737 - Ali said: "Sufyan narrated to us, saying: Isma'il ibn Muhammad ibn Sa'd narrated to us, saying: I heard Abd al-Rahman al-A'raj say: I heard Abu Hurayrah say: 'Among you is one who says like this,' and he raised his hands to his chest, 'and among you is one who says like this,' and he raised his hands to his ears, 'and among you is one who says like this,' and he raised his hands to his shoulders," and he raised his voice with that. Sufyan said: "He is saying: It is as if this one is the most balanced of them."

738 - Hisham ibn 'Ammar narrated to us, saying: Ibn 'Ayyash narrated to us, saying: Salih ibn Kaysan narrated to us, from al-A'raj, from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to raise his hands level with his shoulders when he said the Takbir, when he commenced the prayer, when he bowed, when he prostrated, and when he rose for the interval after the two rak'ahs.

• I heard Ishaq—another time—saying: "When a man commences the prayer, he raises his hands level with his shoulders, then says the Takbir. When he bows, he raises his hands level with his shoulders, and when he raises his head from bowing, he raises his hands likewise as well, and says: 'Sami'a Allahu liman hamidah' (Allah hears those who praise Him). He does not do that in the prostration; it is a past sunnah from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and his companions."