Studies Sadl

Lumumba K.
Shakur
Abdullah bin Hamid Ali
Studies on the issue of Sadl

(Laying hands at the sides during Prayer)
http://www.masud.co.uk
http://www.lamppostproductions.com
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

ffffffffffffffffff
ffff ff fffffffff f f f
ffff fff ffffffffffllll
fff ffffffffff ff ffffffffff ff
fffffff f fff ll l
llll l ll
ffffff fff ffffffffffffffffffffff

hhhh

hh

hh

hh h hh

h hh
hh h
h

hh

h

h

hh

hh

h
h hh
mmmm m m m m

hh

h

h h
h hh

hh hh

h h h

hhhh

h
h

hh
hh
h hh

hh

h

h

h
h
h h
h

h h
h
fffff

mmmm m m m m

h
ffff fffffff
lllllllffffffff fffffffffff

h h

ll llllll

h
h hh %%
h hh

h h h
h hh

h h

h hh

hhh

h h

h h
h h h

mmmm m m m m
h h %%
%

h

h h
%
h

h h

h h h

h

h

hh

h

h hh hh h
h h
h
hh hh h
h
hhh
h
h
h

h
h

h h
hh
h

%

h % %

hhh

h %

mmmm m m m m

h
h h
&
h

h h

h
hh hh hh h
h h h

h

% h h

hh h
h h

h

hh %
h hh h h
hh

llll
fffff
fffffff fffffffff f ffffffff f fffffff
h hh
hh
h hhh hh

h

h
h
l l llll

h
h

hh

h
mmmm m m m m

%

l l llll

mm
mm
hh
mm

llll
fffff
fffffffffffffff ffffff f ffffffff fffffffffffffffffff
hhhh

h hh h h h
h
l lllllll llll
%
h

+h
h h hh h h h h

h

++h+
+ hh
h
h h h
hh hh
h h
h
h

h

h hh

h+

mmmm m m m m

ll l llllll

h

h hh h

h hhhh

h
hhhh

h h
hh

h
h

h h h h

h

hh hh hh

h h

llllll lll

h

h hh

h
h h h

h h h

h h h
h hh
h h h

h
h

h
h

h

h

mmmm m m m m

h
h

h

h
h
h
h h

hh hh h hh

h h
llll llll

h hh h h h h h

h hh hh h
h h h

h h
h

h

hh

h h h h h
h

l llll l lllll ll llll
h h h h h h

h hh
h

h
h h h h h h hh h hh

h h hh
h h h
h h h h
h h h
h hh
h h

h h h h h
h
h

hh h
h h

h h h h h h h hh
hhh

hh
h

h
h
h+ h h hh

h hh

h hh

h h h
mmmm m m m m

h h h hh

h h
h h h
hh

h hh

h hh
h h h

h
h
h h
h h
hhh h h h h

hh h h+ h h
h h
h hh

hh
h
h
hh
h

h hh h

hh
h h h hh h

h hh
h h hh
h h h
h h h
h
h

h hh

0h
h h h h
h
0h h h h h hhhh

h
h + h
h
h

h
hh
h

h h

h h h
h
h hh h

hh

hh h h

h
h h

h+

h
hh
h hh
h h

h h

h
h
h h
h
h h h

mmmm m m m m

h h h

h
h
h h
h h
h
h h hh

h
h

h hh

h
h hh

h

h hh

h

h

hh

h h
h hh

h
h h
hh
h hh
h
h h h

ll

h
h

hh h

h

hhhh

mmmm m m m m

h

h

h
h h

h

hhhh

h
h
h hh h

h h
hh h h
h

h h h

h
%
h hh

h

h h

h
h
h

hh h

ll ll

h
h h h h h
h h h h h h
h hh
h h h

h h

h

h h h

h hh
h
h

h
h
h h h

h h h

mmmm m m m m

h hh

h h

h h h h hh

h h h

h hh

h
h hh
h hh

h h h

h h h

h h h h hh
hhh h
hh

h h h
h hh

h hh

h h h
h

h
h h h

h

h h h
h h hh h h

h

h

h hh h

h h hh h

h h

h h
B h hh

h
hh

h

hh
hh
mmmm m m m m
h

hh
hh

h h

h h
h
h h h hh
h h h h h
h
h hh
h

h h h

h h h hh
h h h h h
h

h h
h
h

h h h h
hh h hh h h h h h h h
hhhh
h h h
h hh
h
h h h

h h h hh
h h h h h
h
h hh
h

h h
h
h h h hh
h h h h h

h

h hh
h

h h
h h hh h hh h
h h h h h h h
%
h hh
h h

h
h h

h h
h
hh
h hh h
h

h hh

hh
h h h
hh
hh
h
h h h
h h h h h
h
h h hh hh h h

h h h
h h h h
hhh h h h
h
hh

h
%%
h hh
hh

h
h

h

h h h
mmmm m m m m

h
h

h
h

h h

h
hh

h h hh

h h hh

lll ll
h hh hhhh

hhhh

h

h

h h h
hhhh

h
h h h hh

h h h
hh h h
h
h

h hh

hh h
h
h hh

h
h
h h h
mmmm m m m m

h hh

hhhh

h

lll ll lllll ll

h hh

h hh

h
h

h
h

hh hh
h
+ h
hh h+

h hh h h h hhh

h hh hhh

hh

h

+

h h h hh h hh

h
h hh

h

mmmm m m m m

h

h hh

h h h
h

h
hh

h hh h

h h h
hhh
h
h

h hh
h hh

l l llll ll

h h h h

h hh

h h

h h h
h hh h hh
hhh

h
h h h
hh
h hh h h h

h

h h h

h +
h h
h h
h
h
h + hh
mmmm m m m m
h h h
h h h
h h h
h h h
h h
h
h h h h
h
h
h h h
h h h hh h
h

h
h h h h

h h h h h h

hh hh
h h h
h h
h hh

h h hh
h hh

h hh h h h

+hh h h hh h
h
h h
h
h h h h h h h
h

h h h

h h h h
h
hh
h
h

hh

hhh h
h h +
h h
h
h h

lllll
h
h
h

hh h h
h
hh h
h

h
h h

hh
hh h h

mmmm m m m m

hh
h h h

h

h

h hh

h
h h+
h h
h hh h
h h h

+
h hh
+

h h h h hh +

+

h h h
h hh

h

h

+ h
h h h h

h h
+
+

h h h

h h h

h

h h h hh h +

h +
h h h

+ +

h h h h h h

h h h
h h h

mmmm m m m m
h +

+hh h h h
h h

hh

h hh

h hh +

hh

h

+

%

hh hh

+

hhhh
hhhh

hh hh
%
h

hh
h h

hh hh

h hh

0hhh h h
h h
>

hh

h
h hhh
fffff fffffffffffffffffff fff f fff ff fff fffffff ffff

f f fff flllllll lll llllf fffffff ffffffffffffff
fffffffff f fff fff f ffff fffffffff f ffffffffff fff f
fff ffffffff fff ffffffff ffff ffff fffffffffff
fffff ffffff ff f f ffffffffffffffff ff fffff fffff
fffffff ffff ffff fffff fff f ffffff f fffffffffff fff
ffff fffffff ffff ffff ffffffffffff fffff ffff ff
f ff fffff ff fffffffl lfff ff fff f f ffffffff ff f
fffffff
h
h
fff ffffffffffffffffff lfffff fffffff ff ffffffff ffffff

fff flll l lffffffffffff ff fffffffffff ff fffffff

mmmm m m m m
ffffffff f fffff ffffff ff ffffff fff ff ff

ff ffffffffff f fffffff fffffffffffffff ffffff f fff
ffffffffffl lffff fff
fffffffffff lll
l ll ff fffffl lfff fff fffffl fffffffff
ffff fffffffff ff ff f fff f ffffffffffffffffl
ffff ffffff f flllllllll f fffffffffffffffffff ffff
fffffffffffflfffffffff ffffff fff fff fffffffffff
ffff fffffffffffff fffffff fff fffff ffffffff fffffffff fffff
f ffffffff ffffffffff fffflfffffffff fffffffffff
fff ffffff ffffffff fffffffffffffffff f f fl ff fffff
lllfffffffl fff ffffffff ff f ffffffffff ffffffff fffff
ff ffffffffffff fffff fffff f fffffffl ffff ff ffffffffff ff
!ffffffffffffffffffffffl ffffflll l lfffff f
fffffffffffffff fff f ffffffffffffff ff

