Ibn Aswad narrates: Alqamah and Aswad were both with Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him). The time for prayer arrived, so Alqamah and Aswad stepped back (and stood forming a row), but Sayyiduna Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) took both of their hands and made one stand on his right side and the other on his left side. Then both of them performed ruku‘ and (according to the Sunnah) placed their hands on their knees, but Sayyiduna Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) struck their hands and then, by interlacing and joining his own hands, placed them between his thighs and said: I saw the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) do it in this manner.

It is narrated from Aswad and Alqamah that: Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: When any of you performs ruku‘, he should spread his arms over his thighs and bend his back. Then he interlaced his fingers and said: It is as if I am seeing the fingers of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that they were interlaced with each other. Then he interlaced his fingers and showed them.

It is narrated from Alqamah that Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) says: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) taught us prayer. So he (peace and blessings be upon him) said the takbeer and raised his hands, then he bowed (in ruku‘) and placed his hands together between his knees. When Sayyiduna Sa'd (may Allah be pleased with him) came to know of this, he said: My brother (Ibn Mas'ud) has spoken the truth, but in reality, we used to do this, then we were commanded otherwise. Then, clarifying, he held his knees.

Mus'ab bin Sa'd says: When I used to bow (in ruku'), I would place my hands between my knees. When Sayyiduna Sa'd bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) saw me, he said: We used to do the same, but then we were forbidden from doing so.

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) says: A man asked the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) about a matter related to prayer, so the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to him: Clean between the fingers of your hands and feet. That is, perform ablution thoroughly. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) also said to him: When you bow (in ruku‘), place your palms on your knees until they are settled in their place, then when you prostrate, place your forehead on the ground until you feel the surface of the earth.