The Complete Guide to Salah
How the Prophet (peace be upon him) prayed, the wisdom behind every movement, stories of the Companions, and achieving Khushu'
According to the Quran & Authentic Sunnah, Upon the Manhaj of the Salaf as-Salih
Contents
How the Prophet (peace be upon him) Performed Salah
Step by step from authentic narrations
صَلُّوا كَمَا رَأَيْتُمُونِي أُصَلِّي
Sallu kama ra'aytumuni usalli
“Pray as you have seen me praying.”
Abu Hurairah (RA) — Sahih Bukhari 631
1. How the Prophet Prepared for Prayer
The Prophet's Wudu
Uthman ibn 'Affan (RA) demonstrated the wudu of the Prophet in detail (Sahih Muslim 226):
- He would begin by saying “Bismillah” and washing his hands three times before putting them in the vessel
- He would rinse his mouth and sniff water into his nose three times with the same handful (Istinshaq), and blow it out
- He would wipe his head from front to back and then back to front in one motion — not three times
- He would wash between his fingers and toes meticulously
- He would say the Shahadah after completing wudu: “Ashhadu an la ilaha illa Allah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasuluh” — Sahih Muslim 234
The Prophet's Use of Siwak Before Prayer
لَوْلَا أَنْ أَشُقَّ عَلَى أُمَّتِي لَأَمَرْتُهُمْ بِالسِّوَاكِ عِنْدَ كُلِّ صَلَاةٍ
Lawla an ashiqqa 'ala ummati la-amartuhum bis-siwaki 'inda kulli salah
“Were it not that I fear it would be difficult for my Ummah, I would have commanded them to use siwak before every prayer.”
Sahih Bukhari 887 | Sahih Muslim 252
“This hadith shows that the Prophet (peace be upon him) used siwak before every prayer -- the only reason he did not make it obligatory was out of compassion for his Ummah.”
— Imam al-Nawawi
2. The Prophet's Standing Position (Qiyam)
- He stood straight with a slight, natural forward lean — not rigidly stiff
- His feet: approximately shoulder-width apart, pointing forward (Abu Dawud 741)
- His eyes were cast downward toward the place of prostration — he did NOT look upward (Sahih Muslim 428)
- His hands were placed RIGHT over LEFT, clasping the wrist of the left hand — on his chest
كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَضَعُ يَدَهُ الْيُمْنَى عَلَى يَدِهِ الْيُسْرَى
Kana an-Nabiyyu yada' yadahu al-yumna 'ala yadahi al-yusra
“The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to place his right hand over his left hand (in prayer).”
Sahl ibn Sa'd — Sahih Bukhari 740
Wa'il ibn Hujr (RA): “I saw the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) place his right palm over the back of his left hand, wrist and forearm.” (Sunan al-Nasa'i 888, authenticated). Imam Ahmad used this as evidence for placing hands on the chest specifically.
3. The Prophet's Takbiratul-Ihram
- He raised both hands level with his shoulders or ears, with fingers together and palms facing forward
- He said “Allahu Akbar” — NOT “Nawaitu” (intention). The Salaf condemned saying the intention aloud as bid'ah
- His raising of the hands was done simultaneously with the Takbir
Reference: Sahih Muslim 401 (Wa'il ibn Hujr's narration)
“The Prophet (peace be upon him) never uttered the intention for prayer in words. He would only say 'Allahu Akbar.'”
— Ibn al-Qayyim (Zad al-Ma'ad)
4. The Prophet's Opening Supplications (Du'a al-Istiftah)
Option 1 — Most Frequently Used in Obligatory Prayers
سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ، وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ، وَلَا إِلَهَ غَيْرُكَ
Subhanakallahumma wa bihamdika, wa tabarakasmuka, wa ta'ala jadduka, wa la ilaha ghayruk
“Glory be to You, O Allah, and with Your praise. Blessed is Your Name and Exalted is Your Majesty. There is no deity worthy of worship except You.”
Abu Dawud 775 | Ibn Majah 804 | Authenticated by al-Albani
Option 2 — Used in Night Prayer (Tahajjud)
اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ نُورُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فِيهِنَّ
“O Allah, to You belongs all praise. You are the Light of the heavens and the earth and whoever is in them... O Allah, forgive me what I have done and what I have not done, what I have concealed and what I have made public, and what You know better than I.”
