I am one among you who is more informed of the way the Messenger of Allah ﷺ prayed. They said: Why, By Allah, you did not follow him more than us, nor did you remain in his company longer than us? He said: Yes. They said: Then describe (how the Prophet prayed). He said: When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ stood up to pray, he raised his hands so as to bring them opposite his shoulders, and uttered the takbir (Allah is the most great), until every bone rested in its place properly: then re recited (some verses from the Quran); then he uttered the takbir (Allah is most great), raising his hands so as to bring them opposite his shoulders; then he bowed; placing the palms of his hands on his knees and keeping himself straight, neither raising nor lowering his head; then raised his head saying: “Allah listens to him who praise Him”; then raised his hands so as to bring them exactly opposite to his shoulders; then uttered: “Allah is most great”; then lowered himself to the ground (in prostration), keeping his arms away from his sides; then raised his head, bent his left foot and sat on it, and opened the toes when he prostrated: then he uttered: “Allah is most great”; then raised his head, bent his left foot and sat on it so that every bone returned to its place properly; then he did the same in the second (rak’ah). At the end of the two Rak’ahs he stood up and uttered the takbir (Allah is most great), raising his hands so as to bring them opposite to his shoulders; then he bowed, placing the palms of his hands on his knees and keeping himself straight, neither raising or lowering his head: then raised his head saying: “Allah listens to him who praises Him”; then raised his hands so as to bring them exactly opposite his shoulders; then uttered: “Allah is most great”; then lowered himself to the ground (in prostration), keeping his arms away from his sides; then raised his head, bent his left foot and sat on it, and opened the toes when he prostrated himself; then he prostrated; then uttered: “Allah is most great”; then raised his head, bent his left foot and sat on it so that every bone returned to its place properly; then he did the same in the second (rak’ah). At the end of two rak’ahs he stood up and uttered the takbir (Allah is most great), raising his hands so as to bring them opposite to his shoulders in the way he had uttered the Takbir (Allah is most great) at the beginning of the prayer; then he did that in the remainder of his prayer; and after prostration which if followed by the taslim (salutation) he out his left foot and sat on his left hip. They said: You have spoken the truth. This is how he(peace be upon him) used to pray. (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 730)   

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا حُمَيْدٍ السَّاعِدِيَّ فِي عَشَرَةٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ أَحَدُهُمْ أَبُو قَتَادَةَ قَالَ أَنَا أَعْلَمُكُمْ بِصَلَاةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالُوا لِمَ؟ فَمَا كُنْتَ أَكْثَرَنَا لَهُ تَبَعَةً وَلَا أَقْدَمَنَا لَهُ صُحْبَةً؟ قَالَ بَلَى قَالُوا فَاعْرِضْ قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذَا قَامَ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ حَتَّى يُحَاذِيَ بِهِمَا مَنْكِبَيْهِ ثُمَّ يُكَبِّرُ حَتَّى يَقَرَّ كُلُّ عَظْمٍ فِي مَوْضِعِهِ ثُمَّ يَقْرَأُ ثُمَّ يُكَبِّرُ وَيَرْفَعُ يَدَيْهِ حَتَّى يُحَاذِيَ بِهِمَا مَنْكِبَيْهِ ثُمَّ يَرْكَعُ وَيَضَعُ رَاحَتَيْهِ عَلَى رُكْبَتَيْهِ حَتَّى يَرْجِعَ كُلُّ عَظْمٍ إِلَى مَوْضِعِهِ وَلَا يُصَوِّبُ رَأْسَهُ وَلَا يُقْنِعُ ثُمَّ يَرْفَعُ رَأْسَهُ فَيَقُولُ سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ ثُمَّ يَرْفَعُ يَدَيْهِ حَتَّى يُحَاذِيَ بِهِمَا مَنْكِبَيْهِ يَظُنُّ أَبُو عَاصِمٍ أَنَّهُ قَالَ حَتَّى يَرْجِعَ كُلُّ عَظْمٍ إِلَى مَوْضِعِهِ مُعْتَدِلًا ثُمَّ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ ثُمَّ يَهْوِي إِلَى الْأَرْضِ فَيُجَافِي يَدَيْهِ عَنْ جَنْبَيْهِ ثُمَّ يَسْجُدُ ثُمَّ يَرْفَعُ رَأْسَهُ فَيَثْنِي رِجْلَهُ الْيُسْرَى فَيَقْعُدُ عَلَيْهَا وَيَفْتَحُ أَصَابِعَ رِجْلَيْهِ إِذَا سَجَدَ ثُمَّ يَعُودُ فَيَسْجُدُ ثُمَّ يَرْفَعُ رَأْسَهُ فَيَقُولُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ وَيَثْنِي رِجْلَهُ الْيُسْرَى فَيَقْعُدُ عَلَيْهَا مُعْتَدِلًا حَتَّى يَرْجِعَ كُلُّ عَظْمٍ إِلَى مَوْضِعِهِ مُعْتَدِلًا ثُمَّ يَقُومُ فَيَصْنَعُ فِي الرَّكْعَةِ الْأُخْرَى مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ فَإِذَا قَامَ مِنَ السَّجْدَتَيْنِ كَبَّرَ وَرَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ حَتَّى يُحَاذِيَ بِهِمَا مَنْكِبَيْهِ كَمَا فَعَلَ عِنْدَ افْتِتَاحِ الصَّلَاةِ ثُمَّ يَصْنَعُ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ فِي بَقِيَّةِ صَلَاتِهِ حَتَّى إِذَا كَانَتِ السَّجْدَةُ أَوِ الْقَعْدَةُ الَّتِي يَكُونُ فِيهَا التَّسْلِيمُ أَخَّرَ رِجْلَهُ الْيُسْرَى وَجَلَسَ مُتَوَرِّكًا عَلَى شِقِّهِ الْأَيْسَرِ قَالَ قَالُوا صَدَقْتَ هَكَذَا كَانَتْ صَلَاةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ  

