continue to follow all three forms in his own prayers, omitting none of them; rather he performs this manner at one time, that manner at another, and the third on yet other occasions. I later discovered a corroborating report from Anas, recorded by al-Darqutni (113) with an isnad that requires examination; discussion of it will come under the section on the opening supplication that begins, “Subhanaka Allahumma….” (1) Abu Hurayra reported: “When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ entered the prayer he would raise his hands in a full extension.” Related by Abu Dawud (1/120); al-Nasaʾi (1/141); al-Tirmidhi (2/6); al-Tahawi (1/115); Ibn Khuzayma (1/64/1 = 1/233–234, 459–460); al-Hakim (1/215, 234); al-Tayalisi (312); through their routes also by al-Bayhaqi (2/27); and Ahmad (2/434, 500), all through Ibn Abi Dhib who said: Saʿid b. Samʿan narrated to us from him. Al-Hakim declared it “sahih,” a judgment with which al-Dhahabi agreed, and it is as they said. Al-Tirmidhi—according to some copies—graded it hasan, which is an understatement. Al-Hakim’s wording, and that of Ibn Khuzayma in his first transmission, is: “When he rose to pray he did like this”—Abu ʿAmir indicated with his hand—“neither spreading his fingers apart nor clenching them.” Al-Tirmidhi, Ibn Khuzayma (1/62/2 = 1/233/458), al-Hakim (1/235) and al-Bayhaqi also transmitted it through Yahya b. al-Yaman from Ibn Abi Dhib with the wording: “When he pronounced the takbir for prayer he spread his fingers wide.” Al-Tirmidhi judged this version weak, saying: “The first narration is sounder than Yahya’s.” He said: