There exist shades and ways of observance of religious rites, but there is only one standard specification for them all- the standard of the Prophet (PBUH).
"You have indeed in the Messenger of Allah a beautiful pattern of (conduct) for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Final Day and who engages much in the praise of Allah." (Q33:21).
One of those religious rites is salaat - one would not have observed salaat unless and until when it is done according to the specification of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH).He said:
"Pray as you have seen me pray" (Bukhari).
So how did the Rasul (PBUH) pray? The answer to this has been provided in various authentic Sunnah (action and sayings of the Prophet [PBUH])
PURITY: The Muslim should be in a state of spiritual purity (i.e. in a state of wudhu [ablution] tayammum).
"Prayer without ablution is not accepted," (Muslim)
said the Prophet (PBUH). The clothes worn should cover certain aspects of the body.
PROCEED TO THE MASJID: After wudhu, the Rasul (PBUH) would proceed to the mosque. He said:
"Whoever makes ablution and makes the ablution well and then proceeds to the mosque, Allah records for him one merit for every step he takes, and raises his rank therewith and also removes one of his sins therewith. . .” (Muslim).
FACE THE QIBLAH: A Muslim is to face the qiblah i.e. the direction of the Ka'abah in Makkah, Saudi Arabia to perform Salaat. Allah commands:
"We see you turning of your face (for guidance) to the heavens: now shall we turn you to a qiblah that shall please you. Turn then your face in the direction of the sacred mosque wherever you are, turn your faces in that direction." (Q2: 144).
The direction of the Ka'abah is called the qiblah.
For all obligatory salawaat (plural of salaat) it is a must to face the qiblah, except in times of severe (extreme) fear and sickness. Rasulullah (PBUH) set the example in the case of severe fear to pray "on foot, standing on their feet, or mounted; facing the qiblah or not facing it" (Bukhari).
It is however forbidden to face a grave while praying for the Prophet (PBUH) said:
"Do not pray towards the graves, and do not sit on them" (Muslim).
PLACE A SUTRAH: A sutrah is a screen that is placed in front of a person that is praying. The Prophet (PBUH) used to stand near to the sutrah, so that between the place of his prostration and the wall, (there was) enough space for a sheep to pass. (Bukhari & Muslim).
Allah's Prophet (PBUH) said:
"Do not let anyone pass in front of you, but if someone continues (to try to (pass). Then fight him, for he has a companion (I.e. a shaytan) with him. (ibn Khuzaimah).
QIYAM (STANDING IN PRAYER): Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to stand in both obligatory and voluntary salawaat, following Allah's command:
"And stand before Allah devoutly" (Q2:238).
Standing is exempted in the cases of extreme fear and sickness for both obligatory and voluntary salawaat and when on a means of transport in case of voluntary salaat only.
INTENTION: Rasulullah (PBUH) said:
"All actions are by their intention, and every man shall have what he intended "(Bukhari),
No formula is however reported for saying the intention rather, It IS a matter of the heart.
THE FIRST ALLAHU AKBAR:
the first ''Allahu Akbar" is called takbirat al-ihram" (recall that takbir is Allahu Akbar), The Prophet (PBUH) raised his hand with, before or after pronouncement of takbir (Bukhari). He raised his hands to the shoulder level (Bukhari)
or
at level with the top of his ears (Bukhari).
PLACEMENT OF THE HANDS:
Rasulullah (PBUH) used to put his right arm on the back of his left palm, wrist and forehand (Abu Dawud)
and he used to place them on his chest (Abu Dawud).
The Prophet (PBUH) forbade a person putting one's hand on the waist during salaat (Bukhari & Muslim).
GAZE OF THE EYES: Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to incline his head during salaat and fix his sight towards the ground directly at the spot of his prostration (Baihaqi & al Hakim).
He further forbade looking here and there during prayer (side ways) (Tirmidhi & al Hakim)
OPENING ADIYYAH (SUPPLICATIONS):
Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) recited several kinds of supplications before the recitation from the Qur'an. Examples of are:
‘'Subhanaka Allahumma wabihamdika wa tabaaraka ismuka wa ta'alaa jadduka, wa la ilaha ghayruka. Meaning: "You are Glorified, 0 Allah, and praised; Your Name is blessed; Your Majesty is Exalted and none has the right to be worshipped but You" (Abu Dawud)
RECITATION: After the Opening Du'aa' (Supplication) the Prophet (PBUH) would seek refuge with Allah by saying:
"A'uudhu billahi mina shshataani-r-rajiim min hamzihi wa nafkhihi wa nafthihi" Meaning: "I seek refuge with AIlah from the evil one, the rejected, from his madness, his arrogance and his poetry." (Abu Dawud).
He used to recite in a slow, clear melodious voice and one verse at a time. This is in sharp contrast with the practice of some Muslims who mumble and jumble verses together.
RUKOO' (Bowing): After completing his recitation, the Prophet (pBUH) used to pause for a moment, then raise his hands in the, manner described in the takbiratul ihram before going for rukoo'. He would put his hands firmly on his knees (as though he were grasping them). "He would spread his back and make It level (Bukhari)
"such that if water were poured on it, it would stay there (i.e. not run off)" (Tabaraani)
Also
"He would neither let his-head droop nor raise it (i.e. higher than his back) but it would be in between'' (Abu Daud).
Therein (in rukoo') the Rasul (PBUH) would say among other adhkar: "Subhana Rabbiy-al-Azeem wa bi hamdihi" Thereafter he would straighten up his back out of rukoo' '. When he raised his head, he would stand straight until every vertebrae returned to (Abu Daud).
Next he would say while standing: “Rabbana wa lakal hamd” (Bukkhari)
SAJDAH (PROSTRATION): Next, he would say the takbir and go down into sajdah (prostration). "He used to place his hands before his knees" '(Nasaa'i).
"He would support himself on his palms ' (and spread them)," "put his fingers together", "and point them towards the qiblah." (Baihaqi).
'he would put them (his palms) level with his shoulders", and sometimes "level with his ears" He would put his nose and forehead firmly on the ground." (Abu Dawud).
He also said:
"there is no prayer for the one whose nose does not feel as much of the ground as the forehead" (Daraqutni).
Therein the Rasul would say Subhana Rabbiy-al-A 'Ia"
Next, "he would raise his head from prostration while saying takbir." Then "he would lay his foot along the ground and sit on it (relaxed)." "He would have his foot upright" (Nasaa'i)
"and point his toes towards the qiblah" (Muslim)
TASHAHUD: The Prophet (PBUH) would sit for tashahud after finishing the second rak'ah. He would spread his left palm on his left knee, clench all the fingers of his right hand, point with the finger adjacent to the thumb towards the qiblah and fix his sight on it.(i.e the finger)" (Muslim).
He also used to move a finger while saying the tashahud.
TASLEEM: Finally, the Prophet (PBUH) would salute to his right and Ieft As-saIam aIaykum warahmatullah. But sometimes he does this once only (in front of his face, turning to his right side a bit) saying: As-salam alaykum only (IbnKhuzaimah).
In that way he will conclude his salaat.
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited