‘Abdallah b. Abu Aufa said that when God’s Messenger raised his back after bowing he said, “God listens to him who praises Him. O God, our Lord, to Thee be the praise in all the heavens and all the earth, and all that it pleases Thee to create afterwards.” Muslim transmitted it.

We were praying behind the Prophet, and when he raised his head at the end of the rak'a he said, “God listens to him who praises Him.” A man behind him said, ‘O our Lord, to Thee be the praise, abundant, good, blessed, sufficient.” When he ended he asked, “Who was the speaker just now ?” and when the man replied that he had spoken he said, “I saw over thirty angels racing one another to be the first to record it.” Bukhari transmitted it.

Abu Mas'ud al-Ansari reported God’s Messenger as saying, “A man’s prayer does not avail him unless he keeps his back steady when bowing and prostrating himself.” Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Nasa’i, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it, and Tirmidhi said this is a hasan sahih tradition.

Abu Qatada reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The one who commits the worst theft is he who steals from his prayer.” When asked how one could steal from his prayer he replied, “By not performing his bowing and his prostration perfectly.” Ahmad transmitted it.

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.)

One night I missed God’s Messenger from the bed, and when I sought him my hand came on the soles of his feet while he was in the act of prostration with them raised, and he was saying, “O God, I seek refuge in Thy good pleasure from Thy anger, and in Thy forgiveness from Thy punishment, and I seek refuge in Thee from Thee.* I cannot reckon Thy praise. Thou art as Thou hast lauded Thyself.” * This form of words indicates that God alone can give refuge from His wrath.Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The nearest a servant comes to his Lord is when he is prostrating himself, so make supplication often.” Muslim transmitted it.

Wa’il b. Hujr said he saw that when God’s Messenger prostrated himself he got down on his knees before putting his hands on the ground, and when he got up he raised his hands before his knees. Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Nasa’i, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “When one of you prostrates himself he must not kneel in the manner of a camel, but should put down his hands before his knees.” Abu Dawud, Nasa’i and Darimi transmitted it. Abu Sulaiman al-Khattabi said that the tradition of Wa’il b. Hujr is better established than this. The view is expressed that this one is abrogated.

‘Abd ar-Rahman b. Shibl said that God’s Messenger forbade a crow’s peck,* extending the forearms like a wild animal, and imitating a camel by a man making one spot his regular place in the mosque. * An exaggerated way of speaking of a very short prostration.Abu Dawud, Nasa’i and Darimi transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. az-Zubair said that the Prophet used to point with his [fore] finger when he made supplication, but did not move it. Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it, Abu Dawud adding that he kept his look fixed on the finger he was pointing.

God’s Messenger used to teach us the tashahhud just as he would teach us a sura of the Qur’an, saying, “In the name of God and with His grace. 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. I testify that there is no god but God, and I testify that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. I ask God for paradise, and I seek refuge in God from hell.” Nasa’i transmitted it.

Nafi‘ said that when ‘Abdallah b. ‘Umar sat during the prayer he placed his hands on his knees, pointed with his finger and gave his whole attention to it. He then said that God’s Messenger had said, “It has a more severe effect on the devil than iron,” meaning the forefinger. Ahmad transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone invokes blessing on me once, God will bless him ten times.” Muslim transmitted it.

Ibn Mas'ud reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The one who will be nearest me on the day of resurrection will be the one who invoked most blessings on me.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Gabriel came to me and told me that my Lord says, “Does it not please you, Muhammad, that none of your people will invoke a blessing on you without my blessing him ten times, and that none of your people will give you a greeting without my greeting him ten times?” Nasa’i and Darimi transmitted it.

God’s Messenger went out and entering among some palm trees prostrated himself so long that I was afraid God had taken his soul. I went and looked, and he raised his head and said, “What is the matter with you? I mentioned that to him, and he told me that Gabriel had come and given him the good news that God said, “If anyone invokes one blessing on you I will bless him, and if anyone greets you I will greet him.” Ahmad transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas said that the Prophet used to teach them this prayer just as he used to teach them a sura of the Qur’an, telling them te say, “O God, I seek refuge in Thee from the punishment in jahannam, I seek refuge in Thee from the punishment in the grave, I seek refuge in Thee from the trial of the antichrist, and I seek refuge in Thee from the trial of life and death.” Muslim transmitted it.

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.)

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.