Establishing the Prayer and the Sunnah Regarding Them

It was narrated that Ibn Mas’ud said:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘When anyone of you bows, let him say in his bowing: “Subhana Rabbiyal-‘Azim (Glory is to my Lord, the Most Great)” three times; if he does that his bowing will be complete. And when anyone of you prostrates, let him say in his prostration, ‘Subhana Rabbiyal-A’la (Glory if to my Lord, the Most High)” three times; if he does that, his prostration will be complete, and that is the minimum.’”

It was narrated that Jabir said:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “When anyone of you prostrates let him be balanced in prostration, and not spread his arms as a dog does.”

It was narrated from Anas bin Malik that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“Be balanced in prostration; none of you should prostrate with his arms spread out like a dog.”

It was narrated that ‘Aishah said:

“When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) raised his head from bowing, he would not prostrate until he had stood up straight. When he prostrated, he would raise his head and not prostrate again until he had sat up straight. And he used to spread out his left leg.”

It was narrated that ‘Ali said:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to me: “Do not squat between the two prostrations.”

It was narrated that ‘Ali said:

“The Prophet (ﷺ) said: ‘O ‘Ali, do not squat like a dog.’”

It was narrated that Anas bin Malik said:

“The Prophet (ﷺ) said to me: ‘When you raise your head from prostration, do not squat like a dog. Put your buttocks between your feet and let the tops of your feet touch the ground.”

It was narrated from Hudhaifah that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to say between the two prostrations:

“Rabbighfir li, Rabbighfir li (O Lord forgive me, O Lord forgive me).”

It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbas said:

“When praying at night (Qiyamul-Lail), the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to say between the two prostrations: ‘Rabbighfir li warhamni wajburni warzuqni warfa’ni (O Lord, forgive me, have mercy on me, improve my situation, grant me provision and raise me in status).’”

It was narrated that ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud said:

“When we performed prayer with the Prophet (ﷺ) we said: ‘Peace be upon Allah from His slaves, peace be upon Jibra’il and Mika’il and so-and-so and so-and- so.’ The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) heard us and said: ‘Do not say peace (Salam) be upon Allah, for He is As-Salam. When you sit (during prayer) say: At-Tahiyyatu lillahi was-salawatu wat-tayyibatu; as- salamu ‘alayka ayyuhan-Nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu; as- salamu ‘alayna wa ‘ala ‘ibadillahis-salihin (All compliments, prayers and good words are due to Allah; peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings; peace be upon us and upon the righteous slaves of Allah).” For as you say that it will reach every righteous slave in the heavens and on earth. (Then say:) “Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa Rasuluhu (I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger).” (Another chain) with similar wording. (Another chain) that `Abdullah bin Mas`ud said: "The Prophet (ﷺ) used to teach us the Tashahhud." And he mentioned similarly.

It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbas said:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to teach us the Tashah-hud as he used to teach us a Surah of the Qur’an. He used to say: ‘At-Tahiyyatul-Mubarakatus salawatut-tayyibatu lillah; As-salamu ‘alayka ayyuhan-Nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu; as-salamu ‘alayna wa ‘ala ‘ibadillahis-salihin. Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa Rasuluhu (All blessed compliments and good prayers are due to Allah; peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings; peace be upon us and upon the righteous slaves of Allah. I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger).’”

It was narrated from Abu Musa Al-Ash’ari:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) addressed us and explained the Sunnah for us, and he taught us our prayer. He said: ‘When you perform prayer, and you are sitting, let the 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 la ilaha illallah wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa Rasuluhu (All compliments, good words and prayers are due to Allah; peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings; peace be upon us and upon the righteous slaves of Allah. I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger). Seven phrases which are the greeting of the prayer.’”

It was narrated that Jabir bin ‘Abdullah said:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to teach us the Tashah-hud as he used to teach us a Surah from the Qur’an: ‘Bismillahi wa Billahi; at-tahiyyatu lillahi was-salawatu wat-tayyibatu lillahi; as-salamu ‘alayka ayyuhan- Nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu; as-salamu ‘alayna wa ‘ala ‘ibadillahis-salihin. Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasuluhu. As’alu Allahal-jannah, wa a’udhu billahi minannar (In the name of Allah and by the grace of Allah. All compliments are due to Allah and all prayers and good words are due to Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings; peace be upon us and upon the righteous slaves of Allah. I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. I ask Allah for Paradise and I seek refuge with Allah from the Fire).’”

