‘Uqba b. ‘Amir said that when “Glorify the name of your mighty Lord” (Al-Qur’an; 56:74, 96; 69:52) was revealed, God’s Messenger said, “Use it when bowing;” and when “Glorify the name of your most high Lord” (Al-Qur’an; 87) was revealed, he said, “Use it when prostrating yourselves.” Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it.

‘Auf b. Malik said that he stood up to pray along with God’s Messenger and that when he bowed he paused about as long as it would take to recite Sura al-Baqara (Al-Qur’an; 2) and said while bowing, “Glory be to the Possessor of greatness, the kingdom, grandeur and majesty.” Nasa’i transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s Messenger as saying, “I have been commanded to prostrate myself on seven bones: the forehead, the hands, 1 the knees, and the extremities of the feet, 2 and not to fold back the clothing or the hair.” 1. i.e. the palms. 2. i.e. the toes. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Anas reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Adopt a moderate position when prostrating yourselves, and see that none of you stretches out his forearms like a dog.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘Abdallah b. Malik Ibn Buhaina* said that when the Prophet (ﷺ) prostrated himself he spread out his arms so that the whiteness under his armpits was visible. * Buhaina was ‘Abdallah’s mother. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He reported God’s Messenger as saying: When a man recites as-Sajda (Al-Qur’an; 32) the devil retires weeping and saying, “Woe is me! The son of Adam has been commanded to prostrate himself and has done so, and will be rewarded with paradise; but I have been commanded to prostrate myself and have refused, so I will be punished with hell.” Muslim transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. Mas'ud said: When we prayed with the Prophet (ﷺ) we said,* “Peace be to God before it is supplicated for His servants; peace be to Gabriel; peace be to Michael; peace be to so and so.” When the Prophet (ﷺ) finished he turned his face to us and said: Do not say, “Peace be to God”, for God Himself is Peace. When one of you sits during the prayer he should say, “The adorations of the tongue, acts of worship and all good things are due to God. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and God’s mercy and blessings. Peace be upon us and upon God’s upright servants (for when he says that it reaches every upright servant in heaven and earth). I testify that there is no god but God, and I testify that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.” Then he may choose any supplication which pleases him and offer it. * I.e. at the tashahhud. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘Abd ar-Rahrman b. Abu Laila said that Ka‘b b. ‘Ujra met him and asked if he would like him to present him with something he had heard from the Prophet. He expressed his desire to hear it, and he said: We asked God’s Messenger this question, “How is blessing to be invoked on you who belong to the prophetic family? God has taught us how to salute you.” He told us to say, “O God, bless Muhammad and Muhammad’s family as Thou didst bless Abraham and Abraham’s family. Thou art indeed praiseworthy and glorious. O God, grant favours to Muhammad and Muhammad’s family as Thou didst grant favours to Abraham and Abraham’s family. Thou art indeed praiseworthy and glorious.” (Bukhari and Muslim, but Muslim did not mention Abraham in the two places.)

Abu Humaid as-Sa‘idi said that when some people asked God’s Messenger how they should invoke blessings on him he told them to say, “O God, bless Muhammad, his wives and his offspring as Thou didst bless Abraham; and grant favours to Muhammad, his wives and his offspring as Thou didst grant favours to the family of Abraham. Thou art indeed praiseworthy and glorious.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ubayy b. Ka'b said he told God’s Messenger that he frequently invoked blessings on him and asked how much of his prayer* he should devote to him. He replied that he might devote as much as he wished, and when he suggested a quarter he said, “Whatever you wish, but if you increase it that will be better for you.” He suggested a half and he replied, “Whatever you wish, but if you increase it that will be better for you.” He suggested two-thirds and he replied, “Whatever you wish, but if you increase it that will be better for you.” He then suggested devoting all his prayer to him and he replied, “Then you will be freed from care and your sin will be expiated.” * The word used is salat. It has been explained as referring here to the petitions (du’a) offered at the end of the salat. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

‘A’isha said that God’s Messenger used to make supplication during the prayer saying, “O God, I seek refuge in Thee from the punishment in the grave, I seek refuge in Thee from the trial of the antichrist, I seek refuge in Thee from the trial of life and the trial of death. O God, I seek refuge in Thee from sin and debt.” Someone said to him, “How often you seek refuge from debt!” He replied, “When a man is in debt he talks and tells lies, makes promises and breaks them.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Bakr as-Siddiq said that he asked God’s Messenger to teach him a supplication to use in his prayer, and he told him to say, “O God, I have greatly wronged myself, and Thou alone canst forgive sins, so grant me forgiveness from Thee and show mercy to me. Thou art the forgiving and the merciful One.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘Abdallah b. Mas'ud said, “None of you must give the devil any place in his prayer, thinking it is his duty when he leaves to turn only to his right. I have often seen God’s Messenger turning to his left when he went away.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Al-Bara’ said: When we prayed behind God’s Messenger we liked to be on his right side so that he would turn his face towards us. He said that he had heard him say, ‘My Lord, guard me from Thy punishment on the day Thou raisest (or, gatherest) Thy servants.” Muslim transmitted it.

We shall mention the tradition of Jabir b. Samura in the chapter on laughing (Book 24; Ch. 7a) if God wills.

Ibn ‘Abbas said he used to know that God’s Messenger had finished his prayer when he heard the takbir. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Al-Mughira b. Shu'ba stated that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to say after every prescribed prayer, “There is no god but God alone, who has no partner. To Him belongs the kingdom, to Him praise is due, and He is omnipotent. O God, no one can withhold what Thou givest, or give what Thou withholdest, and riches cannot avail a wealthy person with Thee.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘Abdallah b. az-Zubair said that when God’s Messenger uttered the salutation at the end of his prayer he used to say as loudly as he could. “There is no god but God alone who has no partner. To Him belongs the kingdom, to Him praise is due, and He is omnipotent. There is no might or power except in God. There is no god but God whom alone we worship. To Hirn belongs wealth, to Him belongs grace, and to Him is worthy praise accorded. There is no god but God to whom we are sincere in devotion, even though the infidels should disapprove’ (Al-Qur’an; 40:14). Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira told of the poor Emigrants coming to God’s Messenger and saying, “The possessors of great wealth have obtained all the highest grades and lasting bliss.” When he asked what they meant they replied, “They pray as we do, they fast as we do, they give alms but we do not, and they set slaves free but we do not.” So God’s Messenger said, “Shall I not teach you something by which you will catch up on those who have preceded you and get ahead of those who come after you, only those who do as you do being more excellent than you?” On their replying, “Certainly, Messenger of God,” he said, “Extol God, declare His greatness, and praise Him thirty-three times after every prayer.” Abu Salih said that the poor Emigrants returned to God’s Messenger saying, “Our brethren, the possessors of property, have heard what we have done, and they have done the same,” to which he replied, “That is God’s grace, which He gives to whom He wishes.” (Al-Qur’an; 5:54; 57:21; 62:4.) (Bukhari and Muslim) What Abu Salih said is given up to the end only by Muslim. A version has, “Extol God ten times after every prayer, praise Him ten times, and declare His greatness ten times,” instead of thirty-three times given by Bukhari.

Ka'b b. ‘Ujra reported God’s Messenger as saying, “There are certain remembrances the repeaters (or, performers)* of which after every prescribed prayer will never be caused disappointment: ‘Glory be to God’ thirty-three times, ‘Praise be to God’ thirty-three times, and ‘God is most great’ thirty-four times.” * The transmitter gives this alternative, thus showing that he is not sure which word was used. Muslim transmitted it.