Compiled by: Tauheed.com
Below are detailed evidences and proofs related to placing hands on the chest during Salah (prayer). All authentic Arabic texts and references are presented as they are, to clearly demonstrate the original ruling on the matter.
Wa’il ibn Ḥujr narrated that he saw the Prophet ﷺ praying and:
"ثم وضع یدہ الیمنیٰ علی ظھر کفہ الیسریٰ والرسغ والساعد"
(Then he placed his right hand on the back of his left palm, wrist, and forearm.)
(Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Khuzaymah 243/1, 480, 714; Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān 167/3, 1857; Musnad Aḥmad 318/4, 19075; Sunan Nisā’ī 126/2, 890; Sunan Abī Dāwūd 437/4, 438, 727)
All narrators are trustworthy, making the chain authentic. An-Nawawī stated:
"وَأَسْنَادُهُ صَحِيحٌ" (Āthār al-Sunan, p. 83)
(The chain is authentic.)
The terms "الكف والرسغ والساعد" mean the palm, wrist, and forearm respectively. “السَّاعِد” refers to the part between the elbow and palm’s upper side (Al-Muʿjam al-Wasīṭ 430/1). The whole forearm is included until evidence restricts it. Hafiz Ibn Ḥajar said:
"لأن العبرۃ بعموم اللفظ حتی یقوم دلیل علی التخصیص"
(Al-Fath al-Bārī 261/12)
(Expressions are taken in their general meaning unless specified otherwise.)
Thus, placing the hand on the entire forearm is necessary, and practically, this means hands rest on the chest naturally.
The narration states:
"رأیت النبی ﷺ یضع ھذہ علی صدرہ وصف یحیی الیمنی علی الیسریٰ فوق المفصل"
(I saw the Prophet ﷺ placing these hands on his chest. Yahyā described placing the right hand on the left above the joint.)
(Musnad Aḥmad 226/5, 22313; graded Hasan by Ibn al-Jawzī)
Abū Dāwūd remained silent on this narration, which according to research by Ẓafar Aḥmad Thānawī means it is authentic and acceptable. Imam Bukhārī mentioned Qabīṣah in Al-Tārīkh al-Kabīr without criticism.
An objection by Ni’mawī Hanafi about the phrase "على صدره" being weak is refuted by the principle that if a more reliable narrator does not oppose an addition by a lesser narrator, it is acceptable. Hafiz Ibn Ḥajar clarifies this in his commentary Tuḥfat al-Durr.
Ibn Khuzaymah narrated:
"صلیت مع رسول اللہ ﷺ ووضع یدہ الیمنیٰ علی یدہ الیسریٰ علیٰ صدرہ"
(I prayed with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ who placed his right hand on his left hand on his chest.)
(Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Khuzaymah 243/1, 479)
Muʾammal ibn Ismāʿīl, a narrator in the chain, is deemed trustworthy or at least Hasan by many scholars. See detailed research on him in pages 28-38.
"کان رسول اللہ ﷺ یضع یدہ الیمنیٰ علیٰ یدہ الیسریٰ ثم یشد بھما علیٰ صدرہ وھو فی الصلاۃ"
(The Prophet ﷺ placed his right hand on his left hand and tightened them on his chest during Salah.)
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd 482/4, 759)
Ṭāwus: Tabi‘ī, trusted by many scholars
Multiple narrators in chain are authentic, including Ibn Ḥumayd and Ibn Ṣalāḥ.
Some recent editions included the phrase "تحت السرة" (below the navel), which is absent in all original manuscripts. Renowned scholars and manuscript evidence confirm this addition is erroneous.
اللهم أرنا الحق حقا وارزقنا اتباعه، وأرنا الباطل باطلاً وارزقنا اجتنابه، آمين
والله الموفق
Introduction
Below are detailed evidences and proofs related to placing hands on the chest during Salah (prayer). All authentic Arabic texts and references are presented as they are, to clearly demonstrate the original ruling on the matter.
Evidence ①: Hadith of Wa’il ibn Ḥujr (رضي الله عنه)
Wa’il ibn Ḥujr narrated that he saw the Prophet ﷺ praying and:
"ثم وضع یدہ الیمنیٰ علی ظھر کفہ الیسریٰ والرسغ والساعد"
(Then he placed his right hand on the back of his left palm, wrist, and forearm.)
(Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Khuzaymah 243/1, 480, 714; Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān 167/3, 1857; Musnad Aḥmad 318/4, 19075; Sunan Nisā’ī 126/2, 890; Sunan Abī Dāwūd 437/4, 438, 727)
Chain Authenticity
- Wa’il ibn Ḥujr: Companion, Ṣaḥīḥ (Taqrīb al-Tahdhīb 7393)
- Kalīb: Truthful
- ‘Āṣim ibn Kalīb: Truthful, narrator in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim
- Zā’idah ibn Qudāmah: Reliable, narrator of Ṣaḥīḥ
- Abū al-Walīd Hishām ibn ‘Abd al-Malik al-Ṭiyālisī: Reliable
- Al-Ḥasan ibn ‘Alī al-Ḥalwānī: Reliable, memorizer and author
All narrators are trustworthy, making the chain authentic. An-Nawawī stated:
"وَأَسْنَادُهُ صَحِيحٌ" (Āthār al-Sunan, p. 83)
(The chain is authentic.)
Explanation
The terms "الكف والرسغ والساعد" mean the palm, wrist, and forearm respectively. “السَّاعِد” refers to the part between the elbow and palm’s upper side (Al-Muʿjam al-Wasīṭ 430/1). The whole forearm is included until evidence restricts it. Hafiz Ibn Ḥajar said:
"لأن العبرۃ بعموم اللفظ حتی یقوم دلیل علی التخصیص"
(Al-Fath al-Bārī 261/12)
(Expressions are taken in their general meaning unless specified otherwise.)
Thus, placing the hand on the entire forearm is necessary, and practically, this means hands rest on the chest naturally.
Evidence ②: Hadith from Musnad Aḥmad
The narration states:
"رأیت النبی ﷺ یضع ھذہ علی صدرہ وصف یحیی الیمنی علی الیسریٰ فوق المفصل"
(I saw the Prophet ﷺ placing these hands on his chest. Yahyā described placing the right hand on the left above the joint.)
(Musnad Aḥmad 226/5, 22313; graded Hasan by Ibn al-Jawzī)
Chain Authenticity
- Yahyā ibn Sa‘īd al-Qaṭṭān: trustworthy, master memorizer, great scholar (Taqrīb al-Tahdhīb 7557)
- Sufyān al-Thawrī: trustworthy, memorizer, jurist, pious, sometimes used tadlīs (caution)
- Samāk ibn Ḥarb: truthful, had some weakness in later years, but here narration is before weakness
- Qabīṣah ibn Hulb al-Ṭā’ī: praised by scholars including Ibn Ḥibbān and Tirmidhī (graded Hasan)
Abū Dāwūd remained silent on this narration, which according to research by Ẓafar Aḥmad Thānawī means it is authentic and acceptable. Imam Bukhārī mentioned Qabīṣah in Al-Tārīkh al-Kabīr without criticism.
Objection and Reply
An objection by Ni’mawī Hanafi about the phrase "على صدره" being weak is refuted by the principle that if a more reliable narrator does not oppose an addition by a lesser narrator, it is acceptable. Hafiz Ibn Ḥajar clarifies this in his commentary Tuḥfat al-Durr.
Evidence ③: Hadith from Ibn Khuzaymah
Ibn Khuzaymah narrated:
"صلیت مع رسول اللہ ﷺ ووضع یدہ الیمنیٰ علی یدہ الیسریٰ علیٰ صدرہ"
(I prayed with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ who placed his right hand on his left hand on his chest.)
(Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Khuzaymah 243/1, 479)
Chain Research
Muʾammal ibn Ismāʿīl, a narrator in the chain, is deemed trustworthy or at least Hasan by many scholars. See detailed research on him in pages 28-38.
Evidence ④: Hadith of Ṭāwus (in Sunan Abī Dāwūd)
"کان رسول اللہ ﷺ یضع یدہ الیمنیٰ علیٰ یدہ الیسریٰ ثم یشد بھما علیٰ صدرہ وھو فی الصلاۃ"
(The Prophet ﷺ placed his right hand on his left hand and tightened them on his chest during Salah.)
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd 482/4, 759)
Chain Authenticity
Ṭāwus: Tabi‘ī, trusted by many scholars
Multiple narrators in chain are authentic, including Ibn Ḥumayd and Ibn Ṣalāḥ.
General Conclusion
- Placing the hands on the chest during Salah is established by multiple authentic narrations.
- The practice is unanimously indicated for both men and women.
- Differences in minor narrational details do not invalidate the ruling.
- Various scholars from early to late eras have authenticated these narrations.
Important Warning on a Misprint in Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah
Some recent editions included the phrase "تحت السرة" (below the navel), which is absent in all original manuscripts. Renowned scholars and manuscript evidence confirm this addition is erroneous.
Final Dua
اللهم أرنا الحق حقا وارزقنا اتباعه، وأرنا الباطل باطلاً وارزقنا اجتنابه، آمين
والله الموفق
