It is said that a person must, during prayer, especially when prostrating, begin by placing his knees first and then his hands, but I am unable to implement this. Is there a
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The questioner : It is said that a person must, during prayer, especially when prostrating, begin by placing his knees first and then his hands, but I am unable to implement this. Is it possible for me not to adhere to this? I seek your guidance, Shaykh Muhammad?
The Shaykh : The best for a person when prostrating is to prostrate first on his knees, then his hands, then his forehead and nose. This is the best because the hadith from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding his prayer states that he used to do this. And he (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade a person from prostrating like a camel when he prostrates. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Abi Dawud 840Sahih (Al-Albani) This implies that one should not place the hands before the knees when prostrating, because if we place the hands before the knees when prostrating, that is prostrating like a camel. And the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) did not say: "So do not prostrate on what the camel prostrates on," such that we would say the hadith indicates a prohibition against placing the knees first. Rather, he said: Sunan Abi Dawud 840Sahih (Al-Albani) So the prohibition is regarding the manner and the description. Based on this, the prostrator should not place his hands before his knees, but rather begin with the knees, then the hands, then the forehead and nose.
Yes, if it is assumed that the praying person is very fleshy, or has pain in his joints, or has an illness, or something similar that makes it difficult for him to begin with his knees, then there is no blame on him at that time to prostrate on his hands first. Because this religion is ease, and Allah has not placed upon us in the religion any hardship. And because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), in his final days, when he wanted to stand for the second or fourth rak'ah, would sit and then stand up. And this, may Allah know best, is because it was more comfortable for him and easier for him, as indicated by the author of al-Mughni and al-Zad al-Mu'ad.
In summary, the best for the praying person is to place his knees first when prostrating, then his hands. If that is difficult for him, then there is no blame on him to begin with his hands before his knees.
The Shaykh : The best for a person when prostrating is to prostrate first on his knees, then his hands, then his forehead and nose. This is the best because the hadith from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding his prayer states that he used to do this. And he (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade a person from prostrating like a camel when he prostrates. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
when one of you prostrates himself he must not kneel in the manner of camel
إذا سجد أحدكم فلا يبرك كما يبرك البعيرhe must not kneel in the manner of camel
فلا يبرك كما يبرك البعيرYes, if it is assumed that the praying person is very fleshy, or has pain in his joints, or has an illness, or something similar that makes it difficult for him to begin with his knees, then there is no blame on him at that time to prostrate on his hands first. Because this religion is ease, and Allah has not placed upon us in the religion any hardship. And because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), in his final days, when he wanted to stand for the second or fourth rak'ah, would sit and then stand up. And this, may Allah know best, is because it was more comfortable for him and easier for him, as indicated by the author of al-Mughni and al-Zad al-Mu'ad.
In summary, the best for the praying person is to place his knees first when prostrating, then his hands. If that is difficult for him, then there is no blame on him to begin with his hands before his knees.