"I said: 'I am going to watch how the Messenger of Allah ﷺ prays.' So I watched him and he stood and said the takbir, and raised his hands until they were in the level with his ears, then he placed his right hand over his left hand, wrist and lower forearm. When he wanted to bow he raised his hands likewise. Then he prostrated and placed his hands in level with his ears. Then he sat up and placed his left leg under him; he put his left hand on his left thigh and knee, and he put the edge of his right elbow on his right thigh, then he held two of his fingers together and made a circle, and raised his forefinger, and I saw him moving it and supplicating with it." (Using translation from Nasāʾī 889)   

أَخْبَرَهُ قَالَ قُلْتُ لَأَنْظُرَنَّ إِلَى صَلَاةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَيْفَ يُصَلِّي؟ فَنَظَرْتُ إِلَيْهِ فَقَامَ فَكَبَّرَ فَرَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ حَتَّى حَاذَتَا بِأُذُنَيْهِ وَوَضَعَ يَدَهُ الْيُمْنَى عَلَى ظَهْرِ كَفِّهِ الْيُسْرَى قَالَ ثُمَّ لَمَّا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَرْكَعَ رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ مِثْلَهَا فَوَضَعَ يَدَيْهِ عَلَى رُكْبَتَيْهِ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ فَرَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ مِثْلَهَا ثُمَّ سَجَدَ فَجَعَلَ كَفَّيْهِ بِحِذَاءِ أُذُنَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَعَدَ فَافْتَرَشَ رِجْلَهُ الْيُسْرَى وَوَضَعَ كَفَّهُ الْيُسْرَى عَلَى فَخِذِهِ وَرُكْبَتِهِ الْيُسْرَى وَجَعَلَ مِرْفَقَهُ الْأَيْمَنَ عَلَى فَخْذِهِ الْيُمْنَى ثُمَّ قَبَضَ ثِنْتَيْنِ فَحَلَّقَ حَلْقَةً ثُمَّ رَفَعَ أُصْبُعَهُ فَرَأَيْتُهُ يُحَرِّكُهَا يَدْعُو بِهَا قَالَ ثُمَّ جِئْتُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فِي زَمَانٍ فِيهِ بَرْدٌ فَرَأَيْتُ عَلَى النَّاسِ جُلَّ الثِّيَابِ يُحَرِّكُونَ أَيْدِيَهُمْ مِنْ تَحْتِ الثِّيَابِ  

