His words, “then his forehead together with his nose,” do not say, “his forehead and his nose,” or, “then his nose.” Rather, he said, “together with,” indicating that the nose is a connected and accompanying part, and that is indeed the case.

There remains another point to consider in this wording. When he says, “upon seven limbs … his feet,” is he not already standing on his feet to begin with?

The answer is that he may raise them when he prostrates, which is why they were specifically mentioned, so that he will not raise them.

His words, “then his knees, then his hands,” provide us with the author’s explicit statement that the knees precede the hands in prostration. This was the view held by Umar ibn al-Khattab (1), may Allah be pleased with him, and by the majority of the scholars, including the three imams: Ahmad, Abu Hanifah, and al-Shafi‘i. This is indicated by the reported textual evidence concerning the Prophet’s, peace and blessings be upon him, practice, by what is established—or nearly established—from his statement, and also by rational consideration.

As for its being indicated by the reported evidence of the Prophet’s, peace and blessings be upon him, practice: it has been narrated that when he prostrated, he began with his knees before his hands. (2) However, many scholars have criticized this hadith and declared it weak.

As for its being established from his statement, or nearly established, this is due to the hadith of Abu