Is the tying of hands from Satan, as some claim?
Some scholars dislike the ihtiba’ (sitting with knees raised and arms clasped around them) on Friday while the Imam is delivering the sermon, due to a prohibition reported from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. Others, like Ibn Umar and Anas, permitted it. Al-Khattabi deemed it disliked because it induces sleep, risks invalidating ritual purity, and hinders listening to the sermon. Perhaps the more correct view is that it is permissible.
As for placing the right hand over the left on the chest during prayer, it is a confirmed Sunnah from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and from the prophets before him. Whoever claims it is from Satan has committed a grave error and must repent.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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