What is the correct order of prostration (sujud) after rising from bowing (rukuʿ): is it by placing the hands before the knees or vice versa? And what are the authentic hadiths reported regarding that?

Scholars have differed on the manner of descending for prostration, holding two views:

1. Placing the knees before the hands: This is the view of the Hanafis, Shafi'is, and Hanbalis. They cited the hadith of Wa'il ibn Hujr (may Allah be pleased with him) as evidence. Some of them, however, pointed out the weakness of this hadith. 2. Placing the hands before the knees: This is the view of the Malikis, Al-Awza'i, and a narration from Ahmad. They cited the hadith of Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him): "When one of you prostrates, he should not kneel down like a camel, but should place his hands before his knees," and an athar from Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him).

It is more probable that the evidence for the view of placing the hands first is stronger in terms of its chain of narration, even though the view of placing the knees first might be stronger from a contemplative perspective for one who ponders the kneeling of a camel. Accordingly, the preponderant view is to place the hands first when descending for prostration.