Q:

Where to put my hands in prayer?

A:

In the Name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the Mercy-Giving.

All praise is due to Allah. Peace and blessings be upon His Messenger Muhammad.

While standing in Prayer one should basically place his right hand over his left forearm. Sahl ibn Sa`d, one of the Prophet Muhammad’s Companions, is reported to have said, “People were commanded that a man should place his right hand over his left forearm in Prayer.” [Al-Bukhari]

Authentic reports that describe the Prayer of Prophet Muhammad prove that he used to place his right hand over the left one. The majority of scholars, thus, consider this as one of the recommendable acts in Prayer.

Nevertheless, scholars have differed as to where to place both hands- above or below the belly button or on the chest?

Each of the three positions finds favor with a group of jurists who support their opinion with a report attributed to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).

But all the reports in this regard proved to be of doubtful authenticity, though the collectivity of the reports that attest to placing both hands on the chest gives this opinion more weight over the others.

Almighty Allah knows best.