When rising for the second rak'ah from prostration, does the worshipper rely on his hands or his knees, and if on his hands, does he clasp them or extend them?
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The questioner : When rising for the second rak'ah from prostration, does the worshipper rely on his hands or his knees, and if on his hands, does he clasp them or extend them?
The Shaykh : It is better to rise from prostration by standing up on the balls of one's feet, relying on one's knees; this is the best. If one is unable to do so due to old age or illness, one may rely on one's hands on the ground, either extended or clasped; the matter is broad in this regard.
However, if one is able to rise without relying on anything, that is better. Similarly, the reverse applies: if one wishes to prostrate, let him begin with his knees before his hands, unless he is unable, in which case there is no harm in placing his hands first. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Abi Dawud 840Sahih (Al-Albani).
This means he should not place his hands first, because the camel, as observed, when it wishes to kneel, places its hands first, then its knees, and then kneels.
If someone were to say: The end of the hadith you quoted is:?
The answer is that this phrase is inverted in the narrator's report, because it contradicts the beginning of the hadith. The beginning of the hadith says:Sunan Abi Dawud 840Sahih (Al-Albani) And when we look at the camel, we find that it places its hands first, and that the correct wording is: "Let him begin with his knees before his hands."
If someone were to say: The camel's knees are in its hands, and if one prostrates on his knees first, he has imitated the camel, since the camel places its knees first?
The answer is that this is an oversight of the meaning of the hadith, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) only prohibited the manner, not the limb upon which one prostrates. He said:Sunan Abi Dawud 840Sahih (Al-Albani) and he did not say: "Do not kneel on what the camel kneels on." The difference between the two expressions is clear. That is, if the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had said: "Do not kneel on what the camel kneels on," we would say: Do not begin with the knees. But he said: Sunan Abi Dawud 840Sahih (Al-Albani) and this is a prohibition of the manner, not of the limb upon which one prostrates. This is a clear matter, but it requires reflection and application to what the camel kneels on.
The questioner : We thank Allah for you, esteemed Shaykh, and may Allah bless you and your knowledge, and benefit Islam and the Muslims through you.
The Shaykh : It is better to rise from prostration by standing up on the balls of one's feet, relying on one's knees; this is the best. If one is unable to do so due to old age or illness, one may rely on one's hands on the ground, either extended or clasped; the matter is broad in this regard.
However, if one is able to rise without relying on anything, that is better. Similarly, the reverse applies: if one wishes to prostrate, let him begin with his knees before his hands, unless he is unable, in which case there is no harm in placing his hands first. This is because the Prophet (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 البعيرThis means he should not place his hands first, because the camel, as observed, when it wishes to kneel, places its hands first, then its knees, and then kneels.
If someone were to say: The end of the hadith you quoted is:
Let him begin with his hands before his knees.
وليبدأ بيديه قبل ركبتيهThe answer is that this phrase is inverted in the narrator's report, because it contradicts the beginning of the hadith. The beginning of the hadith says:
he must not kneel in the manner of camel
لا يبرك كما يبرك البعيرIf someone were to say: The camel's knees are in its hands, and if one prostrates on his knees first, he has imitated the camel, since the camel places its knees first?
The answer is that this is an oversight of the meaning of the hadith, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) only prohibited the manner, not the limb upon which one prostrates. He said:
he must not kneel in the manner of camel
لا يبرك كما يبرك البعيرhe must not kneel in the manner of camel
فلا يبرك كما يبرك البعيرThe questioner : We thank Allah for you, esteemed Shaykh, and may Allah bless you and your knowledge, and benefit Islam and the Muslims through you.