How Did the Prophet Muhammad Pray?

The Method of the Prophet's Prayer

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) urged Muslims to pray as he prayed. Twenty men came to him, and he ordered them to pray as they saw him pray, saying: "Go back to your families and stay with them. Teach them and instruct them, and pray as you have seen me pray. When the time for prayer comes, let one of you call to prayer and let the eldest of you lead the prayer". Thus, a Muslim must pray as the Prophet (peace be upon him) prayed. This starts with ablution, facing the Qibla, saying the Takbir for prayer, reciting Al-Fatiha and any easy portion of the Quran, bowing, prostrating, and maintaining tranquility in prayer. The details are as follows:

1. Completing Ablution (Wudu), as Allah Almighty said: "O you who believe, when you rise to pray, wash your faces and your hands up to the elbows and wipe your heads and wash your feet up to the ankles".
2. Facing the Qibla, which is a pillar of prayer it is invalid without it, whether it is an obligatory or supererogatory prayer. This involves facing the entire body towards it, which is waived in cases of fear or combat and also waived for those unable, such as the sick, travelers in a ship, or those riding an animal and wishing to pray supererogatory prayers or Witr. If one can see the Kaaba, one must face it directly. If one prays in a direction other than the Qibla due to a valid reason and has tried to determine the correct direction, their prayer is valid and does not need to be repeated. If someone guides them while praying, they should turn towards the Qibla and continue their prayer.
3. Standing during the prayer is a pillar of the obligatory prayers. This requirement is waived in the case of supererogatory prayers, illness, or fear of falling.
4. Intention (Niyyah) is in the heart and does not need to be uttered. It involves specifying the prayer to be performed and is among the conditions or pillars of prayer.
5. Takbirat Al-Ihram says, "Allahu Akbar" (Allah is the Greatest). It is a pillar of prayer, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The key to prayer is purification; its beginning is Takbir". If one is following an imam, one should say Takbir after the imam. It is recommended to raise the hands with Takbir before or after it, with fingers extended, then place the right hand over the left on the chest. It is disliked to place them on the waist, with the importance of humility in prayer and looking at the place of prostration. It is disliked for the worshipper to look at the sky or to turn right or left.
6. Opening Supplication (Dua Al-Istiftah), which can be recited in any form transmitted from the Prophet (peace be upon him), such as saying: "Subhanak Allahumma wa bihamdika, wa tabarakasmuka, wa ta’ala jadduka, wa la ilaha ghayruk" (Glory is to You, O Allah, and praise, Blessed is Your Name, Exalted is Your Majesty, and there is no deity besides You). Then, the worshipper seeks refuge with Allah from Satan and begins with Bismillah (In the name of Allah).
7. Reciting Surah Al-Fatiha, which is a pillar of prayer. It is recommended to pause at the end of each verse and say "Ameen" after completing it. It is recommended that another Surah be recited in the first two units of prayer, prolonging the recitation in the Fajr prayer and making the first unit longer than the second. Reciting aloud in Fajr, Jumu'ah (Friday prayer), Eid prayers, rain-seeking prayer (Salat Al-Istisqa), Maghrib, and Isha, and silently in Dhuhr and Asr, and in the third unit of Maghrib and the last two units of the four-unit prayers. For Witr, it is recommended to sometimes recite aloud and sometimes silently.
8. Ruku (Bowing), placing the hands on the knees, extending the back and leveling it without lowering or raising the head, with tranquility in bowing, saying "Subhana Rabbi Al-Azim" (Glory to my Lord, the Most Great) three times or more.
9. Rising from Ruku, which is a pillar of prayer, saying "Sami’ Allahu liman hamidah, Rabbana wa lakal-hamd" (Allah hears those who praise Him, Our Lord, to You be praise), with tranquility in standing. If following an imam, one says "Rabbana wa lakal-hamd" only. One may add: "Mil'u-samawati wa mil'u-l-ard wa mil'u ma shi'ta min shay'in ba'd" (Full of the heavens, full of the earth, and full of whatever You will thereafter).
10. Sujood (Prostration), which is a pillar of prayer, involves lowering down and placing the hands before the knees, extending the fingers together, and pointing them towards the Qibla. The worshipper places their knees and toes on the ground with their feet raised and prostrates on the forehead with the nose, palms, knees, and toes. Saying "Subhana Rabbi Al-A'la" (Glory to my Lord, the Most High) three times or more and making much supplication. Then, one raises the head while saying Takbir and prostrates again with tranquility, saying between the two prostrations: "Allahumma ighfir li, warhamni, wajburni, warfa'ni, wa'afini, warzuqni" (O Allah, forgive me, have mercy on me, make me whole, raise me, give me health, and provide for me).
11. The second unit of prayer, performed similarly to the first unit but without the opening supplication and being shorter than the first.
12. Sitting for Tashahhud, which is obligatory. The worshipper sits on the ground, placing the right hand on the right thigh and the left hand on the left thigh, with the right fingers grasped and the index finger pointing and looking at it, reciting Tashahhud silently: "At-tahiyyatu lillah, was-salawatu wat-tayyibatu. As-salamu ‘alayka ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. As-salamu ‘alayna wa ‘ala ‘ibadillah is-saliheen. Ashhadu alla ilaha illallah wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasuluh" (All compliments, prayers, and good things are due to Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and Allah’s mercy and blessings. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah. I bear witness that there is no deity except Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger).
13. The third and fourth units of prayer, the worshipper stands after Tashahhud by saying "Allahu Akbar" and recites Al-Fatiha in these units.
14. The final Tashahhud and sitting, which are obligatory, sitting in the Tawarruk position (left hip on the ground, both feet out to the right, with the left foot under the right leg), reciting Tashahhud, and praying for the Prophet (peace be upon him), saying: "Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala aali Muhammad, kama sallayta ‘ala Ibrahim wa ‘ala aali Ibrahim, innaka hamidun majeed. Allahumma barik ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala aali Muhammad, kama barakta ‘ala Ibrahim wa ‘ala aali Ibrahim, innaka hamidun majeed" (O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy, Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy, Glorious). It is recommended to make supplications before concluding the prayer, saying: "Allahumma inni a'udhu bika min ‘adhabi jahannam, wa min ‘adhabi al-qabr, wa min fitnati-l-mahya wa-l-mamat, wa min sharri fitnati-l-masih ad-dajjal" (O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the punishment of Hell, from the punishment of the grave, from the trials of life and death, and from the evil of the trial of the false Messiah).
15. Taslim (Salutation), which involves saying Taslim to the right, which is a pillar, so that the white of the right cheek is visible, and to the left, so that the white of the left cheek is visible, saying "As-salamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullah" (Peace and mercy of Allah be upon you).

