Where do I put my hands during prayer?
It depends on the school you follow. Most Sunni Muslims fold the right hand over the left while standing, but the height differs: below the navel, on the stomach or on the chest. Some Malikis let their arms hang at their sides. All of these are accepted practices, and none of them is a pillar of the prayer.
What the hadith says
Sahl ibn Sa'd said that people were ordered to place the right hand on the left forearm in prayer (Sahih al-Bukhari 740). Wa'il ibn Hujr described the Prophet ﷺ raising his hands for the opening takbir and then placing his right hand over his left (Sahih Muslim 401). So the main practice is clear: right over left, held in front of you.
What the texts do not state clearly is how high up the body the hands should rest. That is why the schools differ.
Where the hands go
- Hanafi: men place them below the navel. Women usually place them on the chest.
- Shafi'i: below the chest and above the navel, or on the chest itself.
- Hanbali: usually below the navel, though some Hanbali scholars say the chest.
- Maliki: the well-known Maliki practice is to let the arms hang at the sides, while many Malikis today fold their hands as well.
The practice of arms at the sides has its own explanation. See Why do some Muslims pray with their arms by their sides?
Why they differ
The Prophet ﷺ was seen in prayer by many Companions, and each described what he noticed. Scholars then compared those reports, judged how strong each chain was, and reached slightly different conclusions. None of them says the others pray wrongly. The Quran asks us to stand before Allah with devotion, and the hand position is a detail inside that:
How to do it as a beginner
- Place your right hand over your left hand, wrist or forearm.
- Keep them relaxed in front of you, not pressed hard against your body.
- Choose the height your teacher or mosque uses and stay with it for now.
- Keep your eyes on the place of prostration.
If you pray beside someone with a different position, don't comment. It's a difference of understanding, not a mistake. You'll also see people raise their hands to start the prayer. See Why do Muslims raise their hands before praying? For the full step-by-step prayer, see How do I pray as a Muslim?
- Most Sunni Muslims fold the right hand over the left.
- The height differs by school: below the navel, on the stomach or chest.
- Some Malikis keep their arms at their sides.
- All are valid, so follow your teacher and don't judge others.
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