By: Hafiz Zubair Ali Zai
«عن سهل بن سعد رضى الله عنه قال: كان الناس يؤمرون أن يضع الرجل يده اليمنى على ذراعه اليسرى فى الصلوة»
Sahl ibn Sa‘d رضي الله عنه narrates: “The people used to be commanded (by the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم) that a man should place his right hand on his left forearm in the prayer.”
①
From this hadith it is understood that the hands should be folded on the chest in salah. If a person places his right hand upon his left forearm (ذراع), both hands naturally settle on the chest.
In another hadith it is mentioned that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم placed his right hand upon the back of his left palm, the wrist and the forearm:
سنن نسائي مع حاشية السندي: ج 1 ص 141 ح 890، أبو داود: ج 1 ص 112 ح 727
This narration has been graded sahih by:
ابن خزيمة (243/1 ح 48) و ابن حبان في الإحسان (202/2 ح 485)
The placing of the hands on the chest is also confirmed by the narration in which it is reported:
«يضع هذه على صدره .. إلخ»
“He (the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم) would place this hand upon his chest …”
This is in:
مسند أحمد ج 5 ص 226 ح 22313، واللفظ له، تحقيق ابن الجوزي ج 1 ص 283 ح 477، وفي نسخته ص 338 وسنده حسن
②
As for the narration in Sunan Abi Dawud and others about folding the hands beneath the navel, it states that hands are placed “تحت السرة” (under the navel). This report is weak due to the narrator:
عبد الرحمن بن إسحاق الكوفي
In the very same chapter of Sunan Abi Dawud, criticism upon him is quoted.
Imam al-Nawawi رحمه الله said:
“عبد الرحمن بن إسحاق بالاتفاق ضعيف”
“‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Ishaq is weak by agreement.”
Nimawi al-Hanafi writes:
وفيه عبد الرحمن بن إسحاق الواسطي وهو ضعيف
“In it is ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Ishaq al-Wasiti, and he is weak.”
For further criticism see al-Binayah fi Sharh al-Hidayah by al-‘Ayni al-Hanafi 2/208 and other works. On the margin of Hidayah Awwalin 1/102, 17 it is written that this narration is weak by consensus.
③
The popular fiqhi claim that men should fold their hands below the navel and women on the chest is not established by any sahih or even weak hadith.
Likewise, the differentiation made between the salah of men and women — such as:
• Men keeping their arms raised off the ground in sujud,
• Women pressing their arms flat to the ground and squeezing themselves in —
are all refinements of Ahl al-Ra’y (people of opinion), not based on clear evidence.
According to the teaching of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم, the outward form of salah from Takbir al-Ihram to Salam is the same for men and women, except in matters of clothing and covering:
• A woman may not pray with her head uncovered.
• Her ankles must not be exposed.
In the methodology of Ahl al-Hadith, any distinction that is proven by clear, explicit text is accepted as truth; and matters which lack proof or rest on weak reports are treated as rejected.
④
The narration from Anas رضي الله عنه regarding placing the hands below the navel (تحت السرة) is severely weak due to the narrator:
سعيد بن زِرْبِي
See:
مختصر الخلافيات للبيهقي 1/342، تأليف ابن فرح الأندلسي، والخلافيات (مخطوط) ج 37 ب، وكتب أسماء الرجال
⑤
Some people quote from Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah a narration with the wording “تحت السرة” (under the navel). However, in the original manuscript and the standard printed editions of Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, these words “تحت السرة” do not exist.
It was Qasim ibn Qutlubugha who inserted these words later. He has been accused of fabrication. Al-Biqa‘i called him كذاب (a liar) in al-Daw’ al-Lami‘ 6/186.
⑥
According to the Hanafis, both men and women should fold their hands below the navel.
However, as explained, such a specification is not supported by authentic hadith. The established, supported narrations indicate that folding the hands in salah is done by placing the right hand over the left on the forearm / wrist, which naturally positions them on the chest.
Placing the Hands on the Chest
«عن سهل بن سعد رضى الله عنه قال: كان الناس يؤمرون أن يضع الرجل يده اليمنى على ذراعه اليسرى فى الصلوة»
Sahl ibn Sa‘d رضي الله عنه narrates: “The people used to be commanded (by the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم) that a man should place his right hand on his left forearm in the prayer.”
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 1/102, hadith 740
Points of Benefit
①
From this hadith it is understood that the hands should be folded on the chest in salah. If a person places his right hand upon his left forearm (ذراع), both hands naturally settle on the chest.
