Discussion of prostration, its characteristics, and what is said in it

The Shaykh : Then, after praising Allah (Mighty and Majestic) with what has been transmitted, he prostrates. The prostration is on the seven limbs: the forehead and the nose, which are considered one limb, the two palms, the two knees, and the toes. He says Allahu Akbar when he lowers himself into prostration. But on what does he prostrate? Does he start with the palms or the knees? The correct view is that he starts with the knees.
We continue, if Allah wills, in the lesson: He prostrates on the seven limbs, which we have enumerated. According to the stronger position, he places his knees first in prostration, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade a man to prostrate in his prostration as a camel prostrates. When a camel prostrates, it places its hands first, as anyone who has watched a camel knows. Note that the hadith did not say, "Do not prostrate on what the camel prostrates on." If the wording of the hadith had been that, we would have said, "Do not place your knees first, because if you place your knees first, you prostrate on what the camel prostrates on." But the hadith says, "Do not prostrate as the camel prostrates." So the prohibition is of the manner, not of the limb on which one prostrates. This is a clear distinction. Accordingly, the statement at the end of the hadith, , is reversed, and the correct version is . Ibn al-Qayyim stated this in *Zad al-Ma'ad*. I mentioned this to support what he said, not to argue based on what he said, because scholars do not use their statements as evidence; rather, their statements are used to support evidence. That is why they say, "A scholar's statement is used to support evidence, not as evidence itself." This means that if a scholar makes a statement, you ask him, "What is your evidence?" But to make a scholar's statement a proof against Allah's servants, that is not permissible, because a scholar may err or be correct. However, the layperson is commanded to ask the people of knowledge, and Allah has not commanded him to ask the people of knowledge except for what? To take what they say. The important point is that he prostrates on his knees, then his hands, then his forehead and nose. In the state of prostration, we examine the forehead and nose: do they touch the ground directly, or is the forehead raised, or is the nose raised? They touch the ground directly. You should settle your forehead on the ground, based on the statement of Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him): This indicates that when a person prostrates, he settles his forehead so that it touches the ground, as some people do, prostrating and letting their forehead just touch the ground, but he should settle it.
Now, how are the hands placed in prostration? Yes, they are extended, with the fingers joined together, facing the qiblah, prostrating between his two palms. That is, he places the palms opposite the forehead. If he wishes, he can place them further back so that they are opposite the shoulders. So, how many positions are there for the hands? Yes, there are two positions: either they are opposite the forehead and nose, with the prostration between them, or they are placed further back, opposite the shoulders.
As for the forearms and upper arms, how are they? The forearms are upright; he stands his forearms up, because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade a man to spread his forearms like a dog. The upper arms are separated from the sides; he opens them like this, unless he is in a row in prayer, in which case he does not do that, because if he did, he would crowd his neighbor and harm him. It is not permissible to do something harmful for the sake of a recommended practice.
As for the knees, are they joined together?
Answer: No. As far as I know, the Sunnah has not been transmitted regarding joining them together or opening them. If so, let him leave them in their natural state.
As for the feet, they are joined together, meaning the foot is placed against the foot while prostrating, because this was established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in the *Sahih* of Ibn Khuzaymah. Also, it is the apparent meaning of what was narrated in the *Sahih* from the hadith of A'ishah when she lost the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), so she searched for him and placed her hand on his feet, which were upright, while he was praying. One hand cannot fall on two feet if they are separated. So, he joins his right foot to his left while prostrating.
As for the back, how is it? The back is raised, not extended. For this reason, some people make a mistake when they prostrate and extend themselves. This is not from the Sunnah; rather, this is a religious innovation, because they do it as an act of worship for Allah. The Sunnah is to raise your back and separate it from your thighs, not to extend it. There is a difference between extending and raising the back. The Sunnah has not been transmitted regarding a person extending his back in prostration, but it was transmitted regarding him extending his back in bowing.
And after that, he says: "Subhan Rabi al-A'la, Subhanaka Allahumma Rabbana wa bihamdika, Allahumma ighfir li, Subuhun Quddus Rabb al-Mala'ikah wa al-Ruh," or other things that have been transmitted. It is recommended to increase supplication in prostration, and in bowing, to increase the glorification of Allah, based on the statement of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him): .