212 – Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet ﷺ said: “When you rise for the prayer, perform the ablution thoroughly, then face the qiblah and pronounce the takbīr. After that, recite whatever is easy for you of the Quran, then bow until you are at ease in bowing. Next, raise your head until you stand erect, then prostrate until you are at ease in prostration, then rise until you sit calmly, then prostrate again until you are at ease in prostration. Do this in all of your prayers.” It was recorded by the Seven, and the wording here is that of al-Bukhārī.

Ibn Mājah, with Muslim’s chain of transmission, has the wording: “…until you are at ease standing.” (1)

The same wording appears in the narration of Rifāʿah ibn Rāfiʿ as related by Aḥmad and Ibn Ḥibbān: “…until you are at ease standing.”

Aḥmad also reports: “So straighten your spine until the bones return to their places.”

Al-Nasāʾī and Abū Dāwūd, from the hadith of Rifāʿah ibn Rāfiʿ, narrate: “The prayer of any one of you will never be complete until he performs ablution thoroughly as Allah the Exalted has commanded, then magnifies Allah the Exalted, praises Him, and extols Him.”

In their version it also says: “If you have some Quran with you, then recite it; otherwise, praise Allah, magnify Him, and declare His oneness.”

Abū Dāwūd likewise reports: “Then recite the Mother of the Book (al-Fātiḥah) and whatever Allah wills besides it.”