Sayyiduna Jabir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with both of them) narrates: We used to perform prayer behind the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) during the intense heat of summer, so one of us would take pebbles in his palm. He would keep them in one hand, then in the other hand, and when they became cool, he would prostrate on them.

Sayyiduna Abdur Rahman bin Shibl Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: I heard the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say: "He forbade three things during prayer: pecking like a crow, spreading the feet like a beast, and that a person designates a specific place for sitting as a camel designates its sitting place."

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates this statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): "When a person stays in the mosque to perform prayer or to remember Allah, Allah becomes as pleased with him as the family of a person who had been absent for a long time becomes pleased upon his return."

Saeed bin Abu Saeed Maqbari narrates from his father. He saw Sayyiduna Abu Rafi’ (may Allah be pleased with him), who was the freed slave of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Once, Sayyiduna Imam Hasan bin Ali (may Allah be pleased with both of them) was performing prayer. He had tied his hair at the back of his head, so Sayyiduna Abu Rafi’ (may Allah be pleased with him) untied his hair. Sayyiduna Imam Hasan (may Allah be pleased with him) turned towards him in anger, so Sayyiduna Abu Rafi’ said: Continue your prayer and do not be angry, for I heard the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) say this: This is the portion of Satan. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said (or Sayyiduna Abu Rafi’ said): This is the sitting place of Satan, meaning the place where the hair was tied. (Imam Ibn Hibban, may Allah have mercy on him, says:) The narrator named Imran bin Musa is Imran bin Musa bin Amr bin Saeed al-Aas. He is the brother of Ayyub bin Musa.

It is narrated about Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas that he saw Abdullah bin Harith, who had tied his hair at the back. So he (Ibn Abbas) stood behind him and began to untie it, while the other person tried to keep it in its original state. When he completed the prayer, he turned towards Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) and said: "What do you have to do with my head?" Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) replied: "I heard the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) say: 'The example of this person is like one who performs prayer while his hands are tied.'"

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates this statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): "Do not raise your gaze towards the sky during prayer, lest it be taken away." The narrator says: That is, do not do this during prayer.

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Does the person who raises his head before the Imam (from bowing or prostration) not fear that Allah may turn his head into that of a donkey?"

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates this statement of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him: "Does the person who raises his head before the Imam (from bowing or prostration) not fear that Allah, the Exalted, will transform his head into the head of a dog?"

Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "What is the matter with people that they raise their eyes towards the sky during prayer?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) emphasized this matter strongly and said: "People must stop doing this, or their sight will be taken away."

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) forbade a man from performing prayer while placing his hand on his side (flank).