No one who examines the various chains of this hadith can doubt that it too is an abridgment—like Wakīʿ’s narration—of the hadith of Wāʾil, which describes the Prophet’s prayer, peace and blessings be upon him. The standing in which he held his hands was that before bowing. This is related through two routes:

The first: from ʿAbd al-Jabbār ibn Wāʾil, from ʿAlqamah ibn Wāʾil and a freedman of theirs, who both narrated to him from their father, Wāʾil ibn Ḥujr: he saw the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, raise his hands when he began the prayer and pronounced the takbīr—Hammām described them as level with his ears. He then wrapped himself in his garment and placed his right hand over his left. When he wished to bow, he brought his hands out from the garment, raised them, then pronounced the takbīr and bowed. When he said, “Allah hears whoever praises Him,” he raised his hands. When he prostrated, he prostrated between his palms. It was recorded by Muslim (2/13), Abū ʿAwānah (2/106–107), Aḥmad (4/317–318), and al-Bayhaqī (2/28 and 71).

The second: from ʿĀṣim ibn Kulayb, from his father, from Wāʾil ibn Ḥujr, who said: “I said: ‘I shall certainly observe how the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, performs the prayer.’ The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, then stood, faced the direction of prayer, pronounced the takbīr, and raised his hands until they were level with his ears. Then he held his left hand with his right. When he wished to bow, he raised them in the same manner. Then he placed his hands on his knees. When he raised his head from bowing, he raised them in the same manner.”