Which comes first in prostration: the hands or the feet?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : O Shaykh, when a servant goes down into prostration, does he place his hands first or his knees, and what is the stronger position on this?
The Shaykh : When a person goes down into prostration, he places his knees first and does not place his hands first, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade that and said:Sunan Abi Dawud 840Sahih (Al-Albani).
And when a camel kneels, it places its hands first; it places its hands first, as is observed. The wording of the hadith is not "do not kneel on what the camel kneels on," but rather "do not kneel as the camel kneels." There is a difference between the two expressions. If it were said "do not kneel on what the camel kneels on," it would be a prohibition of the limb upon which one prostrates. But if it is said "do not kneel as the camel kneels," it is a prohibition of the manner and form.
Based on this, if the wording of the hadith were "do not kneel on what the camel kneels on," we would say that one should not place the knees first, because the camel places its knees first. But he said "do not kneel as the camel kneels," meaning in the manner and form. It is known that the camel places its hands first when it kneels. However, if a person has pain in his knees, or has an illness, or is heavy-bodied, and it is easier for him to go down on his hands, then there is no harm. Yes.
The Shaykh : When a person goes down into prostration, he places his knees first and does not place his hands first, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade that and said:
when one of you prostrates himself he must not kneel in the manner of camel
إذا سجد أحدكم فلا يبرك كما يبرك البعيرAnd when a camel kneels, it places its hands first; it places its hands first, as is observed. The wording of the hadith is not "do not kneel on what the camel kneels on," but rather "do not kneel as the camel kneels." There is a difference between the two expressions. If it were said "do not kneel on what the camel kneels on," it would be a prohibition of the limb upon which one prostrates. But if it is said "do not kneel as the camel kneels," it is a prohibition of the manner and form.
Based on this, if the wording of the hadith were "do not kneel on what the camel kneels on," we would say that one should not place the knees first, because the camel places its knees first. But he said "do not kneel as the camel kneels," meaning in the manner and form. It is known that the camel places its hands first when it kneels. However, if a person has pain in his knees, or has an illness, or is heavy-bodied, and it is easier for him to go down on his hands, then there is no harm. Yes.