1)Do Hanifi women need to keep their arms slightly raised during sajda or must it remain flat on the ground? 2) As a Hanifi can I read my salat Shafi'ee way?

Hadhrat ibn %DAmar (Radhiallaahu %C1nhu) narrates that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu%0D%0A%C1layhi Wasallam) said, 'When a woman sits in Sajdah by putting one thigh%0D%0Aupon the other (i.e. close to one another) and at the time of Sajdah%0D%0A(prostration) her stomach touches her thighs (i.e. whilst worshipping Allah)%0D%0Aand she also takes full consideration of Hijaab, then Allah Ta%E3la looks at%0D%0Aher and says to the angels, 'Bear witness that I have forgiven her.' (Kanzul%0D%0AUmmaal p. 117)%0D%0A%0D%0AOnce Nabi (Sallallaahu %C1layhi Wasallam) saw two women making Salaat, he%0D%0Asaid, 'When you (women) make Sajdah then let the limbs of your body touch%0D%0Aone another and make them touch the ground.' Surely in this (limbs clustered%0D%0Aone to another and touching the ground) women are not similar to men.'%0D%0A(Masaail Abu Dawood p. 223)%0D%0A%0D%0AHadhrat Wail ibn Hajar (Radhiallaahu %C1nhu) said that Nabi (Sallallaahu%0D%0A%C1layhi Wasallam) taught him to read Salaat and he said, 'O ibn Hajar! When%0D%0Ayou begin your Salaat then lift your hands up to your ears and show the%0D%0Awomen that they should lift up to their chests.' (Majmauz zawaaid; Tabraani)%0D%0A%0D%0AHadhrat ibn %DAmar (Radhiallaahu %C1nhu) was once asked on how did the women%0D%0Aread Salaat in the time of Nabi (Sallallaahu %C1layhi Wasallam). He replied,%0D%0A'First they used to read Salaat cross-legged, then they were commanded to%0D%0Acling to themselves,' (Jaami al-Masaanid p. 400)%0D%0A%0D%0AAs a Hanafi, you cannot follow the Shaaf'ee method of performing Salaat%0D%0Awithout a valid reason.%0D%0A%0D%0Aand Allah Ta'ala Knows Best%0D%0A%0D%0AMufti Ebrahim Desai%0D%0AFATWA DEPT.%0D%0A