The Number of Raising the Hands (Rafa al-Yadayn) in Prayer
① At the time of Takbir al-Tahrima ② when going into ruku’ ③ when rising from ruku’ ④ when rising for the third rak’ah
➊ Hazrat Malik bin Huwayrith (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that he saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ:
ويرفع يديه إذا كبر وإذا ركع وإذا رفع رأسه من الركوع
“He ﷺ would raise his two hands (up to his ears) when he said the takbir, when he bowed (into ruku’) and when he raised his head from ruku’.”
➋ Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with both of them) narrates that:
كان النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا قام إلى الصلاة رفع يديه حتى يكونا حذو منكبيه ثم يكبر
“When the Prophet ﷺ stood up for prayer, he would raise his two hands up to the level of his shoulders, then say the takbir.”
➊ Hazrat Nafi (may Allah be pleased with him) states that when Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with both of them) began the prayer, he would say the takbir and raise his two hands, and when he went into ruku’ he would raise his two hands, and when he said سمع الله لمن حمده he would raise his two hands وإذا قام من الركعتين رفع يديه “And when he stood up after the two rak’ahs (for the third), he would raise his two hands.” And Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with both of them) narrated this from the Prophet ﷺ as a marfu’ report.
(Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him)) writes that Imam Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) mentioned that the hadith of raising the hands (rafa al-yadayn) when going into ruku’ and when rising from it is narrated from seventeen Companions.
(Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him)) wrote a separate treatise on this subject titled Juz’ Raf’ al-Yadayn, and in it he related reports from Imam Hasan (may Allah be pleased with him) and Imam Humayd bin Hilal (may Allah have mercy on him) that: أن الصحابة كانوا يفعلون ذلك “All the Companions used to do this action (i.e. raising the hands).” Imam Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) says that Imam Hasan (may Allah be pleased with him) did not exclude any single Companion.
(Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him)) — there is consensus of the Ummah on raising the hands at the time of Takbir al-Tahrima; however, scholars have differed regarding other places.
(Muhammad bin Nasr Marwazi (may Allah have mercy on him)) — the scholars of the cities have agreed on the legitimacy of raising the hands (when going into ruku’ and rising from it), except the people of Kufa.
(The majority of Companions and Tabi’in) — raising the hands is also legislated when bowing into ruku’ and rising from it, in addition to Takbir al-Tahrima.
(Shafi’i, Ahmad, Malik) — they hold this view. Imam Shafi’i (may Allah have mercy on him) even said that the raising of the hands has been narrated by such a large group of Companions that perhaps no hadith has ever been narrated with a greater number of narrators.
(Hanafis, Malikis) — raising the hands is not Sunnah anywhere other than at Takbir al-Tahrima.
