What is Sunan Abu Dawud 901 about?

This hadith from Sunan Abu Dawud (Book of Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat)), narrated by Abu Hurairah reported the Prophet(ﷺ) as saying:, states: "when one of you prostrates himself, he should not stretch out his forearms( on the ground) like a dog and he should join both of his thighs."

Is this hadith authentic?

This hadith is graded Hasan. Hasan hadiths are considered good and acceptable in hadith classification.

Which collection is this hadith from?

This hadith is from Sunan Abu Dawud, which contains 5,276 hadiths across 43 books. It is hadith number 901 in the Book of Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat).

I searched for a different number — is this the right hadith?

Hadith numbering varies across editions and translations (USC-MSA, Dar as-Salam, Fath al-Bari, and others). If you followed a link citing a different number but landed here, you may have been redirected to the canonical version in our library. If you were looking for a different hadith entirely, use the search bar to find it by text.

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#900

#901

Sunan Abu Dawud

#902

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Sunan Abu Dawud #901

Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat)

Hasan

The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ بْنُ شُعَيْبِ بْنِ اللَّيْثِ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ دَرَّاجٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ حُجَيْرَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ إِذَا سَجَدَ أَحَدُكُمْ فَلاَ يَفْتَرِشْ يَدَيْهِ افْتِرَاشَ الْكَلْبِ وَلْيَضُمَّ فَخِذَيْهِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

when one of you prostrates himself, he should not stretch out his forearms( on the ground) like a dog and he should join both of his thighs.

Narrated by Abu Hurairah reported the Prophet(ﷺ) as saying:

Context

This hadith emphasizes the proper way to prostrate during prayer, advising against stretching the arms out like a dog and instead keeping the thighs together. This instruction reflects the importance of maintaining decorum and respect during acts of worship, ensuring that the physical posture aligns with the spiritual intention.

Modern Application

In daily salah, Muslims strive to follow the Prophet's (ﷺ) guidance on posture, which helps them maintain focus and humility during prayer. Proper physical alignment can enhance the spiritual experience and connection with Allah.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Prayer and Prophetic Conduct because it provides specific guidance on the physical aspects of prayer, reflecting the Prophet's (ﷺ) teachings on proper conduct.

Prayer Prophetic Conduct

Related Ayahs

سُورَةُ الإِسۡرَاءِ

Al-Israa (The Night Journey)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

وَلَا تَجْعَلْ يَدَكَ مَغْلُولَةً إِلَىٰ عُنُقِكَ وَلَا تَبْسُطْهَا كُلَّ ٱلْبَسْطِ فَتَقْعُدَ مَلُومًۭا مَّحْسُورًا

And do not make your hand [as] chained to your neck or extend it completely and [thereby] become blamed and insolvent.

سُورَةُ الشُّعَرَاءِ

Ash-Shu'araa (The Poets)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

وَتَقَلُّبَكَ فِى ٱلسَّٰجِدِينَ

And your movement among those who prostrate.

سُورَةُ النِّسَاءِ

An-Nisaa (The Women)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

2 ayahs

فَإِذَا قَضَيْتُمُ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ فَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ قِيَٰمًۭا وَقُعُودًۭا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِكُمْ ۚ فَإِذَا ٱطْمَأْنَنتُمْ فَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَٰبًۭا مَّوْقُوتًۭا

And when you have completed the prayer, remember Allah standing, sitting, or [lying] on your sides. But when you become secure, re-establish [regular] prayer. Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.

وَإِذَا كُنتَ فِيهِمْ فَأَقَمْتَ لَهُمُ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ فَلْتَقُمْ طَآئِفَةٌۭ مِّنْهُم مَّعَكَ وَلْيَأْخُذُوٓا۟ أَسْلِحَتَهُمْ فَإِذَا سَجَدُوا۟ فَلْيَكُونُوا۟ مِن وَرَآئِكُمْ وَلْتَأْتِ طَآئِفَةٌ أُخْرَىٰ لَمْ يُصَلُّوا۟ فَلْيُصَلُّوا۟ مَعَكَ وَلْيَأْخُذُوا۟ حِذْرَهُمْ وَأَسْلِحَتَهُمْ ۗ وَدَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَوْ تَغْفُلُونَ عَنْ أَسْلِحَتِكُمْ وَأَمْتِعَتِكُمْ فَيَمِيلُونَ عَلَيْكُم مَّيْلَةًۭ وَٰحِدَةًۭ ۚ وَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِن كَانَ بِكُمْ أَذًۭى مِّن مَّطَرٍ أَوْ كُنتُم مَّرْضَىٰٓ أَن تَضَعُوٓا۟ أَسْلِحَتَكُمْ ۖ وَخُذُوا۟ حِذْرَكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ أَعَدَّ لِلْكَٰفِرِينَ عَذَابًۭا مُّهِينًۭا

And when you are among them and lead them in prayer, let a group of them stand [in prayer] with you and let them carry their arms. And when they have prostrated, let them be [in position] behind you and have the other group come forward which has not [yet] prayed and let them pray with you, taking precaution and carrying their arms. Those who disbelieve wish that you would neglect your weapons and your baggage so they could come down upon you in one [single] attack. But there is no blame upon you, if you are troubled by rain or are ill, for putting down your arms, but take precaution. Indeed, Allah has prepared for the disbelievers a humiliating punishment.

سُورَةُ العَلَقِ

Al-Alaq (The Clot)

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1 ayah

۩ Sajdah

كَلَّا لَا تُطِعْهُ وَٱسْجُدْ وَٱقْتَرِب ۩

No! Do not obey him. But prostrate and draw near [to Allah].

Common Words

103 total87 unique11 repeated

ٱلصلوة4x

ولا3x

فإذا3x

إن3x

ٱلله2x

طائفة2x

معك2x

وليأخذوا2x

من2x

أسلحتكم2x

عليكم2x

تجعل1x

يدك1x

مغلولة1x

إلى1x

عنقك1x

تبسطها1x

كل1x

ٱلبسط1x

فتقعد1x

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About Sunan Abu Dawud

This hadith is #901 from Sunan Abu Dawud, in the Book of Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat). It is graded Hasan and narrated by Abu Hurairah reported the Prophet(ﷺ) as saying:.

Browse all Sunan Abu Dawud All Hadith Collections

Sunan Abu Dawud #901

Context

Modern Application

Topics

Related Ayahs

Common Words

Related Hadiths

About Sunan Abu Dawud

About This Hadith