Statement about calling the one who is deficient in his bowing and prostration a thief, or that he is a thief of his prayer

Sayyiduna Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The worst thief among people is the one who steals from his prayer." The companions asked, "O Messenger of Allah, how does he steal from his prayer?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) replied: "He does not complete its bowing (ruku') and prostration (sujud)."

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) led us in the ‘Asr prayer, and he saw a man praying. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:“O so-and-so, fear Allah and perform your prayer in an excellent manner. What do you think, that I do not see you? Indeed, I see (you) from behind me just as I see (you) in front of me. Perform your prayers in the best way and complete your bowings and prostrations.”

Abu Abdullah Al-Ash'ari narrates that (one day) the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) led his companions in prayer, then sat among a group of them. Meanwhile, a man entered (the mosque) and performed prayer; he began to bow and peck in his prostrations. The Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Do you see this person? Whoever dies in this state will not die upon the religion and way of Muhammad (peace be upon him). This person is pecking in his prayer like a crow pecks at blood. Indeed, the example of the one who bows and pecks in his prostrations is like that of a hungry man who eats one or two dates—so what benefit will they give him? Perform complete ablution; for the (dry) heels is the punishment of fire. Complete your bowing and prostration." Abu Salih says: I asked Abu Abdullah Al-Ash'ari, "Who narrated this hadith to you?" He replied, "(This hadith was narrated to me by) the commanders: Sayyiduna Amr ibn Al-As, Khalid ibn Al-Walid, Yazid ibn Abi Sufyan, and Shurahbil ibn Hasnah (may Allah be pleased with them). All of them heard this hadith from the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him)."

Because the prayer in which the worshipper does not perform the bowing and prostration completely is not sufficient for him.

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "That prayer is not sufficient in which a person does not straighten and level his back in bowing (ruku) and prostration (sujud)."

Hazrat Ali bin Shiban, who was a member of the (delegation that came to serve the Prophet), says that I offered prayer behind the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). The Prophet (peace be upon him) glanced sideways and saw a man who was not straightening his back during bowing (ruku) and prostration (sajdah). Then, when the Prophet (peace be upon him) completed the prayer, he said: "O assembly of Muslims, indeed the prayer of the one who does not straighten his back during bowing and prostration is not valid." This is the hadith of Ahmad bin Al-Muqaddam.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) used to recite «‏‏‏‏سُبْحَانَ رَبِّي الْعَظِيمِ» ‏‏‏‏ three times in his bowing (ruku‘) and «‏‏‏‏سُبْحَانَ رَبِّي الْأَعْلَى » three times in his prostration (sujud).

Sayyiduna Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that I prayed with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), then he mentioned the rest of the hadith and said: Then when he (peace be upon him) performed prostration, he recited in his prostration «‏‏‏‏سُبْحَانَ رَبِّي الْأَعْلَى » "Glory is to my Lord, the Most High."

Uqbah bin Amir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that when this verse was revealed «‏‏‏‏سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الْأَعْلَى» ‏‏‏‏ [ سورة الأعلى ] "Glorify the name of your Lord, the Most High," the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said to us: "Recite it in your prostration." From the chain of Imam Sahib's teacher, Muhammad bin Isa, a narration similar to the above is reported, but in his narration, the words «‏‏‏‏لنا» ‏‏‏‏ "said to us" are not present.