Regarding closing hands during the pray. By Abdullah ibn Abi Effendi at-Turki

Regarding closing hands during the pray.

By Abdullah ibn Abi Effendi at-Turki.
Recently I have seen some heretics spreading doubts in the internet, that putting one hand upon other during salat wasn’t narrated from our beloved prophet (sallalahu alaihi wa ala alihi wa sallam), and that such way of pray was innovated later. In this short article readers would find enough proofs that closing hands during salat is from established, by mutawater way of transmission, sunnas of our beloved prophet (sallalahu alaihi wa ala alihi wa sallam).

Muhammad ibn Jafar al-Kattani in his book “Nazmul mutanasira minal hadisal mutawatera” (#68) said:
“Ahadeth regarding putting one hand on other in prays”.
It was narrated from:

1) Sahl ibn Sad as-Saadi.

2) Wail ibn Hujr al-Hadrami.

3) Abdullah ibn Masud.

4) Hulb at-Tai.

5) Ali ibn Abu Talib.

6) Abdullah ibn Zubair.

7) Abu Hurayra.

8) Jabir ibn Abdullah.

9) Haris ibn Qutaif as-Simali.

10) Amr ibn Hurays al-Mahzumi.

11) Yala ibn Murra as-Sakafi. (I (Effendi) say: Narrated by Tabarani, in the chain Umar ibn Abdullah ibn Yala, and he’s weak. See “Majmau zawaid” (#2610)

12) Abdullah ibn Umar.

13) Abu Darda. (It was narrated by Tabarani in “al-Kabir” in stopped and elevated form. Stopped (mawquf) is saheeh, in elevated there are some narrators, which have no bio (in books on rijal). “Majmau zawaid” (#2611). Shaykh Albani said it’s saheeh in “Saheeh al-jame” (#3038)

14) Huzayfa.

15) Aisha.

16) Abdullah ibn Abbas. (I say: It was narrated by Tabarani in “al-Kabir”. Al-Heythami in “Majmau zawaid” (#2609) said: “Narrators are from people of saheeh”).

17) Anas ibn Malik.

18) Shaddad ibn Shurahbil. (I say: Al-Heythami in “Majmau zawaid” (#2608) said: “Narrated al-Bazzar and Tabarani in “al-Kabir”, in it Abbas ibn Yunus. His bio is absent (in books on rijal). Bazzar said: Shaddad ibn Shurahbil didn’t narrated from prophet (sallalahu alaihi wa ala alihi wa sallam) except this hadith”).

19) Muaz ibn Jabal.

20) Sufyan as-Sawri from many companions

It was also narrated in mursal form from:

21) Abu Umayah Abdulkarim ibn Abul Muharik al-Basri.

22) Tawus.

23) Hasan al-Basri.

24) Ata ibn Abu Rabah.

25) Ibrahim an-Nakhai. (end of quote from Kattani)
Taken from al-Fath al-Rabbani li Tartib Musnad al-Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal, darul Ensar, 5/127 =>.

497/1367- from Ali ibn Abu Talib (radi Allahu anhu): “It’s from sunnah to put right palm upon left under the navel during salat”. (Chain is weak, per shaykh Shuayb Arnawut)

498/1368- from Jabir (radi Allahu anhu): “Prophet passed near the praying man, which (in qiyam) put his left hand upon his right hand. Prophet (sallalahu alaihi wa ala alihi wa sallam) took his hands, and put right upon the left one”. (Chain is weak, per shaykh Shuayb Arnawut)
I (Effendi) say: This hadith was also narrated by Tabarani in “al-Awsat”. Al-Heythami in “Majmau zawaid” (#2607) said: “Narrated by Ahmad and Tabarani in “al-Awsat”, narrators are from people of saheeh”.
499/1369- Kabisa ibn Hulb narrated from his father (Hulb at-Tai): “Prophet (sallalahu alaihi wa ala alihi wa sallam) lead us in pray and (he use to) hold his left hand by his right hand.…..

And in another version from the same narrator: “I have seen prophet (sallalahu alaihi wa ala alihi wa sallam) during the pray, when he put his right hand upon his left…..

