Qiyam

thumb|Qiyam at [[Kaohsiung Mosque in Taiwan.]]

Qiyām (, "orthostasis/standing") is an integral part of the Islamic salah. The prayer begins in this standing position and some prayers only require the qiyām, such as Salat al-Janazah.

In the Quran

To "stand before God" is sometimes used in the Quran in reference to the Islamic prayer.

Overview

A general unit or cycle of salah called raka'ah is commenced while standing and saying the takbir, which is <span style="font-size:125%;">الله أَڪْبَر</span> (transliteration "Allahu-akbar", meaning God is Greatest). The hands are raised level with shoulders or level with top of the ears, with fingers apart and not spaced out or together. It is in this position that sections of the Quran are recited. These differences have manifested into the qabd-sadl dispute. Among Sunnis, several hadith indicate that qabd (praying with arms crossed) is desirable, if not obligatory; however, sadl (arms hanging by the sides) is still preferred among many Malikis. The debate predominantly exists in Maliki-practicing areas, such as Northern Nigeria, due to the influence of other Sunni schools.

Sunni view

Hanafi

For Hanafis, men put their hands below the navel. Women put their hands on their chest.

Maliki

Unique among Sunnis (but like Shia and Ibadi Muslims), many Malikis put their hands on the thighs or by their sides. Among those who adhere to this practice, the basis is in the practice of the Medinan community in the generations shortly following Muhammad's time, as recorded by Malik bin Anas and transmitted by him as authoritative. "According to Imam Malik the prayers should be offered with unfolded hands, he considers the folding of hands as undesirable in obligatory prayers and permissible in Nafl prayers.” However, this practice is not universal, with the Maliki scholar Qadi Ayyad, for example, opining in his Qawa'id al-Islam, that the practice is "unsupported by any authentic hadith".

Shafi'i

Shafi'is put their hands above the navel and under the chest.

Hanbali

Hanbalis can put their hands either below the navel like Hanafis, or above the navel like Shafi’is.

Salafi view

Salafis usually place the right hand over the left hand over the chest, although they are not restricted to one particular way, so different Salafis can follow the way of Hanafis, Hanbalis, Shafi'is, and Malikis.

Shia view

Twelver Shia

Twelvers put their hands on the thighs or on their side.

Zaydi Shia

Zaydis place their hands on the thighs or at their sides.

Ibadi view

Just like Shia Muslims and Maliki Sunnis, Ibadis put their hands on the thighs or on their side.

Straightening prayer rows

A number of ahadith exist regarding the need to straighten the rows when standing during the prayer. For example, the companion Anas relates that Muhammad said: "Stand close together in your rows, keep them near each other and stand neck to neck. By Him in whose hand is my life, I see the devil entering between the gaps as do the small lambs."