• And I heard Ishaq also say: "When you say the Takbir, do not let your thumbs exceed your ears, for it has reached us that the thumbs of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) were seen close to his ears."
And that which we rely upon is level with the shoulders; he does not exceed them. What is meant by the ears or the shoulders is merely a sign for the limit of the hands, and it is not intended that he should touch his hands to his ears or shoulders.
739 - 'Amr ibn 'Uthman narrated to us, saying: Baqiyyah ibn al-Walid narrated to us, saying: 'Utbah ibn Abi Hakim narrated to me, saying: 'Abd Allah ibn 'Isa narrated to me, from al-'Abbas ibn Sahl al-Sa'idi, from Abu Humayd al-Sa'idi, who said: "When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) stood for prayer, he would say the Takbir and raise his hands level with his face. When he said the Takbir for bowing, he would do the same, and when he said: 'Sami'a Allahu liman hamidah' (Allah hears those who praise Him), he would do the same and say: 'Rabbana wa laka al-hamd' (Our Lord, and to You belongs the praise)."
Chapter: The Takbir before raising the hands
• I asked Ahmad ibn Hanbal, saying: "Is the Takbir first, or the raising of the hands?" He said: "The raising of the hands is with the Takbir."
• And I heard Ishaq say: "If he raises his hands with the Takbir, that is sufficient for him. That he raises his hands and then says the Takbir is more beloved to us. Wa'il al-Hadrami narrates from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): He raised his hands with the Takbir, so if he does that, it is sufficient for him."
