144 - Issue; He said: "Then he places his right hand upon his left wrist (1)."
As for placing the right hand upon the left in prayer, it is among its Sunan (prescribed practices) according to the opinion of many scholars. This is narrated from Ali, Abu Hurayrah, al-Nakha'i, Abu Mijlaz, Sa'id ibn Jubayr, al-Thawri, al-Shafi'i, the scholars of opinion (Ashab al-Ra'y), and Ibn al-Mundhir recounted it from Malik. The apparent view of his [Malik's] school, which his companions follow, is to let the arms hang by the sides (irsal), and this was narrated from Ibn al-Zubayr and al-Hasan. Our evidence is what Qabisah ibn Hulb (2) narrated from his father, who said: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) used to lead us in prayer and would take hold of his left hand with his right. It was recorded by al-Tirmidhi (3), who said: A Hasan (good) hadith, and it is the practice of the scholars among the companions of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), the successors (Tabi'in), and those who came after them. From Abu Hazim, from Sahl ibn Sa'd, who said: People were commanded that a man should place his right hand on his left forearm during prayer. Abu Hazim said: I do not know it except that he attributes (4) that to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). Recorded by al-Bukhari (5). From Ibn Mas'ud, that the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) passed by him while he was placing his left hand on his right, so he took his right hand and placed it on his left. Recorded by Abu Dawud (6). Both were recorded by al-Athram. In the "Musnad" (7), from Ghutayf (8), who said: Of all the things I have forgotten, I have not forgotten that I saw the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) placing his right hand upon his left in prayer.
(1) Omitted from: The original manuscript. (2) His name is Yazid ibn 'Adi al-Ta'i al-Kufi. See: Tahdhib al-Tahdhib 8/350. (3) In: The Chapter on What Has Been Reported Regarding Placing the Right Hand upon the Left in Prayer, from the Chapters on Prayer. 'Aridat al-Ahwadhi 2/53. It was also recorded by Ibn Majah, in: The Chapter on Placing the Right upon the Left in Prayer, from the Book of Establishing Prayer. Sunan Ibn Majah 1/266. And Imam Ahmad, in: Al-Musnad 5/226, 227. (4) Yanmi: He attributes (yansibu). (5) In: The Chapter on Placing the Right upon the Left, from the Book of the Adhan. Sahih al-Bukhari 1/188. It was also recorded by Imam Malik, in: The Chapter on Placing One Hand upon the Other in Prayer, from the Book of Travel. Al-Muwatta' 1/159. And Imam Ahmad, in: Al-Musnad 5/336. (6) In: The Chapter on Placing the Right upon the Left in Prayer, from the Book of Prayer. Sunan Abi Dawud 1/174. (7) Al-Musnad 4/105, 5/290. (8) Ghutayf ibn A'yan al-Shaybani al-Jazari, and it is said: Ghudayf. He narrated from Mus'ab ibn Sa'd. Ibn Hibban mentioned him in al-Thiqat (The Trustworthy), and al-Daraqutni declared him weak. Tahdhib al-Tahdhib 8/251.
