In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

The Prescribed Method of Prayer (2) (In the Light of Ḥadīth)

In the state of rukūʿ, the back should be straight and the head level with the back — neither raised nor lowered:

    ʿĀʾishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ performed rukūʿ, he would neither raise his head above nor lower it below (the level of his back); rather, he would keep his head and back level.
    (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)

One who does not perform rukūʿ and sujūd with composure is a thief of the prayer:

    Abū Qatādah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “The worst thief is the thief of the prayer.” The people asked: “O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, how does one steal from the prayer?” He said: “The thief of the prayer is the one who does not complete the rukūʿ and sujūd.”
    (Musnad Aḥmad)

After rukūʿ, it is necessary to stand upright with composure:

    Thābit (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that when Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) would describe the prayer of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ before us, he would perform it and clarify it. When he would raise his head from rukūʿ and stand for qawmah, he would remain standing for such a length that we would begin to think that Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) had forgotten to go into sujūd.
    (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī)

Standing upright after rukūʿ is called “qawmah.” Sitting between the two prostrations is called “jalsah.”

    Abū Ḥumayd (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that when the Prophet ﷺ raised his head from rukūʿ, he would stand upright until every joint returned to its proper place.
    (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī)

During sujūd, the elbows should be kept away from the sides and spread out:

    Maymūnah (may Allah be pleased with her) said that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ performed sujūd, if a young goat wished to pass between his arms, it could pass through.
    (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)

In sujūd, both hands should be level with the shoulders and kept away from the sides:

    Abū Ḥumayd (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that when the Prophet ﷺ performed sujūd, he would place his nose and forehead upon the ground, keep his hands away from his sides, and position them level with his shoulders.
    (Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī)

In sujūd, the toes of the feet should face the qiblah:

    Abū Ḥumayd (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated from the Prophet ﷺ that during sujūd, he would keep the toes of his feet directed toward the qiblah.
    (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī)

Rukūʿ, sujūd, qawmah, and jalsah should be performed with composure and moderation, in nearly equal duration:

    Al-Barāʾ (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the rukūʿ, sujūd, qawmah, and the sitting between the two prostrations of the Prophet ﷺ were nearly equal in duration.
    (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī)

The Method of Tashahhud:

    ʿAbdullāh ibn al-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ sat for tashahhud, he would place his right hand upon his right knee and his left hand upon his left knee. He would place his thumb upon his middle finger, forming a circle, and raise his index finger.
    (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)