Abu Dawud

840. Commentary:
The chain of narration (isnad) of the hadith of Abu Hurairah radi Allahu anhu is sound, as Imam Nawawi and Zarqani have written, and Hafiz Ibn Hajar rahimahullah has declared this hadith to be stronger than the hadith of Wa’il. See: [تمام المنة ص 193۔ 194]
Therefore, the preferred opinion is that while going into prostration (sujud), the hands should be placed on the ground before the knees.

1092. Commentary: The third narration of the chapter is a detailed explanation of the second narration, and it is completely opposite to the first narration. According to most hadith scholars, the first narration is weak, as the researcher of the book has also declared its chain weak; however, some have considered it authentic as well. Therefore, according to them, both ways are permissible because, in their view, both narrations are authentic. The Hanafis and others have given preference to the narration of Hazrat Wa’il bin Hujr radi Allahu anhu, because the limb that is closer to the ground should touch first, and the one that is farther should touch later. Most hadith scholars have given preference to the narration of Hazrat Abu Hurairah radi Allahu anhu, because acting upon the narration of Hazrat Wa’il radi Allahu anhu results in resemblance to a camel, and such resemblance has been prohibited.

However, the correct view is that the hands should be placed first and the knees afterwards, because this is in accordance with human nature. Allah Ta’ala has given humans hands for support. Animals are compelled in that they do not have hands, so they sit and rise without support, and in fact, they perform all tasks without hands: eating, drinking, striking, etc. But for humans, the use of hands is necessary; otherwise, there would be resemblance to animals. In the hadith, the camel is mentioned. When a camel sits, it places its knees on the ground first. If the knees are placed first, then due to the lack of support from the hands, the knees will touch the ground like a camel’s. For the elderly, this is also difficult, and there is a risk of injury or falling. Therefore, when sitting or rising, support from the hands is needed; that is, when sitting, place the hands first, then the knees, and when rising, lift the knees first, then the hands.

Note! The knees of a camel (in fact, of all animals) are in the front legs, both in form and in function, and the hind legs are like the arms of humans. Since the camel sits directly on its knees, it has been specifically mentioned, and resemblance to it has been prohibited. And Allah knows best.

Takhrij:
«أخرجه أبوداود، الصلاة، باب كيف يضع ركبتيه قبل يديه، حديث:840، والترمذي، الصلاة، حديث:269، والنسائي، التطبيق، حديث:1092، وحديث وائل: "وضع ركبتيه قبل يديه" أخرجه أبوداود، الصلاة، حديث: 838، والترمذي، الصلاة، حديث:268، والنسائي، التطبيق، حديث:1090، وابن ماجه، إقامة الصلوات، حديث:882، وسنده ضعيف، شريك القاضي عنعن، وحديث ابن عمر ذكره البخاري معلقًا موقوفًا، الأذان، قبل حديث:803، وابن خزيمة:1 /318، 319، حديث:627.»©Explanation:
➊ In narrating the hadith of Hazrat Wa’il radi Allahu anhu, the narrator of the hadith, Sharik, is alone in narrating from ‘Asim bin Kulayb. And when he narrates a report alone, the hadith scholars have critiqued his narrations. And although the hadith of Hazrat Wa’il radi Allahu anhu is also supported by the narration of Hazrat Anas radi Allahu anhu, there is a narrator in its chain who is unknown (majhool). Therefore, it is established that, in terms of chain of transmission, the hadith narrated from Hazrat Abu Hurairah radi Allahu anhu is stronger. And as for the meaning, it is a known fact that the knees of an animal are in its forelegs—that is, its front legs have knees—and it is an observed reality that when a camel lowers itself to sit, it first places its knees on the ground, then sits. The details of this can be seen in Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi.

➋ When going into prostration (sujud), should the hands be placed on the ground first or the knees? In this regard, two narrations have been transmitted: one from Hazrat Abu Hurairah radi Allahu anhu, in which placing the hands on the ground first is established, and the other narrated from Hazrat Wa’il bin Hujr radi Allahu anhu, in which placing the knees first is mentioned. The author, that is, Hafiz Ibn Hajar rahimahullah, has considered the hadith of Hazrat Abu Hurairah radi Allahu anhu to be stronger. And it is also supported by the narration of Hazrat Ibn ‘Umar radi Allahu anhuma. The majority of hadith scholars and the Hanbalis hold this view, but the Hanafis and Shafi‘is, according to the hadith of Hazrat Wa’il radi Allahu anhu, hold the view of placing the knees first. The correct position is that the hands should be placed first, as is evident from the authentic hadith of Hazrat Abu Hurairah radi Allahu anhu.