Abu Humayd reported,

In a gathering of ten companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, among whom was Abu Qatada, Abu Humayd said, "I know best among you the prayer of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ."They replied, "How so? By Allah, you were not the most frequent of us in following him, nor the earliest of us in companionship with him."He said, "Indeed I do."They said, "Then describe it."He said, "When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ stood to pray, he would say the takbir, then raise his hands until they were level with his shoulders, with every limb settled in its place. Then he would recite, then say the takbir and raise his hands until they were level with his shoulders. Then he would bow and place his palms firmly upon his knees, neither lowering his head nor raising it, but keeping it level. Then he would say, 'Allah hears whoever praises Him,' and raise his hands until they were level with his shoulders, until every bone returned to its place. Then he would descend to the ground, holding his arms away from his sides. Then he would raise his head and fold his left leg, sitting upon it, and spread the toes of his feet when he prostrated. Then he would prostrate, then say the takbir and sit upon his left leg until every bone of his returned to its place. Then he would rise and do the same in the next rakah. When he stood after the two rakahs, he would raise his hands until they were level with his shoulders, just as he did at the opening of the prayer. Then he would pray the rest of his prayer in this manner, until at the final prostration before the closing salutation, he would draw one of his legs back and sit upon his left side in the mutawarrik position."They said, "You have spoken truly. This is how the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to pray."

حدثنا محمد بن بشار حدثنا أبو عاصم حدثنا عبد الحميد بن جعفر حدثنا محمد بن عمرو بن عطاء قال سمعت

أبا حميد الساعدي

في عشرة من أصحاب رسول الله ﷺ فيهم أبو قتادة فقال أبو حميد أنا أعلمكم بصلاة رسول الله ﷺ قالوا لم فوالله ما كنت بأكثرنا له تبعة ولا أقدمنا له صحبة قال بلى قالوا فاعرض قال كان رسول الله ﷺ إذا قام إلى الصلاة كبر ثم رفع يديه حتى يحاذي بهما منكبيه ويقر كل عضو منه في موضعه ثم يقرأ ثم يكبر ويرفع يديه حتى يحاذي بهما منكبيه ثم يركع ويضع راحتيه على ركبتيه معتمدا لا يصب رأسه ولا يقنع معتدلا ثم يقول سمع الله لمن حمده ويرفع يديه حتى يحاذي بهما منكبيه حتى يقر كل عظم إلى موضعه ثم يهوي إلى الأرض ويجافي بين يديه عن جنبيه ثم يرفع رأسه ويثني رجله اليسرى فيقعد عليها ويفتخ أصابع رجليه إذا سجد ثم يسجد ثم يكبر ويجلس على رجله اليسرى حتى يرجع كل عظم منه إلى موضعه ثم يقوم فيصنع في الركعة الأخرى مثل ذلك ثم إذا قام من الركعتين رفع يديه حتى يحاذي بهما منكبيه كما صنع عند افتتاح الصلاة ثم يصلي بقية صلاته هكذا حتى إذا كانت السجدة التي ينقضي فيها التسليم أخر إحدى رجليه وجلس على شقه الأيسر متوركا قالوا صدقت هكذا كان يصلي رسول الله ﷺ