Correct Sunnah Method of Placing the Hands in Salah for Men and Women
Source: Fatawa Arkan-e-Islam
Where should the hands be placed during Salah?
Should the right hand be placed over the left and kept on the chest or over the heart?
What is the ruling on placing the hands below the navel?
Is there any difference between men and women in this matter?
Alhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ‘ala Rasulillah, amma ba’d!
Placing the right hand over the left in Salah is Sunnah, as narrated in Sahih al-Bukhari from Sahl ibn Sa‘d (RA):
((كان الناس يؤمرون أن يضع الرجل يده اليمنيٰ عليٰ ذراعه اليسريٰ في الصلاة))
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith: 740)
“People were commanded to place their right hand over their left forearm in Salah.”
The most correct view is that the hands should be placed on the chest. This is supported by the hadith of Wa’il ibn Hujr (RA):
((صليت مع رسول الله صلي الله عليه وسلم ووضع يده اليمنيٰ عليٰ يده اليسريٰ عليٰ صدره))
(Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah, Hadith: 479; Al-Bayhaqi 2/30)
“I prayed with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and he placed his right hand over his left on his chest.”
Although this narration has some weakness, it is stronger compared to other narrations regarding hand placement in Salah.
There is no difference between men and women in this matter, because:
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
Source: Fatawa Arkan-e-Islam
❖ Question
Where should the hands be placed during Salah?
Should the right hand be placed over the left and kept on the chest or over the heart?
What is the ruling on placing the hands below the navel?
Is there any difference between men and women in this matter?
❖ Answer
Alhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ‘ala Rasulillah, amma ba’d!
Placing the right hand over the left in Salah is Sunnah, as narrated in Sahih al-Bukhari from Sahl ibn Sa‘d (RA):
((كان الناس يؤمرون أن يضع الرجل يده اليمنيٰ عليٰ ذراعه اليسريٰ في الصلاة))
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith: 740)
“People were commanded to place their right hand over their left forearm in Salah.”
Where to Place the Hands?
The most correct view is that the hands should be placed on the chest. This is supported by the hadith of Wa’il ibn Hujr (RA):
((صليت مع رسول الله صلي الله عليه وسلم ووضع يده اليمنيٰ عليٰ يده اليسريٰ عليٰ صدره))
(Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah, Hadith: 479; Al-Bayhaqi 2/30)
“I prayed with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and he placed his right hand over his left on his chest.”
Although this narration has some weakness, it is stronger compared to other narrations regarding hand placement in Salah.
On the Heart or Below the Navel?
On the heart (left side of the chest): This is an innovation (bid‘ah) with no basis in the Sunnah.- Below the navel: There is a narration from ‘Ali (RA) but it is weak.
- ✔ On the chest: The hadith of Wa’il ibn Hujr (RA) is more authentic and preferred.
Difference Between Men and Women?
There is no difference between men and women in this matter, because:
- The basic principle is that Shari‘ah rulings are equal for both genders.
- No authentic evidence differentiates between men and women in the Sunnah method of placing the hands during Salah.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
