It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) that when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) began the prayer, he would raise his hands up to his shoulders, and when he bowed (for ruku‘), and when he raised his head from ruku‘, he would raise his hands in the same way and say:“ «سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ» ‏‏‏‏ Allah has heard the one who praises Him «رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ» O our Lord! And all praise is for You.”And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would not raise his hands during prostrations (sujood).

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Rifa’ah bin Rafi’ al-Zuraqi (may Allah be pleased with him) that one day we were praying behind the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) raised his head from bowing (ruku’) and said: «سَمِعَ اللهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ» “Allah has heard the one who praises Him,”a man praying behind the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: «رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ حَمْدًا كَثِيرًا طَيِّبًا مُبَارَكًا فِيهِ» “O our Lord! And to You alone is all praise, abundant, pure, and blessed.”When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) finished the prayer with salam, he said:“Who spoke just now (in the prayer)?”A man said:“I did, O Messenger of Allah!”So the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:“I saw more than thirty (30) angels racing to be the first to write it down.”

And with the same chain of narration, it is narrated from (Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "When the Imam says «سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ» ‏‏‏‏, then all of you say «اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ» , because whoever's saying coincides with the saying of the angels, his previous sins are forgiven."

It is narrated from Ali bin Abdur Rahman al-Ma'adi (Tabi'i) that Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) saw me (during prayer) and I was idly playing with pebbles. When I finished the prayer with salam, he forbade me and said: "Do as the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to do." I asked: "What did the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) do in this situation?" He replied: "When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) sat in prayer, he would place his right palm on his right thigh, close all his fingers, and point with the finger next to the thumb (the index finger), and he would place his left palm on his left thigh."

It is narrated from Ubaydullah bin Abdullah bin Umar bin al-Khattab, may Allah have mercy on him, that he used to see that (his father) Abdullah bin Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, when he sat in prayer (for Tashahhud), he would sit cross-legged. He said that (once) I also did this, and at that time I was a small child, so Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, forbade me and said: The Sunnah of prayer is that you should raise your right foot and spread your left foot. I said to him: But you sit cross-legged? He replied: My feet cannot support me, that is, I am ill.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Mas’ud al-Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) came to us while we were in the gathering of Sayyiduna Sa’d bin ‘Ubadah (may Allah be pleased with him). Then Bashir bin Sa’d (may Allah be pleased with him) said to him:“O Messenger of Allah! Allah has commanded us to send blessings upon you, so how should we send blessings upon you?”Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) remained silent until we wished that he had not asked him (this) question. Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:“Say «اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَبَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ فِي الْعَالَمِينَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ» O Allah! Send blessings upon Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and upon the family of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) as You sent blessings upon the family of Ibrahim (peace be upon him), and send blessings upon Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and upon the family of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) as You sent blessings upon the family of Ibrahim (peace be upon him), and the greeting (al-tahiyyat) is as you have learned.”

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Humayd As-Sa'idi (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: O Messenger of Allah! How should we send blessings upon you? The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Say «اللهم صل على محمد وعلى أزواجه وذريته كماصليت على آل إبراهيم، وبارك على محمد وأزواجه وذريته كماباركت على آل إبراهيم إنك حميد مجيد» O Allah! Send blessings upon Muhammad (peace be upon him), his wives, and his offspring as You sent blessings upon the family of Ibrahim. And send blessings upon Muhammad (peace be upon him), his wives, and his offspring as You sent blessings upon the family of Ibrahim. Surely, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious."