(1) This concerns the hadith of Rifaʿa b. Rafiʿ, already cited above. Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar comments in Fath al-Bari (2/222): “This hadith has been used to prove that tumaninah (settled composure) is obligatory in every pillar of the prayer; this is the opinion of the majority.” Although it is commonly reported that the Hanafis regard tumaninah as merely sunnah, and many of their authors state this explicitly, al-Tahawi’s words point almost unequivocally to its being obligatory in their school. In Sharh Maʿani al-Athar (1/136–137) he entitles a chapter “The measure of bowing and prostration,” then cites the hadith recorded by Abu Dawud and others in which the Prophet said: “… say Subhana Rabbi al-Azim three times in rukuʿ; that is its minimum.” Al-Tahawi adds: “Some scholars held that this is the minimum length of rukuʿ and sujud, and that anything shorter is invalid.” He continues: “Others disagreed, saying: once he has assumed the bowing posture and attained composure in prostration, it suffices.” Al-Tahawi concludes: “This is the view of Abu Hanifah, Abu Yusuf, and Muhammad.” Al-Sindi notes: “Al-Tahawi states explicitly in his Sharh al-Athar that the position of Abu Hanifah and his two companions is that tumaninah in rukuʿ and sujud is obligatory, and this view is closer to the hadith evidence.”