Is covering the hands obligatory for a woman during prayer?

Primary text

There are two narrations concerning the covering of the hands. The first is that covering them is not obligatory, based on the allowance given for the face and the necessity for transactions. The second narration is that covering them is obligatory, based on the general statement, "The woman is 'awrah" (Hadith), which stands unless specifically excepted by evidence. The statement of Ibn Abbas mentioning the face and hands as exceptions is contradicted by a report from Abu Hafs on the authority of Ibn Mas'ud, who interpreted the verse regarding beauty to mean the garments.