13/31. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 1265 — How the Prophet Prayed
Placement of the elbows
Hadith About How the Prophet Prayed Step by Step
Sunan an-Nasai : 1265
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 1265
أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ مَسْعُودٍ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا بِشْرُ بْنُ الْمُفَضَّلِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَاصِمُ بْنُ كُلَيْبٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ وَائِلِ بْنِ حُجْرٍ، قَالَ قُلْتُ لأَنْظُرَنَّ إِلَى صَلاَةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَيْفَ يُصَلِّي فَقَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَاسْتَقْبَلَ الْقِبْلَةَ فَرَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ حَتَّى حَاذَتَا أُذُنَيْهِ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ شِمَالَهُ بِيَمِينِهِ فَلَمَّا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَرْكَعَ رَفَعَهُمَا مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ وَوَضَعَ يَدَيْهِ عَلَى رُكْبَتَيْهِ فَلَمَّا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ الرُّكُوعِ رَفَعَهُمَا مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ فَلَمَّا سَجَدَ وَضَعَ رَأْسَهُ بِذَلِكَ الْمَنْزِلِ مِنْ يَدَيْهِ ثُمَّ جَلَسَ فَافْتَرَشَ رِجْلَهُ الْيُسْرَى وَوَضَعَ يَدَهُ الْيُسْرَى عَلَى فَخِذِهِ الْيُسْرَى وَحَدَّ مِرْفَقَهُ الأَيْمَنَ عَلَى فَخِذِهِ الْيُمْنَى وَقَبَضَ ثِنْتَيْنِ وَحَلَّقَ وَرَأَيْتُهُ يَقُولُ هَكَذَا وَأَشَارَ بِشْرٌ بِالسَّبَّابَةِ مِنَ الْيُمْنَى وَحَلَّقَ الإِبْهَامَ وَالْوُسْطَى .
Wa'il bin Hujr Narrated from:
I said: 'I am going to watch the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and see how he prays.' The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stood up and faced the Qiblah, then he raised his hands until they were in level with his ears, then he held his left hand with his right. When he wanted to bow, he raised them (his hands) likewise, then placed his hands on his knees. When he raised his head from bowing, he raised them (his hands) likewise.When he prostrated he put his hands in the same position in relation to his head, then he sat up and lay his left foot on the ground. He placed his left hand on his left thigh and his right elbow on his right thigh, and made a circle with two of his fingers. And I saw him doing like this"- Bishr (one of the narrators) pointed with the forefinger of his right hand and made a circle with the thumb and middle finger.
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 1265In-book reference : Book 13, Hadith 87English translation : Vol. 2, Book 13, Hadith 1266
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 1265
This hadith is a rich description of how the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) prayed. Wa'il bin Hujr said he wanted to watch the Prophet's prayer and see how he prayed. He saw him stand and face the Qiblah, raise his hands to the level of his ears, hold his left hand with his right, raise his hands before bowing, place his hands on his knees, and raise his hands after rising from bowing. He also described the prostration and the sitting posture, including laying the left foot on the ground and pointing with the forefinger while making a circle with the thumb and middle finger. This hadith fits searches about how Prophet Muhammad prayed and detailed salah posture.
What we learn from this hadith
- Wa'il bin Hujr observed the Prophet's prayer with care.
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) faced the Qiblah and raised his hands at mentioned points.
- The report describes hand placement in standing, bowing, and sitting.
- The sitting included laying the left foot and pointing with the forefinger.
