Declaring All Aḥādīth of Rafʿ al-Yadayn as Weak is a False Notion
Source: Aḥkām wa Masāʾil, Bāb al-Ṣalāh, Vol. 1, p. 172
Question:
It has been stated by Mawlānā Ẕar Walī Khān Ṣāḥib of Karachi that all the aḥādīth regarding Rafʿ al-Yadayn are weak. Is this statement correct?
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
In response to your question regarding whether all the aḥādīth about Rafʿ al-Yadayn are weak, and the claim of some people in this regard, the answer is: Absolutely not. This statement is incorrect.
Mawlānā Muḥammad Yūsuf Binorī رحمه الله, in his book Maʿārif al-Sunan, while discussing in detail the number of aḥādīth concerning Rafʿ al-Yadayn, mentioned a summary from the works of his teacher, Mawlānā Muḥammad Anwar Shāh Kāshmīrī رحمه الله, namely:
- Nayl al-Farqadayn
- Kashf al-Sitr
He quoted:
“فبقی نحو اثنی عشر لا أزید”
(Maʿārif al-Sunan, Vol. 2, p. 463)
The meaning of this sentence is: Regarding Rafʿ al-Yadayn, there are approximately twelve aḥādīth with authentic chains of narration, and not more than that.
Rafʿ al-Yadayn – Mutawātir in Chain and Practice
Likewise, ʿAllāmah Binorī رحمه الله further writes:
“وقال فی نیل الفرقدین (ص۲۲):
إِنَّ الرّفْعَ مُتْوَاترٌ إِسْنَادًا وَعَمَلاً، وَلاَ یُشَکُّ فِیْہِ، وَلَمْ یُنْسَخْ وَلاَ حَرْفٌ مِنْہُ”
(Maʿārif al-Sunan, Vol. 2, p. 459)
This means that Mawlānā Muḥammad Anwar Shāh Kāshmīrī رحمه الله stated on page 22 of Nayl al-Farqadayn:
“Indeed, Rafʿ al-Yadayn is Mutawātir both in chain and in practice. There is no doubt in it. It has never been abrogated—not even a single word of it.”
Conclusion
From the above statements of Mawlānā Muḥammad Anwar Shāh Kāshmīrī رحمه الله and Mawlānā Muḥammad Yūsuf Binorī رحمه الله, it becomes absolutely clear that:
✔ Declaring all aḥādīth of Rafʿ al-Yadayn as weak is incorrect.
✔ Had this statement been true, then the above declarations of these eminent scholars could not be regarded as valid.
✔ Therefore, whoever claims that all the aḥādīth regarding Rafʿ al-Yadayn are weak is making a false statement, and such a claim is contrary to the truth.
Hādhā mā ʿindī, wallāhu aʿlam bi-ṣ-ṣawāb.
