Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) explains regarding the statement of Allah Almighty (the command of Allah Almighty is): "Do not recite your prayer loudly, nor keep it too low." Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) states that this verse was revealed when the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was spending time secretly in Makkah. When he used to lead his companions in prayer, he would recite the Holy Qur'an aloud. When the polytheists heard it, they would speak ill of the Qur'an, the One who revealed it, and the one who brought it. So Allah commanded His Prophet: "Do not recite your prayer loudly," meaning do not recite so loudly that the polytheists hear it and speak ill of the Qur'an. The command of Allah Almighty is: "And do not keep it too low," meaning do not keep it so low from your companions that they cannot hear it. (The command of Allah Almighty is:) "And seek a way between these."

Naeem Mujmir narrates: I prayed behind Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him), so he recited «بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِیمِ» , then recited Surah Al-Fatihah, until when he finished reciting «غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ» , he said Ameen; the people also said Ameen. When he went into ruku, he said Allahu Akbar. When he raised his head, he said «سمع اللہ لمن حمدہ» , then he said «اللہ اکبر» . Then when he went into prostration, he said «اللہ اکبر» , and when he raised his head, he said «اللہ اکبر» . Then, saying Takbeer, he stood up straight. When he stood up after performing two rak'ahs, he said «اللہ اکبر» . Then, when he finished the prayer with salam, he said: By the One in Whose hand is my soul, I am the one among you who most closely resembles the prayer of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).

Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), and Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him)—may Allah be pleased with all of them—used to begin the recitation from «الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ» .

Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: I have offered prayer behind the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), and Sayyiduna Uthman Ghani (may Allah be pleased with him), and I did not hear any one of them reciting «بِسمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ» aloud.

Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), and Sayyiduna Uthman Ghani (may Allah be pleased with him) used to begin the recitation from «الحمدلله رب العلمین» .

Naeem Mujmir narrates: He performed prayer behind Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him), so he recited «بسم الله الرحمن الرحیم» , then he recited Surah Al-Fatihah. When he reached «ولا الضالین» , he said "Ameen," and the people also said "Ameen." Whenever he went into prostration, he would say «اللہ اکبر» , and when he stood up after sitting, he would say «اللہ اکبر» . When he finished the prayer with salam, he said: By Him in Whose hand is my soul, I resemble the prayer of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) better than all of you.

Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), and Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) did not recite «بسم الله الرحمن الرحیم» in a loud voice.

Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), and Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) did not recite «بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم» aloud. These noble ones used to recite «الحمدلله رب العالمین» aloud.

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates this about the Noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. The Noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "When the Imam says «غير المغضوب عليهم ولا الضالین» , then you should say Ameen, because the angels also say Ameen and the Imam also says Ameen. Whoever's saying Ameen coincides with the angels' saying Ameen, his past sins are forgiven." (Imam Ibn Hibban, may Allah have mercy on him, says:) The statement of the Noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, "So whoever's saying Ameen coincides with the angels' saying Ameen," means that the angels say Ameen without any cause such as showing off, seeking fame, self-admiration, etc. Their saying Ameen is purely for the sake of attaining the pleasure of Allah Almighty. So when the reciter says Ameen for the sake of attaining Allah Almighty's pleasure, without any cause such as self-admiration, showing off, seeking fame, etc., then in terms of sincerity, his saying Ameen will coincide with the angels' saying Ameen. In this case, that person's past sins will be forgiven.

Sayyiduna Wa'il bin Hujr (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that he performed prayer behind the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) placed his right blessed hand over his left blessed hand. When he said «ولا الضالین» , he said Ameen. At the end of the prayer, he turned (for salam) to his right side and to his left side (i.e., twice).