Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) taught us how to perform prayer. He (peace be upon him) raised his hands and then went into bowing (ruku‘), and joined both hands together and placed both hands between his knees. (The narrator says) When Sayyiduna Sa‘d (may Allah be pleased with him) came to know of this narration, he said: My brother (Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud, may Allah be pleased with him) has spoken the truth. We used to do exactly like this at first, but then we were commanded to do it differently. Then Sayyiduna Sa‘d (may Allah be pleased with him) placed both hands on top of his knees (meaning: in ruku‘, we were commanded to do it this way).

The same narration is also transmitted with another chain, however, in it the words are: He said the takbir, raised both hands, then when he went into ruku', he joined both hands and placed them between his knees. When Sayyiduna Sa'd (may Allah be pleased with him) came to know about this, he said: My brother has spoken correctly, we used to do it this way before, but then we were commanded to place both palms on both knees. This chain is established and authentic.

Alqamah bin Wa'il narrates from his father (Sayyiduna Wa'il bin Hujr, may Allah be pleased with him): When the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) would go into bowing (ruku'), he would keep his fingers spread apart, and when he would go into prostration (sajdah), he would join all five fingers together. This narration is also transmitted with some other chains of transmission.