How to Combine the Hands in Prayer and Its Ruling

This message reached us from one of our esteemed listeners who did not specify his name. He asks about the placement of the hands in prayer. He says: In prayer, the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is to place the right hand over the left, but opinions differ on this. We want to know the correct opinion?
Answer: The Sunnah is to place the right hand over the left hand in prayer while standing in prayer, before bowing and after it. One places the right hand over the left palm, wrist, and forearm. This is the Sunnah. The scholars differed on its location: some said on the chest, some said on the navel, and some said below the navel. There are narrations on this from the Prophet (peace be upon him), but the most authentic and strongest is that it is on the chest. The most authentic report is that it is on the chest. This is the most authentic report from Wa'il ibn Hujr, from Qabisa ibn al-Hubab al-Tai from his father, and from Tawus as a mursal report. All of them indicate that the Sunnah is to place the hands on the chest, the right over the left on the chest. This is the best, and the matter is broad in this, if Allah wills. However, seeking the Sunnah is what is required. As for the hadith of placing them below the navel, it is weak, and the stronger and more authentic is placing them on the chest, meaning: on the front of the chest, without exaggeration; if one places them on the front of the chest, that is sufficient. The conclusion is that this is the best and the stronger position. Yes...
The presenter: He also says in his message: If the imam does not place his right hand over his left, but lets them hang down, should the ma'mum follow him or differ from him and place his right hand over his left?
The Shaykh: If the imam lets his hands hang down, he has contradicted the Sunnah, so one should not follow him. Rather, the ma'mum places his right hand over his left so that he performs the Sunnah and does not follow the imam in contradicting the Sunnah. Likewise, if the imam does not raise his hands when bowing, or when rising from it, or when standing for the third rak'ah, the ma'mum should raise his hands. Because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) used to raise his hands (peace and blessings be upon him) when entering prayer, and when bowing, and when rising from it, and when standing for the third rak'ah. So the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) is the one to be followed; he is the imam (peace and blessings be upon him), the greatest imam, so he is the one to be followed (peace and blessings be upon him). If your imam falls short and does not perform the Sunnah, you do not follow him in contradicting the Sunnah. Rather, you perform the Sunnah, and even if you differ from the imam, you have agreed with the greatest imam, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Yes...
The presenter: Some people place their right hand over the left, but they shift it to the left side and place it on the heart, and they extend their left elbow a lot. What ... ?
The Shaykh: What ... there is no basis for this. I say: I do not know a basis for this. The Sunnah is to place the hand over the left palm, wrist, and forearm, and to place them on the chest; this is the Sunnah. If one places the right hand over the left forearm, there is no harm in it; a hadith of Sahl ibn Sa'd came regarding this. If one extends the hand to the forearm, there is no harm. If one places it on the wrist and forearm so that the fingertips are on the forearm, that is the best. If one places it on the forearm, it is also a Sunnah. ... It is established from him (peace and blessings be upon him) and it is established in the hadith of Sahl that he said: , narrated by al-Bukhari. Yes...
The presenter: Thank you, may Allah reward you.