Is the ruling of raising the hands (Raf’ al-Yadain) and its non-abrogation present in Sahih Bukhari? / Arguments for raising the hands (Raf’ al-Yadain)

Question

Is there evidence for raising the hands (Raf’ al-Yadain) in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim? Did the Rightly Guided Caliphs perform Raf’ al-Yadain after the Prophet ﷺ? Is there any authentic hadith commanding the raising of hands? Has the practice of raising hands been abrogated?

Answer

Here four questions have been asked. InshaAllah, we will answer all four questions in the light of authentic hadith.

▸ Raising the hands (literal meaning)

Raising both hands to the level of the shoulders or to the soft bone of the ear is called Raf’ al-Yadain (raising the hands).

▸ Technical definition

Raf’ al-Yadain refers to the Sunnah act in which the Holy Prophet ﷺ used to raise both hands to the level of the shoulders when saying Takbir al-Tahrima, when going into Ruku, when rising from Ruku, and when standing for the third Rak’ah.

❖ Important clarification (Hadith and principles of authenticity)

Keep in mind that the hadiths narrated by Imam Bukhari, may Allah have mercy on him, and Imam Muslim, may Allah have mercy on him, in their books are not the only authentic ones; rather, countless other hadiths outside of theirs are also authentic, which the muhaddithin have narrated in their books.

There is consensus among the entire Ummah that the hadiths mentioned in the books of Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim are not weak; they are of the highest grade. However, among the narrations recorded by other muhaddithin in their books, some are authentic and some are weak.

❖ Basic Types of Hadith

• There are two types of hadith: Sahih (authentic) and Da‘if (weak).

• Sahih has four categories:

1. Sahih
2. Hasan
3. Sahih Lidhātihi (authentic in itself)
4. Hasan Lidhātihi (good in itself)

• There are numerous types of weak hadith: Mursal, Munqati‘, Shadh, Mudraj, Mu‘allal, Mawdu‘, Manghurat, etc.

📝 Remember, it is not permissible to use weak narrations for matters of Aqeedah (belief) or legal rulings, but some people narrate them for virtues; this practice is not correct.

If a person narrates a weak hadith for virtues, it is obligatory upon him to present that hadith with a condition.

Condition

After narrating the hadith, it should be stated that this hadith is weak.

❖ First Question

Is the proof of raising the hands (Raf’ al-Yadain) present in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim?

✦ Answer

The proof of raising the hands (Raf’ al-Yadain) is present in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.

① Sahih Bukhari (Hadith 735)

Arabic text: حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ سَالِمِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ:

Translation: Salim bin Abdullah narrated from his father Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to raise both his hands up to the shoulders when starting the prayer, similarly when saying Allahu Akbar for bowing (ruku’), and when rising from bowing he would raise his hands and say: “Sami’a Allahu liman hamidah, Rabbana wa laka al-hamd.” But when going into prostration (sujood), he did not raise his hands.

② Sahih Bukhari (Hadith 737)

Arabic text: أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ يَرْفَعُ يَدَيْهِ حَذْوَ مَنْكِبَيْهِ إِذَا افْتَتَحَ الصَّلاَةَ، وَإِذَا كَبَّرَ لِلرُّكُوعِ، وَإِذَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ الرُّكُوعِ، رَفَعَهُمَا كَذَلِكَ أَيْضًا، وَقَالَ: سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ، رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الحَمْدُ، وَكَانَ لاَ يَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ فِي السُّجُودِ

حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ الوَاسِطِيُّ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ خَالِدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي قِلاَبَةَ، أَنَّهُ رَأَى مَالِكَ بْنَ الحُوَيْرِثِ:

«إِذَا صَلَّى كَبَّرَ وَرَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ، وَإِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَرْكَعَ رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ، وَإِذَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ الرُّكُوعِ رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ»، وَحَدَّثَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ صَنَعَ هَكَذَا

Translation: Abu Qilabah Tabi’i says that he saw the companion Malik bin Hawairith رضي الله عنه that when he started the prayer, he would raise his hands with Takbir al-Tahrimah, he would also raise his hands when going into Ruku, and he would raise his hands when rising from Ruku. And he narrated that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم used to do the same.

✿ From this, it is also understood that after the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم, the companions also continued to raise their hands.

③ Sahih Bukhari (Hadith 739)

Arabic text: حَدَّثَنَا عَيَّاشٌ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الأَعْلَى، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، أَنَّ ابْنَ عُمَرَ، كَانَ إِذَا دَخَلَ فِي الصَّلاَةِ كَبَّرَ وَرَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ، وَإِذَا رَكَعَ رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ، وَإِذَا قَالَ: سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ، رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ، وَإِذَا قَامَ مِنَ الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ، وَرَفَعَ ذَلِكَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ إِلَى نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ

Translation: Nafi’ رحمه الله says that Abdullah bin Umar رضي الله عنهما when entering the prayer would raise his hands with Takbir al-Tahrimah. Similarly, he would raise his hands when going into Ruku, when rising from Ruku, and when rising from the first sitting (Qa’dah Ula). And he attributed this practice to the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم.

📌 Note: Here only three hadiths have been quoted, in all other hadiths the same detail is found as mentioned in the above narrations.

✦ Explanation of Bukhari’s Narrations

Imam Bukhari, may Allah have mercy on him, narrated these ahadith to prove that raising the hands (Raf’ al-Yadain) was practiced by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ until the end of his life, and after him, the Companions and the Tabi’in also followed this practice.

Furthermore, Imam Bukhari, may Allah have mercy on him, wrote a dedicated treatise

in which he mentioned authentic ahadith to clarify that this practice was not abrogated.

① Sahih Muslim (Hadith 862)

Arabic text: حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو كَامِلٍ الْجَحْدَرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ نَصْرِ بْنِ عَاصِمٍ، عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ الْحُوَيْرِثِ:

Translation: It is narrated from Hazrat Malik bin Huwayrith, may Allah be pleased with him, that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said Takbeer, he would raise his hands to the level of his ears. He would also raise his hands to the level of his ears when going into Ruku (bowing) and when rising from Ruku, and he would say: Sami’a Allahu liman hamidah.

📌 Note: Only one hadith is mentioned here, but the same detail appears in all other ahadith which have already been mentioned in Bukhari.

❖ Second Question

Did the Rightly Guided Caliphs raise their hands after the Prophet ﷺ?

✦ Answer

«أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ إِذَا كَبَّرَ رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ حَتَّى يُحَاذِيَ بِهِمَا أُذُنَيْهِ، وَإِذَا رَكَعَ رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ حَتَّى يُحَاذِيَ بِهِمَا أُذُنَيْهِ، وَإِذَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ الرُّكُوعِ» فَقَالَ: «سَمِعَ اللهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ» فَعَلَ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ

After the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, the Rightly Guided Caliphs and all other Companions used to raise their hands (Raf’ al-Yadain).

① Evidence of raising hands from Abu Bakr Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him)

Arabic text: قَالَ أَبُو إِسْمَاعِيلَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ السُّلَمِيُّ: صَلَّيْتُ خَلْفَ أَبِي النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْفَضْلِ، فَرَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ حِينَ افْتَتَحَ الصَّلَاةَ وَحِينَ رَكَعَ وَحِينَ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ الرُّكُوعِ، فَسَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ: صَلَّيْتُ خَلْفَ حَمَّادِ بْنِ زَيْدٍ فَرَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ حِينَ افْتَتَحَ الصَّلَاةَ وَحِينَ رَكَعَ وَحِينَ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ الرُّكُوعِ، فَسَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ ذَلِكَ؟ فَقَالَ: صَلَّيْتُ خَلْفَ أَيُّوبَ السَّخْتِيَانِيِّ فَكَانَ يَرْفَعُ يَدَيْهِ إِذَا افْتَتَحَ الصَّلَاةَ وَإِذَا رَكَعَ وَإِذَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ الرُّكُوعِ، فَسَأَلْتُهُ فَقَالَ: رَأَيْتُ عَطَاءَ بْنَ أَبِي رَبَاحٍ يَرْفَعُ يَدَيْهِ إِذَا افْتَتَحَ الصَّلَاةَ وَإِذَا رَكَعَ وَإِذَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ الرُّكُوعِ، فَسَأَلْتُهُ، فَقَالَ: صَلَّيْتُ خَلْفَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ فَكَانَ يَرْفَعُ يَدَيْهِ إِذَا افْتَتَحَ الصَّلَاةَ وَإِذَا رَكَعَ وَإِذَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ الرُّكُوعِ، فَسَأَلْتُهُ، فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الزُّبَيْرِ: صَلَّيْتُ خَلْفَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيقِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ فَكَانَ يَرْفَعُ يَدَيْهِ إِذَا افْتَتَحَ الصَّلَاةَ وَإِذَا رَكَعَ وَإِذَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ الرُّكُوعِ، وَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ: صَلَّيْتُ خَلْفَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَكَانَ يَرْفَعُ يَدَيْهِ إِذَا افْتَتَحَ الصَّلَاةَ وَإِذَا رَكَعَ وَإِذَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ الرُّكُوعِ.

