Putting the hands on the stomach or chest while praying salat?
In the practice of Salat, the positioning of the hands is an important aspect. According to Sunnah, it is reported that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ would place his right hand on his left while praying. This is narrated in Sunan al-Tirmidhi, which states: The Prophet (peace be upon him), while leading prayer, would place his right hand on his left
Sunan al-Tirmidhi 2:104. Similarly, in Sunan Abu Dawud, it is mentioned: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) placed his right hand on his left and then clasped them on his chest during the prayer
Sunan Abu Dawud 2:369.
In Shia tradition, Al-Kafi provides guidance on the positioning of the hands during prayer. It mentions: If you stand in prayer, do not place your feet together; leave a gap between them of the width of a finger, but no less than that, up to a span at most. Let your shoulders be loose and your hands extended; do not interlock your fingers. Let your hands rest on your thighs opposite your knees
Al-Kafi 4:292. This indicates a preference for the hands being placed in a way that is comfortable and respectful during the prayer, typically on the thighs or at the sides.
Overall, both traditions emphasize the importance of proper hand positioning in Salat, with Sunni practices leaning towards placing the hands on the chest and Shia practices allowing for a more relaxed position on the thighs.
Sources
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Sunan al-Tirmidhi 2:104
Sunan al-Tirmidhi · Book 2, Hadith 104 · Narrated by Qubaysa ibn Hilb's father
The Prophet (peace be upon him), while leading prayer, would place his right hand on his left.
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Sunan Abu Dawud 2:369
Sunan Abu Dawud · Book 2, Hadith 369 · Narrated by Tawus
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) placed his right hand on his left and then clasped them on his chest during the prayer.
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Al-Kafi 4:292
Al-Kafi · Book 4, Hadith 292
They ask you about the soul. Say: The soul is from the command of my Lord. It is a creation greater than Gabriel and Michael. It was not with anyone among those who passed away except Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family), and he is with the Imams guiding them. Not everything requested is found. — OR — He said, ‘Whoever harms something on the road of the Muslims is responsible for it.’ — OR — If you stand in prayer, do not place your feet together; leave a gap between them of the width of a finger, but no less than that, up to a span at most. Let your shoulders be loose and your hands extended; do not interlock your fingers. Let your hands rest on your thighs opposite your knees. Let your gaze be on the place of your prostration. When you bow, align your posture between your feet, placing about a span between them. Position your palms firmly on your knees, placing the right hand on the right knee before the left. Stretch your fingers so their tips reach the front of your knees, and spread your fingers when placing your hands on your knees. When the fingertips reach your knees in bowing, that suffices. It is better, and more beloved to me, that you firmly place your hands on your knees, your fingers reaching the front of the knees, spread between them, keeping your back straight and your neck extended, your gaze fixed between your feet. When you intend to prostrate, lift your hands while saying takbir and bow down into prostration. Begin by placing your hands on the ground before your knees, placing them together, do not spread your arms like a lion’s in prostration, and do not rest your arms on your knees or thighs; instead, incline on your elbows, do not place your palms flat against your knees nor bring them close to your face; keep them near your shoulders and do not place them in front of your knees but slightly aside. Spread your hands on the ground flat, and clench them toward yourself if preferred. If there is cloth beneath your hands, it does not harm you. It is better to lay your hands on the ground in prostration. Do not spread your fingers during prostration; rather, keep them all together. When sitting for tashahhud, press your knees to the ground and separate them slightly. Your left foot sole should be on the ground with the right foot sole against the left foot sole. Your ankles rest on the ground, and the tip of your right thumb touches the ground. Avoid sitting on your feet to avoid harm, and do not sit fully on the ground so that part of you rests on part; you will not be able to endure the tashahhud and supplication like that.
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