتُ لَهَا " . وَذَكَرَ كَلِمَةً مَعْنَاهَا " فُتِحَتْ لَهَا أَبْوَابُ السَّمَاءِ " . قَالَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ مَا تَرَكْتُهُ مُنْذُ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُهُ .