2/96. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 286 — Support in Prostration
What Has Been Related About Supporting Oneself During Prostration
Using the Knees for Support in Prostration
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 286
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 286
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَجْلاَنَ، عَنْ سُمَىٍّ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ اشْتَكَى بَعْضُ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَشَقَّةَ السُّجُودِ عَلَيْهِمْ إِذَا تَفَرَّجُوا فَقَالَ " اسْتَعِينُوا بِالرُّكَبِ " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ غَرِيبٌ لاَ نَعْرِفُهُ مِنْ حَدِيثِ أَبِي صَالِحٍ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِلاَّ مِنْ هَذَا الْوَجْهِ مِنْ حَدِيثِ اللَّيْثِ عَنِ ابْنِ عَجْلاَنَ . وَقَدْ رَوَى هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ وَغَيْرُ وَاحِدٍ عَنْ سُمَىٍّ عَنِ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ أَبِي عَيَّاشٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَحْوَ هَذَا . وَكَأَنَّ رِوَايَةَ هَؤُلاَءِ أَصَحُّ مِنْ رِوَايَةِ اللَّيْثِ .
Abu Hurairah narrated: "[Some Of] The Companions Of The Prophet Complained [To The Prophet] About The Hardship Of The Prostration On Them, When They Were So Spread Out, So He Said: 'Use Your Knees.'"
[1] That is, they complained about holding the position for a long time, with the arms away from the sides, and the stomach away from the thighs. So they were told to rest their elbows on their knees. See Tuhfat Al-Ahwadhi .Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 286In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 138English translation : Vol. 1, Book 2, Hadith 286
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 286
This Hadith about prostration in Salah mentions a practical issue faced by some Companions. Abu Hurairah narrated that some of them complained to the Prophet about the hardship of prostration when they were spread out. The Prophet told them, "Use your knees." The text is brief and focused. It shows that the Prophet listened to a real difficulty in prayer and gave a direct instruction. The Hadith does not turn the issue into a long ruling; it gives a simple answer for support in sujood. For readers searching for a hadith about using knees in prostration, the key message is ease with proper prayer posture.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Companions asked about real hardship in prayer.
- The Prophet gave a practical answer: use the knees.
- Prayer posture should be learned with care and balance.
