Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) entered the mosque and a person followed him. The man prayed and went to the Prophet and greeted him. The Prophet (ﷺ) returned the greeting and said to him, "Go back and pray, for you have not prayed." The man went back prayed in the same way as before, returned and greeted the Prophet who said, "Go back and pray, for you have not prayed." This happened thrice. The man said, "By Him Who sent you with the Truth, I cannot offer the prayer in a better way than this. Please, teach me how to pray." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "When you stand for Prayer say Takbir and then recite from the Holy Qur'an (of what you know by heart) and then bow till you feel at ease. Then raise your head and stand up straight, then prostrate till you feel at ease during your prostration, then sit with calmness till you feel at ease (do not hurry) and do the same in all your prayers.
Call to Prayers (Adhaan) - Sahih al-Bukhari 757
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) entered the mosque and a person followed him. The man prayed and went to the Prophet and greeted him. The Prophet (ﷺ) returned the greeting and said to him, "Go back and pray, for you have not prayed." The man went back prayed in the same way as before, returned and greeted the Prophet who said, "Go back and pray, for you have not prayed." This happened thrice. The man said, "By Him Who sent you with the Truth, I cannot offer the prayer in a better way than this. Please, teach me how to pray." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "When you stand for Prayer say Takbir and then recite from the Holy Qur'an (of what you know by heart) and then bow till you feel at ease. Then raise your head and stand up straight, then prostrate till you feel at ease during your prostration, then sit with calmness till you feel at ease (do not hurry) and do the same in all your prayers.
Scholarly Commentary
This profound hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari demonstrates the critical importance of proper prayer performance. The Companions sincerity in seeking knowledge despite repeated correction shows the necessity of humility in worship.
The Prophet's repeated instruction to repeat the prayer indicates that external form without proper internal state and prescribed actions renders prayer invalid. The emphasis on "feeling at ease" (tuma'ninah) in each position highlights that prayer requires presence of heart and bodily stillness, not mere hurried movements.
The instruction to recite "what you know by heart" shows accommodation for individual capabilities while maintaining the obligation of Qur'anic recitation. The sequential order - takbir, recitation, bowing, rising, prostration, sitting - establishes the fundamental structure of Islamic prayer that remains unchanged to this day.
Legal Rulings Derived
Prayer without proper tranquility (tuma'ninah) is invalid and must be repeated.
Each prayer position must be maintained until one achieves bodily stillness and mental presence.
The minimum recitation required is whatever verses one has memorized from the Qur'an.
The prescribed sequence of prayer movements is obligatory and cannot be altered.