Fath al-Rabbani

Benefits: … This hadith is among the signs of prophethood, and from both a rational and a Shari‘ah perspective, it is not among the impossibilities that during prayer, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was observing the state of his followers, especially when Allah Ta‘ala had already granted him miracles far greater than this. It is a separate matter whether this perception was in the back of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, through which he would see, or whether it was with his actual eyes. It is better to consign the reality of this matter to the One who knows it, and to accept this miracle in the same way as the noble Companions did: they heard it and remained silent, and did not ask any questions regarding its modality. In any case, the purpose of the hadith is that bowing (ruku‘) and prostration (sujud) should be performed completely, and the prayer should be offered with humility and submissiveness.