It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Saeed Khudri that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "The worst thief is the one who steals in prayer." The people asked, "O Messenger of Allah! How can one steal in prayer?" He replied, "By not performing its bowing and prostration properly."

Hazrat Thabit narrates that once Hazrat Anas described to us the way the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) performed prayer. First, he stood straight for prayer, then he bowed (in ruku‘), then he raised his head from ruku‘, then stood up straight. And he remained standing for so long that some of us thought he had forgotten. Then Hazrat Anas performed sajdah, then sat up straight, and remained sitting for so long that some of us thought he had forgotten.

Hazrat Salim Barad says that we went to the house of Hazrat Abu Masood and requested him to teach us the prayer of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. He stood before us for prayer, then he bowed (in ruku) and placed his palms on his knees and his fingers below his knees. He kept his elbows away from his body in such a way that every part of the body became straight. Then he raised his head and said "Sami Allahu liman Hamidah." Then he stood in such a way that every part of the body was in balance, then he performed prostration (sajdah) and did the same in prostration. Then he performed two units (rak'ahs) of prayer. When he finished, he said that we saw the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, praying in this manner.

Hazrat Abu Hurairah says that a man keeps offering prayers for sixty years, but his prayer is not accepted, because sometimes he performs the bowing (ruku) properly but not the prostration (sajdah), and sometimes he performs the prostration properly but not the bowing.

Hazrat Muhammad bin Amr says that I saw Hazrat Abu Humaid Sa'idi with ten companions. Hazrat Abu Humaid said, "Shall I not describe to you the way the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) performed prayer?" They said, "Certainly, do so." He said, "When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) would raise his head from bowing (ruku'), he would remain still for so long that every bone would return to its place, then he would bend to go into prostration (sajdah) and then say the takbeer."

Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) performed ruku, he would not lower his blessed head below his back nor raise it above, but would keep it in a position between the two. When he raised his head from ruku, he would not go into prostration until he stood up straight in an upright position. And when he raised his head after prostration, he would not perform the second prostration until he sat in a state of calmness. After every two rak‘ahs, he used to recite at-Tahiyyat.

Hazrat Zaid bin Wahb narrates that Hazrat Hudhaifa (may Allah be pleased with him) once entered the mosque and saw that a man was praying towards the doors of Kindah, but he was not performing the bowing (ruku) and prostration (sajda) properly. When the man completed his prayer, Hazrat Hudhaifa (may Allah be pleased with him) asked him, "For how long have you been praying like this?" He replied, "For forty years." Hazrat Hudhaifa (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "You have not prayed for forty years. If you had died while praying in this manner, you would have departed from this world on a way other than the way of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)." Then Hazrat Hudhaifa (may Allah be pleased with him) began to teach him how to pray and said, "A person may lighten the prayer, but he should not be deficient in bowing and prostration."

It is narrated from Hasan that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "The worst thief is the one who steals in prayer." The people asked, "O Messenger of Allah! How can one steal in prayer?" He replied, "By not performing its bowing and prostration properly."

Hazrat Hamla bin Abdur Rahman narrates that Hazrat Ubadah saw a man who was not performing ruku and sujood properly. He took hold of that man's hand, so the man became frightened. Hazrat Ubadah said, "Do not imitate him or those like him. And remember that there is no prayer without Surah Al-Fatiha."

Hazrat Abu Ja'far narrates that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) saw a man who was prostrating in such a manner as if he was striking his head on the ground. Upon seeing him, the Prophet said: "If this person dies upon this prayer, he will not die upon my religion."