Shaqiq said that Hudhaifa saw a man who was not performing the bowing or the prostration perfectly, so when he finished his prayer he called him. Hudhaifa said to him,“You have not prayed.”He added that he thought he also said,“If you were to die, you would die following something other than the true religion which God created Muhammad to proclaim.”Bukhari transmitted it.

Abu Qatada reported God’s Messenger as saying,“The one who commits the worst theft is he who steals from his prayer.”When asked how one could steal from his prayer he replied,“By not performing his bowing and his prostration perfectly.”Ahmad transmitted it.

An-Nu‘man b. Murra reported God’s Messenger as saying,“What do you think of the drinker, the fornicator, and the thief?”That was before the prescribed punishments regarding them were revealed. On receiving the reply that God and His Messenger knew best, he said,“Such sins are abominations and punishment is prescribed for them, but the worst theft is what one steals from his prayer.”He was asked how one could steal from his prayer and replied,“By not performing his bowing and his prostration perfectly.”Malik and Ahmad transmitted it, and Darimi transmitted something similar.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s Messenger as saying,“I have been commanded to prostrate myself on seven bones:the forehead, the hands, 1 the knees, and the extremities of the feet, 2 and not to fold back the clothing or the hair.”1. i.e. the palms. 2. i.e. the toes. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Anas reported God’s Messenger as saying,“Adopt a moderate position when prostrating yourselves, and see that none of you stretches out his forearms [on the ground] like a dog.”(Bukhari and Muslim.)

Al-Bara’ b. ‘Azib reported God's Messenger as saying,“When you prostrate yourself, place the palms of your hands on the ground and raise your elbows.”Muslim transmitted it.

Maimuna said that when the Prophet prostrated himself he kept his arms so far away from his sides that if a lamb had wanted to pass under his arms it could have done so. This is Abu Dawud’s wording, as [Baghawi] explained in Sharh as-sunna with his isnad. Muslim has something to the same effect:She said that when the Prophet prostrated himself, if a lamb had wanted to pass between his arms it could have done so.

‘Abdallah b. Malik Ibn Buhaina* said that when the Prophet prostrated himself he spread out his arms so that the whiteness under his armpits was visible. * Buhaina was ‘Abdallah’s mother. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira said that the Prophet used to say when prostrating himself,“O God, forgive me all my sins, small and great, first and last, open and secret.”Muslim transmitted it.

A’isha said:One night I missed God’s Messenger from the bed, and when I sought him my hand came on the soles of his feet while he was in the act of prostration with them raised, and he was saying,“O God, I seek refuge in Thy good pleasure from Thy anger, and in Thy forgiveness from Thy punishment, and I seek refuge in Thee from Thee.* I cannot reckon Thy praise. Thou art as Thou hast lauded Thyself.”* This form of words indicates that God alone can give refuge from His wrath. Muslim transmitted it.