Prayers and Hadiths to Recite After Beginning Prayer
What prayers did our Prophet (peace be upon him) recite when he stood up for prayer? Let’s examine the prayers and explanations compiled from hadith on this important topic.
According to a narration from Ali bin Abu Talib (may Allah be pleased with him):
When the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) stood up for prayer, he would say takbir and then recite the following supplication:
“I have turned my entire being to Him who created the heavens and the earth; I am not among the polytheists. Surely my prayer, my sacrifice, my life, and my death are [directed] to the Lord of the worlds, who has no partner. This is what I was commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims.” (Surah Al-An’am, verse 163)
“O Allah, You are the Sovereign; there is no deity except You. You are sufficient for me; You are my Lord, and I am Your servant. I have wronged myself, and I confess my sins. Forgive all my sins; none can forgive them but You.”
“Guide me to the best of manners, for none can guide to it except You, and you are sufficient. Keep me away from the worst of manners, for none can keep me away from it except You, and I am under your command. I continue in Your worship. All good is in Your hand.”
“I have turned to You, my destination is You. You are the Exalted, the Most High; I seek forgiveness from You and repent to You.”
Dua Recited in Ruku
When he reached ruku, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) recited the following supplication:
“O Allah, I bow down to You; I believe in You and submit to You. My ear, my eye, my marrow, my bone, and my nerves are attentive to You.” (He bowed in Your presence.)
Dua Recited in Prostration
While prostrating, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) recited the following supplication:
“O Allah, I bow down to You; I believe in You and submit to You. My face is placed on the form that created it and perfected its form, [and] to Him who created the eyes and ears (from flesh). Glorified is Allah, the Most Excellent of creators.”
Dua Recited When Giving Salam
When giving salam after prayer, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) recited the following supplication:
“O Allah, You know what I have done before and left behind, what I have concealed and revealed. Forgive me for that which you know; there is no deity but You alone.” (Abu Dawud, Salat, 121/760; Muslim, Kitab al-Salat, b. 40, n. 40, p. 346, v. 1; Tirmidhi, Abwab al-Salat, b. 197, n. 266, p. 53, v. 2; Ibn Majah, Kitab al-Salat, b. 18, n. 18, p. 284, v. 1; Nasa’i, Kitab al-Iftitah, n. 898, p. 129, v. 2)
From Ali bin Abu Talib (may Allah be pleased with him):
When the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) stood up for obligatory prayer, he would say takbir and raise both his hands to the level of his shoulders. Whenever he finished reciting [the Quran], when he wanted to go into ruku, and when he rose from ruku, he would raise his hands again in the same way. He did not raise his hands at all while sitting in prayer; and when he rose from two prostrations, he raised his hands and said takbir.
All good is in Your hand. It is not from You that evil comes – this phrase is not found in that narration. In that narration, the following sentence is added: When returning from prayer, say, ‘O Allah, You know what I have done beforehand and left behind, what I have concealed and revealed; forgive me. You are the one who brings forward [rewards] and leaves behind [punishments]. There is no deity but You alone.’ (Abu Dawud, Salat, 121/761)
Shu’aib bin Abu Hamza narrated: Muhammad bin Munkadir said, and others from the people of Medina who were jurists, told me:
– When you recite that supplication, instead of saying ‘I am the first of the Muslims,’ say:
– I am among the Muslims. (Abu Dawud, Salat, 121/762)
Explanation of the Hadith
Verse 163 of Surah Al-An’am is the verse upon which the 760th hadith is based. This verse narrates how Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) abandoned the idols that his people worshipped and turned to Allah with all his being, saying, “I am the first of the Muslims.”
The expression