The same is also reported in the two Sahīhs and the Sunan collections from Abū Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him): “He would pronounce ‘Allāhu akbar’ in every prayer, whether obligatory or otherwise. He would pronounce ‘Allāhu akbar’ when he stood, then when he prostrated, then when he raised his head, and then when he rose from sitting after the first two units. He would do this in every unit until he completed the prayer. Upon concluding it, he would say: ‘By Him in whose hand is my soul, among you I am the one whose prayer most closely resembles that of Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). Indeed, this remained his manner of prayer until he departed this world.’”

Abū Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him) used to do this when he was governor of Medina. Muāwiya alternated between him and Marwān ibn al-Hakam in the governorship of Medina, appointing one at one time and the other at another. Marwān would also appoint Abū Hurayra as his deputy, and Abū Hurayra would lead the people in a manner that more closely resembled the prayer of Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) than did the prayer of Marwān or any of the other governors of Medina.

His words, “whether obligatory or otherwise,” refer to voluntary prayers, such as the night prayer during Ramadan. Al-Bukhārī narrated from al-Zuhrī, from Abū Bakr ibn Abd al-Rahmān ibn al-Hārith and Abū Salama: “Abū Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him) would pronounce ‘Allāhu akbar’ in every prayer, whether obligatory or otherwise, during Ramadan and outside it. He would pronounce ‘Allāhu akbar’ when he stood and when he bowed. He would then say, ‘Allah hears whoever praises Him,’ followed by, ‘Our Lord, to You belongs all praise.’” He then related the remainder of the report in similar terms.

The people had grown accustomed to the practice of others and therefore did not recognize this until they asked him about it. Muslim narrated from Yahyā ibn Abī Kathīr, from Abū Salama: “Abū Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him) would pronounce ‘Allāhu akbar’ during the prayer whenever he raised or lowered himself. I therefore asked, ‘Abū Hurayra, what is this pronouncement of “Allāhu akbar”?’ He replied, ‘This is indeed the prayer of Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him).’”