Question
What is the grade of the following Hadith?

إذا توضأ أحدكم، فأحسن وضوءه، ثم خرج عامدا إلى المسجد، فلا يشبكن يده، فإنه في صلاة

“When one of you performs ablution properly and then proceeds for Salah, then he should not interlock his fingers for [it is as though] he is in Salah”

Answer

Imam Ibn Hibban (rahimahullah) has declared this version authentic. This Hadith has also been reported with other chains.

(Sahih Ibn Hibban; Al Ihsan, Hadith: 2036. Also see: Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 386, Sunan Abu Dawud, Hadith: 563 and footnotes of Shaykh Muhammad ‘Awwamah on Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Hadith: 4861)

Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) has quoted Imam Isma’ili (rahimahullah) who states that this Hadith discourages interlocking the fingers while en route to, or waiting for salah.

(Fathul Bari, under Hadith: 482)

Note: I have merely answered your question regarding the grade of this Hadith. This answer should therefore not be viewed as a Fiqh ruling. Kindly refer to a reliable Mufti/Darul Ifta for clarity regarding the issue of interlocking the fingers when proceeding or waiting for Salah.

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar