5/22. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 895 — Avoid Squatting Like a Dog
Sitting between the two prostrations
Do Not Squat Like a Dog in Prayer
Sunan Ibn Majah : 895
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 895
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ ثَوَابٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو نُعَيْمٍ النَّخَعِيُّ، عَنْ أَبِي مَالِكٍ، عَنْ عَاصِمِ بْنِ كُلَيْبٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى، وَأَبِي، إِسْحَاقَ عَنِ الْحَارِثِ، عَنْ عَلِيٍّ، قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " يَا عَلِيُّ، لاَ تُقْعِ إِقْعَاءَ الْكَلْبِ " .
'Ali Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: ‘O ‘Ali, do not squat like a dog.’”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 895In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 93English translation : Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 895
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 895
This Hadith gives a short warning about prayer posture: “O ‘Ali, do not squat like a dog.” The wording does not list every detail of the posture, but it clearly discourages a way of sitting that is compared to a dog. Since it appears beside narrations about sitting between the two prostrations, the core topic is the posture in that sitting. For users searching for do not squat like a dog hadith, the safest explanation is simple: the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم guided ‘Ali away from that posture and toward a more suitable way of sitting in prayer. We should avoid turning the text into a wider ruling beyond what is stated here.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم directly advised ‘Ali about prayer posture.
- The narration warns against a squatting posture compared to a dog.
- The teaching is tied to dignity and care in salah posture.
- The text should not be stretched beyond its brief wording.
