Iftirāsh and Iqʿāʾ between the Two Prostrations
Then “he would spread out his left foot and sit on it, composed,” and he instructed the man who prayed incorrectly to do likewise, saying, “When you prostrate, make your prostration firm; when you rise, sit upon your left thigh.”
“He would set his right foot upright,” and “he would direct its toes toward the qiblah.”
“At times he sat in iqʿāʾ—balanced on his heels with the balls of his feet on the ground.” ⦗801–807⦘
The Obligation of Composure between the Two Prostrations
“He ﷺ would remain motionless until every bone returned to its place.” He gave the same instruction to the man who prayed incorrectly, saying, “None of you completes his prayer until he does that.”
“He sometimes prolonged this sitting until it was nearly as long as his prostration,” and on occasion “he would stay so long that someone might think he had forgotten.” ⦗808⦘
Supplications between the Two Prostrations
During this sitting he ﷺ would say:
- “O Allah (in another wording: O Lord), forgive me, have mercy on me, mend me, raise me, guide me, grant me well-being, and provide for me.”
- At other times he would say, “Lord, forgive me; Lord, forgive me.” He recited both formulas in the night prayer. ⦗809–814⦘
The Second Prostration and Rising from It
Next “he would pronounce the takbīr and perform the second prostration.” He gave the same directive to the man who prayed incorrectly; after telling him to be composed between the two prostrations he said, “Then say: Allāhu akbar, and prostrate until your joints are at ease [then do that throughout your entire prayer].”
“He ﷺ would sometimes raise his hands with this takbīr.” In this prostration he did just as he had done in the first.
Then “he would raise his head while saying the takbīr.” He instructed the man who prayed incorrectly likewise; after directing him regarding the second prostration he said, “Then raise your head and say the takbīr,” adding, “[Then do that in every rakʿah (unit of prayer) and every prostration]; if you do so, your prayer is complete; if you leave anything out, your prayer is deficient.” “He would sometimes raise his hands” as well. ⦗815⦘
The Resting Sitting (jalsat al-istirāḥah)
Then “he would sit up straight,” “resting on his left leg in an upright posture until every bone returned to its place.” ⦗816–823⦘