Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Is it possible for a Hanafi to pray with the hands to the side during during obligatory prayers like the Malikis? If not, why?
Walaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,
I pray this finds you in the best of health and spirits.
Placing one’s hands to the side would not invalidate the prayer, in the Hanafi school, but would be disliked and improper because it is understood to be contrary to the sunna. [ Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah; Ibn al-Humam, Fath al-Qadir; Usmani, I`la’ al-Sunan]
At the same time, we accept and respect the Maliki school’s position as followable, and cannot object to those who follow the noble school of this great mujtahid imam.
See:
Why do Hanafi place their hands below the navel – Shaykh Abdurrahman ibn Yusuf (SunniPath Answers)
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Faraz Rabbani