It was narrated from Abu 'Awanah, from Qatadah, from Nasr bin 'Asim, from Malik bin Al-Huwairith, that when the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said the Takbir, he raised his hands until they were level with his ears. When he bowed, he raised his hands until they were level with his ears, and when he raised his head from bowing, he said: "Sami'a Allahu liman hamidah (Allah hears those who praise Him)," and did likewise.

حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو كَامِلٍ الْجَحْدَرِيُّ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ عَنْ قَتَادَةَ عَنْ نَصْرِ بْنِ عَاصِمٍ عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ الْحُوَيْرِثِ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ إِذَا كَبَّرَ رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ حَتَّى يُحَاذِيَ بِهِمَا أُذُنَيْهِ وَإِذَا رَكَعَ رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ حَتَّى يُحَاذِيَ بِهِمَا أُذُنَيْهِ وَإِذَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنْ الرُّكُوعِ فَقَالَ سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ فَعَلَ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ.

It was narrated from Sa'eed, from Qatadah with this chain, that he saw the Prophet of Allah (s.a.w), and he said: "Until they were level with his earlobes (as no. 864)."

و حَدَّثَنَاه مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عَدِيٍّ عَنْ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ قَتَادَةَ بِهَذَا الْإِسْنَادِ أَنَّهُ رَأَى نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَقَالَ حَتَّى يُحَاذِيَ بِهِمَا فُرُوعَ أُذُنَيْهِ.

It was narrated from Abu Salamah bin 'Abdur-Rahman that Abu Hurairah used to lead them in Salat. He said the Takbir every time he moved up or down, and when he finished he said: "By Allah, I am the one among you whose Salat most closely resembles that of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w)."

و حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى قَالَ قَرَأْتُ عَلَى مَالِكٍ عَنْ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ أَنَّ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ كَانَ يُصَلِّي لَهُمْ فَيُكَبِّرُ كُلَّمَا خَفَضَ وَرَفَعَ فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَ قَالَ وَاللَّهِ إِنِّي لَأَشْبَهُكُمْ صَلَاةً بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ.

It was narrated from Abu Bakr bin 'Abdur-Rahman that he heard Abu Hurairah say: "When the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) stood up to offer Salat, he would say the Takbir when he stood up, then he would say the Takbir when he bowed. Then he would say: 'Sami'a Allahu liman hamidah (Allah hears those who praise Him)' when he was straightening his back after bowing. Then, while he was standing he would say: 'Rabbana wa lakal-hamd (our Lord, and to You is the praise).' Then he would say the Takbir when he went down in prostration. Then he would say the Takbir when he raised his head, then he would say the Takbir when he prostrated, then he would say the Takbir when he raised his head. And he did that throughout the prayer until he finished. And he would say the Takbir when he stood up after two Rak'ah, after sitting.'' Then Abu Hurairah said: "I am the one among you whose prayer most closely resembles that of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w)."

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ أَخْبَرَنِي ابْنُ شِهَابٍ عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ يَقُولُ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا قَامَ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ يُكَبِّرُ حِينَ يَقُومُ ثُمَّ يُكَبِّرُ حِينَ يَرْكَعُ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ حِينَ يَرْفَعُ صُلْبَهُ مِنْ الرُّكُوعِ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ وَهُوَ قَائِمٌ رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ ثُمَّ يُكَبِّرُ حِينَ يَهْوِي سَاجِدًا ثُمَّ يُكَبِّرُ حِينَ يَرْفَعُ رَأْسَهُ ثُمَّ يُكَبِّرُ حِينَ يَسْجُدُ ثُمَّ يُكَبِّرُ حِينَ يَرْفَعُ رَأْسَهُ ثُمَّ يَفْعَلُ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ فِي الصَّلَاةِ كُلِّهَا حَتَّى يَقْضِيَهَا وَيُكَبِّرُ حِينَ يَقُومُ مِنْ الْمَثْنَى بَعْدَ الْجُلُوسِ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ إِنِّي لَأَشْبَهُكُمْ صَلَاةً بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ.

Abu Salamah bin 'Abdur-Rahman narrated that when Abu Hurairah was appointed by Marwan as his governor in Al-Madinah, when he stood up to offer any obligatory prayer, he would say the Takbir... and he mentioned a Hadith similar to that of Ibn juraij (no. 868). In his Hadith he said: "When. he had finished (praying) and said the Salam, he turned to the people in the Masjid and said: 'By the One in Whose hand is my soul! I am the one among you whose prayer most closely resembles that of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w)."'

و حَدَّثَنِي حَرْمَلَةُ بْنُ يَحْيَى أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ عَنْ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ أَخْبَرَنِي أَبُو سَلَمَةَ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ أَنَّ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ كَانَ حِينَ يَسْتَخْلِفُهُ مَرْوَانُ عَلَى الْمَدِينَةِ إِذَا قَامَ لِلصَّلَاةِ الْمَكْتُوبَةِ كَبَّرَ فَذَكَرَ نَحْوَ حَدِيثِ ابْنِ جُرَيْجٍ وَفِي حَدِيثِهِ فَإِذَا قَضَاهَا وَسَلَّمَ أَقْبَلَ عَلَى أَهْلِ الْمَسْجِدِ قَالَ وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ إِنِّي لَأَشْبَهُكُمْ صَلَاةً بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ.

It was narrated that Mutarrif said: "'Imran bin Husain and I offered Salat behind 'Ali bin Abi Talib. When he prostrated he said the Takbir, and when he raised his head he said the Takbir, and when he got up after two Rak'ah he said the Takbir. When we had finished the prayers, 'Imran took me by the hand and said: 'This man has led us in a prayer like that of Muhammad (s.a.w);' or he said: 'This man reminded me of the prayer of Muhammad (s.a.w)."'

حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى وَخَلَفُ بْنُ هِشَامٍ، جَمِيعًا عَنْ حَمَّادٍ قَالَ يَحْيَى أَخْبَرَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ عَنْ غَيْلَانَ عَنْ مُطَرِّفٍ قَالَ صَلَّيْتُ أَنَا وَعِمْرَانُ بْنُ حُصَيْنٍ خَلْفَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ فَكَانَ إِذَا سَجَدَ كَبَّرَ وَإِذَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ كَبَّرَ وَإِذَا نَهَضَ مِنْ الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ كَبَّرَ فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفْنَا مِنْ الصَّلَاةِ قَالَ أَخَذَ عِمْرَانُ بِيَدِيْ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَقَدْ صَلَّى بِنَا هَذَا صَلَاةَ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَوْ قَالَ قَدْ ذَكَّرَنِي هَذَا صَلَاةَ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ.

It was narrated from 'Ubadah bin As-Samit that the Prophet (s.a.w) said: "There is no prayer for the one who does not recite the Opening of the Book (Al-Fatihah )."

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ وَعَمْرٌو النَّاقِدُ وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ جَمِيعًا عَنْ سُفْيَانَ قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ عَنْ الزُّهْرِيِّ عَنْ مَحْمُودِ بْنِ الرَّبِيعِ عَنْ عُبَادَةَ بْنِ الصَّامِتِ يَبْلُغُ بِهِ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَا صَلَاةَ لِمَنْ لَمْ يَقْرَأْ بِفَاتِحَةِ الْكِتَابِ.

It was narrated from Al - 'Ala bin 'Abdur-Rahman, from his father, from Abu Hurairah, that the Prophet (s.a.w) said: "Whoever offers a prayer in which he does not recite the Essence of the Qur'an (Al-Fatihah), it is deficient," (repeating it) three times, "not complete." It was said to Abu Hurairah: "We are behind the Imam." He said: "Recite it to yourself, for I heard the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) say: 'Allah, Most High, says: "I have divided As-Salat (the prayer) in half between Myself and My slave, and My slave will have that which he asks for. When the slave says: 'Al-hamdu Lillahi Rabbil- 'Alamin (All the praises and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists)),' Allah says: 'My slave has praised Me.' When he says: 'Ar-Rahman ar-Rahim (The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful),' Allah says: 'My slave has extolled Me.' When he says: 'Maliki yawmid-din (The Only Owner (and the Only Ruling Judge) of the Day of Recompense (i.e. the Day of Resurrection)),' Allah says, 'My slave has glorified Me - and one occasion he said: My slave has entrusted his affairs to Me.' When he says: 'Iyyaka na'budu wa Iyyaka nasta'in (You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything)),' Allah says: 'This is between Me and My slave, and he will have what he asked for.' When he says, 'Ihdinas-sirat al-mustaqim, sirat alladina an'amta 'alayhim, ghayril-maghdubi 'alayhim wa lad-dallin (Guide us to the Straight Way, The way of those on whom You have bestowed Your grace, not (the way) of those who earned Your anger, nor of those who went astray),' Allah says: 'This is for My slave, and he will have what he asked for."' Sufyan said: "Al-'Ala bin 'Abdur-Rahman bin Ya'qub narrated it to me, I entered upon him while he was sick, in his house, and I asked him about it."