llll
fffff
ffffllfffffffff ff f fffff fff
h +hh hhh h+ h

h

h

h h h
h
h hh
h

h
hh
h

h

ffff fffff fffffffffffffffff$fffffffffffll ffffffffffff

lllfff ffffff fffffffffff f ffff ffffff ff ffffffffffffff
fffff ffffff ffff fffffffffffffff ff fff flllfffff f fffffff
ffffll 'f!ffffff fffffffffffffffff f fff f fffff ff fffff ffffff
f ff ff fffffffffff ffffff'fffffffff llf f fff ffffffffffff ff
ffff ffffffffff ffffllllffffffffll ffffffffffffl lffff
fffffffffffffff f fffffff ffff ffffffffffff fffffffff fl lff
fffff ffl ffff ff ff f f fff fll ff ffffffffffffffffff
fffffffffff fffffff'ffffffffffffffffffff f fff f fffff ff fffff ffff
fffff fffffffffffffff fff fff fff fffffffffffff ffffff fffffff ffff fff
ffffffff f ffffffffffff fff f'f fffffff ffffffff ffffffffff
ffffffffffffffffff ff fffffffffff f ff fffffff f fffffff
f ffffffffff ffffffffff fff ffffffffffffffff flll lll

h

hh hh

mmmm m m m m

h h

h
h
h

hh

h hh

hh

h+h
+ h+h

h

h h

h
h

+

h
h
h

hh h

h

%

h h+h

h
h h

h h h h hhh

hh
h
h h
h h h

mmmm m m m m
h

hh
h
h h h

h

+ h+h

%
h

hh hh

hhh h

%
hhh
h
h

%

h

+

++ hh

h
h hhh

h hh
h

h hh
hh h
h

h hh
hh h

mmmm m m m m

h
h h h

%

h hh

h h h

h hh h

h
h hh
h hh

h+h

h hh h

+ h+h

h h h

h
h+h

h h h
hhhh

h+h

h

ffffffff f %

h

h hh hhh

mmmm m m m m
hhh

%

ffffff
fff ffff
ffffff f
hhh

h
h
h

h hh

h
h
h hh
$ff

h h

h h +
h + h
hhhh

%
hhh h h

h
h h
hh

hhhh

h hhh

h

h h
hhh
h

hhh

h %
h h
hh

h h
h h

h

%
mmmm m m m m
fff ffffff ff
lll ll l h

h h

h hh h
% %
fff ffff
ll lll

fff f f fff f ffffff f f$f f
h h

ll l ll lllh h
hhh

llllll ll

mmmm m m m m

praying, but have enough strength to support
his own body weight when pushing himself up
from the position of prostration to the standing
position, since it was his view that when rising
from prostration one should lift his/her knees
before the hands.
What this paper will prove is that Malik

may Allah have mercy on himonly prayed
that way, because it is what he saw there to be
stronger evidence for, in addition to it being
supported by sound traditions related about the
Prophet .
It will also be shown that Malik was not alone

in this regard, and that many of the well-known
scholars from the Tabiin (Students of the
Prophets Companions) also prayed that way.
The Maliki Argument for not Then, we will bring out in the end that such a
prayer is legally valid in all of the schools of
Clasping the Hands in Salat Sunni law, and that ones prayer is not
By invalidated if one were to do so.
Abdullah bin Hamid Ali
What people must understand about
evidence is that it is not restricted to Quran and
Questions have been asked about what Sunna, nor has it ever been restricted to them.
appears to be a novel practice amongst Western Consensus (Al-Ijma) is also proof. Legal Analogy
Muslims of people praying with their hands at (Al-Qiyas) is another proof. There are also
their sides instead of folding them over their things like the Pre-Quranic sacred legislation that
chests as has been reported in sound traditions hasnt been abrogated (Sharu man qublana),
about the Prophet may Allah bless him and and the statements and actions of the Sahaba
grant him peace. It is common knowledge to (qawl wa amal al-Sahaba). There are also others
Muslims everywhere that this was a practice of that we chose not to mention, since this is not
the virtuous Imam and erudite, Malik b. Anas the place for such a discussion.
may Allah have mercy on him.
Were we to limit evidence to merely the
What has also become commonplace is to Quran and Sunna of the Prophet may Allah
hear a rather unsupportable explanation of why bless and grant him peace a great many things
he did it. That explanation is that Imam Malik that we deem to be forbidden or permissible
only prayed with his arms at his sides because today would not be able to be supported or
he was tortured and therefore unable to fold his justified.
arms on his chest.
The reason for writing this paper is so that
This claim, after being unsupported by fact, the author or others will no longer have to go
history, or logic, is clearly contravened by the into great detail repeatedly in explaining and
explicit statement of the Imam himself. And, we justifying this issue. The aim of this explanation
challenge such a claim to be verified by and in is not to appease or convince those opposed to
any of the traditionally relied upon books of this practice. Rather, it is to console and put at
Islamic history. One will find oneself hard- ease those who do it. This way, if one desires to
pressed to find any evidence substantiating this know the facts, it would be as simple as taking
argument. recourse to the current paper, and those like it
wherever they exist. We ask Allah to benefit all
Then, logically speaking, it would seem to be by it. Amin.
quite unreasonable to surmise that Imam Malik
didnt have the strength to place one of his
hands over the other on his chest while
Abdullah bin Hamid Ali www.lamppostproductions.com Page 1

I. The Position of Malik (may Allah me pleased
with him) Bukhari, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi,
Ahmad, and Ibn Khuzayma
Ibn al-Qasim1 says in Al-Mudawwana2: reported it.
Malik said about placing the And, the version of Abu Dawud contains the
right hand over the left during following addition that is a clear indication of
Salat. He said: I dont know (of) the hands being released at the sides. Its
that in the obligatory (prayer). wording is::
And he used to dislike it.
However, in voluntary prayers
(nawafil), when the standing is Ahmad related to usAbu Asim
extended, there is no harm in that Al-Dahhak b. Makhlad related to
(for one who doesnt) support us (transfer); Musaddad related to
himself by it..3 usYahya related to us.
Maliks statement, I dont know of that in the And the chain of Ahmad reads::
obligatory prayer, seems to point to a clear
reality to anyone who is acquainted with his Abd Al-Hamid informed usthat is, Ibn Jafar
method of deducing legal rulings. That reality is [who said] Muhammad b. Amr b. Ata informed
that, his statement indicates that he doesnt me. He said,
know of any conclusive evidence that would be
strong enough to consider placing the right I heard Abu Hamid Al-Saidi say
hand over the left on the chest a Sunna act of while in the company of ten of
the obligatory prayer. the companions of the Messenger
of Allah : I am the most
The statement also indicates that the main knowledgeable of you of the
reason that he disliked it was that people folded prayer of the Messenger of Allah
their hands on their chests as a means of . They said, How so? For by
holding themselves up in prayer. That wouldnt Allah, you were neither the one
be necessary, since it is disliked for Imams to who spent the most time with
make the standings too lengthy during him, nor the eldest of us to him in
obligatory prayers. As for the voluntary companionship. He said, True
prayers, he didnt dislike it then, due to the fact indeed. They said, Show (us).
that much of what is not permissible in He said, Whenever the
obligatory prayers is permissible in voluntary Messenger of Allah may Allah
prayers. bless and grant him peace
would stand up to pray he would
Now, where does the argument of the claimant stand raise his hands until they were
in light of this decisive evidence? parallel with his shoulders, then
say Allahu Akbar until each bone
II. Evidence from Hadith became settled in its place
straightly. Then, he would
As for the hadiths that indicate this, let us recite4
first start with the hadith of Abu Hamid Al-
Saidi, because of its complete soundness and
clear unequivocal indication of the Prophet 4
The remainder of the hadith is,
praying with his hands by his sides.
Then, he would recite. Then, hed say
Ibn Hajar says in Fath Al-Bari: Allahu Akbar, and raise his hands until
they were parallel with his shoulders.
Then, hed bow placing his palms upon
1
He was one of the most famous and greatest of his knees. Then, hed straighten out
Maliks students. [while bowing] without lowering his head
2
Al-Tanukhi, Sahnun b. Said. Al-Mudawwana Al- or inclining. Then, hed raise his head,
Kubra. Beirut: Dar al-Fikr, 1419/1998, 1/111. and say: Allah hears he who praises
3
Ibid. Him. Then, hed raise his hands until

