Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) forbade placing hands on the sides (hips) during prayer. Whereas in the narration of Janab Isma'il, the words are: "Indeed, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) forbade placing hands on the sides during prayer."

Because this is the manner and style of resting of the people of Hell; we seek refuge with Allah Almighty from the fire of Hell.

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Placing hands on the side (hip) during prayer is the way of comfort and relaxation of the people of Hell."

And the comparison of the one who ties his hair in prayer to the one whose hands are bound therein. And in it is what indicates the dislike of a person praying with his hands bound if he is able to free his hands from being tied.

The freed slave of Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them), Kuraib, narrates that Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) saw Abdullah bin Harith praying while his hair was tied in a knot at the back of his head. So he stood up and untied one of his knots, leaving the other, and Abdullah bin Harith remained engaged in his prayer (i.e., he did not make any movement from the front). Then, when he completed his prayer, he came to Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) and said, "Why did you untie my hair (knot)?" He replied, "Indeed, I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: 'Verily, its example is like that of a person who prays with his hands bound.'" In the narration of Yunus, it is stated: "And his head was plaited. So Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) stood behind him and untied his braid, leaving the other braid as it was. All the narrators have used the word 'aqarra' in this way. Imam Abu Bakr (may Allah have mercy on him) says that the correct word is 'qarra'."

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Saeed Maqbari that he saw the freed slave of the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him), Sayyiduna Abu Rafi’ (may Allah be pleased with him), passing by Sayyiduna Hasan bin Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) while he was praying, and he had tied his hair into braids at the back of his head. So Sayyiduna Abu Rafi’ (may Allah be pleased with him) untied them, upon which Sayyiduna Hasan (may Allah be pleased with him) turned towards him angrily. Sayyiduna Abu Rafi’ (may Allah be pleased with him) said,“Pay attention to your prayer and do not be angry, for I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say: ‘This is the portion of Satan.’”He said that the place where the braids are tied is the abode of Satan.

When the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, forbade interlacing the fingers when going out to the mosque and while in the mosque, and informed that the one who goes out to the prayer is considered to be in prayer, then it is even more appropriate that the one actually praying should not interlace his fingers than the one who is going out to it or is in the mosque waiting for it.

Imam Abu Bakr (may Allah have mercy on him) says that I have already written down these ahadith regarding interlacing (of fingers).

Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When any one of you stands in prayer, the mercy of Allah turns towards him, so he should not touch the pebbles." Abdul Jabbar added that Sa‘d bin Ibrahim asked him, "Who is Abu Al-Ahwas?" He replied, "You have seen that elder who has these and these qualities."

Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When any one of you stands in prayer, the mercy of the Lord turns towards him, so do not move the pebbles." (Do not turn your attention to things other than the prayer.)