Translation: Abu Ismail Muhammad bin Ismail Salmi says: I prayed behind Abu al-Nu’man and he raised his hands. I asked him about it and he said that Hammad bin Zaid used to do the same. Hammad said: Ayub Sakhtiyani also used to do the same. Ayub said: Ata bin Abi Rabah also used to do the same. Ata said: I prayed behind Abdullah bin Zubair and he also used to do the same. Abdullah bin Zubair said: I prayed behind Abu Bakr Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) and he also used to do the same. And Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I prayed behind the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and he ﷺ also used to do the same.

📌 Note: This hadith shows a continuous chain of practice from the Prophet ﷺ → Companion → Successor (Tabi’i) → Successor of Successor (Tabi’ al-Tabi’in).

Reference:

• Reference: Al-Bayhaqi, Al-Sunan Al-Kubra (2519)
• Reference: Section on Raising Hands (Imam Bukhari)
• Reference: Nur Al-Aynain (Zubair Ali Zai) p.119

Ruling of the Hadith:

• Reference: Imam Hakim and Imam Dhahabi: Sahih according to the criteria of the two Sheikhs
• Reference: Imam Bayhaqi: Narrators are trustworthy
• Reference: Hafiz Ibn Hajar: His narrators are trustworthy
• Reference: Imam Dhahabi: Hafizah Sahih, narration before alteration

② Proof of Raising Hands from Umar ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him)

Arabic text:قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ قَاسِمٍ: بَيْنَمَا النَّاسُ يُصَلُّونَ فِي مَسْجِدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذْ خَرَجَ عَلَيْهِمْ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ فَقَالَ: أَقْبِلُوا عَلَيَّ بِوُجُوهِكُمْ، أُصَلِّي بِكُمْ صَلَاةَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ الَّتِي كَانَ يُصَلِّي وَيَأْمُرُ بِهَا، فَقَامَ مُسْتَقْبِلَ الْقِبْلَةِ وَرَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ حَتَّى حَاذَى بِهِمَا مَنْكِبَيْهِ وَكَبَّرَ، ثُمَّ غَضَّ بَصَرَهُ، ثُمَّ رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ حَتَّى حَاذَى بِهِمَا مَنْكِبَيْهِ، ثُمَّ كَبَّرَ ثُمَّ رَكَعَ، وَكَذَلِكَ حِينَ رَفَعَ، قَالَ لِلْقَوْمِ: هَكَذَا كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُصَلِّي بِنَا.

Translation: Abdullah bin Qasim says: Once people were praying in the mosque when suddenly Umar ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) came and said: “Turn towards me, shall I not teach you the prayer which the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to teach and command?” Then he raised his hands up to his shoulders and said the Takbir, went into Ruku, and when he rose from Ruku, he also raised his hands and said: “This is how the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to teach us to pray.”

Reference:

• Reference: Ibn Sayyid Al-Nas, Al-Nafh Al-Shadhi (4/391)
• Reference: Al-Bayhaqi, Al-Khilafiyat (1668)
• Reference: Section on Raising Hands (Imam Bukhari) p.189 (Arabic), p.40 (Translation)
• Reference: Nur Al-Aynain (Zubair Ali Zai) p.194

Ruling of the Hadith:

• Reference: Zubair Ali Zai: Chain is Hasan

③ Proof of Raising Hands from Ali (may Allah be pleased with him)

Arabic text:حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ دَاوُدَ الْهَاشِمِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ عُقْبَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ رَبِيعَةَ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي رَافِعٍ، عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنَّهُ كَانَ إِذَا قَامَ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ الْمَكْتُوبَةِ كَبَّرَ وَرَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ حَذْوَ مَنْكِبَيْهِ، وَيَصْنَعُ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ إِذَا قَضَى قِرَاءَتَهُ وَأَرَادَ أَنْ يَرْكَعَ، وَيَصْنَعُهُ إِذَا رَفَعَ مِنَ الرُّكُوعِ، وَلَا يَرْفَعُ يَدَيْهِ فِي شَيْءٍ مِنْ صَلَاتِهِ وَهُوَ قَاعِدٌ، وَإِذَا قَامَ مِنَ السَّجْدَتَيْنِ رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ كَذَلِكَ وَكَبَّرَ.