In another hadith it is mentioned that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم placed his right hand upon the back of his left palm, the wrist and the forearm:
سنن نسائي مع حاشية السندي: ج 1 ص 141 ح 890، أبو داود: ج 1 ص 112 ح 727
This narration has been graded sahih by:
ابن خزيمة (243/1 ح 48) و ابن حبان في الإحسان (202/2 ح 485)
Reference: Sunan al-Nasa'i 1/141, hadith 890; Sunan Abi Dawud 1/112, hadith 727; Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah 1/243, hadith 480 (or 48 as printed); Sahih Ibn Hibban, al-Ihsan 2/202, hadith 485
The placing of the hands on the chest is also confirmed by the narration in which it is reported:
«يضع هذه على صدره .. إلخ»
“He (the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم) would place this hand upon his chest …”
This is in:
مسند أحمد ج 5 ص 226 ح 22313، واللفظ له، تحقيق ابن الجوزي ج 1 ص 283 ح 477، وفي نسخته ص 338 وسنده حسن
Reference: Musnad Ahmad 5/226, hadith 22313; Tahqiq of Ibn al-Jawzi 1/283, hadith 477 (and p. 338 in another copy), chain hasan
②
As for the narration in Sunan Abi Dawud and others about folding the hands beneath the navel, it states that hands are placed “تحت السرة” (under the navel). This report is weak due to the narrator:
عبد الرحمن بن إسحاق الكوفي
In the very same chapter of Sunan Abi Dawud, criticism upon him is quoted.
Imam al-Nawawi رحمه الله said:
“عبد الرحمن بن إسحاق بالاتفاق ضعيف”
“‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Ishaq is weak by agreement.”
Reference: Nasb al-Rayah by al-Zayla‘i al-Hanafi 1/314
Nimawi al-Hanafi writes:
وفيه عبد الرحمن بن إسحاق الواسطي وهو ضعيف
“In it is ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Ishaq al-Wasiti, and he is weak.”
Reference: Hashiyah Athar al-Sunan, hadith 330
For further criticism see al-Binayah fi Sharh al-Hidayah by al-‘Ayni al-Hanafi 2/208 and other works. On the margin of Hidayah Awwalin 1/102, 17 it is written that this narration is weak by consensus.
③
The popular fiqhi claim that men should fold their hands below the navel and women on the chest is not established by any sahih or even weak hadith.
Likewise, the differentiation made between the salah of men and women — such as:
• Men keeping their arms raised off the ground in sujud,
• Women pressing their arms flat to the ground and squeezing themselves in —
are all refinements of Ahl al-Ra’y (people of opinion), not based on clear evidence.
According to the teaching of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم, the outward form of salah from Takbir al-Ihram to Salam is the same for men and women, except in matters of clothing and covering:
• A woman may not pray with her head uncovered.
• Her ankles must not be exposed.
In the methodology of Ahl al-Hadith, any distinction that is proven by clear, explicit text is accepted as truth; and matters which lack proof or rest on weak reports are treated as rejected.
④
The narration from Anas رضي الله عنه regarding placing the hands below the navel (تحت السرة) is severely weak due to the narrator:
سعيد بن زِرْبِي
See:
مختصر الخلافيات للبيهقي 1/342، تأليف ابن فرح الأندلسي، والخلافيات (مخطوط) ج 37 ب، وكتب أسماء الرجال
Reference: Mukhtasar al-Khilafiyyat of al-Bayhaqi 1/342; al-Khilafiyyat (manuscript), vol. 37B; works on rijal
⑤
Some people quote from Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah a narration with the wording “تحت السرة” (under the navel). However, in the original manuscript and the standard printed editions of Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, these words “تحت السرة” do not exist.
It was Qasim ibn Qutlubugha who inserted these words later. He has been accused of fabrication. Al-Biqa‘i called him كذاب (a liar) in al-Daw’ al-Lami‘ 6/186.
Reference: Al-Daw’ al-Lami‘ 6/186
⑥
According to the Hanafis, both men and women should fold their hands below the navel.
Reference: Al-Fiqh ‘ala al-Madhahib al-Arba‘ah 1/251
However, as explained, such a specification is not supported by authentic hadith. The established, supported narrations indicate that folding the hands in salah is done by placing the right hand over the left on the forearm / wrist, which naturally positions them on the chest.
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