Abu Nu`aym relates in Hilyat al-Awliya [8.74], with his chain of transmission to Rabah ibn al-Harawi:
Isam ibn Yusuf passed by Hatim al-Asamm — one of the great early masters of the spiritual path — while he was speaking to a gathering. Isam said, “O Hatim! Do you pray well?” Hatim replied, “Yes.” 
Isam asked him, “How do you pray?”
Hatim responded,
I fulfill the Divine Command;
I walk with reverent awe;
I enter the prayer with intention;
I give the opening takbir with magnification of Allah;
I recite the Qur”an in a distinct and measured recitation, with reflection;
I bow with reverence;
I prostrate with humility;
I sit for the tashahhud completely;
I give salams according to the proper way and sunna.
Then I consign the prayer to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) with sincerity. And I return to myself in fear, fearing that the prayer will not be accepted of me. I hold fast to this way with resolve, until death.”
Isam said, “You can teach, for you indeed pray well.”
And Allah alone gives success.
Translated by Faraz Rabbani







Subhana Llah, Allahu Akbar… Jazaka Llah for sharing
Wa iyyakum.
Alhumdulillah. May Allah give us tawfiq to pray like Hatim Al-Assam inshAllah.
JazakAllah khayran for sharing Shaykh.
God bless
Asalamu alaikum Sidi,
(For Shafi’is especially), how does one both ” enter the prayer with intention” and “give the opening takbir with magnification of Allah.” That is, how can one keep one’s intention in mind and at the same time remain aware of the meaning of “Allahu akbar”?. Jazakum Allahu khair,
w’salaam.
May Allah (swt) preserve our scholars (Ameen).
JazakAllahkhair for sharing!!! love it!
Ameen to Umm Sarah and Husnain Ali’s Duas!
subhanallah