Translation: It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ stood for the obligatory prayer, he would say “Allahu Akbar” and raise his hands up to the shoulders. He would also raise his hands and say “Allahu Akbar” at the time of bowing (ruku), when rising from bowing, and when standing after two rak’ahs.

Reference:

• Reference: Abu Dawood: 744
• Reference: Tirmidhi: 3423
• Reference: Ibn Majah: 864
• Reference: Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah 1/294
• Reference: Juz’ al-Raf’ al-Yadain (Imam Bukhari) p.104

Ruling of the Hadith:

• Reference: Ibn Khuzaymah and Ibn Hibban: Sahih
• Reference: Imam Albani: Hasan Sahih
• Reference: Shuaib Al-Arna’oot: Sanad Hasan
• Reference: Zubair Ali Za’i: Hasan wa Sahih

④ Proof of Raising Hands from Abu Humayd Sa’idi رضي الله عنه and the Ten Promised Companions

Arabic Text: بَابُ رَفْعِ الْيَدَيْنِ إِذَا رَكَعَ وَإِذَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ الرُّكُوعِ

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَامِرٍ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا فُلَيْحُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا عَبَّاسُ بْنُ سَهْلٍ السَّاعِدِيُّ، قَالَ: اجْتَمَعَ أَبُو حُمَيْدٍ، وَأَبُو أُسَيْدٍ السَّاعِدِيُّ، وَسَهْلُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ، فَذَكَرُوا صَلَاةَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ، فَقَالَ أَبُو حُمَيْدٍ: أَنَا أَعْلَمُكُمْ بِصَلَاةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ، إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ «قَامَ، فَكَبَّرَ، وَرَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ، ثُمَّ رَفَعَ حِينَ كَبَّرَ لِلرُّكُوعِ، ثُمَّ قَامَ فَرَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ، وَاسْتَوَى حَتَّى رَجَعَ كُلُّ عَظْمٍ إِلَى مَوْضِعِهِ».

Translation: Abu Humayd Sa’idi رضي الله عنه says that I know better than all of you how the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to pray. He ﷺ raised his hands at the time of standing (qiyam), also when going into bowing (ruku), and when rising from bowing he also raised his hands.

Reference:

• Reference: Tirmidhi: 304
• Reference: Ibn Majah: 863

Ruling of the Hadith:

• Reference: Imam Albani: Sahih
• Reference: Hafiz Ibn Hajar: Sahih (Fath al-Bari 2/222)

✦ Explanation

The special point of this narration is that Sayyiduna Abu Humaid Saidi رضي الله عنه gave this statement in the gathering of other Sahabah رضي الله عنهم, among whom were also the Ashra Mubashra Sahabah.

📌 All the Sahabah confirmed this statement and did not disagree. Therefore, it is established that not only Abu Humaid رضي الله عنه but also the other Sahabah (including the Ashra Mubashra) agreed on the affirmation of raising the hands (Raf’ al-Yadain).

This unanimous testimony is the greatest proof of the authenticity, permanence, and continuous transmission of this Sunnah.

❖ Third Question

Is there a command to raise the hands (Raf’ al-Yadain) in any authentic Hadith?

✦ Answer

Yes! The command to raise the hands is present in an authentic Hadith, as clearly stated in the Hadith of Umar ibn Al-Khattab رضي الله عنه:

Arabic text: قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ قَاسِمٍ: بَيْنَمَا النَّاسُ يُصَلُّونَ فِي مَسْجِدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذْ خَرَجَ عَلَيْهِمْ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ فَقَالَ: أَقْبِلُوا عَلَيَّ بِوُجُوهِكُمْ، أُصَلِّي بِكُمْ صَلَاةَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ الَّتِي كَانَ يُصَلِّي وَيَأْمُرُ بِهَا…

Translation: Umar ibn Al-Khattab رضي الله عنه said: “I lead you in the prayer which the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to lead and command.”

