Al-Sharḥ al-Mumtiʿ - Ibn al-'Uthaymin - (3/231)

Al-Sharḥ al-MumtiʿIbn al-'Uthaymin

and for bowing: he sits cross-legged. In the position of prostration and in the sitting positions, however, he sits with his left foot laid flat, except when sitting in tawarruk (1).

Spreading one’s forearms while prostrating, …

His statement, “Spreading one’s forearms while prostrating,” means that it is disliked for one to spread one’s forearms out while in prostration. He specified “while prostrating” because this is where it occurs. The Prophet ﷺ said, “Be moderate in prostration, and let none of you spread his forearms as a dog spreads them out.” (2) A person should not imitate an animal, for Allah has mentioned likening a human being to an animal only in contexts of condemnation. As Allah Most High says:

“The example of those who were entrusted with the Torah, then failed to uphold it, is like that of a donkey carrying volumes of books.” [al-Jumu‘ah: 5]

The Prophet ﷺ also said regarding one who speaks while the imam is delivering the sermon: “He is like a donkey carrying volumes of books.” (3)

Allah Most High says:

“Recite to them the account of him to whom We gave Our signs, but he cast them off; so Satan pursued him, and he became one of those who went astray. Had We willed, We could have raised him thereby; but he clung to the earth and followed his own desires. His likeness is that of a dog: if you chase it, it pants, and if you leave it, it pants.” [al-A‘raf: 175–176]

The Prophet ﷺ said, “The one who takes back his gift is like a dog that returns to its vomit. We are not to be described by an evil comparison.” (4)

Thus, a human being is likened to an animal only in a context of condemnation. Accordingly, if imitating animals outside the prayer is blameworthy, then doing so in the prayer is even more so.

(1) As will come, Allah willing, in the chapter on the prayer of those with valid excuses, in the fourth volume. (2) Its source documentation has preceded on p. 121. (3) Narrated by Imam Ahmad, 1:230, as a marfu report. Ibn Hajar said: “Ahmad narrated it with an acceptable chain of transmission.” Bulugh al-Maram, no. 454. (4) Narrated by al-Bukhari, Book of Legal Stratagems, chapter on gifts and pre-emption, no. 6975, whose wording is cited here; and Muslim, Book of Gifts, chapter on the prohibition of retracting charity after taking possession of it, no. 1622 (5).

يتربَّع، وفي موضع السُّجود والجلوس يفترش إلا في حال التورُّك (١). وافْتِرَاشُ ذِرَاعَيْهِ سَاجِداً، ........... قوله: «وافتراش ذراعيه ساجداً» أي: يُكره أن يفترش ذراعيه حال السُّجود، وإنما قال: «ساجداً» لأن هذا هو الواقع؛ لأن النبيَّ ﷺ قال: «اعتدلوا في السُّجود؛ ولا يبسط أحدكم ذراعيه انبساط الكلب» (٢) لأن الإنسان لا ينبغي أن يتشبَّه بالحيوان، فإن الله لم يَذكرْ تشبيه الإنسان بالحيوان إلا في مقام الذَّمِّ كما قال تعالى: ﴿مَثَلُ الَّذِينَ حُمِّلُوا التَّوْرَاةَ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَحْمِلُوهَا كَمَثَلِ الْحِمَارِ يَحْمِلُ أَسْفَارًا﴾ [الجمعة: ٥] وقال النبيُّ ﷺ في الذي يتكلَّم والإمامُ يخطب: «كمثل الحِمَار يحمِلُ أسفاراً» (٣). وقال تعالى: ﴿وَاتْلُ عَلَيْهِمْ نَبَأَ الَّذِي آتَيْنَاهُ آيَاتِنَا فَانْسَلَخَ مِنْهَا فَأَتْبَعَهُ الشَّيْطَانُ فَكَانَ مِنَ الْغَاوِينَ *﴾ ﴿وَلَوْ شِئْنَا لَرَفَعْنَاهُ بِهَا وَلَكِنَّهُ أَخْلَدَ إِلَى الأَرْضِ وَاتَّبَعَ هَوَاهُ فَمَثَلُهُ كَمَثَلِ الْكَلْبِ إِنْ تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْهِ يَلْهَثْ أَوْ تَتْرُكْهُ يَلْهَثْ﴾ [الأعراف: ١٧٥، ١٧٦] وقال النبيُّ ﷺ: «العائدُ في هِبَتِهِ كالكلب يَعودُ في قَيئِهِ، ليس لنا مَثَلُ السَّوْء» (٤). إذاً؛ فالإنسان لا يُشبَّه بالحيوان إلا في حال الذَّمِّ، وبناءً على ذلك نقول: إذا كان التَّشبُّه بالحيوان في غير الصَّلاة مذموماً؛ ففي الصلاة من باب أَولى.

(١) كما سيأتي إن شاء الله في باب صلاة أهل الأعذار في المجلد الرابع. (٢) تقدم تخريجه ص (١٢١). (٣) أخرجه الإمام أحمد (١/ ٢٣٠) مرفوعاً. قال ابن حَجَر: «رواه أحمد إسناده لا بأس به». «بلوغ المرام» (٤٥٤). (٤) أخرجه البخاري، كتاب الحيل، باب في الهبة والشفعة (٦٩٧٥) واللفظ له؛ ومسلم، كتاب الهبات، باب تحريم الرجوع في الصدقة بعد القبض (١٦٢٢) (٥).