2/131. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 783 — The Prophet’s Prayer Form
Those Who Do Not Say That "Bismilaahir-Rahmanir-Rahim" Should Be Said Aloud
How the Prophet Prayed: Takbir, Ruku, Sitting, and Taslim
Sunan Abi Dawud : 783
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 783
حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَارِثِ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ حُسَيْنٍ الْمُعَلِّمِ، عَنْ بُدَيْلِ بْنِ مَيْسَرَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي الْجَوْزَاءِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَفْتَتِحُ الصَّلاَةَ بِالتَّكْبِيرِ وَالْقِرَاءَةَ بِـ { الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ } وَكَانَ إِذَا رَكَعَ لَمْ يُشْخِصْ رَأْسَهُ وَلَمْ يُصَوِّبْهُ وَلَكِنْ بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ وَكَانَ إِذَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ الرُّكُوعِ لَمْ يَسْجُدْ حَتَّى يَسْتَوِيَ قَائِمًا وَكَانَ إِذَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ السُّجُودِ لَمْ يَسْجُدْ حَتَّى يَسْتَوِيَ قَاعِدًا وَكَانَ يَقُولُ فِي كُلِّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ " التَّحِيَّاتُ " . وَكَانَ إِذَا جَلَسَ يَفْرِشُ رِجْلَهُ الْيُسْرَى وَيَنْصِبُ رِجْلَهُ الْيُمْنَى وَكَانَ يَنْهَى عَنْ عَقِبِ الشَّيْطَانِ وَعَنْ فِرْشَةِ السَّبُعِ وَكَانَ يَخْتِمُ الصَّلاَةَ بِالتَّسْلِيمِ .
A'isha Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) began prayer with the takbir (Allah is most great) and with reciting “Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Universe”. And when he bowed, he neither raised up nor lowered down his head, but kept it between the two (conditions). And when he raised his head after bowing, he did not prostrate himself until he stood up straight; and when he raised his head after prostration, he did not prostrate (the second time) until he sat down properly; and he recited al-tahiyyat after every pair of rak’ahs; and when he sat, he spread out his left foot and raised his right.He forbade to sit like the sitting of the devil, and to spread out to hands (on the ground in prostration) like animals. He used to finish prayer with uttering the salutation.
[2] Al-Fātiḥah 1:2.[1] Sitting down on one's buttocks, such that the knees are pointing upwards, and the hands are in-between the thighs, touching the ground, as a dog does.[2] Spreading both of its forelimbs out on the ground in front of it, resting its arms on the ground.Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 783In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 393English translation : Book 2, Hadith 782
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 783
This hadith gives a clear description of how the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم prayed. A'ishah reports that he began prayer with the takbir and began recitation with Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Universe. In bowing, his head was not lifted too high or lowered too much, but kept in between. After bowing, he stood straight before prostrating. After prostration, he sat properly before going down again. The hadith also mentions tashahhud after every two rak'ahs, the way he sat, and that he ended prayer with taslim. It also says he forbade sitting like the sitting of the devil and spreading the hands on the ground like animals. The message is about calm, balanced, and orderly prayer.
What we learn from this hadith
- Prayer starts with takbir and recitation begins with Al-Fatihah.
- Movements in salah should be steady and balanced.
- Standing and sitting properly are part of the described prayer form.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم ended prayer with taslim.