It was narrated that Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri said:

“We said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! We know what it means to send greetings upon you, but what does it mean to send peace and blessings upon you?’ He said: ‘Say: “Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammadin ‘abdika wa Rasulika kama salayta ‘ala Ibrahima, wa barik ‘ala Muhammad (wa ‘ala ali Muhammadin) kama barakta ‘ala Ibrahima [O Allah, send Your grace, honor and mercy upon Muhammad, Your slave and Messenger, as You sent Your (grace, honour and mercy) upon Ibrahim, and send Your blessings upon Muhammad (and the family of Muhammad) as You sent Your blessings upon Ibrahim].”

It was narrated that Hakam said:

“I heard Ibn Abi Laila say: ‘Ka’b bin ‘Ujrah met me and said: “Shall I not give you a gift? The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came out to us and we said: ‘We know what it means to send greetings on you, but what does it mean to send peace and blessings upon you?’ He said: ‘Say: Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala ali Muhammadin, kama sallayta ‘ala Ibrahima, innaka Hamidun Majid; Allahumma barik ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala ali Muhammadin, kama barakta ‘ala Ibrahima, innaka Hamidun Majid (O Allah, send your grace, honour and mercy upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent Your grace, honour and mercy upon Ibrahim, You are indeed Praiseworthy, Most Glorious. O Allah, send Your blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You sent Your blessings upon Ibrahim, You are indeed Praiseworthy, Most Glorious).’”

It was narrated from Abu Humaid As-Sa’di that they said:

“O Messenger of Allah! 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, kama sallayta ‘ala Ibrahim; wa barik ‘ala Muhammadin wa azwajihi wa dhurriyatihi kama barakta ‘ala ali Ibrahim fil-‘alamin, innaka Hamidum Majid (O Allah, send Your grace, honour and mercy upon Muhammad and his wives and offspring, as You sent Your grace, honour and mercy upon Ibrahim. O Allah, send Your blessings upon Muhammad and his wives and offspring, as You sent Your blessings upon the family of Ibrahim among the nations, You are indeed Praiseworthy, Most Glorious).”

Aswad bin Yazid narrated that ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud said:

“When you send peace and blessings upon the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), then do it well, for you do not know, that may be shown to him.” They said to him: “Teach us.” He said: “Say: ‘Allahumma aj’al salataka wa rahmataka wa barakatika ‘ala sayyidil-mursalin wa imamil-muttaqin wa khatamin- nabiyyin, Muhammad ‘abdika wa Rasulika imamil-khayri (wa qa’idil- khair), wa Rasulir-Rahmah. Allahummab’athhu maqaman mahmudan yaghbituhu bihil-awwaluna wal-akhirun. Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala ali Muhammadin kama sallayta ‘ala Ibrahim wa ‘ala ali Ibrahim; Allahumma barik ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala ali Muhammadin kama barakta ‘ala Ibrahim wa ‘ala ali Ibrahim, innaka Hamidum Majid (O Allah, send Your grace, honour, mercy and blessings upon the leader of the Messengers, the imam of the pious and the seal of the Prophets, Muhammad, Your slave and Messenger, the Imam of the good (and the leader) of the good, and the Messenger of mercy. O Allah, raise him to a station of praise and glory that will be the envy of the first and the last. O Allah, send Your grace, honour and mercy upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent Your grace, honour and mercy upon Ibrahim, You are indeed Praiseworthy, Most Glorious. O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim, You are Praiseworthy, Most Glorious).’”

It was narrated that ‘Asim bin ‘Ubaidullah said:

“I heard ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amir bin Rabi’ah narrating from his father that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “There is no Muslim who sends peace and blessings upon me, but the angels will send peace and blessings upon him as long as he sends peace and blessings upon me. So let a person do a little of that or a lot.”

It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbas said:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Whoever forgets to send peace and blessings upon me, then he has missed the road to Paradise.’”

Muhammad bin Abi ‘Aishah said:

“I heard Abu Hurairah say that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘When anyone of you finishes the last Tashah-hud, let him seek refuge with Allah from four things: From the torment of Hell, from the torment of the grave, from the trials of life and death, and from the Fitnah (tribulation) of Masihud-Dajjal.’