and stand before Allah in devout obedience.”

The significance of these verses will be explained later. Al-Bukhārī and Muslim recorded in their two Sahīh collections—as did the compilers of the Sunan: Abū Dāwūd, al-Tirmidhī, al-Nasā’ī and Ibn Mājah, and the compilers of Musnad collections, such as Ahmad’s Musnad, and other foundational works of Islam—the following report from Abū Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him:

“The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, entered the mosque. A man entered, then came and greeted the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, returned his greeting and said, ‘Go back and pray, for you have not prayed.’

“The man went back and prayed as he had prayed before, then greeted him. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, ‘And upon you be peace.’ Then he said, ‘Go back and pray, for you have not prayed.’ This happened three times.

“The man said, ‘By Him who sent you with the truth, I do not know how to do any better than this, so teach me.’

“He said, ‘When you stand to pray, proclaim Allah’s greatness, then recite whatever you can of the Quran. Then bow until you are at rest in that position, then rise until you are standing upright. Then prostrate until you are at rest in that position, then sit until you are at rest in that position. Do this throughout your prayer.’”

In a version recorded by al-Bukhārī:

“When you stand to pray, perform ablution thoroughly, then face the qiblah and proclaim Allah’s greatness. Recite whatever you can of the Quran, then bow until you are at rest in that position. Then raise your head until you are standing upright, then prostrate until you are at rest in that position. Then rise until you are sitting upright and still, then prostrate until you are at rest in that position