These are acts the Prophet (pbuh) performed in his prayers; they are acts of perfection, preferred but not required.

1. Raising both hands to the ears: when saying the opening 'Takbir,' while bending over to bow (ruk`u), upon standing up from ruk`u, and while rising from the sitting position after the first "Tashahud" to start the third rak'a.

2. Position of the hands during recitation of 'Al Fatiha' and Quranic verses. The right hand is placed over the left hand anywhere between the chest wall and the navel.

3. The opening supplication: After the first "Takbir" and before reading "Al-Fatiha." A recommended supplication:

4. Saying Ameen This word is a supplication, asking God to accept and respond. It is said after reciting Al-Fatiha in a loud voice in the loud voice rak'as and in subdued voice in the subdued voice rak'as.

5. Recitation from the Quran after 'Al-Fatiha. This is 'sunnah' in the two rak'as of the morning and Friday prayers and in the first two rak`as of the noon, afternoon, sunset and night prayers. It is also sunnah with all rak`as of the voluntary prayers (nawafil). It is recommended that the Quranic verses be recited in a clear calm voice bespeaking of a pious and devout nature.

6. Raised voice and subdued voice recitation of Al-Fatiha and Quranic verses. It is sunnah to recite in a loud voice in the two rak'as of the morning and Friday prayer, the first two rak`as of the sunset and night prayers, and the two rak'as of Eid prayer. The recitation is done in subdued voice in the noon and afternoon prayers, the third rak`a of the sunset prayer and the last two rak'as of the night prayer. As far as the voluntary prayer (nawafil), in the day prayers, the recitations are subdued and in night prayers they are in a loud or subdued voice as one pleases. When reciting in a subdued voice, one keeps his voice at mid level. When praying behind an imam (leader), the imam recites in a loud voice and the followers do not recite and listen to his recitation.

The Prophet (pbuh) said "when the imam says Takbir, do the same, but when he starts his recitation, listen attentively."12 However, in the subdued voice rak'as, the followers should recite Al-Fatiha and Quranic verses on their own.

7. Saying the Takbir when moving from one prayer act to another: When bowing, prostrating, sitting or rising (except when one is straightening his back from bowing over (ruk`u).

8. Remembrance of Allah:

A. During bowing one says: Subhana Rabbiya Al-Azeem (Glory to our Lord, the Greatest), three times.

B. When rising from bowing (ru'ku) one says: "Sami `Allahu Liman Hamidah" (Allah hears him, who praises Him). And when standing fully straight, one says: "Rab-bana Lakal Hamd" (all praise is for You).

C. During the two prostrations one says: "Subhana, Rabbiya Al-A'Ala" (glory to our Lord, the Supreme).

D. When sitting between the two prostrations, one says: "Lord, forgive me and have mercy on me."

9. Sitting and reciting Al-Tashahud at the end of the second rak'a, in prayers of three or four rak'as.

10. Reciting the last part of Al-Tashahud (supplications for the Prophet) at the end of the second Tashahud:

Allahuma Salli Ala' Muhammad

Wa Ala' A'li Muhammad

Kama' Sallaita Ala Ibrahim

Wa Ala' A'li Ibrahim

Allahumma Barik Ala' Muhammad

Wa Ala' A`li Muhammad

Kama Ba'rakta A`la Ibrahim

Wa Ala' A`li' Ibrahim

Inn`aka Hamidun Majid

11. Supplication after the last Tashahud and before tasleem. One may ask God for whatever he or she wishes of the good things in life and in the after life.

12. Supplications after tasleem. A number of these supplications are reported after the Prophet (pbuh). Two popular ones are:

A. Reciting the Quranic verse of the Throne (The Quran: 2:255).

B. Glorifying Allah by saying "Glory be to Allah" thirty-three times. Praising Allah by saying "Praise be to Allah" thirty-three times. Exhorting Allah by saying "Allah is Greater 'than anything else'" thirty-three times and then saying "there is no God but Allah, the one that has no partners."