he is standing upright. He then prostrates until he is at ease in prostration, then says, “Allah is the Greatest,” and raises his head until he is sitting upright. He then says, “Allah is the Greatest,” and prostrates until his joints are at ease. He then raises his head and says, “Allah is the Greatest.” When he has done this, his prayer is complete.”

Another narration states: “None of your prayers is complete until he performs ablution thoroughly, as Allah, Mighty and Majestic, has commanded: washing his face and his arms up to the elbows, wiping his head, and washing his feet up to the ankles. He then declares Allah’s greatness and praises Him, then recites whatever of the Quran he has been permitted to recite and finds easy.” The narrator then reported wording similar to the first narration and said: “He then says, ‘Allah is the Greatest,’ and prostrates, placing his face—or perhaps he said his forehead—firmly on the ground until his joints settle and relax. He then says, ‘Allah is the Greatest,’ and sits upright upon his buttocks, keeping his back straight.” He thus described all four units of the prayer until he had finished, then said: “None of your prayers is complete until he does this.”

This was narrated by the compilers of the Sunan: Abū Dāwūd, al-Nasā’ī, Ibn Mājah, and al-Tirmidhī. Al-Tirmidhī said, “It is a good hadith.” The wording of both narrations is that of Abū Dāwūd.

A third narration of his states: “He said: ‘When you stand and turn toward the qiblah, say, “Allah is the Greatest.” Then recite the Mother of the Quran and whatever else Allah wills you to recite. When you bow, place your palms upon your knees and straighten your back.’ He also said: ‘When you prostrate, settle firmly into your prostration; and when you rise, sit upon your left thigh.’”

Another narration states that he said: “When you stand for prayer, declare Allah, Mighty and Majestic, to be the Greatest, then recite whatever of the Quran is easy for you.” It also records him as saying: “When you sit halfway through the prayer, be at ease and sit upon