Tirmidhi

Benefits and Issues:

➊ If, during a journey, one has to stop along the way, one should not stop on the road itself but should descend and stop to the side.

➋ In the view of the noble Companions (radi Allahu anhum ajma'in), the importance of congregational prayer was so great that Abdullah (radi Allahu ta'ala anhu) left the goats in his place to participate in the congregational prayer.

➌ The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) did not keep his arms joined to his sides while prostrating. Therefore, the Companions (radi Allahu anhum ajma'in) could clearly see the armpits of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam).

➍ The word (ʿafrah) was used for the whiteness of the armpits. By this is meant such a white color in which there is a slight admixture of blackness. The reason for this is that the blessed skin of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was completely white, and the tips of the growing hair were black in color. The combination of these two made the color of the armpits appear as white tinged with blackness.

➎ Plucking the hair of the armpits is Sunnah (recommended practice). When the hair is so short that plucking becomes difficult, at that time, the above-mentioned appearance can result from the combination with the white color. In this, there is also an indication that the hair was not excessively long; otherwise, instead of the word ʿafrah (ash-grey color), the word sawad (blackness) would have been used. Cleanliness demands that unnecessary body hair should not be allowed to grow beyond a reasonable limit and should be cleaned in a timely manner.

Benefit:
From this hadith, it is established that in prostration (sujud), the arms should be kept apart. It is also established that if the armpits become exposed during prayer, the prayer is not invalidated. The blessed armpits of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) were white.