(1) This was the wording reported by Abd Allah ibn Umar—see the hadith cited earlier (p. 193)—and it is likewise the wording narrated by Abu Humayd al-Saidi in the presence of ten Companions, as mentioned in their report (p. 197). A similar narration exists from Ali—already noted (p. 180)—in the Sunan collections and elsewhere, with the sole exception of al-Tirmidhi, although he too included it (2/251‒252, Bulaq ed.) and graded it “hasan sahih.” There is also a report from Abu Hurayra with a weak chain—see p. 193—but Abu Dawud transmitted another wording with an authentic chain, which will be quoted later under the heading “Raising the hands after rising from rukuʿ” (p. 674). These ahadith indicate that the hands are to be raised level with the shoulders, meaning that the palms should be parallel to them. This practice was followed by Umar ibn al-Khattab, his son, and Abu Hurayra—according to al-Bayhaqi—and it is the view of al-Shafi‘i in al-Umm (his exact words were given above, p. 196) and of his followers. It is also the position of Malik, Ahmad, Ishaq, and Ibn al-Munadhir (al-Majmuʿ, 3/307). Abu Hanifa, by contrast, held that the hands should be raised in line with the ears, a position whose evidence will be presented shortly. From Ahmad there is another narration stating that a worshipper may choose either position and that neither has precedence over the other. Ibn al-Munadhir relates the same option from some hadith scholars and approves it. I say: this is the correct view—both positions are sunnah. Many of our foremost researchers have leaned to this conclusion, such as Ali al-Qari and al-Sindi al-Hanafi; the latter’s exact statement will be quoted presently. (2) This was the statement of Malik ibn al-Huwayrith. It is recorded by Muslim, the compilers of the Sunan, and others; the wording of the report was cited above (p. 198).