In a hadith, the Prophet ﷺ said:
صَلُّوا كَمَا رَأَيْتُمُونِي أُصَلِّي
Translation:
Pray as if you see me (while I am praying).
Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Adhan, Chapter: Description of the Prayer of the Prophet ﷺ, Hadith 631
For this reason, one should try to follow the way the Prophet ﷺ prayed, as narrated in authentic hadiths, in order to attain the full reward of prayer. In these pages, the method of performing the prayer of the Prophet ﷺ is presented along with its hadiths.
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ دَخَلَ الْمَسْجِدَ، فَدَخَلَ رَجُلٌ فَصَلَّى، ثُمَّ جَاءَ فَسَلَّمَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَرَدَّ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامَ، فَقَالَ:
"ارْجِعْ فَصَلِّ، فَإِنَّكَ لَمْ تُصَلِّ"
فَرَجَعَ يُصَلِّي كَمَا صَلَّى، ثُمَّ جَاءَ فَسَلَّمَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَقَالَ:
"ارْجِعْ فَصَلِّ، فَإِنَّكَ لَمْ تُصَلِّ"
حَتَّى فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ ثَلاَثًا، فَقَالَ:
وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ مَا أُحْسِنُ غَيْرَهُ، فَعَلِّمْنِي.
فَقَالَ:
"إِذَا قُمْتَ إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ فَكَبِّرْ، ثُمَّ اقْرَأْ مَا تَيَسَّرَ مَعَكَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ، ثُمَّ ارْكَعْ حَتَّى تَطْمَئِنَّ رَاكِعًا، ثُمَّ ارْفَعْ حَتَّى تَعْتَدِلَ قَائِمًا، ثُمَّ اسْجُدْ حَتَّى تَطْمَئِنَّ سَاجِدًا، ثُمَّ ارْفَعْ حَتَّى تَطْمَئِنَّ جَالِسًا، ثُمَّ افْعَلْ ذَلِكَ فِي صَلاَتِكَ كُلِّهَا."
translation:
Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ entered the mosque. A man entered and prayed. Then he came to the Prophet and greeted him. The Prophet ﷺ responded to his greeting and said:
“Go back and pray again, for you have not prayed.”
The man returned and prayed as before. Then he came to the Prophet ﷺ and greeted him. The Prophet ﷺ said again:
“Go back and pray again, for you have not prayed.”
This happened three times. The man said:
“By Him Who sent you with the truth, I do not know any other way; teach me.”
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“When you stand for prayer, say Takbir. Then recite from the Qur’an as much as you are able. Then bow (Rukūʿ) until you feel at ease in bowing. Then rise to stand straight. Then prostrate (Sujūd) until you feel at ease in prostration. Then sit until you feel at ease in sitting. Do this throughout your prayer.”
Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Prayer, Hadith 757
Sahih Muslim, Book of Prayer, Hadith 397