5/19. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 881 — The Prophet's Care in Sujood
Prostration
Proper Sujood Position in the Prophet's Prayer
Sunan Ibn Majah : 881
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 881
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنْ دَاوُدَ بْنِ قَيْسٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَقْرَمَ الْخُزَاعِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ كُنْتُ مَعَ أَبِي بِالْقَاعِ مِنْ نَمِرَةَ فَمَرَّ بِنَا رَكْبٌ فَأَنَاخُوا بِنَاحِيَةِ الطَّرِيقِ فَقَالَ لِي أَبِي كُنْ فِي بَهْمِكَ حَتَّى آتِيَ هَؤُلاَءِ الْقَوْمَ فَأُسَائِلَهُمْ . قَالَ فَخَرَجَ وَجِئْتُ - يَعْنِي دَنَوْتُ - فَإِذَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فَحَضَرْتُ الصَّلاَةَ فَصَلَّيْتُ مَعَهُمْ فَكُنْتُ أَنْظُرُ إِلَى عُفْرَتَىْ إِبْطَىْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ كُلَّمَا سَجَدَ. قَالَ ابْنُ مَاجَهْ النَّاسُ يَقُولُونَ عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ وَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ يَقُولُ النَّاسُ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ. حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ، وَصَفْوَانُ بْنُ عِيسَى، وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا دَاوُدُ بْنُ قَيْسٍ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَقْرَمَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ نَحْوَهُ.
(`Ubaidullah bin `Abdullah) bin Aqram Al-Khuza`i Narrated from:
It was narrated from (`Ubaidullah bin `Abdullah) bin Aqram Al-Khuza`i that his father said: “I was with my father on the plain in Namirah,* when some riders passed us and made their camels kneel down at the side of the road. My father said to me: ‘Stay with your lambs until I go to those people and see what they want.’ He said: Then he (my father) went out and I came, (i.e., I came near,) then there was the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and the time for prayer came so I prayed with them, and I was looking at the whiteness of the armpits of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) every time he prostrated.”Ibn Majah said: The people say `Ubaidullah bin `Abdullah, but Abu Bakr bin Abu Shaibah said: "The people say `Abdullah bin `Ubaidullah." Muhammad bin Bashshar said: "`Abdur-Rahman bin Mahdi, Safwan bin `Eisa and Abu Dawud all said: 'Dawud bin Qais narrated to us, from `Ubaidullah bin `Abdullah bin Aqram, from his father, from the Prophet (ﷺ).'" With similar wording.
[1] A location near 'Arafāt.Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 881In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 79English translation : Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 881
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 881
This Hadith focuses on proper sujood position in prayer. The narrator came near the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم when the time for prayer arrived, prayed with the group, and noticed the whiteness of the Prophet’s صلى الله عليه وسلم armpits every time he prostrated. The report does not give a long ruling, but it clearly shows a visible part of the Prophet’s صلى الله عليه وسلم prayer posture: his arms were not pressed tightly to his sides during sujood. For someone searching for hadith about sujood posture, this narration gives a simple picture from an eyewitness. It also shows how the Companions observed the Prophet’s صلى الله عليه وسلم prayer closely, even during a brief meeting on the road.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet’s صلى الله عليه وسلم prostration was observed closely by those who prayed with him.
- His arms were kept away from his sides enough for the armpits to be seen.
- The report teaches attention to the physical form of sujood without adding extra claims.
- Learning prayer can happen by carefully observing the Prophet’s صلى الله عليه وسلم practice.
