Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 2561 — Those who used to press their hands

Ibrahim said: Al-Aswad and Alqamah came to Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him). Abdullah asked, "Have these people prayed?" They both said, "No." Abdullah said, "Get up and pray." He did not order either the adhan or the iqamah. Then he went forward and led us in prayer. We began to move back, but he took hold of us and made us stand alongside him. When we bowed, al-Aswad placed his hands on his knees. When Abdullah saw him doing that, he struck his hands. Al-Aswad looked and saw that Abdullah's hands were between his knees, with his fingers interlaced. When Abdullah had completed the prayer, he said: "When you are three, let one of you lead you in prayer. When you bow, spread your forearms over your thighs. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to keep his fingers interlaced while bowing, and it is as though I am still looking at that scene." Then Abdullah said: "Soon there will be rulers who will kill the prayer (delaying it until the last gleam of the setting sun). That is the prayer of one who is worse than a donkey, and the prayer of one who has no other choice. Whoever of you lives to see that time, let him pray the prayer at its proper time, and let your prayer with them be only a voluntary (nafl) prayer." The narrator said: I asked Ibrahim, "Did al-Aswad and Alqamah keep doing that afterwards?" He said, "Yes." I asked him, "Do you also do it?" He said, "Yes." I said, "But many people place their hands on their knees." Ibrahim said, "I heard Abu Ma'mar say that Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) used to place his hands on his knees."