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Should the Arms of a Woman Touch the Ground During Prostration?

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by Seekersguidance.org

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question: Assalam alaykum,

My question is regarding the position of the arms during protration for females. Should our arms touch the ground up to our elbows?

Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

I pray that you are in the best of health and faith, insha’Allah.

The sunna for women is to rest their forearms on the ground during the prostration as this is more concealing for them, and the basis for their prayer. [Kasani, Bada`i al-Sana`i; Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah]

The dislikedness in doing so pertains to the men’s prayer. Women, on the other hand, prostrate with their bodies drawn close together as the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) instructed when he saw two ladies praying.

Please also see: How Should a Woman Sit and Prostrate in Prayer? and: Women’s Prostration & Validity of the Prayer

And Allah alone knows best.

في بدائع الصنائع: ومنها أن يعتدل في سجوده ولا يفترش ذراعيه لما روي عن النبي – صلى الله عليه وسلم – أنه قال: «اعتدلوا في السجود ولا يفترش أحدكم ذراعيه افتراش الكلب» ، وقال مالك: يفترش في النفل دون الفرض وهو فاسد لما روينا من الحديث من غير فصل وهذا في حق الرجل فأما المرأة فينبغي أن تفترش ذراعيها وتنخفض ولا تنتصب كانتصاب الرجل وتلزق بطنها بفخذيها لأن ذلك أستر لها

في مراقي الفلاح: ( و ) يسن ( انخفاض المرأة ولزقها بطنها بفخذيها ) لأنه عليه السلام مر على امرأتين تصليان فقال إذا سجدتما فضما بعض اللحم إلى بعض فإن المرأة ليست في ذلك كالرجل لأنها عورة مستورة

Tabraze Azam

Checked & Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

This answer was collected from Seekersguidance.org. It’s an online learning platform overseen by Sheikh Faraz Rabbani. All courses are free. They also have in-person classes in Canada.

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