omitted from is proof that the order
And the natural place of the hands/arms of a in the aforementioned hadith is not
person is at his/her sides. And it cannot be said from the Prophet .
that a persons arms are straight if they are
folded on his/her chest. As for the hadiths that mention the Prophet
praying with his hands folded on his chest or
Shaykh Muhktar Al-Dawdi5 says, under his navel, they refer to the voluntary
prayers.
And if the Prophet used to pray
while placing the right over the left Nawawi says:
hand the ten companions would have
rebuked him (i.e. Abu Hamid) for And about Malik is also (the report
omitting it when he said: until mentioning) the favorableness of
each bone became settled in its placing (the hands on the chest) in
place since peoples egos are the voluntary (prayers), and the
disposed to a severe eagerness to (favorableness) of leaving (them by
point out the mistake of ones the sides) during the obligatory
challenger when competing. And (prayers). And this is what his
amongst the ten companions was followers from Basra gave more
Sahl ibn Sad who said (in another weight to6
hadith): The people were ordered to
place the right hand on the left Muhammad Al-Khadr Al-Shinqiti7 said,
forearm during Salat. So, it becomes
clear that the order in the hadith of And of the hadiths indicating the
Sahl came from one other than the release (of the hands at the sides) is
Prophet and Sahls every hadith in which the prayer of
acknowledgement of the the Prophet may Allah bless and
description of the prayer which the grant him peace is described
clasping of the hands (qabd) has been wherein he covered (i.e. in the
hadith) the mention of the
recommended acts (mustahabbat) of
they were evenly parallel with his prayer without mentioning the
shoulders. Then, hed say: Allahu Akbar. clasping (of the hand).8 Thats
Then, hed fall to the ground, and extend
because leaving (the hands hanging)
his arms away from his sides. Then, hed
raise his head, fold his left leg, and sit on is the original position as is not a
it while spreading the toes of his feet secret. And clasping (the hands) is an
when he fell prostrate, then hed
prostrate, and say: Allahu Akbar. Then,
6
hed sit up, bend his left leg, and sit on it Al-Nawawi, Yahya b. Sharaf. Sahih Muslim bi Sharh
until every bone returned to its place. Al-Nawawi, Beirut: Dar al-Fikr, 1995, 4/96. Hadith #
Then, hed do in the other units (rakat) 401.
7
the like of that. And when he stood from He is Muhammad Al-Khadr b. Shaykh Abd Allah b.
the two units he said: Allahu Akbar, Mayabi Al-Jakani Al-Shinqiti. He was one of the most
raised his hands until he made them remarkable and outstanding scholars of Mauritania
parallel with his shoulders just as he gave who appeared in the first half of the fourteenth
the takbir at the beginning of the prayer. century after the Hijra. He died in the 1984/1405.
8
Then, hed do that in the rest of his Salat, These hadiths are many. Unfortunately, we wont
until the prostration containing (i.e. bother to mention them here in an attempt to avoid
before) the taslim (i.e. the final Salaam) prolixity. What we will do instead is mention where
left out his left leg, and sat leaning to one they can be found. Those narrated on the authority
side on his left [buttock]. They said: of Ibn Umar can be found in Muwatta, Sahih Al-
You have spoken the truth. That is how Bukhari and Muslim. As for those from Abu Hurayra,
he used to pray may Allah bless and check the six renowned collections with the
grant him peace. exception of Ibn Majah. From Ali, you can look in
Ahmads Musnad, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Nasai, and
5
He is one of the scholars of Mauritania, author of Ibn Majah. As for Abu Qalaba, refer to Bukhari and
Mashruiyat al-Sadl fi al-Salat (The Legitimacy of Muslim. And refer to Abu Dawud for those found on
Drooping the Hands in Salaat). the authority of Salim Al-Barrad.

added description. So, when it is not the prayer. He used to release them [at
mentioned, the situation is to remain his sides].
according to the original state, which
is the release of the hands (irsal). Also
because silence about the description 5. Yayha b. Said declared to us: On the
(of something) at the time authority of Abd Allah b. Al-Izar. He
clarification is required is indicative said: I used to accompany Said b.
of limitation (to what is without the Jubayr. So, he saw a man praying while
addition)...9 placing one of his hands on the other.
This one on this one and this one on
So, with to regard to hadith evidence, there is this one. So, he went, separated them,
more that can be mentioned, although what has and then returned [to me].
already passed should be sufficient enough
evidence to establish that the Prophet did in
fact pray while leaving his arms at his sides. And Imam Nawawi said in his Majmu:11
III. Evidence from the Traditions of the Sahaba Layth b. Sad [said about the person
and Tabiin who prays]: He releases them (i.e.
the hands). Then, if that (i.e. the
In the Musannaf10 of Ibn Abi Shayba, the prayer) is too long for him, he should
following can be found: place the right over the left. And
Awzai said: [One has] a choice
1. Abu Bakr [b. Abi Shayba) declared: between clasping and releasing (the
Hushaym declared to us about Hasan hands).
[Al-Basari]about Yunus [who
declared] about Ibrahim [Al-Nakhai] Shaykh Al-Khadr said,
that they (Hasan and Ibrahim) used to
release their hands [at their sides] I say (that) the statement of Layth is
during prayer. unequivocal in indicating that
clasping [the hands] is not in his view
2. Affan declared to us: Yazid b. Ibrahim from the Sunna. However, it falls
declared to us. He said: I heard Amr b. under the category of support [of
Dinar say: [Abd Allah] b. al-Zubayr ones body weight]. And this is
(the grandson of Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq), exactly the reason that Malik
whenever he prayed, he used to release expressly considered it to be disliked,
his hands [at his sides]. since it is a form of supporting
(oneself). And Ibn Abi Shayba
reported Ibn Sirin as saying when he
3. Ibn Ulaya declared to us: On the was asked about the man who holds
authority of Ibn Awn about Ibn Sirin by his right hand his left hand: That
that he was asked about the man who was merely because of the
holds his right hand with his left. He Romans.12
said: That was merely done because of
the Romans [influence]. Then Abu Dawud relates that Muhammad b.
Jahada said about the matter of releasing the
4. Umar b. Harun declared to us: On the arms at ones sides:
authority of Abd Allah b. Yazid. He
said: I never saw [Said] b. Al- Then, I mentioned that to Hasan b.
Musayyab (the most knowledgeable of Abi Al-Hasan, and he said: It is the
the Tabiin) clasping his right hand in prayer of Allahs messenger .
9
Al-Shinqiti, Muhammad al-Khadr b. Abd Allah.
Ibram al-Naqd fima qila min Arjahiyat al-Qabd. Beirut:
11
Dar al-Bashair al-Islamiya. 1996. This is one of the major source books on Shafii
10
The Musannaf is one of the earliest hadith canons in fiqh.
12
Islamic history. Ibram al-Naqd, p.57.

