Question
I would Sincerely like to thank Mr Amjad for replying to my question. However I have another question? If PBUH (May peace be upon him) never specified the position of hands while praying and according to him this was not significant. Then why do Muslims (Both shiya and sunni brothers) argue over this?
I was born in a Shiya family, and yes I am an admirer of the sword of Islam (Imam Ali) and deeply lourn gham e hussain. However I do not call my self a Shiya or a Sunni. Imam Alis teachings said that there is one God Allah, and only one Prophet that is Muhammad (SAW). Please correct me if I’m wrong.
If Prophet Mohammad (May peace be upon him) never said that folding hands or leaving hands to the sides is correct or wrong, then am I discriminated by a very dear Sunni friend of mine who says that Imp a bad shiya and Imp doing a sin by not folding my hands during namaaz. I feel it easy to concentrate on my namaaz when I leave my hands to the sides. However, it is all about namaaz. Then why this discrimination? It is hurting me and I feel dejected. Please Advise.
Answer
Differences between Sunnis and Shiites and sub-sects within those major groups are, for the most part, due to different understandings. It is widely reported that the Prophet prayed with his hands folded, however, he did not discourage anyone from not folding their hands. The same is true with other actions of prayer, which do not nullify the prayer as they were not legislated and regulated as stringently as some people make it seem. The simple fact is that so long as the action is within the confines of the Sunnah (i.e. perpetuated practice of the Prophet) and the spirit of it is submission to God then it cannot be deemed as being incorrect. Unfortunately, we have many judgmental people who lack this simple understanding and therefore burden people with guilt for no reason. Had these actions (e.g. folding hands or placing them at the sides) been significant to the overall essence of worship then the Prophet would surely have made it known that prayers could only be performed in a particular way as he did with the overall process of the regular daily prayers. So even though he regulated the overall mode of the prayer the finer details, such as the issue under discussion, were left to the comfort of the worshipper. Once this is appreciated one may begin to loosen the imposition of their personal beliefs and become more tolerant of those who do not pray exactly like them.
I hope I have clarified the issue.
God knows best.