It was narrated from 'Alqamah and Al-Aswad that: They were with 'Abdullah in his house and he said: Have these people prayed? We said: Yes. So he led them in prayer and stood between them, with no Adhan and no Iqamah, and said: If you are three then do this, and if you are more than that then let one of you lead the others in prayer, and let him lay his hands on his thighs. It is as if I can see the fingers of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), interlaced.'

It was narrated that 'Alqamah and Al-Aswad said: We prayed with Abdullah bin Mas'ud in his house. He stood between us and we placed our hands on our knees, but he took them off and made us interlace our fingers, and said: I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) do that.'

It was narrated that Abdullah said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) taught us the prayer. He stood up and said the takbir, and when he wanted to bow, he put his hands together and put his hands between his knees and bowed. News of that reached Sa'd and he said: My brother has spoken the truth. We used to do that, then we were commanded to do this, meaning to hold the knees.

It was narrated that Mus'ab bin Sa'd said: I prayed beside my father and I put my hands between my knees, and he told me: 'Put your hands on your knees.' Then I did that again and he struck my hands and said: 'We were forbidden to do that, and we were commanded to put our hands on our knees.'

It was narrated that Mus'ab bin Sa'd said: I bowed and put my hands together, and my father said: 'This is something that we used to do, then we brought them up to our knees.'

It was narrated that 'Umar said: It is established for you to hold the knees, so hold the knees.

It was narrated that 'Abdur-Rahman As-Sulami said: 'Umar said: 'The Sunnah is to hold the knees.'

It was narrated that Salim said: We came to Abu Mas'ud and said to him: 'Tell us about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).' He stood in front of us and said the takbir, then when he bowed he placed his palms on his knees and put his fingers lower than that, and he held his elbows out from his sides until every part of him had settled. Then he said: Sami' Allahu liman hamidah, Rabbana wa lakal-hamd (Allah hears those who praise Him, our Lord, and to You be the praise), then he stood up until every part of him had settled.

It was narrated that 'Uqbah bin 'Amir said: Shall I not show you how I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) pray? We said: Yes. So he stood up and when he bowed, he placed his palms on his knees and put his fingers behind his knees, and held his arms out from his sides, until every part of him settled. Then he raised his head and stood up until every part of him settled. Then he prostrated and held his arms out from his sides, until every part of him settled. Then he sat up until every part of him settled. Then he prostrated again until every part of him settled. Then he did four rak'ahs like that. Then he said: This is how I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) pray, and this is how he used to lead us in prayer.

It was narrated that Salim Al- Barrad said: Abu Mus'ad said: 'Shall I not show you how the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayed?' We said: 'Yes.' So he stood up and said the takbir, and when he bowed, he held his arms out from his sides until, when every part of him settled, he raised his head. He prayed four rak'ahs like that, and said: 'This is how I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) praying.'

It was narrated that Abu Humaid As-Sa'idi said: When the Prophet (ﷺ) bowed he was balanced, he did not make his head higher or lower than his back, and he put his hands on his knees.

It was narrated that 'Ali said: The Prophet (ﷺ) forbade me from wearing A-Qassi and silk, and gold rings, and from reciting Qur'an when bowing.

It was narrated that 'Ali said: The Prophet (ﷺ) forbade me from wearing gold rings, from reciting the Qur'an when bowing, and from wearing Al-Qassi, and clothes dyed with safflower.

It was narrated that Ali said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade me-but I do not say he forbade you- from wearing gold rings, Al-Qassi, and from wearing Al-Mufaddam, and from wearing clothes dyed with safflower, and from reciting Qur'an when bowing.

It was narrated that 'Ali said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade me from wearing gold rings, and Al-Qassi, and clothes dyed with safflower, and reciting Qur'an while I am bowing.

It was narrated that Ali said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade me from wearing Al-Qassi, and clothes dyed from safflower, and from wearing gold rings, and from reciting Qura'n while bowing.

It was narrated that Ibn 'Abbas said: The Prophet (ﷺ) drew back the curtain when the people were in rows behind Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, and said: 'O people, there is nothing left of the features of Prophethood except a good dream that a Muslim sees or is seen by others for him.' Then he said: 'Verily, I have been forbidden from reciting the Qur'an when bowing or prostrating. As for bowing, glorify the Lord therein, and as for prostration, strive hard in supplication for it is more deserving of a response.'

It was narrated that Hudhaifah said: I prayed with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and he bowed and said when bowing: 'Subhana Rabbial-azim (Glory be to my Lord Almighty).' And when prostrating: 'Subhana Rabbial-'Ala (Glory be to my Lord Most High).'

It was narrated that 'Aishah said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) often used to say when bowing and prostrating: 'Subhanaka Rabbana wa bi Hamdika, Allahumm aghfirli (Glorfy and praise be to You, our Lord. O Allah, forgive me.).'

It was narrated that Aishah said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to say when bowing: 'Subbuhun Quddusun Rabbul-mala'ikati war-ruh (Perfect, Most Holy, is the Lord of the angels and the spirit).'

Asim bin Humaid said: I heard 'Awf bin Malik say: 'I prayed Qiyam with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) one night, and when he bowed, he stayed as long as it takes to recite Surat Al-Baqarah, saying: Subhana Dhil-jabaruti wal-malakuti wal-kibriya' wal-'azamah (Glory be to the One Who has all power, sovereignty, magnificence and might).

It was narrated from Ali bin Abi Talib that: When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) bowed, he said: Allahumma laka rak`atu was laka aslamtu wa bika amantu, khasha`a laka sam`i wa basri wa `izami wa mukhi wa `asabi (O Allah, to You I have bowed and to You I have submitted and in You I have believed. My hearing, sight, bones, brain and sinews are humbled before You).

It was narrated from Jabir bin 'Abdullah that: When the Prophet (ﷺ) bowed, he said: Allahumma laka rak'atu wa bika amantu wa laka aslamtu wa alayka tawwakaltu, anta Rabbi, khasha'a sam'i wa basri wa dammi wa lahmi wa 'azmi wa 'asabi Lillahi Rabbil-'Alamin ( O Allah, to You I have bowed, in You I believe, to You I have submitted and in You I put my trust. You are my Lord. My hearing, my sight, my blood, my flesh, my bones and sinews are humbled before Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.)

It was narrated from Muhammad bin Maslamah that: When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stood to offer a voluntary prayer, he would say when he bowed: Allahumma laka rak'atu wa bika amantu wa laka aslamtu wa alayka tawwakaltu, anta Rabbi, khasha'a sam'i wa basri wa lahmi wa dammi wa mukhi wa 'asabi Lillahi Rabbil-'Alamin ( O Allah, to You I have bowed, in You I believe, to You I have submitted and in You I put my trust. You are my Lord. My hearing, my sight, my flesh, my blood, my brain and my sinews are humbled before Allah, the Lord of the Worlds).

It was narrated that Rifa'ah bin Rafi'- who had been present at Badr- said: We were with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) when a man entered the Masjid and prayed. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) watched him without him realizing, then he finished, came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and greeted him with salam. He returned the salam and said: Go back and pray, for you have not prayed.' He (the narrator) said: I do not know if it was the second or third time,- (the man) said: 'By the One Who revealed the Book to you, I have tried my best. Teach me and show me.' He said: 'When you want to pray, perform wudu' and do it well, then stand up and face the qiblah. Then say the takbir, then recite, then bow until you are at ease in bowing. Then stand up until you are standing up straight. Then prostrate until you are at ease in prostration, then raise your head until you are at ease in sitting, then prostrate until you are at ease in prostration. If you do that then you will have done your prayer properly, and whatever you failed to do properly is going to detract from your prayer.