put their hands below the navel. Women put their hands on their chest. Maliki Unique among Sunnis (but like Shia and Ibadi Muslims), many Malikis put their hands on the thighs or by their sides. Among those who adhere to this practice, the basis is in the practice of the Medinan community in the generations shortly following the Prophet's time, as recorded by Malik bin Anas and transmitted by him as authoritative. "According to Imam Malik the prayers should be offered with unfolded hands, he considers the folding of hands as undesirable in obligatory prayers and permissible in Nafl prayers.” However, this practice is not universal, with the Maliki scholar Qadi Ayyad, for example, opining in his Qawa'id al-Islam, that the practice is "unsupported by any authentic hadith". Shafi'i Shafi'is put their hands above the navel and under the chest. Hanbali Hanbalis can put their hands either below the navel like Hanafis, or above the navel like Shafis. Salafi view Majority of Salafis place the right hand over the left hand over the chest, but Salafis are not restricted to one particular way, so different Salafis can follow the way of Hanbalis, Hanafis, Shafi'is, and Malikis. Shia view Twelver Shia Twelvers put their hands on the thighs or on their side. Zaydi Shia Zaydis place their hands on the thighs or at their sides. Ibadi view Just like Shia Muslims and Maliki Sunnis, Ibadis put their hands on the thighs or on their side. Straightening Prayer Rows A number of ahadith exist regarding the need to straighten the rows when standing during the prayer. For example, the companion Anas relates that Muhammad said: "Stand close together in your rows, keep them near each other and stand neck to neck. By Him in whose hand is my life, I see the devil entering between the gaps as do the small lambs." Similarly, Abu Umamah relates Muhammad saying: "Straighten your rows, stand shoulder to shoulder, be soft upon your brother and fill the gaps, for the devil enters through the gaps like the small lambs." Al-Shawkani explains the above which orders to "stand shoulder to shoulder" to mean: "Aligning the body parts with one another so that the shoulders of each person praying are arranged and in line with the shoulders of others. In this way, shoulders and necks will be aligned." See also Ruku Sujud Sitting in salah References Salah