Ruling on Folding Hands After Ruku: Sunnah or Innovation?
Source: Fatāwā Arkān-e-Islām
Is placing the hands on the chest after rising from ruku considered a bid‘ah (innovation) or part of the Sunnah?
The stronger view is that folding the right hand over the left after ruku is Sunnah.
Hadith Evidence:
From Sahl ibn Sa‘d (رضي الله عنه):
«كَانَ النَّاسُ يُؤْمَرُونَ أَنْ يَضَعَ الرَّجُلُ الْيَدَ الْيُمْنَى عَلَى ذِرَاعِهِ الْيُسْرَى فِي الصَّلَاةِ»
"The people were instructed to place the right hand on the left forearm in prayer."
(Bukhari 740)
Thus, in the standing position — whether before ruku or after — the Sunnah is to place the right hand over the left, as the hadith is general regarding “prayer” and applies to all standing positions except where another Sunnah directs otherwise.
① Do not label as bid‘ah an act that has room for ijtihād.
② The stronger opinion: folding hands after ruku is Sunnah, supported by the hadith of Sahl ibn Sa‘d.
③ The hadith sets a general principle for hand placement in prayer, with specific exceptions for sujood, rukūʿ, and jalsah.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
Source: Fatāwā Arkān-e-Islām
The Question
Is placing the hands on the chest after rising from ruku considered a bid‘ah (innovation) or part of the Sunnah?
Answer
- In matters where ijtihād (scholarly reasoning) is possible, it is wrong to label someone a bid‘ati (innovator) merely for following a different scholarly opinion — especially when the act is based on some evidence from hadith or Sunnah.
- Those who fold their hands after ruku do so claiming it to be part of the Sunnah.
- Disagreeing on such an ijtihādī matter does not justify declaring them misguided or innovators.
Why Avoid the Term “Bid‘ah” in This Case
- It causes division in the Ummah.
- It creates fitnah and fuels hostility.
- It escalates conflicts whose consequences are known only to Allah.
Evidence for Folding Hands After Ruku
The stronger view is that folding the right hand over the left after ruku is Sunnah.
Hadith Evidence:
From Sahl ibn Sa‘d (رضي الله عنه):
«كَانَ النَّاسُ يُؤْمَرُونَ أَنْ يَضَعَ الرَّجُلُ الْيَدَ الْيُمْنَى عَلَى ذِرَاعِهِ الْيُسْرَى فِي الصَّلَاةِ»
"The people were instructed to place the right hand on the left forearm in prayer."
(Bukhari 740)
Reasoning and Application
- In sujood: hands are placed on the ground.
- In rukūʿ: hands are placed on the knees.
- In jalsah: hands are placed on the thighs.
Thus, in the standing position — whether before ruku or after — the Sunnah is to place the right hand over the left, as the hadith is general regarding “prayer” and applies to all standing positions except where another Sunnah directs otherwise.
Summary
① Do not label as bid‘ah an act that has room for ijtihād.
② The stronger opinion: folding hands after ruku is Sunnah, supported by the hadith of Sahl ibn Sa‘d.
③ The hadith sets a general principle for hand placement in prayer, with specific exceptions for sujood, rukūʿ, and jalsah.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
