2/124. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 734 — Bowing, Prostration, and Finger Pointing
The Beginning Of The Prayer
Bowing, Prostration, and Finger Pointing in the Prophet's Prayer
Sunan Abi Dawud : 734
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 734
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ حَنْبَلٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ بْنُ عَمْرٍو، أَخْبَرَنِي فُلَيْحٌ، حَدَّثَنِي عَبَّاسُ بْنُ سَهْلٍ، قَالَ اجْتَمَعَ أَبُو حُمَيْدٍ وَأَبُو أُسَيْدٍ وَسَهْلُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ فَذَكَرُوا صَلاَةَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ أَبُو حُمَيْدٍ أَنَا أَعْلَمُكُمْ بِصَلاَةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَذَكَرَ بَعْضَ هَذَا قَالَ ثُمَّ رَكَعَ فَوَضَعَ يَدَيْهِ عَلَى رُكْبَتَيْهِ كَأَنَّهُ قَابِضٌ عَلَيْهِمَا وَوَتَّرَ يَدَيْهِ فَتَجَافَى عَنْ جَنْبَيْهِ قَالَ ثُمَّ سَجَدَ فَأَمْكَنَ أَنْفَهُ وَجَبْهَتَهُ وَنَحَّى يَدَيْهِ عَنْ جَنْبَيْهِ وَوَضَعَ كَفَّيْهِ حَذْوَ مَنْكِبَيْهِ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ حَتَّى رَجَعَ كُلُّ عَظْمٍ فِي مَوْضِعِهِ حَتَّى فَرَغَ ثُمَّ جَلَسَ فَافْتَرَشَ رِجْلَهُ الْيُسْرَى وَأَقْبَلَ بِصَدْرِ الْيُمْنَى عَلَى قِبْلَتِهِ وَوَضَعَ كَفَّهُ الْيُمْنَى عَلَى رُكْبَتِهِ الْيُمْنَى وَكَفَّهُ الْيُسْرَى عَلَى رُكْبَتِهِ الْيُسْرَى وَأَشَارَ بِأُصْبُعِهِ . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ رَوَى هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ عُتْبَةُ بْنُ أَبِي حَكِيمٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ الْعَبَّاسِ بْنِ سَهْلٍ لَمْ يَذْكُرِ التَّوَرُّكَ وَذَكَرَ نَحْوَ حَدِيثِ فُلَيْحٍ وَذَكَرَ الْحَسَنُ بْنُ الْحُرِّ نَحْوَ جِلْسَةِ حَدِيثِ فُلَيْحٍ وَعُتْبَةَ .
‘Abbas b. Sahl Narrated from:
Abu Humaid, Abu Usaid, Sahl. B Sa’d and Muhammad b. Maslamah (once) got together and discussed how the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) used to offer his prayer. Abu Humaid said: I am more informed than any of you regarding the prayer offered by the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). Then he mentioned a part of it, and said: He then bowed and placed his hands upon his knees as if he caught hold of them; and bent them, keeping (his arms) away from his sides.He them prostrated himself and placed his nose and forehead (on the ground); and kept his arms away from his side, and placed his palms (on the ground opposite his shoulders; he then raised his head that every bone returned to its proper place; (he then prostrated twice) until he finished this prostrations). Then he sat down and spread out his left foot, putting forward the front of his right foot towards the qiblah placing the palm of his right hand on his right knee, and the palm of his left hand on his left knee, and he pointed with his finger.Abu Dawud said: This tradition has been narrated by Ibn al-Mubarak from Fulaih who heard ‘Abbas . Sahl narrating it; but I do not remember it. I think he made the mention of ‘Isa b. ‘Abd Allah who heard ‘Abbas b. Sahl saying: I accompanied Abu Humaid al-Sa’idi.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 734In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 344English translation : Book 2, Hadith 733
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 734
This hadith describes parts of the Prophet's prayer through Abu Humaid's report in a gathering of companions. It mentions bowing with the hands on the knees as if holding them, while keeping the arms away from the sides. In prostration, it says the nose and forehead were placed on the ground, the arms were kept away from the sides, and the palms were placed opposite the shoulders. The narration also describes sitting with the left foot spread, the right foot facing the qiblah, both hands placed on the knees, and pointing with the finger. It is a practical report of prayer form.
What we learn from this hadith
- The hadith describes bowing with hands placed firmly on the knees.
- It mentions nose and forehead touching the ground in prostration.
- The report describes sitting and pointing with the finger.