Whoever does it does it. And I saw Ibn Jurayj praying while
whoever abandons it abandons it.13 releasing his hands. And Awzai said:
Whoso pleases does it. And whoso
Al-Khadr says, pleases leaves it. And it is the view
of Ata.16
And the scholars have said that Ibn
al-Zubayr took the description of IV. The Position of the Majority of Scholars
prayer from Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq. Al-
Khatib reports in Tarikh al-Baghdad Most scholars hold the view that the
that Ahmad b. Hanbal said: Abd normative, if not permanent, practice of the
Al-Razzaq related to me. He said: Prophet was folding his arms while praying.
Verily, the people of Mecca say: Ibn This is the position taken by the other three
Jurayj took the description of prayer schools, and is the opinion considered by many
from Ata. And Ata took it from Ibn Malikis to be the position having more evidence
Al-Zubayr. And Ibn Al-Zubayr took it in support of it. However, the basis for this
from Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq. And Abu position is that it has been related about 18
Bakr took it from the Prophet . Sahaba and 2 of the Tabiin that the Prophet
And this indicates that Abu Bakr used prayed with his hands clasped. However, there
to release [his hands] in his prayer, exists contention regarding the chain of
because, Ibn Al-Zubayr took the transmission of each one of these narrations.
description of prayer from him. And For this reason, it is said of them that it has
Ibn Abbas (The Prophets cousin) been related about them, which is a clear
testified that the Salat of Ibn Al- indication of weakness and indecisiveness.
Zubayr is the Salat of the Prophet
in what Abu Dawud relates about Hadith scholars know it as the wording
Maymun Al-Makki that he saw Abd indicative of sickness (sigat al-tamrid). As for
Allah b. Al-Zubayr while leading the one or two sound narrations, which are
them in prayer. He said afterwards, found in the collections of Bukhari and Muslim,
Then, I went to Ibn Abbas and said: they are not clear in their indications that the
Verily, I have seen Ibn Al-Zubayr Prophet prayed with his hands clasped. For that
pray a prayer that I have never seen reason, it is not possible to unequivocally
anyone pray. Then I described to conclude that he may Allah grant him peace
him this gesture, and he said: If prayed with his hands clasped. Rather, it is
youd like to look at the prayer of the equally plausible, if not more reasonable, to
Messenger of Allah then copy the conclude the opposite.
prayer of Abd Allah b. Al-Zubayr.
Al-Dawdi says,
Al-Khadr says, As for ascribing the [position of]

clasping the hands (qabd) to the
And what is confirmed by scholars is majority [of scholars], if the intended
that Ibn Al-Zubayr used to release [ascription] is [an ascription to] the
[his hands] in his Salat. So, it is majority of the Sahaba, then this
known by the testimony of Ibn ascription is not true by any means,
Abbas that his prayer is the prayer of since it (i.e. clasping the hands) has
the Prophet , and that he used to not been found to be soundly
release [his hands] in Salat14 established about the Prophet may
Allah grant him peace, nor one of his
And in the Musannaf15 of Abd Al-Razzaq Al- Rightly-Guided Successors. So, how
Sanani he says, could attributing it to the majority of
the Sahaba and Tabiin be true? As for
what Tirmidhi relates from Samak b.
13
Abu Dawud Harb from Qabisa b. Hulb from his
14
Ibram al-Naqd, p. 63.
15
This Musannaf is also one of the earliest hadith
16
canons in Islamic history. Al-Musannaf. 2/276.

father who said: The Messenger of And if he had not been unknown, the
Allah used to lead us, and take his left Imams of the Salaf would not have
with his right. and declared it to be differed regarding its ruling. (They
Hasan (of fair grading), then said, also differed) because the hadith of
Action is in accordance with this Wail is weakened (malul) due to a
among the companions of the break in its chain, and the weakness
Prophet , the successors (tabiin), of one of its narrators. So, the Salaf
and those after them; There is no didnt present it as evidence17
doubt that he (Tirmidhi) depended
upon the hadith of Hulb in V. The Statements of other Scholars
attributing this action, since there is
a distance (in time) between him, and Ibn Rushd18 says,
between the Sahaba and Tabiin. Also
because, he didnt mention any Scholars have differed regarding
support for that other than the placing the hands, one of them on
hadith of Hulb. And if it (the hadith) the other during Salat. Malik
had been Sahih (sound), it would have considered that makruh (disliked)
resolved the dispute. However, it is during the obligatory prayer, and
one of the narrations of Samak and permitted it during the voluntary
Qabisa. And it has already preceded prayers. Others considered this
that Samak is weakand Qabisa is action to be from the one of the
unknown (majhul). And only Samak Sunnahs (recommended acts) of
narrates on his authority. And Salat. They are the majority (of those
Tirmidhis choosing of this chain after the Salaf).
from [all] the different chains going The reason for their difference is that
back to the Prophet in this chapter is some established traditions (of the
a proof that all chains of companions and successors) have
transmission fall in the center of come. The description of the
ignominy. Just as it has already Prophets prayer may Allah grant
preceded about the Imams of the him peace has been related in
Tabiin (Said b. Al-Musayyab, Said b. them. And nowhere in them was it
Jubayr, and Mujahid) what points to related that he placed his right over
the contrary of what Tirmidhi his left. It also has been confirmed
attributed to the Sahaba and Tabiin, that the people were commanded to
while knowing that these know do that (i.e. clasp their hands). That
better the doings of the Sahaba in the has also been mentioned as part of
matter than Tirmidhi and all from his the description of his prayer may
generation. And if what is intended Allah bless and grant him peace in
by the majority is the majority of the hadith of Abu Hamid. And some
those lesser than the Successors of people saw that the reports that have
the Successors (tabiu al-tabiin), the been confirmed necessitated an
ascription to them is true. The addition upon the reports not
statement of Nawawi in Sharh Muslim containing this addition, and that the
(4/114) indicates it. The proof of the addition must be followed. Others
majority [of scholars after the Salaf] saw that the more worthy obligation
regarding the favorableness of was to follow the reports that dont
placing the right on the left is the contain the addition, because they
aforementioned hadith of Wail, and are more numerous, and since this
the hadith of Abu Hazim on the (i.e. clasping of the hands) doesnt
authority of Sahl. So, this gives the befit the actions of prayer. Rather,
feeling that the Sahaba and Tabiin are
outside of this majority, since they 17
Mashruiyat al-Sadl, p. 69.
dont present the aforementioned 18
Ibn Rush was a famous Muslim philosopher,
hadith of Sahl as evidence, because magistrate, and jurist from Islamic Spain who died in
the one giving the order is unknown. the year 595 after the emigration (Hijra) from Mecca
to Medina.

they fall under the category of
seeking support (in remaining still 5. None of the Imams of the other
and standing). Therefore, Malik madhhabs (legal schools) hold it to be
permitted it in voluntary prayers, an obligation to pray while clasping
and did not permit it in the ones hands. They only consider it to be
obligatory19 a Sunna. As for Malik, it is permitted
without dislike during voluntary
prayers when the standing is long. As
for the obligatory prayers, he disliked
it, although dislike does not mean that
Ibn Abd Al-Barr20 says, something is prohibited according the
scholars.
And placing the right of them over
the left or releasing them (at the 6. Some Imams hold both folding the
sides), all of that is a Sunna in hands as well as leaving them at ones
Salat21 sides to be Sunnas that have been both
related about the Prophet may Allah
VI. Summary and Conclusion grant him peace.
We know the validity of praying with our hands

at our sides from the following:
In the end, Id like to say that it would be much
1. It was the position held by our Imam more beneficial for those seeking to sow discord
Malik, and most of his disciples and through this matter to address some of our
Malikis historically. more pressing issues like the divorce rate in the
Muslim community, or things like, trying to
2. The hadiths of the Prophet indicate help solve the problems of Muslims suffering
that he prayed that way. from substance abuse and alcohol problems.
Instead of policing peoples prayer when theyre
not doing anything wrong, they should go
3. It was the opinion taken by the Tabiin, looking for things, which are truly haram
the most knowledgeable of them being (unlawful) and try to find the proper Islamic
by unanimous consensus Said b. Al- solutions for them.
Musayyab.
4. It was the position of Abd Allah ibn Az-

