Ibn Mas'ud said that the Prophet recited "By the star”(Al-Qur’an; 53) prostrating himself when doing so, as did those who were with him with the exception of an old man of Quraish who took a handful of pebbles or dust and raised it to his forehead saying. "This is enough for me.” ‘Abdallah (i.e. Ibn Mas’ud) said that he later saw him killed as an infidel. (Bukhari and Muslim.) Bukhari added in a version that he was Umayya b. Khalaf.

I heard the Prophet prohibiting them and afterwards saw him praying them. When he came in I sent the slavegirl to him telling her to say that Umm Salama sent this query, “Messenger of God, I heard you prohibiting these two, and I see you praying them.” He replied, “Daughter of Abu Umayya,* you have asked about the two rak'as after the afternoon prayer. Some people of ‘Abd Qais came and hindered me from praying the two rak'as which come after the noon prayer, so those are the two I have been praying.”* Abu Umayya was Umm Salama’s father. Although the slavegirl conveyed the query, the reply is given as if addressed directly to Umm Salama.(Bukhari and Muslim)

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri said that when God’s Messenger raised his head after bowing he said, “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, O Thou who art worthy of praise and glory, most worthy of what a servant says, and we are all Thy servants, no one can withhold what Thou givest or give what Thou withholdest, and riches cannot avail a wealthy person with Thee.”** This is explained as meaning that only obedience to God will avail him, or protect him from God’s punishment. Jadd (riches) has also been understood in the sense of ancestor (lit. grandfather), so the phrase may be taken to mean that one’s reward in the next world does dot depend on one’s ancestry.Muslim transmitted it.

When one of you bows and says three times while doing so, “Glory be to my mighty Lord”, his bowing is complete; and that is the least which effects this. When he prostrates himself and says three times while doing so, “Glory be to my most high Lord”, his prostration is complete; and that is the least which effects this. Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it, but Tirmidhi said that its isnad is not connected, because ‘Aun did not meet Ibn Mas'ud.

Hudhaifa said that he prayed along with the Prophet and that he said when bowing, “Glory be to my mighty Lord”, and when prostrating himself, “Glory be to my most high Lord”; when he came to a verse which spoke of mercy he stopped and made supplication, and when he came to a verse which spoke of punishment he stopped and sought refuge in God. Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Darimi transmitted it. Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted up to “my most high Lord”. Tirmidhi said that this is a hasan sahih tradition.

Shaqiq said that Hudhaifa saw a man who was not performing the bowing or the prostration perfectly, so when he finished his prayer he called him. Hudhaifa said to him, “You have not prayed.” He added that he thought he also said, “If you were to die, you would die following something other than the true religion which God created Muhammad to proclaim.” Bukhari transmitted it.

Al-Bara’ b. ‘Azib reported God's Messenger as saying, “When you prostrate yourself, place the palms of your hands on the ground and raise your elbows.” Muslim transmitted it.

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.

I met Thauban the client of God’s Messenger and asked him to tell me something I should do for which God would bring me into paradise. He gave no reply, so I asked him again, and when he still gave no reply I asked him a third time. He then said that he had asked God’s Messenger about that and received the reply, “Make frequent prostration before God, for you will not make one prostration without God raising you a degree because of it and removing a sin from you because of it.” Ma'dan said that he met Abud Darda’ later, and that when he asked him he received a reply similar to that given by Thauban. Muslim transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported that the Prophet used to say between the two sajdas, “O God, forgive me, show mercy to me, guide me, heal me, and provide for me.” Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Hudhaifa reported that the Prophet used to say between the two sajdas, “My Lord, forgive me.” Nasa’i and Darimi transmitted it.

Nafi’ told how Ibn ‘Umar used to say, “He who puts his forehead on the ground should put the palms of his hands on the place where he put his forehead, then when he raises himself he should raise them, for the hands perform prostration just as the face does.” Malik transmitted it.

Wa’il b. Hujr said concerning God’s Messenger, “Then he sat, stretched out his left foot [to sit on it], placed his left hand on his left thigh, put the tip of his right elbow on his right thigh, joined two fingers, 1 formed a ring, 2 then raised his finger, 3 and I saw him moving it and making supplication at the same time.” 1. i.e the little finger and the ring finger. 2. i.e with the thumb and the middle finger. 3. i.e the forefinger.Abu Dawud and Darimi transmitted it.

Abu Huraira told how when a man was making supplication using two of his fingers, God’s Messenger said, “Use one, use one.” It is transmitted by Tirmidhi and Nasa’i and by Baihaqi in [Kitab] ad-da'awat al kabir.

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.)

He also reported God’s Messenger as saying, “God has angels who travel about in the earth and convey to me greetings from my people.” Nassa’i and Darimi transmitted it.

He reported that he had heard God’s Messenger say, “Do not turn your houses into graves,* and do not make my grave a place to gather as for visitation, but invoke blessings on me, for your blessing will reach me wherever you are.” *This is most probably a figurative expressive indicating that a house in which prayer is not offered is like a grave, as God is not worshipped there.Nasa’i transmitted it.

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.

‘Ali reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The niggardly one is the man in whose presence I am mentioned but who does not invoke a blessing on me.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, and Ahmad transmitted it from al-Husain b. ‘Ali. Tirmidhi said this is a hasan sahih gharib tradition.

Ruwaih' reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone invokes a blessing on Muhammad saying, ‘O God, cause him to occupy the place near Thee on the day of resurrection’, he will be guaranteed my intercession.” Ahmad transmitted it.