Sahih Bukhari 1120 | Sahih Muslim 769
Option 3 — For Forgiveness and Purification
اللَّهُمَّ بَاعِدْ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ خَطَايَايَ كَمَا بَاعَدْتَ بَيْنَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ
“O Allah, distance me from my sins as You have distanced the East from the West. O Allah, cleanse me of my sins as a white garment is cleansed from filth. O Allah, wash away my sins with water, snow, and hail.”
Sahih Bukhari 744 | Sahih Muslim 598
5. The Prophet's Recitation in Prayer
Fajr
Long surahs — sometimes 60-100 verses. Ya-Sin (36), al-Waqi'ah (56), al-Rum (30), al-Tur (52)
Dhuhr & Asr
Medium-length — approximately 30 verses. al-Jumu'ah (62), al-Munafiqun (63), al-A'la (87), al-Ghashiyah (88)
Maghrib
Short surahs mostly, but also al-Tur (52) and al-A'raf (7) authentically reported
Isha
Medium length — al-Shams (91), al-Inshiqaq (84), and similar
Recitation Volume: In Fajr, Maghrib, and Isha — recitation is aloud (Jahr). In Dhuhr and Asr — silent (Sirr). (Sahih Bukhari 738)
6. The Prophet's Ruku' — The Bow
- He would grip his knees with his hands, fingers spread wide
- His back was FLAT — level like a table, not arched or humped
- His head was level with his back (not looking up, not chin to chest)
- His arms were separated from his sides
- He remained until every joint settled (Tuma'neenah)
كَانَ إِذَا رَكَعَ لَوْ صُبَّ عَلَى ظَهْرِهِ الْمَاءُ لاسْتَقَرَّ
“When he bowed, if water were poured on his back it would stay still (because his back was perfectly level).”
'Abd Allah ibn 'Umar (RA) — Musnad Ahmad
Dhikr in Ruku' — Authenticated Variations
- Most basic: “Subhana Rabbiyal-Adheem” (Glory be to my Lord, the Magnificent)
- Recommended: “Subhana Rabbiyal-Adheem” three times or more (Sahih Muslim 772)
- “Subboohun Quddoosun Rabbul-mala'ikati war-ruh” (Most Pure, Most Holy, Lord of the angels and the Spirit) (Sahih Muslim 487)
- “Subhanakallahumma Rabbana wa bihamdika, Allahum-maghfir li” (Sahih Bukhari 794)
7. Rising from Ruku' (I'tidal)
- He would rise FULLY upright until every vertebra settled
- While rising: “Sami'Allahu liman hamidah” (Allah hears whoever praises Him)
- Once upright: “Rabbana lakal-hamd” or the longer version
- He would remain standing STILL — a full pause — before descending to Sujud
Sahih Bukhari 792 | Sahih Muslim 471 (Al-Bara' ibn 'Azib narration)
8. The Prophet's Sujud — The Prostration
- He descended by placing KNEES first, then hands, then forehead and nose (Wa'il ibn Hujr: Abu Dawud 838)
- All SEVEN parts touched the ground: forehead (with nose), both palms, both knees, both feet (toes touching ground, feet upright)
- His arms were spread OUT away from his sides — “Do not spread your arms like the dog” (Sahih Bukhari 822)
- His belly did NOT rest on his thighs
- His fingers were together pointing toward the Qiblah
- His palms were placed level with his shoulders
أَقْرَبُ مَا يَكُونُ الْعَبْدُ مِنْ رَبِّهِ وَهُوَ سَاجِدٌ فَأَكْثِرُوا الدُّعَاءَ
Aqrabu ma yakunu al-'abdu min rabbihi wa huwa sajidun fa-akthiru ad-du'a
“The closest a servant is to his Lord is when he is in prostration. So increase your supplication therein.”
