Clasping Hands for Prayer?

Ever wonder where the requirement to clasp your hands together in prayer came from?  For one thing it is not a requirement.  Nowhere, in any text I’ve read, does it tell us to do it.  The best history I’ve seen dates it back to Babylonia where the Hebrew picked up the habit and then passed it to the Christians.

 

It is said it reflects our commitment to give ourselves into servitude to God.  Why?  I thought we were supposed to open ourselves up to God’s love and salvation.  Wouldn’t it make more sense to spread our arms out in acceptance of our love of God?

In my research I came across an Islamic site where the question was put out there, “Why do Sunnis pray with hands folded?”  The question and answer session went like this:

 

Q:  I’ve read this question a number of times on the forums, but still no answer?  When do our scholars say the folding of hands was introduced, and when do Sunni scholars say?

 

A:  Not every Sunni fold their hands in salat. Maliki Sunni (but not all) do not fold their hand in salat.  Sunni fold their hands in salat in three different ways. First, fold hands on belly.Second, fold hands on right side of belly.  Third, fold hands on chest.  And why Sunni fold their hands?  According to Sunni scholars, that's the right way in salat.

 

Q:  I am still looking for an answer with refs [references]?

 

A:  ???????????????????

 

So, it appears Christians and Hebrew have something in common with Islam – No one really knows why we fold hands in prayer, other than, “…that’s the right way.”  Our questioner above is still looking for references, and the answer man doesn’t seem to understand why since, obviously, “that’s the right way” should explain everything!

 

That kind of ambiguous answer only works for the Kool-Aid drinkers, my friend.  I believe the children of God were set apart from other sentient life on this planet when we developed the ability to go beyond simply asking the question, “Why?”  We are driven to find the answer.  Our ability to question life around us, our existence, even our faith, is some of what makes us human.  To deny the question, “Why?”  Well, think about it.  Why bother to exist?

 

I would put forward that, of all God has given us to help us enrich our lives, “Why?” is the most valuable.  We are building massive colliders, particle accelerators, in the hope of finding the elusive “God Particle.”  Why?  To explain creation?

 

In its own way, isn’t answering the simple question of “Why?” going to bring us closer to God than any other we could possibly ask?  We will see.

 

This three letter question has made us everything we are, and will make us everything we hope to be.

 

Why?  Hmmmm….