Hittan ibn Abdullah ar-Ruqashi said: AbuMusa al-Ash'ari led us in prayer. When he sat at the end of his prayer, one of the people said: Prayer has been established by virtue and purity. When AbuMusa returned (from his prayer or finished his prayer), he gave his attention to the people, and said: Which of you is the speaker of such and such words? The people remained silent. Which of you is the speaker of such and such words? The people remained silent. He said: You might have said them, Hittan. He replied: I did not say them. I was afraid you might punish me. One of the people said: I said them and I did not intend by them (anything) except good. AbuMusa said: Do you not know how you utter (them) in your prayer? The Messenger of Allah ﷺ addressed us, and taught us and explained to us our way of doing and taught us our prayer. He said: When you pray a (congregational) prayer, straighten your rows, then one of you should lead you in prayer. When he says the takbir (Allah is Most Great), say the takbir, and when he recites verses "Not of those upon whom is Thy anger, nor of those who err" (i.e. the end of Surah i.), say Amin; Allah will favour you. When he says "Allah is most great," and bows, say "Allah is most great" and bow, for the imam will bow before you, and will raise (his head) before you. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: This is for that. When he says "Allah listens to the one who praises Him," say: "O Allah, our Lord, to Thee be praise, Allah be praised," Allah will listen to you, for Allah, the Exalted, said by the tongue of His Prophet ﷺ: "Allah listens to the one who praises Him." When he says "Allah is most great" and prostrates, say: "Allah is most great" and prostrate, for the imam prostrates before you and raises his head before you. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: This is for that. When he sits, each one of you should say "The adorations of the tongue, all good things, and acts of worship are due to Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and Allah's mercy and His blessings. Peace be upon us and upon Allah's upright servants. I testify that there is no god but Allah, and I testify that Muhammad is His servant and Apostle." This version of Ahmad does not mention the words "and His blessings" nor the phrase "and I testify"; instead, it has the words "that Muhammad." (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 972)   

صَلَّى بِنَا أَبُو مُوسَى إِحْدَى صَلَاتَيِ الْعَشِيِّ فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ أُقِرَّتِ الصَّلَاةُ بِالْبِرِّ وَالزَّكَاةِ فَلَمَّا قَضَى أَبُو مُوسَى الصَّلَاةَ قَالَ أَيُّكُمُ الْقَائِلُ كَلِمَةَ كَذَا وَكَذَا فَأَرَمَّ الْقَوْمُ فَقَالَ لَعَلَّكَ يَا حِطَّانُ قُلْتَهَا؟ قَالَ مَا أَنَا قُلْتُهَا وَقَدْ خِفْتُ أَنْ تَبْكَعَنِي بِهَا فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ أَنَا قُلْتُهَا وَمَا أَرَدْتُ بِهَا إِلَّا الْخَيْرَ فَقَالَ أَبُو مُوسَى أَوَ مَا تَعْلَمُونَ مَا تَقُولُونَ فِي صَلَاتِكُمْ؟ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ خَطَبَنَا فَعَلَّمَنَا صَلَاتَنَا وَبَيَّنَ لَنَا سُنَّتَنَا قَالَ أَحْسَبُهُ قَالَ إِذَا أُقِيمَتِ الصَّلَاةُ فَلْيَؤُمَّكُمْ أَحَدُكُمْ فَإِذَا كَبَّرَ فَكَبِّرُوا وَإِذَا قَالَ {غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ} [الفاتحة 7] فَقُولُوا آمِينَ يُجِبْكُمُ اللَّهُ فَإِذَا كَبَّرَ وَرَكَعَ فَكَبِّرُوا وَارْكَعُوا فَإِنَّ الْإِمَامَ يَرْكَعُ قَبْلَكُمْ وَيَرْفَعُ قَبْلَكُمْ قَالَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَتِلْكَ بِتِلْكَ فَإِذَا قَالَ سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ فَقُولُوا اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَوْ قَالَ رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ قَالَ عَلَى لِسَانِ نَبِيِّهِ سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ فَإِذَا كَبَّرَ وَسَجَدَ فَكَبِّرُوا وَاسْجُدُوا فَإِنَّ الْإِمَامَ يَسْجُدُ قَبْلَكُمْ وَيَرْفَعُ قَبْلَكُمْ قَالَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ فَتِلْكَ بِتِلْكَ فَإِذَا كَانَ عِنْدَ الْقَعْدَةِ فَلْيَكُنْ مِنْ أَوَّلِ قَوْلِ أَحَدِكُمْ التَّحِيَّاتُ الطَّيِّبَاتُ الصَّلَوَاتُ لِلَّهِ السَّلَامُ أَوْ سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ السَّلَامُ أَوْ سَلَامٌ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