Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear Brother,

 
Please help in answering the following questions.

 
When praying salat where should women place their hands while standing? I've always know for women to place their right hand over the left hand and both hands across the chest but in books that i have read recently the graphics show the women with hands across the waist like men. Can you please explain this?

Jazakallah Kher.

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Answer:

Where should women place hands in prayer

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: ‘Pray as you have seen me pray’.

Related by Al-Bukhari.

First and foremost we would like to clarify that regardless of whether one is a male or a female, there is only one way to perform the rite of prayer….and that way is the one that was offered by the Noble Messenger of Allah (saws) who guided the believers, men and women alike, to ‘‘Pray as you have seen me pray’.

Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 1.131

Said Sahl ibn Sa'd, "The people were ordered to place their right hand on their left forearm during prayers." (Related by Bukhari and Muslim)

Al-Hafez related that the Prophet (saws) said, "All prophets have been ordered to hasten the breaking of the fast and to delay the (pre-fast dawn) meal, and to place our right hands on our left during prayer."

Jabir narrated that "The Prophet (saws) passed by a man praying with his left hand over his right, and (the Prophet (saws)) pulled them away and put his right over his left." (Related by Ahmad.)

Thus, in light of the above guidance what is absolutely certain is that the Messenger of Allah (saws) would hold his hands while in the state of ‘qiyaam’ in prayer.

Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 1.132

Sunnah acts of prayer, The Position of the Hands

Al-Kamal ibn al-Hamam is of the opinion, "There is no authentic hadith stating that one must place the hands under the chest or below the navel. According to the Hanifiyyah school of thought, the hands are to be placed below the navel, and according to the Shafiyyah school of thought below the chest. Ahmad has two narrations corresponding to these two opinions. The correct position is somewhere in the middle - to be equal."

Observes at-Tirmidhi, "Knowledgeable companions, their followers and those that came after them believed that one should put his right hand over the left during prayer, while some say above the navel and others say below the navel..." Nevertheless, there do exist hadith that the Prophet (saws) placed his hands on his chest. Reported Hulb at-Ta'i, "I saw the Prophet (saws) praying with his right hand over his left upon his chest above the elbow." This is related by Ahmad and at-Tirmidhi, who grades it as hassan.

Reported Wa'il ibn Hajr, "Once when I prayed with the Prophet (saws) and he placed his right hand over his left upon his chest." The report is recorded by Ibn Khuzaimah, who considers it as sahih, and by Abu Dawud and an-Nasa'i with the wording, "Then he put his right hand over the back of his left wrist and forearm."

Depending on which narration one wishes to give weight to, there is a difference of opinion amongst the scholars and the major schools of thought regarding where exactly did the Prophet (saws) placed his hands when in the state of ‘qiyaam’ in prayer. In light of the above guidance and the opinion of the eminent scholars, if one holds ones hands anywhere between one’s navel and one’s chest, regardless of whether one is a male or a female, it would be acceptable and in accordance with the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws). And Allah Alone Knows Best.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan