(1) Ibn al-Malik writes in al-Mabarq (2/79): “The word ‘aqrabu’ (closer) is the grammatical subject whose predicate is necessarily omitted because the circumstantial clause (hal) takes its place; it is like the statement, ‘The governor is most eloquent when standing,’ except that in that example the hal is a single word, whereas here it is an entire clause introduced by the conjunction wa. A servant is closer to Allah’s mercy while in prostration because that posture represents the utmost humility and acknowledgement of servitude, and it is therefore a moment when supplications are most likely to be answered. For this reason the Prophet ﷺ said: ‘So make abundant supplication in it.’” End quote. On this basis some scholars have argued that prostration is superior to standing; their views—and al-Sindi’s reconciliation of the relevant texts—have already been cited, see pp. 406-407. (2) The report comes from Abu Hurayra. Muslim transmits it (2/49-50), as do Abu Awana (2/180), Abu Dawud (1/140), al-Nasaʾi (1/170-171), al-Tahawi (1/138), al-Bayhaqi (2/110) and Ahmad (2/421), all through the chain: Ibn Wahb → ʿAmr ibn al-Harith → ʿUmara ibn Ghaziyya → Sumayy, the freedman of Abu Bakr, who heard Abu Salih Dhakwan narrate it; the additional wording appears only in al-Bayhaqi. Al-Hakim (1/263) mistakenly attributed the hadith to both Bukhari and Muslim, whereas it is found only in Muslim. Al-Tahawi also recorded it through Abu Salih via Yahya ibn Ayyub with a similar wording. It is listed in Irwaʾ al-Ghalil, no. 456.