Zubayr who learned from his
grandfather, Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq who
learned from the Prophet himself. In
addition, it hasnt been confirmed in
any sound reports that any of the other
Sahaba prayed while clasping their
hands.
19
Al-Andalusi, Ibn Rushd. Bidayat Al-Mujtahid wa
Nihayat al-Muqtasid. Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiya,
1997/1417, 1/192-193.
20
Ibn Abd Al-Barr was a great Maliki jurist and
hadith scholar known as The Great Hadith Retainer
of the West (Hafiz Al-Maghrib). He died in the year
468 after the Hijra, the same year that his counterpart
Al-Khatib Al-Baghdadi, The Great Hadith Retainer of
the East (Hafiz Al-Mashriq) passed away.
21
Al-Namri, Abu Umar Ibn Abd al-Barr. Al-Kafi fi Fiqh
Ahl al-Madina al-Maliki, Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiya,
1992/1413. p. 43

Qabd or Sadl - Right over Left or Hands at the Sides?
Furthermore, it has also been revealed

that Imam Malik was not alone in this position.
Rather, the most knowledgeable and
noteworthy of the Tabiun also preferred this
manner of prayer as has been shown by the
reports of Ibn Abi Shayba.3
Why do the Malikis continue to resist

the majority and risk being harassed for
praying in this fashion? Dont Malikis know that
it is well established that 18 of the Companions
and 2 of the Successors have reported that the
Prophet prayed with the right hand/arm over
the left? Even the most uneducated of Muslims
knows such things. So why are they being so
stubborn and arrogant?
Well, is it really true that 18 of the

Qabd or Sadl: Companions and 2 of the Successors reported
the Prophet as praying the way that most
Right over Left or Hands at the people do? True or not, there exists sufficient
Sides? doubt about every single report that exists to
this effect that weakens the popular claim
A Maliki Critique of the Reports that 18 of the and understanding that it is well established
Companions (Sahaba) and 2 of the Successors that the Prophet prayed while placing one hand
(Tabiun) reported the Prophet as having prayed over the other.
with his right hand over his left hand
This short essay is written not to
By Abdullah bin Hamid Ali condemn the majority, or even say that their
manner of prayer is incorrect. It is written to
In the name of Allah, All-Compassionate, All-Merciful reveal to all that the position of holding one
hand over the other in Salat is not as strong as
The debate endures in spite of more people have come to accept. To the contrary,
and more evidence being revealed about the the argument that the Prophet prayed in this
permissibility of praying with the hands at the fashion is no stronger than the argument that
sides as did Imam Malik b. Anas and the he prayed while draping his arms at his sides.
exponents of his school. Few still insist that
Imam Malik only prayed that way due to being Below is a critique of each individual report
tortured at the behests of the Abbasid caliph; and an exposition of their weaknesses in either
torture that led to his arms being pulled out of the chain or meaning. These critiques have
their sockets.1 They still insist on such a notion been summarized from the work of Shaykh
in spite of the explicit statement of Malik that Mukhtar Al-Dawdi4, Mashruiyyat al-Sadl fi Al-
he disliked for a person to prayer any of the 5
compulsory prayers while folding one arm or
hand over the other.2 3
Ibn Abu Shayba reports hadiths that show that the
following personages prayed while draping their
hands at their sides: Said b. Al-Musayyib, Said b.
Jubayr, Al-Hasan Al-Basari, Ibrahim Al-Nakhai,
Muhammad b. Sirin, and the Companion, Abd Allah
1
This lie has been circulated among Muslims, and ibn Al-Zubayr. [Ibn Abi Shayba, Abu Bakr. Musannaf]
many have accepted it in large numbers in spite of Imam Awzai also expressed that to pray that way or
the fact that it cannot be substantiated in any of the not was a persons prerogative [Al-Musannaf. 2/276]
books of Islamic history, jurisprudence, or any other And Imam Nawawi relates this position as being
works. ascribed to Imam Layth b. Sad.
2 4
Al-Mudawwana Al-Kubra. 1/111. Dar al-Fikr: 1998. He is Shaykh Mukhtar b. Muhaymidat Al-Dawdi, one
Have a look at my treatise entitled The Maliki of the great contemporary Mauritanian scholars of
Argument for not Clasping the Hands in Salat. the Shinqit.

Salat [The Legitimacy of Draping the Arms in This hadith in spite of being in both the
Salat]. Muwatta and the Sahih of Bukhari, isnt
definitive proof that the Prophets sunnah
A more detailed work is being prepared for was to pray while holding his left hand with
release that gives more detail about the hadiths his right hand. What weakens such an
of Ibn Abi Shayba and establishes their assumption made from this hadith are the
authenticity, God-willing. Upon completion of following:
that, we plan to present to our readers a
complete reference work for the topic of the Weakness #1:
proper positioning of hands in prayer.
This is not an explicit report of a statement
or action of the Prophet .
Hadith #1: The hadith of Sahl Weakness #2:

Reported in Al-Muwatta and Sahih
The saying that, The people were ordered
al-Bukhari that a person is to place the right hand over
his left forearm during Salat is the
Abdullah ibn Maslama5 related to us from
statement of the Companion, Sahl. And he
Malik from Abu Hazim6 from Sahl b. Sad. He
doesnt say that the Prophet gave this
said:
order. So there is the possibility that

another could have given this order.

:
Weakness #3:
:
The saying, I know only that he attributes
The people were ordered that a
that (yanmi dhalika) to the Prophet is
person is to place the right hand
not the statement of Sahl. Rather it is the
over his left forearm during
statement of the Tabii, Abu Hazim. So there
Salat. Abu Hazim said: I know
is no certainty that Sahl actually attributed
only that he attributes that
this to the Prophet , since Abu Hazim is
(yanmi dhalika) to the Prophet
merely conjecturing about what he
. Ismail7 said: (I know only
remembers.
that) That is attributed (yunma
dhalika). And he didnt say: He
Weakness #4:
attributes (yanmi).
The statement of Ismail that, (I know only
The Weaknesses of the Hadith that) That is attributed (yunma dhalika). And
he didnt say: He attributes (yanmi) further
emphasizes the belief that Abu Hazim didnt
5
actually hear Sahl attribute the order to the
He is Abu Abd Al-Rahman Abdullah b. Maslama b.
Qanab Al-Harithi Al-Madani Al-Basari, a reliable
Prophet .
narrator (thiqa) and a devout worshipper (abid). Ibn
Main and Ibn Al-Madini placed no one over him with
regard to the Muwatta. He passed away in Mecca in
the year 220 A.H. or 221 A.H. [Tahdhib al-Tahdhib: Hadith #2: The Hadith of Wail
6/31] and [Siyar alam An-Nubala: 1/257].
6
Abu Hazim is Salama b. Dinar, the shaykh of Medina, Reported in Sahih Muslim
and patron of Banu Makhzum. He was a cripple date-
merchant, and an ascetic magistrate. He died in the Muslim said as is in Sahih Muslim [4/114]:
year 140 A.H. [Siyar alam al-Nubala: 6/96] [Tahdhib al-
Tahdhib: 4/143].
7
Ismail is Abd Allah b. Abd Allah b. Uways b. Malik.
He was a veracious Imam and hadith master, and one

of the scholars of Medina. He was the leading hadith :
specialist of his time. He died in the year 226 A.H. or :
227 A.H. [Siyar alam al-Nubala: 10/392].

