[ZIDouglas]

I'm interested what's the source for this - I don't see it in Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud, etc? Is it in Imam Malik's Muwatta? Non-Sunnis such as Shi'as and the Ibadis of Oman also pray like this.

The source is that it was the way of the Salafi people of Madinah, which was a city free from sects and misguided groups where many of the Sahaba, their children, their grandchildren and their great grand children dwelt to the time of Imam Malik (ra).

The transmission of this way amongst the people of Madinah is like a mutawwatir thing - something translated from many to many.

The Sahih Hadiths that translate the holding of the hands on the front actually effectively transmit through fewer chains of people and they are chains that go over a longer period of time than the Amal of Madinah did to Malik (i.e. the Amal was more like a the equivalent of a muttawatir hadith that was recorded during the time of the Tabi Tabieen).

However, Prophet Muhammad (saws) did both at different times so both are right.

As I understand it sadl is the stronger opinion amongst the Malikis.

Personally I do qabd because various of various influences ranging from the from the writings of a particular African Tijani Sheikh who I used to like reading, to that being the way that the Malikis in UAE generally pray and also because I often pray in Mosques where most people are Hanafis or Salafis and I don't want to give anyone the impression that I am a Twelver Shiite heretic.

non-Maliki's sometimes make this an issue due to their ignorance of the Maliki school, but they should rest assured that sadl it is part of the Sunnah just as qabd is and that it is encouraged in the Maliki Madhab.

you may find this interesting http://www.muwatta.com/ebooks/english/qabd_and_sadl.pdf

and this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkddE5c12AY

and this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZdR9...feature=relmfu