و حَدَّثَنَاه إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْحَنْظَلِيُّ أَخْبَرَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ عَنْ الْعَلَاءِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ مَنْ صَلَّى صَلَاةً لَمْ يَقْرَأْ فِيهَا بِأُمِّ الْقُرْآنِ فَهِيَ خِدَاجٌ ثَلَاثًا غَيْرُ تَمَامٍ فَقِيلَ لِأَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ إِنَّا نَكُونُ وَرَاءَ الْإِمَامِ فَقَالَ اقْرَأْ بِهَا فِي نَفْسِكَ فَإِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى قَسَمْتُ الصَّلَاةَ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ عَبْدِي نِصْفَيْنِ وَلِعَبْدِي مَا سَأَلَ فَإِذَا قَالَ الْعَبْدُ { الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ } قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى حَمِدَنِي عَبْدِي وَإِذَا قَالَ { الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ } قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى أَثْنَى عَلَيَّ عَبْدِي وَإِذَا قَالَ { مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ } قَالَ مَجَّدَنِي عَبْدِي وَقَالَ مَرَّةً فَوَّضَ إِلَيَّ عَبْدِي فَإِذَا قَالَ { إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ } قَالَ هَذَا بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ عَبْدِي وَلِعَبْدِي مَا سَأَلَ فَإِذَا قَالَ{ اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ}قَالَ هَذَا لِعَبْدِي وَلِعَبْدِي مَا سَأَلَ. قَالَ سُفْيَانُ: حَدَّثَنِي بِهِ الْعَلَاءُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ يَعْقُوبَ دَخَلْتُ عَلَيْهِ وَهُوَ مَرِيضٌ فِي بَيْتِهِ فَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنَا عَنْهُ.

Al-'Ala' bin 'Abdur-Rahman bin Ya'qub narrated that Abu As-Sa'ib, the freed slave of Banu 'Abdullah bin Hisham bin Zuhrah, told him that he heard Abu Hurairah say: "The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: 'Whoever offers a prayer in which he does not recite the Essence of the Qur'an...' - a Hadith like that of Sufyan (no. 878). In their Hadith it says: "Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, says: 'I have divided the prayer into two halves, between Myself and My slave, one half for Me, and one half for My slave."'

و حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ أَخْبَرَنِي الْعَلَاءُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ يَعْقُوبَ أَنَّ أَبَا السَّائِبِ مَوْلَى بَنِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ هِشَامِ بْنِ زُهْرَةَ أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَنْ صَلَّى صَلَاةً فَلَمْ يَقْرَأْ فِيهَا بِأُمِّ الْقُرْآنِ بِمِثْلِ حَدِيثِ سُفْيَانَ وَفِي حَدِيثِهِمَا قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى قَسَمْتُ الصَّلَاةَ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ عَبْدِي نِصْفَيْنِ فَنِصْفُهَا لِي وَنِصْفُهَا لِعَبْدِي.

Al-'Ala' narrated: "I heard from my father, and from Abu As-Sa'ib, who were both companions of Abu Hurairah: 'Abu Hurairah said: "The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: 'Whoever offers a prayer in which he does not recite the Opening of the Book, it is deficient,' and he said it three times."

حَدَّثَنِي أَحْمَدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ الْمَعْقِرِيُّ حَدَّثَنَا النَّضْرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُوَيْسٍ أَخْبَرَنِي الْعَلَاءُ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ مِنْ أَبِي وَمِنْ أَبِي السَّائِبِ وَكَانَا جَلِيسَيْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَا قَالَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَنْ صَلَّى صَلَاةً لَمْ يَقْرَأْ فِيهَا بِفَاتِحَةِ الْكِتَابِ فَهِيَ خِدَاجٌ يَقُولُهَا ثَلَاثًا بِمِثْلِ حَدِيثِهِمْ.