without this level of detail, in the wording: “I saw the Prophet ﷺ praying, and he grasped his left hand with his right.” Muslim’s version reads: “He then placed his right hand on the left …” to the end of the report. (1) Narrated by Malik in the Muwatta (1/174); al-Bukhari, who transmits it from him and whose wording is quoted here (2/178); Muhammad b. al-Hasan in his Muwatta (p. 156); Abu Awana (2/97); al-Bayhaqi (2/28); and Ahmad (5/336). All relate it through Abu Hazim from Sahl b. Saʿd, who said: “In prayer, people were instructed to place the right hand on the left forearm.” Abu Hazim added, “I know of no one who ascribes this instruction except to the Prophet ﷺ.” Al-Nawawi remarked in al-Majmuʿ (3/312), “This wording explicitly attributes the ruling to the Messenger of Allah.” Ibn Hajar clarifies the point in Fath al-Bari. If it is established that he ﷺ actually ordered this posture, the command would imply obligation; yet we have not found any of the early jurists who deemed it obligatory. Should evidence show that one of them did, it would be incumbent to follow that view. Allah knows best. Al-Shawkani inclined to this opinion in Nayl al-Awtar (2/157), mentioned the objections raised against it, and answered them; consult his discussion if you wish. (2) One recension of the hadith of Waʾil explicitly states: “When he stood for prayer he clasped his left hand with his right.” Reported by al-Nasaʾi (1/141), and through him by al-Daraqutni (p. 107) from Ibn al-Mubarak, and by al-Bayhaqi (2/28).