Sahih Muslim 482
Aisha (RA): “I missed the Prophet (peace be upon him) one night and found him prostrating, saying: ‘O Allah, I seek refuge in Your pleasure from Your anger, and in Your forgiveness from Your punishment, and I seek refuge in You from You. I cannot count Your praises as You have praised Yourself.’” (Sahih Muslim 486)
9. Sitting Between Two Prostrations (Julus)
- He sat on his LEFT foot (Iftirash position), with the right foot upright
- His hands rested on his thighs
- He would pause and be STILL
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَارْحَمْنِي وَاهْدِنِي وَاجْبُرْنِي وَعَافِنِي وَارْزُقْنِي وَارْفَعْنِي
Rabbi-ghfir li, warhamni, wahdini, wajburni, wa 'afini, warzuqni, warfa'ni
“My Lord, forgive me, have mercy on me, guide me, support me, grant me health, provide for me, and raise me in status.”
Abu Dawud 850 | Tirmidhi 284 | Ibn Majah 898 | Graded Sahih by al-Albani
10. The Prophet's Tashahhud
Ibn Mas'ud's Version (Most Widely Used)
التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
At-tahiyyatu lillahi was-salawatu wat-tayyibat, as-salamu 'alayka ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh, as-salamu 'alayna wa 'ala 'ibadillahis-salihin, ashhadu an la ilaha illallah wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasuluh
“All greetings, prayers and pure words are for Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.”
Sahih Bukhari 831 | Sahih Muslim 402
The Prophet's Finger in Tashahhud: He pointed with his index finger and raised it, making du'a with it. The Salaf differed on whether the finger is moved or held still — both are authentically narrated. (Sunan al-Nasa'i 1161 | Abu Dawud 957)
11. The Prophet's Night Prayer (Tahajjud)
Hudhayfah (RA): “He opened with Al-Baqarah. I thought he would stop at 100 verses, but he continued. I thought he would make Ruku', but he continued until he had finished Al-Baqarah, then Al-Nisa', then Al-Imran. He recited slowly, contemplatively. When he reached a verse of glorification, he glorified Allah. When he reached a verse of supplication, he supplicated. When he reached a verse seeking refuge, he sought refuge.” (Sahih Muslim 772)
Aisha (RA): “The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to pray eleven rak'ahs at night. His prostration was so long that one of us could have recited fifty verses before he raised his head.” (Sahih Bukhari 1123)
“The night prayer of the Prophet (peace be upon him) was not about quantity but about depth. Eleven rak'ahs performed with full presence was more beloved to him than thirty rushed ones.”
— Ibn al-Qayyim
The Wisdom Behind Each Movement
Spiritual insights from the scholars
“Salah contains all the stations of the spiritual journey. In Qiyam -- you are standing before the King. In Ruku' -- you are bowing before His majesty. In Sujud -- you have reached the closest proximity to Him possible in this life. In Julus -- you are sitting in His presence, testifying to His Oneness. In Tasleem -- you emerge carrying His peace to the world.”
— Ibn al-Qayyim (Al-Wabil al-Sayyib)
1. Qiyam (Standing): The Station of Muhasabah (Self-Accounting)
- The direction you face (toward the Ka'bah) unifies all Muslims into one spiritual community simultaneously
- Standing upright represents the Fitra — the natural, primordial state of servitude to Allah
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to stand for so long that his feet would swell — yet said: “Should I not be a grateful servant?” (Sahih Bukhari 1130)
“O son of Adam, you will only pray properly when you stand before Allah as a man who knows he may not live to pray another prayer after this one.”
— Al-Hasan al-Basri
Al-Hasan al-Basri also said: “The believer enters prayer as if he is entering the Day of Judgment — barefoot, fearful, trembling.”
2. Ruku' (The Bow): The Station of Ta'dhim (Glorification)
- Al-Adheem (The Magnificent) — you proclaim His incomprehensible greatness while bowing before it
- The posture of Ruku' was the position of respect before royalty in Arab culture
- The physical act of bowing compresses the ego — the one who bows cannot see forward, symbolizing total dependence on Allah's guidance
“When you say 'Subhana Rabbiyal-Adheem', let your heart affirm what your tongue says. You are proclaiming that this Lord -- who is above all imperfection -- is ALSO your Lord who is near to you, hearing your whispers.”
— Imam al-Ghazali (Ihya' 'Ulum al-Din)
3. Sujud (The Prostration): The Station of Qurb (Nearness)
Why the Forehead on the Ground?
- The forehead is the locus of the intellect — the place from which pride and arrogance flow. By placing it on the ground, you symbolically crush the ego before Allah.
- When Iblis refused to prostrate, his sin was pride. Every time you prostrate, you do what Iblis refused to do.
“In Sujud, the most honored part of the human body is placed at the lowest point. This is the meaning of La ilaha illa Allah made physical.”
— Ibn al-Qayyim
“In Sujud, three things coincide that do not coincide at any other time: (1) You are physically closest to the earth -- from which you were created. (2) You are spiritually closest to Allah -- Who is above all creation. (3) You are furthest from your nafs (ego) -- which is humbled before the One. This triple convergence is why Sujud is the summit of worship.”
— Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali
Rabi'ah ibn Ka'b al-Aslami (RA): “I used to sleep near the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and bring him his water... He said to me: ‘Ask me.’ I said: ‘I ask to be your companion in Paradise.’ He said: ‘Is there anything else?’ I said: ‘That is all.’ He said: ‘Then help me (achieve this for you) by making many prostrations.’” (Sahih Muslim 489)
4. Al-Fatihah — The Divine Conversation
قَسَمْتُ الصَّلَاةَ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ عَبْدِي نِصْفَيْنِ
Qasamtu as-salata bayni wa bayna 'abdi nisfayn
“I have divided the prayer between Myself and My servant into two halves.”
Abu Hurairah (RA) — Sahih Muslim 395 (Hadith Qudsi)
The Divine Dialogue in Al-Fatihah:
“This hadith reveals that Al-Fatihah is not a monologue -- it is a DIALOGUE. Allah responds to each verse in real time.”
— Ibn al-Qayyim
5. The Tasleem — Spreading Peace to the World
- You greet the angels on your right and left who record your deeds
- You greet fellow Muslims in the congregation — reinforcing community
- The one who concludes prayer with Tasleem carries the tranquility of having stood before Allah into every interaction of the day
“The Tasleem is the Ummah's declaration that Islam is a religion of peace for the world.”
— Ibn Taymiyyah
The Companions & Salaf
Their extraordinary relationship with Salah
Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (RA) — The One Who Wept in Prayer
Aisha (RA): “When Abu Bakr led the prayer, no one could hear him because of his weeping.” (Sahih Bukhari 679)
When the Prophet was near death and Abu Bakr led Salah, his weeping was so intense the Companions at the back could hear it.
The Prophet (peace be upon him): “Abu Bakr is a tender-hearted man; when he recites the Quran he weeps.” (Sahih Bukhari 679)
Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) — The One Who Prayed Stabbed
When fatally stabbed before Fajr prayer, he regained consciousness asking: “Has the prayer been established?” — his first concern was Salah.
He was helped into prayer while his wound was gushing blood.
He said: “There is no share in Islam for the one who abandons prayer.”
He wept so much in Tahajjud that his face showed marks of his tears in the morning.
Ali ibn Abi Talib (RA) — The One Who Trembled
When the time for prayer came, his face would change color and he would tremble.
He said: “The time has come for the trust that Allah offered to the heavens, the earth, and the mountains but they refused — and I undertook it.”
Ibn Mas'ud (RA) — The Teacher of Prayer
“I saw us (the Companions) — and none of us would miss prayer except a known hypocrite.” (Sahih Muslim 654)
“Pray as the Prophet (peace be upon him) prayed, not as you think is correct, but as you SAW him pray.”
“The prayer does not benefit the one whose prayer does not prevent him from evil and wrongdoing.” — explaining Quran 29:45
The Tabi'in: The Second Generation's Devotion
Sa'id ibn al-Musayyib
“I have not missed the opening Takbir (with the Imam) for forty years.”
Al-Aswad ibn Yazid
“When I entered prayer, I would say: This is the last prayer I will pray.” He performed over a thousand rak'ahs each day of voluntary prayer.
Ibrahim al-Nakha'i
“When the Companions prayed, it was as if they were standing before a king.”
Khaythamah ibn 'Abd al-Rahman
“The Salaf used to describe prayer as ‘entering the presence of the King’ — and they would say: What king do you enter upon without being silent, still, and fully attentive?”
