Ask Qul - Shia Sunni Dialogue - Praying open hands to close hands

'No sooner was he confronted with two tasks than he took the hardest of them.'

Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib [as]

Makarim al-Akhlaq, v. 1, p. 61, no. 55

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Ask Qul - QA

Question : #100

Subject:	Praying open hands to close hands
Question:	Did the Prophet Muhammad pray open or close hands, and when did this division take place?
Answer:	The Prophet (s) prayed with his hands open. I do not know the exact instance that this division took place, although it is commonly known that it took place during the reign of the second caliph.

Follow Up Question:	I recently had a short discussion about this with a Sunni sister and she said that they do that as a sign of respect, as when someone who was approaching Prophet Muhammad (saw) did before him. My questions are; is it respectful? is it obligatory or optional? And finally where and why did this tradition arise? Thank you!
Follow Up Response Question:	555