The ruling on clasping the hands when praying

Firstly:  

Clasping the
hands when praying means placing the right hand over the left when standing.
This is one of the sunnahs of prayer, and is proven from the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). This is the view of the
majority of scholars. 

Ibn Qudaamah
(may Allaah have mercy on him) said: 

As for
placing the right hand on the left during prayer, it is one of the sunnahs
of prayer according to the majority of scholars. That was narrated from
‘Ali, Abu Hurayrah, al-Nakha’i, Abu Majlaz, Sa’eed ibn Jubayr, al-Thawri,
al-Shaafa’i and ashaab al-ra’i. It was also narrated by Ibn al-Mundhir from
Maalik. End quote. 

Al-Mughni
(1/281) 

The scholars
of the Standing Committee said:  

Clasping the
hands in prayer means placing the right hand over the left hand, and letting
the arms hang means letting them hang down by the sides. It is proven that
the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) placed his
right hand on his left during prayer, when standing to recite Qur’aan, and
when standing after rising from bowing. This is according to the report
narrated by Ahmad and Muslim from Waa’il ibn Hajar (may Allaah be pleased
with him), that he saw the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) raising his hands and saying takbeer when he started to pray, then
he wrapped his cloak around himself, then he placed his right hand on his
left. When he wanted to bow, he brought out his hands, then he raised them
and said takbeer, then he bowed. When he said “Sami’a Allaahu liman
hamidah (Allaah hears the one who praises Him)” he raised his hands, and
when he prostrated, he prostrated between his hands.” According to a report
narrated by Ahmad and Abu Dawood he said: Then he placed his right hand on
his left hand, wrist and forearm. According to a report narrated by Abu
Haazim from Sahl ibn Sa’d al-Saa’idi: The people were commanded to place the
right hand on the left forearm when praying. Abu Haazim said: All I know is
that he attributed it to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him). Narrated by Ahmad and al-Bukhaari. 

There is no
hadeeth to prove that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) let his arms hang by his sides when standing during prayer. End
quote. 

Fataawa
al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah. 

Secondly: 

As for where
the hands are to be placed, it is on the chest. 

Ibn
Khuzaymah (479) narrated that Waa’il ibn Hujr (may Allaah be pleased with
him) said: I prayed with the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him) and he placed his right hand over his left hand on
his chest. 

Classed as
saheeh by al-Albaani in Tahqeeq Saheeh Ibn Khuzaymah. 

Al-Albaani
said in Sifat Salaat al-Nabi (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) (p. 69): 

Placing them
(the hands) on the chest is what is established in the Sunnah, and doing
otherwise is either weak (based on weak evidence) or has no basis. End
quote. 

Al-Sindi
said in Haashiyat Ibn Maajah: 

Just as it
is Sunnah to clasp the hands and not let them hang by one’s sides, it is
proven that they are to be placed in the chest, not elsewhere. As for the
hadeeth “It is Sunnah to place one hand over the other beneath the navel
when praying”, the scholars are agreed that it is da’eef (weak). End quote. 

Shaykh Ibn
‘Uthaymeen said: 

This method
– i.e., placing the hands beneath the navel – is what is prescribed
according to the well known view of the madhhab, and there is a hadeeth
narrated from ‘Ali which says “It is Sunnah to place the right hand over the
left beneath the navel when praying.” It was narrated by Abu Dawood and
classed as da’eef (weak) by al-Nawawi, Ibn Hajar and others. 

Some
scholars are of the view that the hands may be placed above the navel. This
was stated by Imam Ahmad. 

Other
scholars are of the view that they should be placed on the chest, and this
is the most correct view. There is some debate concerning the evidence  for
that but the apparent meaning of the hadeeth of Sahl ibn Sa’d which is in
al-Bukhaari supports the idea that the hands should be placed on the chest.
The best report concerning this issue, even though there is some debate
concenring it, is the hadeeth of Waa’il ibn Hujr who said that the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to put (his hands) on
his chest. 

Al-Sharh
al-Mumti’ (3/36, 37) 

Thirdly: 

As for the
manner in which the hands are placed, there are two ways: 

1-Placing the right hand on top
of the left hand, wrist and forearm

2-Clasping the right hand over
the left

For the
evidence on that, please see the answer to question no
41675 . 

And Allaah
knows best.