The Imams of the Salaf
Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal
- Reported to have prayed 300 rak'ahs of voluntary prayer daily
- After being flogged and imprisoned by Caliph al-Ma'mun, his first act upon release was to go to the mosque for prayer
- When asked how he endured prison, he said: “Through prayer. In my cell, I had no books, no scholars, no companions — but I had Salah, and in it I had everything.”
- “The basis of this religion is the proper performance of Salah.”
- “I would not like to die except while in Sujud.”
Imam al-Bukhari
- Performed two rak'ahs of prayer every time he narrated a hadith
- Before beginning Sahih Bukhari, he bathed, prayed two rak'ahs, then sought Allah's guidance — he did this for every hadith (over 7,000 hadiths)
- Reported to have prayed 1,000 rak'ahs per day during certain periods
Imam al-Shafi'i
Al-Muzani: “I observed al-Shafi'i for thirty years, and he never prayed a single obligatory prayer except that — after finishing — he sat still in his place for a long time.”
“The beginning of knowledge is the proper performance of Salah. Whoever does not give Salah its due, do not trust their scholarship.”
— Imam al-Shafi'i
“I prefer to be in prayer when I die more than in any other state, because in prayer I am fulfilling every obligation simultaneously: I am remembering Allah, I am in His presence, I am making dhikr, I am reciting His Book, I am prostrating to Him -- what better state to meet Him in?”
— Sufyan al-Thawri
Khushu' — The Heart of Salah
Achieving true presence and devotion in prayer
قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ هُمْ فِي صَلَاتِهِمْ خَاشِعُونَ
“Successful indeed are the believers, those who humble themselves in their prayers.”
Quran 23:1-2
What is Khushu'?
Hudur al-Qalb
Presence of Heart — Your mind is focused on what you are saying and doing
Fahmul-Kalam
Understanding the Words — You comprehend the meaning of the Quran and dhikr you recite
Ta'dhim
Reverence — You feel the greatness of Who you are standing before
Hayba
Awe — A combination of love and reverence that prevents distraction
Raja'
Hope — Hope in Allah's mercy and acceptance of the prayer
Haya'
Shyness — Shame before Allah for past sins, keeping the heart humble
Why Khushu' is Fading — The Prophet's Warning
“The first thing to be lifted from this Ummah will be Khushu', until you will not see a single person with Khushu'.”
Al-Haythami authenticated this in Majma' al-Zawa'id, attributed to 'Ubadah ibn al-Samit (RA)
“The heart can be in the prayer while the mind is in the marketplace. This is the state of most people today. The body stands before Allah while the heart is absent. Such a prayer fulfills the obligation but gains no reward beyond the minimum -- like a garment that has been washed but the stains remain because it was not properly scrubbed.”
— Ibn al-Qayyim (Al-Wabil al-Sayyib)
How to Develop Khushu' — Practical Advice from the Salaf
Before entering prayer, pause and say to yourself: “I am about to stand before the Lord of all creation. He sees me and hears me. This may be my last prayer.”
Understand every word — learn the meaning of all supplications in Salah so you are speaking, not reciting mechanically.
Vary your recitation — the Prophet (peace be upon him) recited different surahs to keep each prayer fresh.
Pray in a clean, uncluttered space with nothing visually distracting in front of you.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said “Ikhsha'” (Have Khushu') to a man who was fidgeting (Abu Dawud 904) — stillness of body aids stillness of heart.
Make Sujud the centerpiece of your prayer — maximize dua in prostration.
Imam al-Ghazali: “Pray each prayer as if it is the last prayer you will ever pray.”
إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ تَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ
Inna as-Salata tanha 'an al-fahsha'i wal-munkar
“Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing.”
Quran 29:45
“Salah is simultaneously: a meeting with the King, a washing of sins, a nourishment of the soul, a training of the character, a connection to the Ummah, a reminder of the Hereafter, a shield from evil, a source of mercy, and the most direct path to Paradise. Everything the believer needs -- it is all in the Salah. Guard it as you would guard your life. For in the sight of Allah, it IS your life.”
— Ibn al-Qayyim
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلَاةِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ
“O you who believe! Seek assistance through patience and prayer. Surely, Allah is with those who are patient.”
Quran 2:153
وَصَلَّى اللهُ وَسَلَّمَ عَلَى نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ
May Allah's peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and all his Companions.