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There is only one way of performing prayer

Question

had our prophet (pbuh) prayed in different ways? If so is there any specific one which is correct or are all correct? Jazakallah.

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

There is only one way of performing prayer, with the exception of the funeral prayer. It consists of Takbeerat Al-Ihraam (opening Takbeerah), Qiyaam (standing position), Rukoo‘ (bowing), rising from Rukoo‘, Sujood (prostration), a short sitting position, another Sujood, a longer sitting for reciting the Tashahhud, and then Tasleem (ending the prayer). This is the reported way of performing prayer; the only difference between the prayers is in the number of the Rak‘ahs (units of prayer).

Jurists may have held different opinions regarding some minor actions in the prayer such as moving the index finger during reciting the Tashahhud, and the way the hands are placed during Qiyaam: on the chest or below the navel or between the chest and the navel. Jurists may have also differed with regards to some Athkaar (forms of remembrance of Allaah) recited in the prayer based on their personal judgments which they derived from the relevant Ahaadeeth, but this does not affect the general features of the prayer.

As for the funeral prayer, it is different since it has no Rukoo‘, Sujood, or sitting position; it consists of Takbeer, Qiyaam, and Tasleem.

Please refer to Fatwa 85270 about the description of the prayer of the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ).

Allaah Knows best.

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