Short answer
In the Hanafi school the sunnah acts include raising the hands for the opening takbir, placing the right hand over the left, the opening du'a (thana), saying Bismillah and Ameen quietly, the takbirs between positions, the tasbih three times in ruku and sajdah, and the salawat and du'a in the last sitting. Missing one does not break the prayer or need sajdah al-sahw.
Sunnah acts complete the prayer but are not needed for its validity. Leaving one, even on purpose, does not call for sajdah al-sahw, though leaving them on purpose is blameworthy. The Hanafi school differs from others on details such as raising the hands only at the opening takbir and, for men, placing the hands below the navel.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- Raise the hands also when going into ruku and rising from it, place the hands below the chest, and say Ameen aloud in the loud prayers.
- Maliki
- In the relied-upon view the hands are left at the sides in fard prayers.
- Hanbali
- Raise the hands at ruku and when rising from it, say Ameen aloud in the loud prayers, and place the hands below the navel.
Explanation
The acts of prayer come in levels. The fard acts and conditions must be there or the prayer is invalid; the wajib acts call for sajdah al-sahw if forgotten; the sunnah acts make the prayer complete, as the Prophet ﷺ prayed it. See the conditions and fard acts for the first two.
The main sunnahs in the Hanafi school:
- Raising the hands to the earlobes (men) for the opening takbir
- Placing the right hand over the left, below the navel for men and on the chest for women
- The thana (opening praise), then seeking refuge and Bismillah, quietly
- Saying Ameen quietly after al-Fatiha
- The takbirs when moving between positions
- "Subhana rabbiyal 'azim" three times in ruku and "Subhana rabbiyal a'la" three times in sajdah
- "Sami'allahu liman hamidah" and "Rabbana lakal hamd" when rising from ruku
- The salawat and a du'a in the last sitting, then turning the face right and left for salam
Before the prayer, it is sunnah to use the miswak, to say the adhan and iqamah, and to place a sutrah (a barrier) in front of you where people may pass. Women have some differences in posture in the Hanafi school; see how women pray.
The schools differ on several of these details, each following hadith they judge stronger. All are valid ways of praying. For the full method, follow how to pray, and for the words see the thana and the tasbih of ruku and sajdah.
The evidence
Sahih al-Bukhari 631
Sahih... صلوا كما رأيتموني أصلي ...
"Pray as you have seen me praying."
The sunnah acts come from the Prophet's own prayer.
Sahih al-Bukhari 740
Sahih... كان الناس يؤمرون أن يضع الرجل اليد اليمنى على ذراعه اليسرى في الصلاة ...
"People were commanded to place the right hand on the left forearm in prayer."
Placing the right hand over the left is sunnah.
Where the ruling is recorded
- Nur al-Idah with Maraqi al-Falah, Chapter on the sunnah acts of prayer. Lists the sunnahs of prayer in the Hanafi school.
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Salah, chapter on the description of prayer. Raising the hands only at the opening takbir and placing them below the navel.
- al-Mughni (Ibn Qudama), Chapter on the description of prayer. The Hanbali sunnahs, including raising the hands at ruku.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.