Najafi Q&A: Recommended Prayers and Acts of Worship
lit 8/29/2026 · 10 entries · 0 followers · 0 likes
⚖️ Fiqh & LawJurist: Shaykh Bashir al-NajafiTopic: Recommended Prayers and Acts of WorshipMadhhab / school: Shia Ithna 'AshariyahSection: Acts of Worship#fiqh#najafi#qa
Is there a specific required manner for positioning the hands during prayer? Must the worshipper keep the hands hanging at the sides? Are other positions allowed, such as placing one hand on the leg and the other on the abdomen?
Answer
In the name of Allah, the worshipper must keep the hands hanging at the sides during prayer when not in a state of taqiyya. It is recommended that the palms be placed on the front part of the thighs during the recitation; during rukū‘, on the knees for men and slightly above the knees for women; during sujūd, on the ground or the turbah in line with the ears; and during tashahhud, again on the thighs. In qunūt, it is recommended to extend the hands forward with the palms open and facing upward. Allah knows best.