Verbal Sunnahs of prayer

 Verbal Sunnahs of prayer

The verbal Sunnahs are eleven, which are as follows:

 (1) Saying after the opening takbeer, “Subhaanaka Allahumma wa bi hamdika, wa tabaaraka ismuka, wa ta’aala jadduka wa laa ilaaha ghayruka (Glory and praise be to You, O Allah; blessed be Your name, exalted be Your Majesty, and there is no god but You).” This is called du’aa’ al-istiftaah (opening du’aa’)

(2) Seeking refuge with Allah

(3) Saying Bismillaah

(4) Saying Ameen

(5) Reciting a soorah after al-Faatihah

(6) Reciting out loud, in the case of the imam

(7) Saying after the tahmeed (Rabbana wa laka’l-hamd), for one who is not praying behind an imam: “Mil’ al-samawaati wa mil’ al-ard wa mil’ ma shi’ta min shay’in ba’d (Filling the heavens, filling the earth, and filling whatever else You wish).” (The correct view is that it is also Sunnah for one who is praying in congregation)

(8) Saying the tasbeeh when bowing more than once, such as a second or third time or more

(9) Saying the tasbeeh in prostration more than once

(10) Saying “Rabb ighfir li (Lord forgive me)” more than once between the two prostrations

(11) Sending prayers upon the family of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in the last tashahhud and sending blessings upon him and upon them, and saying du’aa’ after that.

Sunnah actions of prayer

The Sunnah actions are called postures. They are as follows:

(1) Raising the hands when saying the opening takbeer

(2) Raising the hands when bowing

(3) Raising the hands when rising from bowing

(4) Dropping them after that

(5) Placing the right hand over the left

(6) Looking towards the place of prostration

(7) Standing with the feet apart

(8) Holding the knees with fingers spread apart when bowing, holding the back straight and making the head parallel with it.

(9) Placing the parts of the body on which one prostrates firmly on the ground, apart from the knees, because it is makrooh to press them firmly on the ground.

(10) Keeping the elbows away from the sides, and the belly from the thighs, and the thighs from the calves; keeping the knees apart; holding the feet upright; holding the toes apart on the ground; placing the hands level with the shoulders with the fingers spread.

(11) Sitting muftarishan between the two prostrations and in the first tashahhud, and sitting mutawarrikan in the second tashahhud.

(12) Placing the hands on the thighs with the fingers together between the two prostrations, and in the tashahhud, except that in the latter the pinkie and ring fingers should be held in, a circle made with the middle finger and thumb, and one should point with the forefinger when remembering Allah.

(13) Turning to the right and left when saying the salaam