Zuhayr b. Harb related to us, Weakness #2:

Affan related to us, Hamam
related to us, Muhammad b. There is a second break in the chain, since
Juhada related to us, Abd Al- Alqama b. Wail never met his father, Wail,
Jabbar b. Wail related to me, on whose authority he is supposedly
from Alqama b. Wail and a client speaking.
of theirs that they both related to
him from his father, Wail ibn Dhahabi in Al-Mizan [4/28] and Ibn Hajar in
Hujr that he saw the Prophet - Taqrib al-Tahdhib [2/31] limited themselves to
raise his hands when he entered mentioning that
Salat. He said the takbir, he
wrapped himself in his garment, Alqama is Saduq (veracious),
and then placed his right hand on except that he never heard any
the left[to the end of the reports from his father, Wail.
hadith].
And the reviser (muhaqqiq) of Al-Mizan placed
The Weaknesses of the Hadith a number next to him and said:
Weakness #1: [1] In the Thiqat of Ibn Hibban:

(He said) His father died while he
The narrator, Muhammad b. Juhada, is weak. was in his mothers womb.
Nawawi alluded to it by his saying,
And in Siyar Alam Al-Nubala of Dhahabi he
In it is Muhammad b. Juhada. mentions that Tirmidhi said in Al-Ilal Al-Kubra:
And Ibn Hajar said in the introduction to Al- I asked Bukhari: Did Alqama
Fath [p. 361]: hear anything from his father,
Wail? He said: Verily Alqama
Muhammad b. Juhada Al-Kufi was born after the death of his
was accused of being a Shiite father by 6 months.
[biased toward Ali and against
Muawiya]. And Nawwawi said in Tahdhib al-Asma [1/343]:
Then Ibn Hajar said after declaring Ibn Juhada Verily the reports of Alqama
as being one of the weak narrators, from his father, Wail, are
through an undisclosed
Verily one of the conditions of (a intermediary (mursala).
hadith being) Sahih is that the
transmitter be sound in creed. Weakness #3:
And in Mizan al-Itidal of Imam Dhahabi [4/418] The client mentioned alongside Alqama is
he said that Abu Awana Al-Waddah said about unknown and unidentified. So this counts as
him: another break in the chain according to hadith
scholars.9
He was extreme in his Shiism (kana
yaghlu fi tashayyuihi).8
9
Shaykh Mukhtar Al-Dawdi said,
8
Dhahabi says in his Mizan [4/418, #7305],
Muhammad b. Juhada is one of the reliable and If it is said: Tirmidhi said along with (the
trustworthy Tabiin, He met Anas . The only thing commentary of) Al-Arida [6/237] as well as Bukhari in
is that Abu Awana Al-Waddah said, He was extreme Al-Tarikh Al-Kabir [4/14]:
in his shiism. But, I [Dhahabi] say (that) not a single
revilement (of the Companions) has been recorded Verily Alqama heard from his father, the
about the man. So where is the extremism?! response is that it has already been

Weakness #4: What this means is that Wail wasnt the

greatest authority on the Prophets prayer,
Wail was from the city of Hadramaut (Yemen). since he spent almost no time in his presence
He came to the Prophet when he was in after accepting Islam at his hands.
Madinah, accepted Islam, and returned shortly
after to his city. And due to him not taking up Weakness #5:
residence in Medinah, Ibrahim Al-Nakhai
rejected his hadiths related to the description of The hadith never states how Wails son or their
the Prophets prayer , as is found in Shafiis client obtained information about what their
Umm [1/105] under: Those who oppose the father supposedly saw. For instance, the chain
raising of the hands.10 reads,
Abd Al-Jabbar b. Wail related

to me, from Alqama b. Wail and a
mentioned from the two of them that he was client of theirs that they both
born 6 months after his fathers death. And
related to him from his father,
this is more definitive than them saying:
Wail ibn Hujr that he saw the
He heard from his father, Wail. Prophet - raise his hands when
he entered Salat...
For this reason, hadith masters (huffaz)
didnt consider this to be a confirmed hearing Alqama could have said, I heard my father
(sama) as has already been stated, and say, My father told me or My father
because Yahya b. Main is one of those who related to me that But no such expression is
said that used in this hadith that would indicate that
the reports of Alqama from his
there was definitely a meeting between Alqama
father, Wail are through an and his father, Wail.
undisclosed intermediary (mursala).
This is because Ibn Main was the most

knowledgeable of all the Imams of his era Hadith #3: The Hadith of Ibn
with relation to hadith transmitters. In
Tadhkirat al-Huffaz of Imam Dhahabi [2/430] Masud
he states: Reported in the Sunan of Abu
Dawud and the Sunan of Nasai
Ibn Main said: The knowledge of all people
stopped at Yahya b. Main. And Ahmad b.
Hanbal said: Yahya b. Main is the most
It is related that Abd Allah b. Masud
knowledgeable of us of hadith transmitters. said:

10
Shaykh Al-Dawdi says,
And in the introduction to Nawawis Sharh Muslim not they are sahih in his view. And in that is a
[1/27] he said: careless departure from this stipulation.
And a group (of scholars) criticized And it is known (to scholars) that the
them i.e. Bukhari and Muslim stipulation of Bukhari and Muslim is (for the
about certain hadiths wherein they report to have) a chain that is connected by
violated the conditions they way of a trustworthy transmitter from
stipulated for acceptance, and have another trustworthy transmitter to the
descended below the grade of those Prophet with no subtle weakness (illa) or
(hadiths) they obliged themselves to irregularity (shudhudh) despite of this being
(report). the definition of sahih in the view of the
overwhelming majority of the Imams. And
That is, they have descended below the grade you know that this condition is lacking in the
of sahih (sound). And on page 16, (he says): aforementioned hadiths of Sahl and Wail. So
on that basis, presenting them as proof is
So Muslims book contains hadiths whose chains or invalid.
texts they have differed with regard to whether or

Hadith #4: The Hadith of Hulb Al-

The Prophet saw me placing Tai
my left hand on my right hand in
Salat. So he took my right hand,
Reported by Tirmidhi, Ahmad, Ibn
and then placed it over my left Majah, and Daraqutni
hand.
It has been related that Hulb Al-Tai said:
Abu Dawuds chain is:

Muhammad b. Bakkar from Hushaym
ibn Bashir from Al-Hajjaj b. Abi The Prophet used to lead us.
Zaynab from Abu Abi Uthman from And he would take his left hand
Ibn Masud. with his right.
Nasais chain is: This hadith is reported by way of Sammak b.

Harb from Qabisa b. Hulb from his father,
Hushaym ibn Bashir from Al-Hajjaj b. Hulb.
Abi Zaynab from Abu Abi Uthman
from Ibn Masud. Weaknesses of the Hadith
The Weaknesses of the Hadith Weakness #1:
Weakness #1: Qabisa b. Hulb has been classified as

weak and unknown.
Muhammad b. Bakkar is unknown.
Dhahabi stated it in Al-Mizan [4/412]. Shawkani said in Nayl al-Awtar [2/200]:
Weakness #2: In the chain of this hadith is

Qabisa b. Hulb. Sammak is the
Weakness has been ascribed to Hushaym only one to narrate from him. Al-
b. Bashir. Dhahabi states in Al-Mizan Ijli considered him to be reliable.
[5/431], and Ibn Hajar states in Taqrib al- And Ibn Al-Madini and Nasai
Tahdhib [2/269] that he: said: (He is) Unknown.
Often used trickery in his Weakness #2:

reports to convince others to
accept unacceptable chains of Sammak b. Harb has been classified as
narration in addition to being weak. Dhahabi said about him in Al-Mizan
guilty of conveying subtly [2/422 & 423]:
distinguishable incomplete chains
of narration (kathir at-tadlis wa Sufyan, Shuba, and others
al-irsal al-khafi). declared him to be weak. And
Ahmad said: (He is) Unstable
Weakness #3: (mudtarib) in hadith. And Nasai
said: He used to be dictated to.
Al-Hajjaj b. Abi Zaynab has been declared And he would learn (from those
to be weak by Ali b. Al-Madini, Nasai, dictated notes).
Ahmad, and Daraqutni as stated by
Dhahabi in Al-Mizan [1/462]. So there is a weak transmitter on the
authority of one who is unknown in the
chain. So no attention is to be shown to it.

