By the One in Whose Hand my soul is, I am the closest among you to the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). Such was his prayer until he departed this world

By the One in Whose Hand my soul is, I am the closest among you to the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). Such was his prayer until he departed this world

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that he used to say takbīr in every obligatory and supererogatory prayer during Ramadan and others. He would say takbīr when he rose and say takbīr when he bowed. Then, he would say: "Sami'a allāhu liman hamidah" (Allah hears he who praises Him). Then, he would say, "Rabbanā wa laka al-hamd" (Our Lord, praise be to You) before prostrating. Then, he would say: "Allāhu akbar" (Allah is the Greatest) as he went down to prostration. Then, he would say takbīr upon raising his head from prostration, then say takbīr upon prostrating, and then say takbīr upon raising his head from prostration. Then, he would say takbīr upon rising from the sitting position both times. He would do so in every Rak'ah until he finished the prayer. Then, he would say as he left: "By the One in Whose Hand my soul is, I am the closest among you to the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). Such was his prayer until he departed this world."

[Sahih/Authentic.] [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Explanation

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) describes part of the Prophet's prayer. He informs that when he stood for prayer, he would say the takbīr of ihrām (opening takbīr). Then, he would say takbīr in the following cases: when he bowed for Rukū 'when he prostrated himself and raised his head from prostration. When he made the second prostration, he raised his head and rose from the first two Rak'ahs after sitting for the first tashahhud in the three-Rak'ah or four-Rak'ah prayer. Then, he would do this in the whole prayer until he finished it. He would say upon raising his back from Rukū ': Allah hears he who praises Him. And while standing upright, he would say: Our Lord, praise be to You. Then, Abu Hurayrah would say after he finished the prayer: By the One in Whose Hand my soul is, I am the closest among you to the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). Such was his prayer until he departed this world.

Benefits

Takbīr is to be said with every movement in the prayer, except when he rises from Rukū‘, at which point he says: Allah hears he who praises Him.

The Companions were keen to follow the Prophet's example and preserve his Sunnah.

Categories

Method of Prayer, Method of Prayer