Irsal (Arm Position in Prayer)

Irsal (Arabic: إرسال) means "to let hang" or "to release" and in the context of prayer refers to the Shia practice of letting the arms hang freely at the sides during qiyam (the standing position) in prayer. This is in contrast to takfir/qabdh (folding the hands over the chest or stomach), which is practiced in most Sunni legal schools.

According to Shia fiqh, irsal is the correct and prophetic practice, while takfir (folding the hands) is considered invalid or at best makruh (discouraged). Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: "You shall let your arms hang when you pray" (Al-Kafi by Shaykh al-Kulayni, vol. 3, Kitab al-Salah). And: "Placing one hand over the other in prayer is an act of the Magians (al-majus) — do not do it" (Wasail al-Shia by al-Hurr al-Amili, vol. 7).

Shia scholars argue that takfir (arm folding) was introduced after the Prophet's time as a cultural practice, not a prophetic sunnah. Imam al-Baqir (peace be upon him) specifically warned against this practice. Several Sunni hadith collections also confirm that arm folding in prayer has weak documentation as a prophetic practice.

Irsal is one of the most visible characteristics of Shia prayer and helps distinguish Shia prayer practice from other traditions. It is important to emphasize that this difference is not about antagonism, but about fidelity to the prophetic sunnah as transmitted through Ahl al-Bayt. For Shia Muslims, irsal is a natural part of their prayer practice, which they perform with conviction and respect for the prophetic tradition.