I say: Hadith of Hulb, was also narrated by ibn Majah in “Sunnan” (#809). And it’s hasan saheeh as said shaykh Albani.
500/1370- from Sahl ibn Sad: “People (during the time of prophet, sallalahu alaihi wa ala alihi wa sallam) were ordered to put their right hands upon left hands during the prays”.

Ebu Hazim, one from the narrators said: “I know this only in musnid form”. Ebu Abdurrahman (Abdullah ibn Ahmad ibn Hanbal) explained: “Musnid form means, attributed to prophet (sallalahu alaihi wa ala alihi wa sallam) in elevated form”.

Taken from “Sunnan” by Darimi, Darul Madve, Turkey = >

#1244 - from AbdulJabar ibn Wail, from his father: “I have seen prophet (sallalahu alaihi wa ala alihi wa sallam) putting his right hand on the left near the hand (during the pray)”.

Chain is disconnected because father of AbdulJabar died before he was born. But there are ahadeth from Wail on this issue with connected chain.

Faidah: In accordance to research of Mahmud as-Subki, there is authentic narration from imam Malik ibn Anas, that hands should be closed during qiyam. See “Manhal” 5/158-163. (Quote from commentary on “Sunnan” Darimi by Abdullah Aydinli.)

From Wail it was also narrated by Kulaib ibn Shihab. See “Saheeh” ibn Huzayma (#477, 488, 499).

Taken from “Sunnan” Tirmizi, Darul Konya = >

252 - From Kabisa ibn Hulb from is father: “Prophet (sallalahu alaihi wa ala alihi wa sallam) stand as Imam for us, and he hold his left hand by his right”.

(Tirmizi said) In this issue there are ahadeth from Wail ibn Hujr, Qutaif ibn Haris, Ibn Abbas, ibn Masud and Sahl ibn Sad.

Tirmizi said: “(This hadis of) Hulb is good (hasan). Prophet, tabein and people of knowledge after them acted upon this hadith, and said that during the prays right hand should be put on the left. Some scholars hold opinion that hands should be on the navel, others that they should be under it…. Hulb that’s Yazid ibn Kunafe at-Tai.

Shaykh Albani said hadith is hasan-saheeh.
Tabarani in “al-Kabir” narrated from al-Harith ibn Qatif: “….. I have seen prophet (sallalahu alaihi wa ala alihi wa sallam) put his right hand upon left in the salat”.

Al-Heythami in “Majmau zawaid” (#2606) said: “Narrated by Tabarani in “al-Kabir” and narrators are thiqat”.

Abu Dawud, Nasai and ibn Majah narrated from ibn Masood that he prayed and put his left hand upon the right one, when prophet (sallalahu alaihi wa ala alihi wa sallam) seen him, he take his hands and put right on the left.

Ibn Said an-Nas said: “Narrators are narrators of saheeh”. Al-Hafidh in “Fatkh” said: “Chain is good”. (Quoted from Shawkani “Nayl al-awtar” 2/203/#3, shamela).

Tabarani in “al-Kabir” from Uqba ibn Abu Aisha: “I have seen Abdullah ibn Jabir al-Biyade, companion of prophet (sallalahu alaihi wa ala alihi wa sallam), (when) he put one his hand on the other arm in the salat”.

Al-Heythami in “Majmau zawaid” (#2612) said: “Chain is good”.

Ibn Huzayma in “Saheeh” narrated ahadeth with such meaning from ways of transmission till Wail ibn Hujr, which said: “I prayed with prophet (sallalahu alaihi wa ala alihi wa sallam), and he put his right hand over left one on his chest”.

This is hadith #479 in “Saheeh” ibn Huzayma.

We would discuss 3 chains till Wail, meaning of all ahadeth are the same.
1 - (#477) Abdullah ibn Saeed al-Ashjah - ibn Idris - Asim ibn Kulaib - father - Wail.

2 - (#488) Haroon ibn Ishaq al-Hamadani - (Muhammad) ibn Fudayl - Asim ibn Kulaib - father - Wail.

3 - (#499) Abu Musa - al-Muwamil - Sufyan - Asim ibn Kulaib - father - Wail.
1) Kulaib ibn Shihab. Saduq. “Taqrib” #5660.

2) Asim ibn Kulaib was saduq. “Taqrib” #3075.