Hadith #5: The Hadith of Ali b. weak, rejected, and insignificant, as has
Abu Talib been stated.
Reported by Abu Dawud
It has been related that Ali ibn Abu Talib Hadith #7: The Hadith of Abd
said: Allah b. Abbas
Reported by Daraqutni

In Awjaz al-Masalik ala Muwatta Malik
It is from the Sunnah to place [3/169] (it states):
the right hand on the left hand
during Salat under the navel. And Daraqutni reported from
the hadith of Ibn Abbas raised
This has been related by way of Abd Al- to the Prophet [marfuan] (that
Rahman b. Ishaq Al-Wasiti. he said):

Weaknesses of the Hadith
Weakness #1: Verily we assembly
of Prophets have
Abd Al-Rahman b. Ishaq has been been ordered to hold
classified as weak. Dhahabi said of him in our right hands over
Al-Mizan [3/262]: our left hands.
Ahmad said: He is insignificant. (He is) Weaknesses of the Hadith

Rejected in hadith.
Weakness #1:
Nawawi said in Sharh Muslim [4/115]:
One of the transmitters, Talha b. Amr, has been
(He is) Weak by the agreement (of classified as being an unreliable narrator. The
hadith scholars). author of Awjaz al-Masalik says,
And in its chain is Talha b. Amr

who is relinquished (matruk).
Hadith #6: The Hadith of Abu Likewise it is mentioned in Al-
Hurayra Ayni (Sharh of) Al-Bukhari.
Reported by Abu Dawud
Dhahabi said in Al-Mizan [3/54]:
It has been related that Abu Hurayra
said: Ahmad and Nasai said (about
Talha): (He is) relinquished in
hadith. And Bukhari and Ibn Al-
Madini said: He is insignificant
The taking of the palms over the palms (Laysa bi shayin).
is under the navel.
This has been related by way of Abd Al-

Rahman b. Ishaq also. Hadith #8: The Hadith of Jabir b.
Abd Allah
Weakness of the Hadith Reported by Ahmad and
Abu Dawud related it by way of Abd Al- Daraqutni
Rahman b. Ishaq upon whom there is
agreement about him being declared It has also been related that Jabir b. Abd
Allah ascribed the act of placing the

right hand over the left in Salat to the Three things are from prophecy:
Prophet too. It states that Jabir said, Making haste to break fast,
delaying the predawn meal, and
P placing the right over the left
during Salat.

The Messenger of Allah passed
by a man who was praying while Weakness #1:
placing his left hand on the right
hand. So he snatched it and This report is not ascribable to the Prophet .
placed the right on the left. Rather, it is only ascribable to his wife, Aisha.
But, this is reported by way of Al-Hajjaj Ibn Hazm related it in Al-Muhalla [4/113] as a
b. Abi Zaynab from Abu Sufyan statement of Aisha but without a chain.
from Jabir b. Abd Allah.
Weakness #2:
Weaknesses of the Hadith There is a break in the chain. So it even

cannot be ascribed to Aisha.
Weakness #1:
Hafiz b. Hajar said in Talkhis al-Habir
Al-Hajjaj b. Abi Zaynab has already been [1/223]:
discussed. And it has already been
revealed that Al-Hajjaj is weak. Daraqutni and Bayhaqi related it
as a statement of Aisha . And it
Weakness #2: has a break in its chain.
Abu Sufyan Talha b. Amr is also

classified as weak. Dhahabi said of him in
Al-Mizan [3/56]:
Shuba and Ibn Uyayna said:

His hadiths from Jabir are no Hadith #10: The Hadith of Abd
more than a written collection Allah b. Umar
(sahifa) [i.e. so, he didnt actually
hear from Jabir]. And Ibn Main
Reported by Al-Aqili11
was asked about him and he said:
[He is] Nothing. It has been related also that Ibn Umar
reported that the Prophet used to pray while
holding his left hand with his right hand.
Hadith #9: The Hadith of Aisha Weakness of the Hadith

bint Abi Bakr This reported in spite of being related by Al-
Reported by Daraqutni and Aqili was declared to be weak. Imam Shawkani
Bayhaqi made mention of this in Nayl al-Awtar [2/200].
It has been related that Aisha said:
: 11
Al-Aqilis name is Abu Jafar Muhammad ibn Amr

ibn Musa b. Hammad Al-Aqili. He was one of the
hadith masters of Mecca. Shaykh Al-Dawdi says of
him, He has dangerous writings. One of them is Al-
Duafa. He died in Mecca. [Tadhkira al-Huffaz: 3/50]
and [Shadharat al-Dhahab: 2/295].

Hadith #11: The Hadith of Yala b. I didnt forget about

Murra things. I didnt forget
Allahs Messenger
Related by Imam Al-Tabari placing his right hand
over his left hand
during Salat.
It has been related that one of the
Companions by the name of Yala b.
Baghawi reported it by way of
Murra12 related that the Prophet Zayd b. Al-Habbab with this
was seen praying while holding one wording.
hand with the other.
Weakness of the Hadith
Weakness #1:
One of the transmitters in the chain by
the name, Umar b. Abd Allah b. Yala, It is unclear if the transmitters name is
has been classified as weak. Shawkani Ghudayf or Al-Harith.
states in Nayl al-Awtar [2/200],
Weakness #2:
It also contains Umar b. Abd
Allah b. Yala. And he is weak. It is unclear if he was a Sahabi or a Tabii.
Hafiz Ibn Hajar said about the
And Dhahabi said in Al-Mizan [4/131] aforementioned Ghudayf:
about the aforementioned Umar:
Ibn Sad, Al-Ijli, Daraqutni, and
(He is) Relinquished (matruk). others mentioned him among the
He used to drink wine (khamr). Tabiin (Companion successors).
And there is confusion about whether or

Hadith #12: The Hadith of Gudayf not he ever saw the Prophet when he
b. Al-Harith or Harith b. Ghudayf was a child, which would make him a
Reported by Baghawi Tabii if he in fact never saw the Prophet
. Ahmad related it in Al-Musnad. It is
Number 12 is the hadith of Ghudayf b. also stated in Al-Mughni along with Al-
Al-Harith or Harith b. Ghudayf. Hafiz b. Sharh al-Kabir [1/549].
Hajar said in Al-Isaba maa al-Istiab
[3/184]: So the conflict (idtirab) found in the
chain becomes clear about if the
Verily Bukhari said in his transmitter is either Ghudayf or Al-
biography: Man meaning, Ibn Harith, and about whether or not he was
Isa said on the authority of a Sahabi or a Tabii. And that demands
Muawiya i.e. Ibn Salih from that it be discarded as proof.
Yunus ibn Sayf from Ghudayf ibn
Al-Harith Al-Sakuti or Al-Harith
b. Ghudayf who said:
Hadith #13: The Hadith of
Shaddad b. Shurahbil
P Reported by Al-Bazzar

Hadith number 13 is mentioned in Nayl
al-Awtar under the aforementioned
reference [2/200]. Shawkani says:
12
Shawkani states in Nayl al-Awtar under the
aforementioned reference: [He is] Yala b. And (there is another hadith) on
Murra according to Tabari. the authority of Shaddad b.

