Table of Contents
Introduction
This is the fifth part in a series of articles that discuss the prayer in Islam, its correct form, how it should be performed correctly, and the beautiful details of the Prophet’s prayer (Peace be upon Him), showcasing its profound spiritual nature and how it can inspire us to enhance our own worship. You can click here to read the full series, ALLAH willing.
The Unique Nature of the Prophet’s Prayer
When we study how the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) prayed, we truly understand the depth of what we’ve been discussing throughout these articles. The Prophet treated prayer in a special and distinctive manner. As mentioned in our second article,
“When anything distressed the Prophet, He prayed“1
When the call to prayer was made, He would leave His family as if He didn’t know them, showing the priority He gave to prayer.
The Prophet’s devotion to prayer was unparalleled. It’s reported that He would stand in prayer at night so long that the skin of his feet would crack. This shows the deep connection His heart had with prayer.
The Length and Depth of the Prophet’s Prayer
In some narrations, it’s mentioned that the Prophet (Peace be upon Him) once prayed through the night, reciting long portions of the Quran. Hudhayfah, who prayed with Him, described how the Prophet (Peace be upon Him) would prolong the verses, pause to glorify ALLAH when reciting verses of praise, seek refuge when mentioning punishment, and ask for mercy when mentioning ALLAH’s compassion.
This wasn’t just recitation; it was a deep, interactive engagement with the words of ALLAH. This is how we can improve our prayer and taste its sweetness. It’s why the Prophet (Peace be upon Him) would say to Bilal,
“O Bilal, call iqamah for prayer: give us comfort by it“2
and why He said,
“…and My comfort has been provided in prayer”3
The Prophet’s Emotional Engagement in Prayer
The companions described the Prophet’s state during prayer vividly. Abdullah ibn Al-Shikhkhir said,
“I saw the Prophet (Peace be upon Him) praying and a sound came from His breast like the rumbling of a mill, owing to weeping“4
This shows the emotional depth of the Prophet’s prayer.
It was even said that from a distance, one could tell He was praying from the movement of His beard as He recited. This was not a lifeless, mechanical prayer, but one full of spirit and engagement.
The Importance of Tranquility in Prayer
The Prophet (Peace be upon Him) emphasized the importance of tranquility in prayer. Once, He saw a man praying quickly and told him,
“Go back and pray, for you have not prayed“5
He then taught the man to be calm and steady in each position of the prayer. This tranquility (tuma’niinah) is considered by scholars to be as essential as bowing and prostrating.
The Beauty and Length of the Prophet’s Prayer
When asked about the Prophet’s night prayer, Aisha (may ALLAH be pleased with her) said,
“He (Peace be upon Him) would then perform four more Rak’ah; and do not ask about their excellence and their length“6
She described how His standing, bowing, prostration, and sitting were all nearly equal in length.
Hudhayfah, who prayed with the Prophet, said,
“…Then He bowed and He paused in bowing as long as He stood up… then He prostrated and paused in prostration as long as He paused in the standing position…“7
This gives us an idea of the extraordinary length and depth of the Prophet’s prayer.
Lessons for Our Own Prayer
The Prophet’s example teaches us that prayer is not just about physical movements. It’s a profound spiritual experience, a deep connection with ALLAH. When He said,
“Pray as you have seen Me praying“8
He wasn’t just referring to the physical aspects, but to the spirit and essence of prayer.
This was how the Prophet (Peace be upon Him) and the righteous predecessors understood prayer. They saw it as the greatest connection between them and ALLAH, and they knew that nothing could bring them closer to ALLAH than improving and perfecting their prayer.
As we reflect on these beautiful descriptions of the Prophet’s prayer, let’s strive to bring more depth, tranquility, and spiritual engagement to our own prayers. May ALLAH help us to pray with the devotion and connection exemplified by our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him).
Sources:
- Dr. Ahmed ElAraby. فاهم 36 | سلسلة تذوق العبادات – (1) الصلاة | مع د. أحمد العربي. YouTube Video.
