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

The First Tashahhud
Next, he (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would sit for tashahhud after finishing the second rak'ah.
In a two-rak'ah prayer such as Fajr, "he would sit muftarishan" 175 , as he used to sit between the
two sajdahs, and "he would sit in the first tashahhud similarly" 176 in a three- or four-rak'ah
prayer.
He also ordered "the one who prayed badly" thus, saying to him, When you sit in the middle of
the prayer, then be calm, spread your left thigh and perform tashahhud. 177
Abu Hurairah (radi Allaahu 'anhu) said, "My friend (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) forbade me from
squatting (iq'aa') like a dog" 178 ; in another hadeeth, "he used to forbid the squatting of the
devil." 179
"When he sat in tashahhud, he would place his right palm on his right thigh (in one narration: knee), and his left palm on his left
thigh (in one narration: knee, spreading it upon it)" 180 ; and "he would put the end of his right elbow on his right thigh." 181
Also, "he forbade a man who was sitting in prayer resting on his left hand, and said: Verily, that is the prayer of the Jews 182 ; in one
wording, Do not sit like this, for indeed this is the way of sitting of those who are punished 183 ; in another hadeeth, It is the sitting
posture of those who incurred (Allaah's) anger. 184
Moving the Finger in Tashahhud
"He (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would spread his left palm on his left knee, clench all the fingers of his right hand, point with the
finger adjacent to the thumb towards the qiblah, and fix his sight on it (i.e. the finger)." 185
Also, "when he pointed with his finger, he would put his thumb on his middle finger" 186 , and sometimes "he would make a circle with
these two." 187
"When he raised his finger, he would move it, supplicating with it" 188 , and he used to say, "It is surely more powerful against the
devil than iron, meaning the forefinger." 189
Also, "the Companions of the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) used to remind each other, that is, about pointing with the
finger when supplicating." 190
Once, "he saw a man supplicating with two fingers, so he said, "Make it one, [make it one,]" and indicated with his forefinger." 191
"He (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would do this in both tashahhuds." 192
The Obligation of the First Tashahhud, & theValidity of Supplication during it
"He (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would recite the Tahiyyah after every two rak'ahs" 193 ; "the first thing he would say in this sitting
would be: All compliments be to Allaah." 194
"When he forgot to perform the tashahhud after the first two rak'ahs, he would prostrate (twice) for forgetfulness." 195
He used to order them to perform tashahhud, saying, When you sit after every two rak'ahs, then say: All compliments ... and then
each of you should select the supplication he likes best and supplicate Allaah, Mighty and Sublime, [with it] 196 ; in another version:
Say, All compliments ... in every sitting 197 , and he also ordered "the one who prayed badly" to do so, as has been mentioned.
"He (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would teach them the tashahhud the way he taught them Soorahs of the Qur'aan" 198 , and "the
Sunnah is to say it quietly." 199
The Manner of Tashahhud
He taught several ways of tashahhud:
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