| Ruling on holding the hands and releasing them after rising from Ruku` during Salah  | | (Part No. 11; Page No. 144) | |
Q: A brother asks about the ruling on putting the hands on each other when standing after Ruku` (bowing) during Salah (Prayer) and about releasing them? A: It is authentically reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to put the hands over each other during standing in Salah. When standing after Ruku`, one is in a state of standing, thus it is permissible for one to put the hands over each other. As for putting the hands by one's side in Salah, this is Makruh (disliked) and should not be done because it contradicts the Sunnah. It is authentically established in Sahih Al-Bukhari on the authority of Abu Hazim that Sahl ibn Sa`d (may Allah be pleased with him) said:  They were commanded that a man should place his right hand on his left arm in prayer. It is stated by Abu Hazim: I do not know except that he attributed it i.e. the report, to the Prophet (peace be upon him). Thus, this authentic Hadith proves that it is an act of Sunnah to hold the left hand with the right one while in Salah. It is known through the authentic Sunnah that it is an act of Sunnah for a person who performs Salah to place the palms on the knees when in the state of Ruku`, and to place them on the floor against his shoulders or ears during the state of Sujud (prostration), and to place them on both thighs and knees while in the state of sitting. | | (Part No. 11; Page No. 145) | |
Since it is only the posture of standing that is not mentioned out of the postures of Salah, thus it should be inferred that it is an act of Sunnah to hold the left hand with the right one when standing both before and after Ruku`, because the Hadith is equally applied to both states. This is also substantiated by what was related by Al-Nasa'y with an authentic chain of narration that Wa'il ibn Hujr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I saw that the Prophet (peace be upon him) placed his right hand on the left hand when he was in the position of standing up in Salah. This includes both standings, that which is before Ruku` and that which is after it. Those who choose to place their hands by their sides after Ruku` do not have any reliable proof, as far as we know. Rather, this is against the evident texts of the Sunnah. It is better to place them on the chest because Wa'il ibn Hujr and Hulb Al-Ta'iy reported this from the Prophet (peace be upon him) with a Hasan Isnad (a Hadith whose Isnad contains a narrator with weak exactitude, but is free from eccentricity or blemish). They have similar supporting reports. As for the Hadith attributed to `Aly (may Allah be pleased with him) specifying the place of hands as under the navel, it is judged as weak according to the scholars of Hadith.Accordingly, you should know that putting the hands by the sides in Salah does not blemish one's Islam or forbid eating from his sacrifice. Rather, such a conduct is Makruh (disliked) and contradictory to the Sunnah. Thus, it should not be done. May Allah grant us all a sound understanding of Islam, help us remain firm on His Din, and give advice to Allah's Slaves. He is the best One asked for help. |
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