Among the etiquettes of moving down into prostration and rising from it is the following discussion.
After citing the ḥadith of Wāʾil, which will be mentioned shortly, he says: “Ibn al-Qayyim stated: ‘This is the correct view … and nothing has been transmitted from his practice that contradicts it.’”
Such were his words, yet this denial is one of his lapses, may Allah have mercy on him. On the very next two pages he himself brings the forthcoming ḥadith of Ibn ʿUmar, remarking: “Al-Ḥākim narrated it in al-Mustadrak and said: ‘It meets Muslim’s criteria,’” and he offers no objection. His silence, then, amounts to accepting its authenticity—so how can he claim that nothing attests to it?
The annotator of his book either overlooked this or chose to ignore it, for he followed Ibn al-Qayyim’s denial with the remark: “Rather, this is established in what al-Ḥākim has reported ….”
It would have been better for him to refute that denial with what Ibn al-Qayyim himself affirmed later on, for that would carry greater evidential weight and be farther removed from affectation and personal bias—especially since Ibn al-Qayyim re-cited the very same ḥadith there as well!
As for Ibn al-Qayyim’s grading the ḥadith of Shurayk as authentic, that is untenable—neither from the standpoint of ḥadith criticism, as will be clarified, nor from the juristic standpoint, for it conflicts with the sound report of Ibn ʿUmar describing the Prophet’s practice, and with the marfūʿ ḥadith of Abū Hurayrah containing his instruction, both of which will be discussed.
His statement: “It—meaning placing the hands before the knees when descending—is the position held by the ḥadith scholars.”
I say: That is the correct view, for it is what has been firmly established from the Prophet ﷺ both in deed and command.
Regarding his deed, it is related in the ḥadith of Ibn ʿUmar—may Allah be pleased with him—who said: “Whenever the Messenger of Allah ﷺ went into prostration, he would place his hands before his knees.” It was recorded by several authorities, among them al-Ḥākim.