grouped these three actions together—despite their differing kinds—because they all involve imitating animals during prayer. He thus forbade imitating the crow, the beast of prey, and the camel, although pecking like a crow is more serious than the other two actions, as indicated by other hadiths concerning it.

In the two Sahīh collections, Qatādah narrates from Anas—may Allah be pleased with him—that the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said:

“Maintain proper alignment in bowing and prostration, and let none of you spread his forearms as a dog does.”

This is especially so since he explained in another hadith:

“It is characteristic of the prayer of the hypocrites.”

Allah Most High has stated in His Book that He will never accept the deeds of the hypocrites. Muslim narrated in his Sahīh from Anas ibn Mālik that the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said:

“That is the prayer of the hypocrite. He delays until the sun is between the two horns of Satan, then rises and pecks through four units of prayer, remembering Allah only a little during them.”

He thus stated that the hypocrite neglects both the prescribed time of the obligatory prayer and its proper performance, pecking through it. This indicates that both are blameworthy, although in either case the person is neglecting an obligation. It is clear evidence that pecking through prayer is impermissible and is a practice of those who have hypocrisy within them. All hypocrisy is forbidden. This hadith is an independent proof in its own right, and it explains the preceding hadith.

Allah Most High says:

“Indeed, the hypocrites seek to deceive Allah, but He deceives them. When they stand for prayer, they stand lazily, showing off to people and remembering Allah only a little.”

This is a stern warning to anyone who pecks through his prayer