Keeping the limbs apart in prostration

Salim al-Barrad said: We came to visit Sayyiduna Abu Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) in his room, and we said to him: "Teach us the manner of prayer of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)." So he prayed, and when he prostrated, he kept his elbows spread apart.

Sayyidah Maymunah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prostrated, a person behind him could see the whiteness of his armpits.

Sayyiduna Ahmar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prostrated, he kept his thighs so far apart from his sides that we used to feel pity for him.

Ubaydullah bin Abdullah bin Aqram al-Khuza'i narrates from his father (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: I was with my father at Namirah when some riders passed by us and made camp at one side of the road. My father said to me: "My dear son, stay with these animals of yours; I will be back shortly." When he set off, I went along with him, and there was the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). He prayed, and I prayed with him, and during the prayer I was looking at the whiteness of the armpits of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).

Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: In prostration, the whiteness of the armpits of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) could be seen.

Humayd said: When Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) prostrated, he kept his limbs apart from one another.

Ibrahim said: When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prostrated, a person behind him could see the whiteness of his armpits.

Asim bin Shumaykh said: I went to Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id (may Allah be pleased with him), and I saw that in prostration he was keeping his elbows away from his sides, to the point that I could see the whiteness of his armpits.

Al-Hasan said: A man keeps his limbs apart from one another in prayer.

Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: When a man prostrates, he should keep his belly raised above the ground.

Ibrahim said: When a man prostrates, he should keep his thighs apart.

Abu Ishaq said: Once Sayyiduna al-Bara' (may Allah be pleased with him) prayed in front of us; he put his weight on his palms and kept his back raised. Then he said: "This is how the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to prostrate."

Sayyiduna Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When one of you prostrates, let him prostrate in a balanced manner, and let him not spread out his forearms as a dog does."

Sayyiduna Abd al-Rahman bin Shibl (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade spreading the forearms out the way animals do.

Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: When one of you prostrates, let him prostrate in a balanced manner, and let him not spread out his forearms as a dog does.

Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade spreading the forearms out the way beasts of prey do.

Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When one of you prostrates, let him prostrate in a balanced manner, and let him not spread out his forearms as a dog does."

Likewise (through another chain), from Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him).

Sayyiduna Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When one of you prostrates, let him be balanced, and let him not spread out his forearms as a dog does."