Shar‘i Ruling on Folding Hands in Qawmah (Standing After Rukū‘)
Based on: Fatawa of the Scholars of Hadith, Kitab al-Salah, Vol. 1
Is Qawmah after Rukū‘ considered a form of Qiyām, and should hands be folded during it?
✔ Qawmah, the standing posture after Rukū‘, is undoubtedly a form of Qiyām (standing).
However, it is not the same Qiyām during which the Prophet ﷺ is authentically reported to have folded his hands.
The folding of hands is only established in the pre-Rukū‘ Qiyām, not in the post-Rukū‘ Qawmah.
From Musnad Ahmad, narrated by Wa’il ibn Hujr (رضي الله عنه):
"أتيت النبي ﷺ فقلت: لأنظرنّ كيف يصلي، فاستقبل القبلة فكبر، ورفع يديه حتى كانتا حذو منكبيه، ثم أخذ شماله بيمينه، فلما أراد أن يركع رفع يديه..."
Translation:
Wa’il ibn Hujr (رضي الله عنه) said: I came to the Prophet ﷺ and said, “I will observe how he performs prayer.” The Prophet ﷺ faced the Qiblah, said the Takbīr, and raised his hands to shoulder level. Then he grasped his left hand with his right. When he intended to bow, he raised his hands again...
✔ This narration explicitly describes folding hands before Rukū‘.
There is no mention of folding hands after rising from Rukū‘.
✔ Qawmah is indeed Qiyām, but folding the hands during it is not established from the Prophet ﷺ.
✔ The Sunnah practice of folding hands is confirmed only in the standing posture before Rukū‘.
✔ Therefore, leaving the hands loose after Rukū‘ is closer to the Sunnah, due to lack of clear evidence supporting otherwise.
Based on: Fatawa of the Scholars of Hadith, Kitab al-Salah, Vol. 1
❖ Question
Is Qawmah after Rukū‘ considered a form of Qiyām, and should hands be folded during it?
❖ Answer
✔ Qawmah, the standing posture after Rukū‘, is undoubtedly a form of Qiyām (standing).
However, it is not the same Qiyām during which the Prophet ﷺ is authentically reported to have folded his hands.The folding of hands is only established in the pre-Rukū‘ Qiyām, not in the post-Rukū‘ Qawmah.
❖ Hadith Evidence
From Musnad Ahmad, narrated by Wa’il ibn Hujr (رضي الله عنه):
"أتيت النبي ﷺ فقلت: لأنظرنّ كيف يصلي، فاستقبل القبلة فكبر، ورفع يديه حتى كانتا حذو منكبيه، ثم أخذ شماله بيمينه، فلما أراد أن يركع رفع يديه..."
Translation:
Wa’il ibn Hujr (رضي الله عنه) said: I came to the Prophet ﷺ and said, “I will observe how he performs prayer.” The Prophet ﷺ faced the Qiblah, said the Takbīr, and raised his hands to shoulder level. Then he grasped his left hand with his right. When he intended to bow, he raised his hands again...
✔ This narration explicitly describes folding hands before Rukū‘.
There is no mention of folding hands after rising from Rukū‘.❖ Legal Principle
- Folding the hands in Qiyām before Rukū‘ is established Sunnah.
- Leaving the hands loose (sadl) after Rukū‘ is closer to Sunnah, as there is no authentic narration proving otherwise.
- Hand placement after Rukū‘ returns to the original state, which is sadl (hands at sides), unless evidence proves otherwise.
❖ Summary
✔ Qawmah is indeed Qiyām, but folding the hands during it is not established from the Prophet ﷺ.
✔ The Sunnah practice of folding hands is confirmed only in the standing posture before Rukū‘.
✔ Therefore, leaving the hands loose after Rukū‘ is closer to the Sunnah, due to lack of clear evidence supporting otherwise.