❖ Fourth Question

Has raising the hands (Raf’ al-Yadain) been abrogated?

✦ Answer

Neither the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ abandoned raising the hands, nor did the Companions after him, nor the Followers (Tabi‘in), nor the Followers of the Followers (Taba‘ Tabi‘in).

Not a single word of raising the hands has been abrogated.

① Maulana Abdul Hayy Lakhvi Hanafi, may Allah have mercy on him

He says: “There are many and very strong evidences from the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ regarding raising the hands. Those who say that raising the hands has been abrogated, their claim is baseless and they have no satisfactory evidence.”

② Hafiz Ibn Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him

He says: “Among the fabricated narrations mentioned in the rulings of prayer are all those hadiths which prohibit raising the hands when going into ruku‘ and rising from ruku‘. All of these are fabricated and none of them is authentic.”

③ Maulana Anwar Shah Kashmiri Hanafi, may Allah have mercy on him

(Commentator of Sahih Bukhari) says: “Raising the hands is undoubtedly mutawatir both verbally and practically, and not a single word of it has been abrogated.”

❖ Conclusion

Indeed, raising the hands (Raf’ al-Yadain) is established through authentic hadiths and the practice of the Rightly Guided Caliphs and the Companions. Declaring it abrogated is against knowledge and research.

➊ Narration of Hazrat Bara’ bin Azib (may Allah be pleased with him)

Arabic text:

Translation: Bara’ bin Azib (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: When the Prophet ﷺ began the prayer, he would raise his hands up to near his ears, then he would not raise them again.

Research:

This narration is weak.

• Abdullah bin Mubarak: “The Hafizun agree that the phrase ثم لم یعد is included in the narration and this is the statement of Zaid bin Abi Ziyad.”
  Reference: (Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi 1/551, Abu Dawood 749, Musnad Ahmad 18696)
• Sheikh Shoaib al-Arnaout: “In this, Yazid bin Abi Ziyad is weak; he changed in his later years and began accepting prompting.”
  Reference: (Takhrij Zad al-Ma’ad 1/211)
• Abdul Haq al-Ashbili: “ثم لم یعد the rest is not authentic.”
  Reference: (Al-Ahkam al-Wusta 1/367)
• Imam Bayhaqi: “Muhammad bin Abdul Rahman is even weaker than Yazid bin Abi Ziyad.”
  Reference: (Ma’rifat al-Sunan wal-Athar 2999)
• Hafiz Ibn Hajar: “The Hafizun agree that ثم لم یعد is included, and this is the statement of Yazid bin Abi Ziyad; Imam Ahmad and Bukhari also called him weak.”
  Reference: (Al-Talkhis al-Habeer)

➋ The second narration of Bara’ bin Azib (may Allah be pleased with him)

Arabic text: عَنِ الْبَرَاءِ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ:

Translation: Bara’ bin Azib (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ raise his hands at the beginning of the prayer, then he did not raise them again.

Investigation:

This narration is also weak because it contains the narrator محمد بن عبدالرحمٰن بن ابی لیلیٰ who is very weak and abandoned.

رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَرْفَعُ يَدَيْهِ فِي أَوَّلِ الصَّلَاةِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَرْفَعْهُمَا.

• Imam Bayhaqi: “His memory was weak and he made mistakes in the text.”
  Reference: (Al-Sunan Al-Kubra 5/544)
• Imam Zailai Hanafi: “This narrator is even weaker than Yazid bin Abi Ziyad.”
  Reference: (Nasb Al-Rayah 1/404, Juz’ Raf’ Al-Yadain 330)
• Imam Bukhari: “This narration is originally the prompting of Yazid bin Abi Ziyad.”
  Reference: (Juz’ Raf’ Al-Yadain 328)

➌ Narration of Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas’ud (RA)

Arabic text:قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْعُودٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ:

Translation: Abdullah bin Mas’ud (RA) says: “Shall I not teach you the prayer of the Prophet ﷺ?” Then he prayed and raised his hands only the first time.

Investigation:

This narration is weak.

• Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal and Imam Yahya bin Adam: “This narration is weak.”
  Reference: (A’un Al-Ma’bud 2/316)
• Ibn Qayyim: “This narration is fabricated, false, and not authentic.”
  Reference: (Naqd Al-Maqool p.128, Al-Manar Al-Muneef p.137)
• Allama Abdul Rahman Mubarakpuri: “This hadith is weak.”
  Reference: (Tuhfat Al-Ahwadhi 2/93)

➍ Narration from another chain (Abdullah bin Mas’ud)

Arabic text:قَالَ: أَلَا أُصَلِّي بِكُمْ صَلَاةَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ؟ قَالَ: فَصَلَّى فَلَمْ يَرْفَعْ يَدَيْهِ إِلَّا مَرَّةً.

Translation: Abdullah bin Mas’ud (RA) said: “Shall I not teach you the prayer of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ?” Then he prayed and raised his hands only the first time.

Investigation:

This narration is also weak.

أَلَا أُصَلِّي بِكُمْ صَلَاةَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ؟ فَصَلَّى، وَلَمْ يَرْفَعْ يَدَيْهِ إِلَّا أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ.

• Imam Nawawi: “Everyone agrees on its weakness.”
  Reference: (Al-Khulasa 1/354)
• Abdullah bin Al-Mubarak: “This narration is weak.”
  Reference: (Tuhfat al-Ahwazi 1/552)
• Shuaib Al-Arnaout: “The narrators are trustworthy except for Asim bin Kalib who is truthful.”
  Reference: (Takhrij Sunan Abi Dawood 748)
• Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal: “This narration is weak.”
  Reference: (Al-Nafh Al-Shadhi 4/398)

➎ Third Chain (Abdullah bin Mas’ud)

Arabic text:عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ، قَالَ: قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْعُودٍ:

Investigation:

This narration is also weak.

• Imam Bazzar: “This hadith is not established and cannot be used as evidence.”
  Reference: (Tuhfat al-Ahwazi 2/93, Juz’ Raf’ al-Yadain 307)
• Imam Ibn Hibban: “This narration is weak and invalid due to several defects.”
  Reference: (Talkhis al-Hubeer 1/546)
• Imam Shams al-Haq Azimabadi: “The Hanafis present it for the raising of hands, but it is weak and not established.”
  Reference: (A’un al-Ma’bud 2/317, Juz’ Raf’ al-Yadain 308)

➏ Narration of Hazrat Jabir bin Samurah (RA)

Arabic text:أَلَا أُصَلِّيَ بِكُمْ صَلَاةَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ؟ فَصَلَّى فَلَمْ يَرْفَعْ يَدَيْهِ إِلَّا مَرَّةً وَاحِدَةً.

Translation: Jabir bin Samurah (RA) says: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to us and said: “Why do you raise your hands in prayer like the tails of rebellious horses? Be calm in prayer.”

Investigation:

قَالَ جَابِرُ بْنُ سَمُرَةَ:

خَرَجَ عَلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ: «مَا لِي أَرَاكُمْ رَافِعِي أَيْدِيكُمْ كَأَنَّهَا أَذْنَابُ خَيْلٍ شُمْسٍ؟ اسْكُنُوا فِي الصَّلَاةِ».

This narration is authentic, but it is not related to raising the hands (Raf’ al-Yadain), but rather to signaling with the hands at the end of the prayer during the salam.

The companion himself explained it:

Arabic text:كُنَّا إِذَا صَلَّيْنَا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قُلْنَا: السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ، وَأَشَارَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى الْجَانِبَيْنِ، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «عَلَامَ تُومِئُونَ بِأَيْدِيكُمْ كَأَنَّهَا أَذْنَابُ خَيْلٍ شُمْسٍ؟ إِنَّمَا يَكْفِي أَحَدَكُمْ أَنْ يَضَعَ يَدَهُ عَلَى فَخِذِهِ، ثُمَّ يُسَلِّمَ عَلَى أَخِيهِ مَنْ عَلَى يَمِينِهِ وَشِمَالِهِ».

Translation: We used to pray with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and signal with our hands at the time of salam, but he ﷺ forbade it and said: “Do not signal with your hands, just place your hand on your thigh and greet the person on your right and left.”

❖ Summary

✿ All narrations presented to abandon raising the hands are weak, fabricated, or based on rejected claims. ✿ All authentic and established hadiths affirm raising the hands. ✿ Therefore, raising the hands is the continuous practice of the Noble Prophet ﷺ, the companions, the followers, and the followers of the followers, and it will remain a Sunnah until the Day of Judgment.