for when he bows, the bowing extends from the moment he begins to bend until he rises and stands upright again. Prostration likewise extends from the moment he descends from a standing or sitting position until he rises and straightens up again. Lowering and rising thus form the two limits of bowing and prostration, by which each is completed. This is why he said, “He straightens his spine during bowing and prostration.”

Further clarifying this is [that performing these two returns to an upright posture is obligatory, just as completing the bowing and prostration is obligatory]. This resembles his words in the hadith cited above: “Then he pronounces the takbīr and prostrates, placing his face firmly down until his joints become still and relaxed. Then he pronounces the takbīr, settles into a sitting position on his buttocks, and straightens his spine.” He thus stated that the spine is straightened when rising from prostration, not while descending.

The two hadiths cited above clearly establish the obligation of these two returns to an upright posture and the obligation of stillness. However, regarding bowing, prostration, and sitting, he said: “Until you become still while bowing, until you become still while prostrating, and until you become still while sitting.” Regarding rising from bowing, he said: “Until you are upright while standing, and until you stand straight,” because one who is standing becomes upright and straight, which necessarily entails stillness.

As for one who is bowing or prostrating, neither is erect. Likewise, one who is seated cannot be described as perfectly upright and straight, for he may lean either toward one side—particularly when sitting in the tawarruk posture—or forward, since the limbs upon which he sits are bent rather than straight and upright. Nevertheless, Ibn Mājah narrated that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said concerning rising from bowing: “Until you become still while standing.”

ʿAlī ibn Shaybān al-Hanafī reported: “We set out and came to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. We pledged allegiance to him and prayed behind him. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a man who was not