The ruling on leading prayer for one who lets his hands hang down while standing in prayer

We received a letter from the Republic of Chad from the questioner, Umar Uthman. In his letter, he says: Is it permissible to pray behind an imam who does not place his hands on his chest while standing, but instead leaves them extended? Please inform us; may Allah reward you.
Answer: Yes, placing the hands on the chest is a recommended practice (sunnah), not obligatory. So if he lets his hands hang down, the prayer is valid and there is no blame on him. The worst that can be said is that he left the recommended practice, specifically the preferred one, and he owes nothing. The prayer is valid, and there is no objection to his being taken as an imam for people. However, one who is known for adhering to the Sunnah is more appropriate and better. Otherwise, his prayer is valid even if he lets his hands hang down and does not place them on his chest. Leaving the Sunnah does not prevent one from being an imam. The Sunnah is to place the hands on the chest, to place them on the thighs when sitting, to sit with the left foot flat on the ground and the right foot upright when sitting. All of these are from the recommended practices (sunnah), not obligations, but they are among the complements of the prayer. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you.