Establishing the Prayer and the Sunnah Regarding Them

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to a man: ‘What do you say during your Salat?’ He said: ‘The Tashah-hud, then I ask Allah for Paradise, and I seek refuge with Him from Hell, but I do not understand what you and Mu’adh murmur (during Salat). He said: ‘Our murmuring revolves around the same things.’”

It was narrated from Malik bin Numair Al-Khuza’i that his father said:

“I saw the Prophet (ﷺ) putting his right hand on his right thigh during prayer, and pointing with his finger.”

It was narrated that Wa’il bin Hujr said:

“I saw the Prophet (ﷺ) making a circle with his thumb and middle finger, and raising the one next to it (the index finger), supplicating with it during the Tashah-hud.”

It was narrated from Ibn ‘Umar that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to sit during prayer, putting his hands on his knees and raising his right finger which was next to his thumb, supplicating with it, and with his left hand (spread out) on his knee.

It was narrated from ‘Abdullah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to say the Salam to his right and his left, until the whiteness of his cheek could be seen (saying):

“As-salamu ‘alaikum wa rahmatullah (Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah).”

It was narrated from ‘Amir bin Sa’d, from his father, that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to say the Salam to his right and to his left.

It was narrated that ‘Ammar bin Yasir said:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to say the Salam to his right and to his left, until the whiteness of his cheek could be seen (saying): ‘As-salamu ‘alaikum wa rahmatullah, as-salamu ‘alaikum wa rahmatullah.’”

It was narrated that Abu Musa said:

“Ali led us in prayer on the day of (the battle of) the Camel, in a way that reminded us of the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). Either we had forgotten it or we had abandoned it. He said the Salam to his right and to his left.”

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

It was narrated from Hisham bin ‘Urwah, from his father, from ‘Aishah, that the Messenger of Allah (saW) used to say one Salam, to the front.

It was narrated that Salamah bin Akwa’ said:

“I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) performing the prayer, and he said one Salam.”

It was narrated from Samurah bin Jundub that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“When the Imam says the Salam, then respond to him.”

It was narrated that Samurah bin Jundab said:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) commanded us to greet our Imam with Salam, and to greet one another with Salam.”

It was narrated that Thawban said:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘No person should lead others in prayer, then supplicate only for himself and not for them. If he does that, he has betrayed them.’”

It was narrated that ‘Aishah said:

“When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said the Salam, he would sit only for as long as it took to say: ‘Allahumma Antas-Salam wa minkas-salam. Tabarakta ya Dhal-jalali wal- ikram. (O Allah, You are As-Salam, From You is all peace, blessed are You O Possessor of majesty and honour).’”

It was narrated from Umm Salamah that when the Prophet (ﷺ) performed the Subh (morning prayer), while he said the Salam, he would say:

‘Allahumma inni as’aluka ‘ilman nafi’an, wa rizqan tayyiban, wa ‘amalan mutaqabbalan (O Allah, I ask You for beneficial knowledge, goodly provision and acceptable deeds).’”

It was narrated that ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr said:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘There are two characteristics which no Muslim man acquires but he will enter Paradise. They are easy but those who do them are few. At the end of every prayer he should glorify Allah (by saying Subhan Allah) ten times, extol Him (by saying Allahu Akbar) ten times, and praise Him (by saying Al-Hamdu Lillah) ten times.’ I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) counting them on his hand. ‘That is one hundred and fifty (after all the prayers of the day) on the tongue, and one thousand and five hundred on the Scale. And when he goes to his bed, let him glorify Allah and praise Him and extol Him one hundred times. That will be one hundred on the tongue and one thousand on the Scale. Who among you does two thousand and five hundred evil actions in one day?’ They said: ‘Who would not be keen to do that?’ He said: ‘But the Shaitan comes to anyone of you while he is performing prayer and says: ‘Remember such and such, remember such and such,” until the person becomes distracted and does not understand (what he is saying). And he comes to him when he is in his bed, and makes him sleepy such that he sleeps.’”

It was narrated that Abu Dharr said:

“It was said to the Prophet (ﷺ) and perhaps (one of the narrators) Sufyan said: I said: O Messenger of Allah! Those who have property and wealth have surpassed us in reward. They say the same as we do, and they spend but we do not spend.’ He said to me: ‘Shall I not tell you something which, if you do it, you will catch up with those who have surpassed you and you will excel over those who come after you? Praise Allah (by saying Al- Hamdu Lillah) after every prayer, and glorify Him (by saying Subhan- Allah) and extol Him (by saying Allahu Akbar), thirty-three, thirty- three, and thirty-four times.’” Sufyan said: “I do not know which of them was to be recited thirty-four times.”

Thawban narrated that when he finished his prayer, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would ask for forgiveness three times, then he would say:

“Allahumma Antas-Salam wa minkas-salam tabarakta ya Dhal-jalali wal- ikram” (O Allah, You are As-Salam and from You is all peace, Blessed are You O Possessor of majesty and honour).”

It was narrated from Qabisah bin Hulb that his father said:

“The Prophet (ﷺ) led us (in prayer), and he used to depart from both sides. (i.e. from either side).”