Characteristics of Prayer in Islam

Prayer in Islam has numerous distinctive characteristics, including the following:

• Named by Allah as Faith: Allah refers to prayer as faith in His saying: "And Allah would never have caused you to lose your faith. Truly Allah is full of kindness, the Most Merciful towards humankind" [Quran 2:143], referring to the prayer towards Jerusalem.
• Specifically Mentioned by Allah: Prayer is uniquely mentioned among other acts of worship. Allah says: "And We inspired them to do good deeds, to establish prayer" [Quran 21:73]. It is often coupled with other acts of worship, such as Zakat (almsgiving), sacrifice, and more. For instance, Allah says: "And establish prayer and give Zakat and bow with those who bow [in worship and obedience]" [Quran 2:43].
• Obligatory in All Situations: Prayer is mandatory in all conditions and circumstances. It is not waived even for the sick, the fearful, or the traveler. Allah specifically enjoined upon His Prophet (peace be upon him) to persevere in prayer more than any other act of worship, as He says: "And enjoin prayer upon your family [and people] and be steadfast therein. We ask you not for provision; We provide for you" [Quran 20:132].
• Emphasis on Proper Conditions: Allah encourages performing prayer in the best possible manner, with cleanliness, adornment, and facing the Qibla, among other requirements not imposed in other acts of worship.
• Involves All Human Faculties: Prayer involves the use of all one's faculties – the heart, the tongue, and the limbs – and prohibits engaging in any other activity during its performance.
• Key to Prophetic Teachings: All prophets are called to prayer, which is associated with faith affirmation. Allah says: "But he neither affirmed [the truth] nor prayed. But instead, he denied and turned away" [Quran 75:31-32].
• Means of Victory and Success: Prayer is a reason for victory, empowerment, success in this world and the Hereafter, salvation from the punishment of the grave, and a safeguard against polytheism and disbelief.
• Direct Revelation: Unlike other acts of worship, Allah ordained prayer directly without an intermediary. It was prescribed during the night of Isra and Mi'raj (the Night Journey and Ascension) in the heavens.
• Prevention of Immorality and Wrongdoing: Prayer prevents indecency and wrongdoing, as Allah says: "Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing" [Quran 29:45], especially when performed with humility, fulfilling its pillars and conditions.

The Virtues of Maintaining Prayer

Prayer holds a prominent position in Islam, being the pillar of the religion. It is essential for Muslims to understand its virtues and the importance of maintaining it. The virtues associated with maintaining prayer include:

• Unique Revelation: Prayer is the only obligatory act of worship that was prescribed in the heavens without direct revelation to the Prophet. It was the first duty imposed on Muslims.
• Purification from Sins: Prayer serves as a purification from sins. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "If there was a river at the door of one of you in which he bathes five times a day, would there be any filth left on him?" They said, "No filth would be left." He said, "That is the likeness of the five daily prayers by which Allah erases sins". Additionally, prayer is a means to enter Paradise and avoid Hell. The Prophet also mentioned that whoever prays twelve rak'ahs of voluntary prayers every day will have a house built for him in Paradise: "Whoever prays twelve rak'ahs in a day and night, a house will be built for him in Paradise".
• Developing Piety and Patience: Prayer trains the self in piety and patience, signifies true faith in Allah, and helps awaken the heart with humility and devotion.
• Foundation and Pillar of Islam: Prayer is the foundation and pillar of Islam, representing the connection between the servant and his Lord. It is a sign of the servant's love for Allah. Allah says: "Guard strictly (five obligatory) As-Salawat (the prayers) especially the middle Salat (i.e. the best prayer – 'Asr). And stand before Allah with obedience [and do not speak to others during the Salat (prayers)]" [Quran 2:238] .
• Completing Obligatory Prayers: Voluntary prayers compensate for the deficiencies in obligatory prayers. Maintaining them is also an excellent way to follow the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Voluntary prayers prepare the heart of the worshiper for the obligatory prayers and prime him for devotion .

In summary, maintaining prayer purifies the believer, ensures his connection with Allah, and prepares him for eternal success in the Hereafter. It emphasizes the importance of regularity and dedication in worship.