He thus appealed to Allah to free these limbs, so that He might thereby free the entire body as well, since emancipation extends to it.
“He keeps his upper arms away from his sides, his belly away from his thighs, and separates his knees, ...”
His statement, “He keeps his upper arms away from his sides”: the subject is the worshipper in prostration. He keeps his upper arms away from his sides—that is, he holds them apart—because it is authentically established that the Prophet, may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him, used to do this. Indeed, the Companions would feel compassion for him because of the extent to which he held himself apart, may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him (1). The whiteness of his armpits could be seen because of how far he held himself apart (2). Moreover, if a lamb—that is, a young sheep—had wished to pass beneath him, it could have done so because of the extent to which he held himself apart (3).
An exception is made when one is praying in congregation and fears that he may inconvenience the person beside him. In that case, it is not recommended for him to do so, because it would cause harm to his neighbour. This is because holding oneself apart is a sunnah, whereas causing harm is, at the very least, disliked. One should not commit a disliked act that harms and distracts one’s neighbour for the sake of a sunnah. This is why the scholars, may Allah have mercy on them, made this exception and said: provided that he does not harm the person beside him; but if he does harm him, then he should not do it.
But know that whenever you leave a sunnah in order to avert harm—and Allah knows that you would have done it were it not for that—you will be recorded its reward. If a person abandons an act for Allah’s sake, Allah compensates him for it. Indeed, even when he leaves it without choosing to do so, the Prophet, may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him, said: “When a servant falls ill or travels, there is recorded for him the like of what he used to do while healthy and resident” (4).