All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.
The scholars of Fiqh differed in opinion about the method of putting the right hand over the left hand in prayer.
The following is the summary of their statements as quoted in the Fiqh Encyclopedia:
“The scholars of Fiqh differed in opinion about the method of putting the right hand over the left and where to place the hands:
The method of putting the right hand over the left:
The Hanafi jurists distinguished between men and women in regard to putting the right hand over the left hand (in prayer). They are of the view that a man puts his right hand over the wrist of his left hand, by encircling his pinkie and thumb on the left hand's wrist, and he stretches the other three fingers (keeps them straight). Al-Kasani said: He makes a circle with his thumb, pinkie and ring finger and puts his middle finger and index finger on his wrist. As regards the woman, then she puts her right hand over her left hand.
The Maliki and the Hanbali jurists hold the view that he grabs his wrist with his right hand, because the Prophet placed his right hand over his left hand.
The Shaafi'i jurists said: He grabs with his right hand the wrist of his left hand and part of the forearm, and spreads his fingers along the width of the joint or spreads them (keeps them straight) towards the forearm, because Waa'il ibn Hujr narrated saying: I said (to myself): I will watch how the Prophet prays. So I watched him and he placed his right hand over the back of his left hand, wrist and forearm.” [End of quote]
Allah knows best.