Shurahbil (as found) with Al- the Right during Salat, but I
Bazzar. didnt find Abu Al-Darda in it.
Nevertheless, Muhammad Shakir
Weakness of the Hadith said in his short commentary
(taliq) on Al-Muhalla [4/13]:
This report contains a weak narrator by the
name, Abbas b. Yunus. Shawkani says in Hafiz al-Haytami
declaring the hadith of Shaddad to be weak, mentioned it in Majma
al-Zawaid and said:
But in it is Abbas ibn Yunus. Tabarani related it in
Al-Kabir, going back to
Shaykh Al-Dawdi says, the Prophet and to the
Companion, Abu Al-
And when a hadith scholar Darda . The one
(muhaddith) says: In it is So-and- designated to the
So, it is an allusion to the companion is sound
weakness of So-and-So. (sahih). As for the one
Furthermore, Ive searched in assigned to the Prophet
both Taqrib al-Tahdhib and Al- (marfu), there are
Mizan, and I didnt find any among its transmitters
biography for the aforementioned one who I havent
Abbas. So perhaps he is found anyone who has
unknown. provided a biography
for him.
Hadith #14: The Hadith of Abu Al-

Darda
Hadith #15: The Hadith of Uqba b.
Reported by Daraqutni and Ibn
Abi Aisha
Abi Shayba
Reported by Haytami in Majma al-
Hadith number 14 is the hadith of Abu Zawaid
Al-Darda . Shawkani says in Nayl al-
Awtar under the aforementioned Hadith Number 15 is the hadith of Uqba ibn
reference [2/200]: Abu Aisha that is designated only to the
Companion (mawquf), not to the Prophet
And (there is another hadith) on (marfu). Shawkani stated it under the
the authority of Abu Al-Darda (as aforementioned reference of Nayl al-Awtar. And
found) with Daraqutni reaching even if it happened to be authentic, it would
back to the Prophet [marfuan], only be ascribable to the Companion, not to the
as well as one reaching Abu Al- Prophet .
Darda only [mawqufan] in Ibn
Abu Shayba.
Hadith #16: The Hadith of
Weakness of the Hadith Hudhayfa
Ascribed to Daraqutnis Sunan
The report ascribed the Prophet has not
been authenticated. Hadith Number 16 is the hadith of
Hudhayfa . Shaykh Al-Dawdi said,
Shaykh Al-Dawdi said,
He (i.e. Shawkani) stated it
The only thing is that I searched under the aforementioned
in the Sunan of Daraqutni in the reference. However, I couldnt
chapter of Taking the Left with find it in his (i.e. Daraqutnis)

Sunan under the Chapter of Weakness #1:

Taking the Left with the Right.
And perhaps he related what has It is common knowledge that putting the
been attributed to him (i.e. the feet together is disliked.
Prophet) from Hudhayfa and Abu
Al-Darda in (a work) other than Weakness #2:
his Sunan.
This report contradicts what is commonly
accepted about the fact that Ibn Al-Zubayr
preferred to pray while draping his hands at the
Hadith #17: The Hadith of Muadh side, as Imam Malik is known for doing. Shaykh
Al-Dawdi said,
b. Jabal
Reported by Tabarani And one of the clearest
indications of the falseness of this
The next hadith is the hadith of Muadh report (athar) is the agreement of
. Shawkani stated it in Nayl al-Awtar the Salaf that Ibn Al-Zubayrs
under the aforementioned reference. view was to drape the hands
(sadl) during Salat. So it would
The Weakness of the Hadith not be correct for him to
intentionally contradict the
One of its narrators by the name, Al-Khasib b. Sunnah.
Jahdar, has been classified as weak. Shawkani
says, And he is the last of the eighteen (18)
Companions (Sahaba).
And (there is another hadith) on
the authority of Muadh in
Tabarani. But in it is Al-Khasib ibn
Jahdar. The Tabii Reports
Dhahabi said in Al-Mizan [2/176] under the
biography of the aforementioned Al-Khasib: Report #1: The Report of Al-Hasan
Al-Basri
Bukhari said (of him): A liar! Reported by Abu Dawud
Shuba, Al-Qattan, and Ibn Main
also declared him to be a liar. Report #2: The Report of Tawus
Also Reported in Abu Dawud
Hadith #18: The Hadith of Abd It is reported that Tawus said,
Allah b. Al-Zubayr
Reported by Abu Dawud P

Number 18 is the hadith of Abd Allah ibn
Al-Zubayr . He said:
The Messenger of Allah used
to place his right hand over his
left hand, and then hold them
Putting the feet together and tight on his chest while he was in
placing one hand on the other is Salat.
from the Sunnah.
The Weaknesses of both Reports
Abu Dawud reported it.
Weakness #1:

Both of these reports are incompletely Ibrahim Al-Nakhai, Muhammab b. Sirin, Layth
transmitted, since there are undisclosed b. Sad, Jafar Al-Sadiq, Awzai (perhaps), and the
Companion and/or even non-Companion Companion Abd Allah b. Zubayr all prayed
intermediaries between these Tabiin. Shawkani this way.
said:
So to condemn Malik and his followers today,
And (there is a report) on the would be to condemn the most distinguished
authority of Al-Hasan scholars of the Salaf, when they knew the
incompletely transmitted to the Sunnah better than we did. And any other claim
Prophet (murslan) in Abu Dawud, would be nothing more than arrogance and
and (there is a report) on the stupidity.
authority of Tawus also
incompletely transmitted to the Again, the ultimate aim is to spread more inner-
Prophet with him (i.e. Abu religious tolerance, not to condemn or make a
Dawud). definitive claim that we are upon truth.
Weakness #2:
It is commonly acknowledged that Al-Hasan Al-

Basri prayed while draping his hands at his
sides. So this report contradicts this well-
established fact.
Shaykh Al-Dawdi said,
However, I could only find in

Abu Dawud (the report of) Tawus.
As for Al-Hasan, I didnt find it in
it in spite of knowing that the
position of Al-Hasan was to drape
the hands (at the sides). And
there is nothing sound (sahih)
about Tawus.
Conclusion
Based on these findings, it can no longer be said

that there is abundant evidence that the
Prophet prayed while holding one hand/arm
on the other. And it can also not be said that the
position of Malikis of draping the hands at the
sides during Salat is the weaker of the two.
In spite of the fact that there are all of these

explicit and implicit reports of him praying
while holding his left hand and there being
almost no explicit reports of him praying while
draping his hands at his sides, the living
although undocumented sunnah of the
Medinite scholars among the Tabiun still
remains to be sunnah as defined by Imam Malik
. It should be enough that Said ibn Al-
Musayyib, Said b. Jubayr, Al-Hasan Al-Basari,

Studies Sadl

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Studies Sadl

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Studies Sadl

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Lumumba K.

Studies on the issue of Sadl

llll l ll

ffffff fff ffffffffffffffffffffff    

 ll llllll

%        

           %

         h   

            

        h

                 

     hhh     

     &    

             

    

             

llll

         h  hhh hh

llll

l lllllll llll

               

llll llll

l llll l lllll ll llll

     h h   h h h h

 h hh        

 h    h

h    hh h         

             

            h  hh  

 h h      hh    hh  h h

 hhh  h h h        

         

             

lll ll lllll ll

 l l llll ll

             

fffff fffffffffffffffffff fff f fff ff fff fffffff ffff

fff ffffffffffffffffff lfffff fffffff f f ffffffff ffffff

fffffff f f ffff f ffffff ff fffff f fff ff  ff

llll

 h +hh  hhh h+   h 

ffff fffff fffffffffffffffff$fffffffffffll ffff ffffffff

        hhh h

           h hh

h hh   h         

      hhh         

                  

      hhh h h          

       h hhh             

       hhh 

fff ffffff ff

     lll ll l  h  

        ll lll        

        h  h             

       hhh             

What this paper will prove is that Malik

It will also be shown that Malik was not alone

Abdullah bin Hamid Ali www.lamppostproductions.com Page 1

Abdullah bin Hamid Ali www.lamppostproductions.com Page 2

Abdullah bin Hamid Ali www.lamppostproductions.com Page 3

ffffff fff ffffffffffffffffffffff

ll llllll

%

%

h

h

hhh

&

h hhh hh

l lllllll llll

llll llll

l llll l lllll ll llll

h h h h h h

h hh

h h

h hh h

h hh

h h hh hh h h

hhh h h h

lll ll lllll ll

l l llll ll

fffff fffffffffffffffffff fff f fff ff fff fffffff ffff

fff ffffffffffffffffff lfffff fffffff ff ffffffff ffffff

ffffffff f fffff ffffff ff ffffff fff ff ff

h +hh hhh h+ h

ffff fffff fffffffffffffffff$fffffffffffll ffffffffffff

hhh h

h hh

h hh h

hhh

hhh h h

h hhh

hhh

fff ffffff ff

lll ll l h

ll lll

h h

hhh