"I bowed and put my hands together, and my father said: 'This is something that we used to do, then we brought them up to our knees.'"
The Book of The At-Tatbiq (Clasping One's Hands Together)
Sunan an-Nasa'i - Hadith 1033
Narration Context
This narration describes a transitional period in prayer practice where the Companions initially placed their hands together (tatbiq) during bowing (ruku'), then later raised them to their knees following the Prophet's guidance.
Scholarly Commentary
The early practice of tatbiq (placing palms together between thighs during ruku') was abrogated by the established sunnah of placing hands firmly on knees. This demonstrates the evolution of Islamic rituals under divine guidance.
Classical scholars interpret this as evidence that the Companions continuously refined their worship according to the Prophet's teachings, abandoning earlier practices when clearer guidance emerged.
Legal Ruling
The consensus of all four madhahib holds that the proper ruku' position involves placing hands on knees with fingers spread, not clasping hands together. The narrated earlier practice is considered abrogated (mansukh).
Spiritual Significance
This hadith illustrates the importance of following the final, perfected form of worship as taught by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, while acknowledging the historical development of Islamic practices.