Bukhari

Hadith Commentary:
1.
In the first hadith, Waqid narrates from his father Muhammad bin Zayd that he narrated from Abdullah bin Umar or Abdullah bin Amr bin al-As radi Allahu anhum that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam interlaced his fingers.
There was doubt in this narration as to whether it was narrated from Ibn Umar radi Allahu anhu or from Abdullah bin Amr bin al-As radi Allahu anhu. Imam Bukhari rahimahullah, in order to remove this doubt and to explain the reason for interlacing (tashbik), mentioned another narration: Asim bin Muhammad heard this narration from his father Muhammad bin Zayd, but he did not remember it well. Then his brother Waqid bin Muhammad narrated it correctly from Muhammad bin Zayd that Abdullah bin Amr bin al-As radi Allahu anhu said:
The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said:
“O Abdullah! What will be your condition when you live among people who will be like rubbish and straw?”
From this narration, the doubt was removed that the narrator was not Abdullah bin Umar radi Allahu anhu but rather Abdullah bin Amr bin al-As radi Allahu anhu.
Then the reason for interlacing (tashbik) also became clear: the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam interlaced his fingers as a parable to explain a certain point.
Accordingly, this narration is transmitted in Imam Humaydi rahimahullah’s book “al-Jam‘ bayn al-Sahihayn” with the addition that the condition of these worthless and useless people will be that their covenants and trusts will have been destroyed, and they will have become like this; then, to clarify “like this,” he made his fingers into a comb (interlaced them).
(Fath al-Bari: 1/732)
2.
In some narrations, interlacing (tashbik) is prohibited.
It is narrated from Ka‘b bin ‘Ujrah radi Allahu anhu that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said:
“When one of you performs ablution (wudu) and perfects it, then leaves his house with the intention of going to the mosque, he should not interlace his fingers, for he is already in prayer.”
(Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi, al-Salat, Hadith: 386)
In Ibn Abi Shaybah, there is further clarification that he sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said:
“When one of you prays, he should not interlace (his fingers), for this action is from the effect of Shaytan.”
However, in its chain of narration are weak and unknown narrators.
Imam Bukhari rahimahullah established this chapter because the narrations in which interlacing is prohibited—their authenticity is questionable, or the prohibition is specific to the state of prayer. Also, if it is done for a valid purpose, then there is no harm.
As in the first hadith, the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam interlaced his fingers to clarify a certain point.
Imam Bukhari rahimahullah established from the narration of Abu Musa al-Ash‘ari radi Allahu anhu that doing so is absolutely permissible.
Then, from the hadith of Abu Hurayrah radi Allahu anhu, he established that such an action can be done in the mosque.
On this basis, Ibn Munir said that there is no contradiction in these ahadith, because the narrations of prohibition establish that doing so unnecessarily and without purpose is prohibited, but if it is done for a wise reason, then it is permissible, for example:
To clarify one’s intent, as in the hadith of Abdullah bin Amr radi Allahu anhu, or for explanation, to turn abstract meanings into tangible examples, as in the narration of Abu Musa al-Ash‘ari radi Allahu anhu, where he explained to the Muslims about mutual harmony, then made his hands into a comb (interlaced them) to show that Muslims are mutually connected just as the stones of a building support each other, or if it happens spontaneously due to deep contemplation, as in the hadith of Abu Hurayrah radi Allahu anhu—in such cases, there is no prohibition of interlacing.
Note:
Other discussions related to the hadith of Abu Hurayrah radi Allahu anhu will come at their appropriate place, insha Allah ta‘ala.