Clasping Hands in Salat

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

والصلاة والسلام على رسوله الكريم

وعلى آله واهل بيته  اجمعين

In the Hanafi school of jurisprudence, one clasps one’s left hand with one’s right hand while in the standing position (Qiyam) during the Salat. Muslims of other schools of thought place their right hand over the left hand, wrist and forearm, and others leave them at their sides (such as the Malikis, the Shi’a and the Ibadiyya). We know of no proof from the Sunna of the Prophet (peace be upon him) for the latter practice. The Hanafi position of clasping the left hand with the right hand (but not placing it over the left forearm) is proven from authentic Hadith of Wa’il b. Hujr^RA:

رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا كَانَ قَائِمًا فِي الصَّلاَةِ قَبَضَ بِيَمِينِهِ عَلَى شِمَالِهِ

“I saw the Messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – when he stood in the Salat, grab his left hand with his right hand.” (Sunan an-Nasa’i #888)

There is also the Hadith of Ibn Mas’ud^RA:

رَآنِي النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَقَدْ وَضَعْتُ شِمَالِي عَلَى يَمِينِي فِي الصَّلاَةِ فَأَخَذَ بِيَمِينِي فَوَضَعَهَا عَلَى شِمَالِي

“The Prophet – peace be upon him – saw me when I had placed my left hand on my right hand in prayer. He took hold of my right hand and placed it on my left hand.” (Ibid, #889)