Fatwa by: Former Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Ibn Baz (رحمہ اللہ)
رأيت النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا كان قائما فى الصلاة يضع يده اليمنى على ظهر كفه اليسرى والرسغ والساعد
"[I saw the Prophet (ﷺ) in the standing position during Salah, placing his right hand over the back of his left hand, wrist, and forearm.]"
— Sunan Abu Dawood and Sunan Nasai, with an authentic chain.
This indicates that there is no specific spot on the left hand where the right hand must be placed; it can be positioned anywhere on the hand, wrist, or forearm.
Imam Ahmad (رحمہ اللہ) narrated another Hadith with a sound chain:
إن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يضع يمينه على شماله على صدره، حال وقوفه فى الصلاة
"[Indeed, the Prophet (ﷺ) would place his right hand over his left on his chest during the standing position in Salah.]"
— Musnad Ahmad, with a reliable chain.
Similarly, Imam Bukhari (رحمہ اللہ) in his Sahih narrated from Sahl ibn Sa'd (رضی اللہ عنہ) through the transmission of Abu Hazim:
كان الناس يؤمرون أن يضع الرجل يده اليمنى على ذراعه اليسرى فى الصلاة
"People were instructed to place their right hand on their left forearm during Salah."
— Sahih Bukhari
Abu Hazim stated that "Sahl ibn Sa'd (رضی اللہ عنہ) would attribute this instruction to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)."
This serves as evidence that the person standing in Salah should place their right hand over their left, and this applies to both the standing positions before and after Ruku.
Question:
Where should the hands be placed during Salah before and after Ruku (bowing)?Answer:
It is Sunnah to place the hands during the standing position in Salah, both before and after Ruku. This is evidenced by the Hadith narrated by Wa'il ibn Hujr (رضی اللہ عنہ), who stated:رأيت النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا كان قائما فى الصلاة يضع يده اليمنى على ظهر كفه اليسرى والرسغ والساعد
"[I saw the Prophet (ﷺ) in the standing position during Salah, placing his right hand over the back of his left hand, wrist, and forearm.]"
— Sunan Abu Dawood and Sunan Nasai, with an authentic chain.
This indicates that there is no specific spot on the left hand where the right hand must be placed; it can be positioned anywhere on the hand, wrist, or forearm.
Imam Ahmad (رحمہ اللہ) narrated another Hadith with a sound chain:
إن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يضع يمينه على شماله على صدره، حال وقوفه فى الصلاة
"[Indeed, the Prophet (ﷺ) would place his right hand over his left on his chest during the standing position in Salah.]"
— Musnad Ahmad, with a reliable chain.
Similarly, Imam Bukhari (رحمہ اللہ) in his Sahih narrated from Sahl ibn Sa'd (رضی اللہ عنہ) through the transmission of Abu Hazim:
كان الناس يؤمرون أن يضع الرجل يده اليمنى على ذراعه اليسرى فى الصلاة
"People were instructed to place their right hand on their left forearm during Salah."
— Sahih Bukhari
Abu Hazim stated that "Sahl ibn Sa'd (رضی اللہ عنہ) would attribute this instruction to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)."
This serves as evidence that the person standing in Salah should place their right hand over their left, and this applies to both the standing positions before and after Ruku.