[Styparty]

Bismillah
As others have said, since you are follower of Malaki School of Jurisprudance, you don't have to fold your hand. Each school have their method of reaching a conclusion and are correct. Just as Shahab understood and acted differently so is the codified remaining 4 schools of Jurisprudance. I think I have seen some malaki folding their hands occasionally.
If you feel there are some ignorant brother making into an issue, perhaps folding hand in this situation may not be a bad idea. However in my jahil opinon, I prefer follower of each school to practice their madhab strictly whenever they can and more so if there are mixed people.




Few evidances for hanafi School of method of praying
http://www.sunniforum.com/forum/show...Ijtihaad/page7

As for sister Husna enquring about placing hand on the chest.

Small Difference between men and women salah according to hanafi school of Jurisprudance

1] There are several books on Salah according to the Hanafi school of law and can be found in most Islamic bookshops. One book in particular that can be recommended is: "The Salah of a Believer in the Quran and Sunnah" by Shaykh Abu Yusuf Riyadh ul Haq . The Salah of the female is similar to that of a male in terms of what is recited in it amongst other things. However, there are some important differances. Some of the main differances are mentioned below; [please note it may be clearer if you ask another female, who is Hanafi, to demonstrate these postures etc. for you]:

PROSTRATING

According to Imam Shafi in Al-Umm, Imam Malik (acc. to the narration of Ibn Ziyad), the hanbali jurist Ibn Qudamah in Al-Mughni and an array of other scholars, when a woman prostrates she will bring her arms close to herself. The basis of this opinion are several narrations, such as:

[a] It is narrated from Ibn Umar (r.a.) who ascribes it to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, that:

"When a woman sits in Salah she will place one thigh on the other (i.e. very close together) and when she prostrates she will join her stomach with her thighs which is more covering for her. Allah taala verily looks at her and says to His angels, 'O my angels be you witnesses that I have forgiven her." (In Sunnan al-Bayhaqi, vl.2 pg.223)

[b] The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, once passed by two women praying and said: "When you prostrate then attach yourselves to the floor. For verily women are not like men in that." (In the Marasil of Abu Daud, pg.5)

[c] Ali (r.a.) said: "When a woman prostrates let her close up and join her thighs." (In the Musannaf of Ibn Abi Shaybah, vol.1 pg.270)

RAISING HANDS AT THE START

Wail Ibn Hujr (r.a.) narrates that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "O Ibn Hujr when you pray bring your hands opposite to your ears. Women raise their hands opposite to their chests." (In Kanz al-Ummal, vl.7 pg.307)

In fact the practice of the women of the entire Ummah for centuries has been nothing but this as indicated by the Fatwas of the very early scholars Imams Hammad, Zuhri and Ata, (In Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah).

PLACING HANDS ON THE CHEST

Whereas men may place their hands below the navel or above, it is a must for women to place them on their chests. Imam ABd al-Hay al-Laknawi in his al-Siayah (vl.2 pg.156) writes there is Ijma amongst the scholars that this is the Sunnah for women.

[2] It is allowed to change schools, however there must be a reason, for example, because there happen to be more scholars of that particular school where you live. Though, it should not be that one is forever changing from one school to another, as this inhibits one's development in knowledge and practice. Furthermore, it has with it, at the very least, the suspicion of following one's desires.
Mufti Mohammed Sajjad