his knees, then he arched his back, meaning he pressed it down until it leveled and did not remain hunched (5). In another wording: "Then he balanced himself and did not lower his head (6) nor raise it (7), and he placed his hands on his knees." Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, said: "When the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, bowed, he would not raise his head nor lower it, but [remained] between that." [Reported by Muslim] (8). Ahmad said: "It is desirable for him, when he bows, to grasp his knees with his palms, spread his fingers, lean on his upper arms and forearms, keep his back level, and neither raise his head nor tilt it downward." It has come in (9) the hadith from the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, that when he bowed, if a vessel of water were placed on his back, it would not have moved (10), because of the levelness of his back. The obligatory part of this is the inclination [of the body] such that he can touch his knees with his hands, because he does not exit the state of standing into the state of bowing except by this. It is not mandatory for him to actually place them [on the knees], rather that is recommended. If his knees were injured and he could not place his hands on them, he should bow without placing them; if one of them was injured, he should place his hands on the other.

Section: It is recommended to keep one's elbows away from one's sides, for Abu Humayd mentioned that the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, placed his hands on his knees as if he were clutching them, and he stretched out his arms and moved them away from his sides. A sahih (authentic) hadith (11).