Hadithcore
Sahih Muslim, 401
sahih

Wa'il b. Hujr reported:

He saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) raising his hands at the time of beginning the prayer and reciting takbir, and according to Hammam (the narrator), the hands were lifted opposite to ears. He (the Prophet) then wrapped his hands in his cloth and placed his right hand over his left hand. And when he was about to bow down, he brought out his hands from the cloth, and then lifted them, and then recited takbir and bowed down, and when (he came back to the erect position) he recited:" Allah listened to him who praised Him." And when he prostrated, he prostrated between his two palms.

حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَفَّانُ، حَدَّثَنَا هَمَّامٌ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جُحَادَةَ، حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ الْجَبَّارِ بْنُ وَائِلٍ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ بْنِ وَائِلٍ، وَمَوْلًى، لَهُمْ أَنَّهُمَا حَدَّثَاهُ عَنْ أَبِيهِ، وَائِلِ بْنِ حُجْرٍ، أَنَّهُ رَأَى النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ حِينَ دَخَلَ فِي الصَّلاَةِ كَبَّرَ - وَصَفَ هَمَّامٌ حِيَالَ أُذُنَيْهِ - ثُمَّ الْتَحَفَ بِثَوْبِهِ ثُمَّ وَضَعَ يَدَهُ الْيُمْنَى عَلَى الْيُسْرَى فَلَمَّا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَرْكَعَ أَخْرَجَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ الثَّوْبِ ثُمَّ رَفَعَهُمَا ثُمَّ كَبَّرَ فَرَكَعَ فَلَمَّا قَالَ ‏

‏ سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ ‏

‏ ‏.‏ رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ فَلَمَّا سَجَدَ سَجَدَ بَيْنَ كَفَّيْهِ ‏.‏

References2 variants
In-Book Reference
Book 4, Hadith 58
USC-MSA web (English) reference
Book 4, Hadith 792 (deprecated numbering scheme)
Sharh · explanationclick to expand
Prayer is an act of worship that can be only learned from the Islamic texts so the Prophet's companions in detail learned and transmitted it to the nation just as they performed it with him. In this hadith, the Prophet's companion, Wa'el ibn Hujr, described the Prophet's prayer as he saw. The Prophet (ﷺ) his praying by pronouncing the first takbeer while raising his hands next to his ears. Afterward, he wrapped his garment and covered his chest and hands, due to the extreme coldness or so. He placed his right palm on his left one, for it is closer to submissiveness behind Allah. Afterward, he lifted his hands, said takbeer, and bowed. When he stood, he said, "Allah hears whoever praises Him." It is a supplication that means, "O Allah! Answer the supplication of who praises You." It has two possibilities. Either it is a supplication from an imam for those praying behind him or it is to express Allah's grace. As for those praying behind an imam, they either answer him by saying, "O Lord! For you is the all praise," as in the hadith narrated by Anas in the Two Sahihs or they say the two sentences as the solitary praying one. When the Prophet wanted to prostrate, he put his head between his two palms. Finally, this hadith contains the following benefits: (1) Prayer is not invalid due to simple moves such as moving garments, and (2) It explains some hand's moves during prayer..
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