He also used to say: It will be said to the reciter of the Qur'aan (on the Day of Judgment), 'Recite and ascend; recite slowly and rhythmically as you used to do in the previous world; your place will be at the last aayah you recite.3
He "used to prolong his recitation (at a letter which can be prolonged), such as at bismil-laah, at ar-rahmaan, and at ar- raheem"4, and at "nadeed" (Qaaf 50:10)5 & their like.
He used to stop at the end of an aayah, as has already been explained.6
Sometimes "he would recite in an attractive vibrating tone7, as he did on the Day of the Conquest of Makkah, when, while on his she-camel, he recited soorah al-Fath (48:29) [very softly]8, and 'Abdullaah ibn Mughaffal narrated this attractive tone thus : aaa."9
He used to command making one's voice beautiful when reciting the Qur'aan, saying
Beautify the Qur'aan with your voices [for a fine voice increases the Qur'aan in beauty]10 and
Truly, the one who has one of the finest voices among the people for reciting the Qur'aan is the one whom you think fears Allaah when you hear him recite.11
He also used to command recitation of the Qur'aan in a pleasant tone, saying: Study the Book of Allaah; recite it repeatedly; acquire (memorise) it; and recite it in a melodious tone, for by Him in whose Hand is my soul, it runs away quicker than camels from their tying ropes.12
He also used to say, He who does not recite the Qur'aan in a pleasant tone is not of us13 and
Allaah does not listen to anything as he listens (in some versions: as he is listening) to a prophet [with a nice voice, and in one version: with a nice melody] who recites the Qur'aan in a pleasant tone14 [loudly].15
He said to Abu Moosaa al-Ash'ari (radi Allaahu 'anhu),
Had you seen me while I was listening to your recitation yesterday! You
have surely been given one of the musical wind- instruments16 of the family of Daawood! [So Abu Moosaa
said: "Had I known you were there, I would have made my voice more pleasant and
emotional for you]."17
He also ordered "the one who prayed badly" likewise, saying to him,
Indeed, the prayer of one of you is not complete until he makes an excellent
ablution as Allaah has commanded him to ... then he celebrates Allaah's
greatness, praises and glorifies Him, then recites the Qur'aan as much as is
easy for him from what Allaah has taught him and allowed him, then says takbeer
and makes rukoo' [and places his hands on his knees] until his joints are at
ease and relaxed25
"He would put his hands firmly on his knees [as though he were grasping them]"28, and "would space his fingers out"29, ordering "the one who prayed badly" likewise, saying: When you make rukoo', place your palms on your knees, then space your fingers out, then remain (like that) until every limb takes its (proper) place.30
"He used to spread himself (i.e., not be in a compact position), and keep his elbows away from his sides."31
"When he made rukoo', he would spread his back and make it level"32, "such that if water were poured on it, it (the water) would stay there (i.e., not run off)."33 He also said to "the one who prayed badly", When you make rukoo', put your palms on your knees, spread your back (flat) and hold firm in your rukoo'.34
"He would neither let his head droop nor raise it (i.e. higher than his
back)"35, but it would be in between.36
He used to say, Complete the rukoo' and sujood, for by Him in whose Hand is my soul, I surely see you behind my back37 when you make rukoo' and sujood.38
"He saw a man praying not completing his rukoo' properly, and pecking in his sujood, so he said, Were this man to die in this state, he would die on a faith other than that of Muhammad, [pecking in his prayer as a crow pecks at blood; he who does not make rukoo' completely and pecks in his sujood is like the hungry person who eats one or two dates, which are of no use to him at all.39
Abu Hurairah (radi Allaahu 'anhu) said, "My close friend (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) forbade me from pecking in my prayer like a cockerel, from looking around like a fox, and from squatting like a monkey."40
The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) also used to say, The worst thief among men is the one who steals from his prayer. They said, "O Messenger of Allaah, how does he steal from his prayer?" He said, He does not complete its rukoo' and sujood.41
Once, "he was praying, when he glanced out of the corner of his eye at a man not settling his backbone in rukoo' and sujood. When he finished, he said, O assembly of Muslims! Verily, the prayer is not valid of the one who does not settle his spine in rukoo' and sujood."42
He said in another hadeeth, The prayer of a man does not count unless he
straightens his back in rukoo' and sujood.43
(Allaah listens to the one who praises Him).56
He also ordered "the one who prayed badly" to do that, when he said to him: No person's prayer is complete until ... he has said takbeer ... then made rukoo' ... then has said "Allaah listens to the one who praises Him" until he is standing straight."57 When he raised his head, he would stand straight until every vertebra returned to its place.58
Next, "he would say while standing:
(Our Lord, [and] to You be all Praise).59
He has commanded all worshippers, whether behind an imaam or not, to do the above on rising from rukoo', by saying Pray as you have seen me praying.60
He also used to say, The imaam is there to be followed ... when he has said 'Allaah listens to the one who praises Him' then say, '[O Allaah!] Our Lord, and to You be all Praise'; Allaah will listen to you, for indeed, Allaah, Blessed and Exalted, has said via the tongue of His Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam): Allaah listens to the one who praises Him.'61
He also gave a reason for this command in another hadeeth, saying: for he whose saying coincides with that of the angels will have his past sins forgiven.62
He used to raise his hands when straightening up63, in the ways described under the Opening Takbeer.
While standing, he would say, as previously-mentioned,