The hadith indicates that the armpit is not part of the ʿawrah during prayer and that its being seen does not contravene the norms of public decorum.

It further teaches that every limb should receive its share of devotion in the prayer; if each limb were to rest upon another, this balanced distribution would be lost and those limbs would miss their portion of worship.

This meaning is stated explicitly in the report recorded by al-Tabarānī and others, on the authority of Ibn ʿUmar, who related that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Do not sprawl as a beast sprawls; rely on your palms and lift your upper arms. When you do that, every limb of yours prostrates.”

This manner of prostration is recommended so long as it does not disturb the person praying beside you; if it annoys him, encroaches on his space, or crowds him, it should be avoided, for averting harm—by not inconveniencing fellow worshipers—takes precedence over securing the benefit of this posture.