The Prophet's Prayer From The beginning To The End As Though ...

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 us 13 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
tone 14 [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- instruments 16 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
Correcting the Imaam
He (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) set the example of correcting the imaam when his recitation
becomes mixed up, when once "he prayed, reciting loudly, and his recitation became mixed up, so
when he finished, he said to Ubayy: Did you pray with us He replied, 'Yes.' He said, So what
prevented you [from correcting me]" 18
Seeking Refuge & Spitting Lightly during Prayer in order to Repel Temptation
'Uthmaan ibn Abi l-'Aas (radi Allaahu 'anhu) said to him, "O Messenger of Allaah! The devil comes
between me and my prayer and confuses me in my recitation!" So the Messenger of Allaah
(sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, That is a devil called Khinzab, so when you detect him, seek
refuge with Allaah from him, and spit lightly 19 on your left three times. He said, "So when I did that,
Allaah caused him to go away from me." 20
The Rukoo' (Bowing)
After completing his recitation, he (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would pause for a moment 21 , then
raise his hands 22 in the way described earlier under the "Opening Takbeer", say takbeer 23 , and make
rukoo'. 24
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 relaxed 25
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