3) a) Sufyan, that’s Thawri or ibn Ueyna. Both of them narrated from Asim, and both of them were imams of moslems. B) Ibn Fudayl, that’s Muhammad ibn Fudayl ibn Gazwan. He was disputed by scholars. Ibn Hajar said he’s saduq. C) Ibn Idris. That’s should be Abdullah ibn Idris ibn Yazeed, Abu Muhammad al-Kufi. He was thiqat. “Taqrib”#3207.

4) A) Abdullah ibn Saeed, Abu Saeed al-Kindi al-Ashjah. He was thiqat. “Taqrib” #3354. B) Haroon ibn Ishaq al-Hamadani was saduq. “Taqrib” #7221. C) Muwamil ibn Ismail al-Qurashe. Saduq with bad memory. “Taqrib” #7029.

5) Abu Musa Muhammad ibn al-Muthanna al-Basre. He was thiqat. “Taqrib” #6264.
So as you can see all narrators are upright. If there is some weakness in the second and third ways, due to al-Muwamil and ibn Fudayl, they are strengthen by the first one. Allah knows best.
Bukhari in “Saheeh” (Volume 1, Book 12, Number 707):

Narrated Sahl bin Sa'd: The people were ordered to place the right hand on the left forearm in the prayer. Abu Hazim said, "I knew that the order was from the Prophet ."

Moslem in “Saheeh” (Book 004, Number 0792):

Wa'il b. Hujr reported: He saw the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) raising his hands at the time of beginning the prayer and reciting takbir, and according to Hammam (the narrator), the hands were lifted opposite to ears. He (the Holy Prophet) then wrapped his hands in his cloth and placed his right hand over his left hand. And when he was about to bow down, he brought out his hands from the cloth, and then lifted them, and then recited takbir and bowed down, and when (he came back to the erect position) he recited:" Allah listened to him who praised Him." And when prostrates. he prostrated between the two palms.

Abu Dawud in “Sunnan”:

Book 3, Number 0754:

AbuUthman an-Nahdi said: When Ibn Mas'ud prayed he placed his left hand on the right. The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) saw him and placed his right hand on his left one. Hadith is hasan, as said shaykhana Albani. And he said it’s saheeh in comments on ibn Majah “Sunnan” #811.
Book 3, Number 0755:

Narrated Ali ibn AbuTalib: Abu Juhayfah said: Ali said that it is a sunnah to place one hand on the other in prayer below the navel. Hadith is weak.

Book 3, Number 0756:

Narrated Ali ibn AbuTalib: Jarir ad-Dabbi reported: I saw Ali (Allah be pleased with him) catching hold of his left hand) by his right hand on the wrist above the navel. Hadith is weak.

Book 3, Number 0757:

Narrated Abu Hurayrah: (The established way of folding hands is) to hold the hands by the hands in prayer below the navel. Hadith is weak.

Book 3, Number 0758:

Narrated Tawus: The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) used to place his right hand on his left hand, then he folded them strictly on his chest in prayer. Saheeh.

Malik in “Muwatta”:

Chapter: Placing One Hand on the Other in the Prayer
Book 9, Number 9.15.49:

Yahya related to me from Malik that Abd al-Karim ibn Abi'l-Mukhariq al-Basri said, "Among things the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said and did are: 'As long as you do not feel ashamed, do whatever you wish', the placing of one hand on the other in prayer (one places the right hand on the left), being quick to break the fast, and delaying the meal before dawn."

Book 9, Number 9.15.50:

Yahya related to me from Malik from Abu Hazim ibn Dinar that Sahl ibn Sad said, "People used to be ordered to place their right hands on their left forearms in the prayer."

Abu Hazim added, "I know for sure that Sahl traces that back to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace."
Nasai in “Sunnan as-Sughra” (#887):

From Alqama ibn Wail from his father: I have seen prophet (sallalahu alaihi wa ala alihi wa sallam) when he stand in salat, he took his left hand by his right”. Chain is saheeh, as said Albani. Shaykh bin Baz said it’s steady by saheeh chain. “Majmual fatawa bin Baz” 11/132.

10 Thul-Qedah, 1431.

Ibn Abi Effendi at-Turki.

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