❖ Eid and Funeral Prayer: 10 Evidences for Raising Hands (Rafʿ al-Yadayn) During Takbirat
Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah, Volume 1, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Page 457
Question:
Is it necessary to raise the hands (Rafʿ al-Yadayn) along with the Takbirat in Eid prayers and the funeral prayer?
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
In light of authentic narrations reported from ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما, the act of raising the hands during five different occasions in Salah is clearly established:
① At the beginning of prayer during Takbirat al-Taḥrīmah
② Before going into Rukūʿ
③ After rising from Rukūʿ
➡ These three are unanimously agreed upon by all Muḥaddithīn.
④ When standing up after two rakʿahs (mentioned in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī)
⑤ Before Rukūʿ, with each Takbīr:
وَيَرْفَعُهُمَا فِي كُلِّ تَكْبِيرَةٍ يُكَبِّرُهَا قَبْلَ الرُّكُوعِ
(Referenced from Sunan Abī Dāwūd with ʿAwn al-Maʿbūd, Vol. 1, p. 263, Ḥadīth 722 — Ṣaḥīḥ Ḥadīth)
This narration is authentic in its chain. It also appears through other routes in Musnad Aḥmad (Vol. 2, pp. 133-134) and al-Mustakhraj li Ibn al-Jārūd (Ḥadīth 174).
Legal Maxim in Uṣūl al-Fiqh:
"al-ʿIbrah li-ʿumūm al-lafẓ lā li-khuṣūṣ as-sabab"
Meaning: The generality of the wording is to be considered, not the specificity of the cause.
Imām Ibn al-Turkumānī supports the view of Imām al-Bayhaqī, stating:
"Irādat al-ʿumūm fī kull takbīrah taqaʿ qabl al-rukūʿ wa-yandarij fī dhālik takbīrāt al-ʿīdayn."
"This narration includes every Takbīr that is said before Rukūʿ, which encompasses the Takbirāt of the two Eids."
(Al-Jawāhir al-Ḥanafiyyah, Vol. 3, p. 293)
Though his statement shows some inconsistency, his claim that the narration is only reported by Baqiyyah is incorrect, since Ibn Akhī al-Zuhrī has also narrated it.
(Refer: Musnad Aḥmad, Vol. 2, pp. 133–134)
As for Baqiyyah, the scholars have agreed that he is Ṣadūq (truthful) and Ḥasan al-Ḥadīth, provided the narration contains a clear statement of hearing (samāʿ).
Rafʿ al-Yadayn during Takbirāt al-ʿĪdayn:
➊ Imām al-Awzāʿī رحمه الله:
"One should raise hands with every Takbīr in Eid prayers."
(Aḥkām al-ʿĪdayn by al-Firyābī, p. 182, Ḥadīth 132 — Authentic Chain)
➋ Imām Mālik رحمه الله:
"Raising hands with the Takbirāt of Eid is recommended, although I have not heard much on this."
(Aḥkām al-ʿĪdayn, Ḥadīth 137 — Authentic Chain)
➌ Imām al-Shāfiʿī and Imām Aḥmad رحمهما الله:
Both held the view that Rafʿ al-Yadayn should be performed during Eid Takbirāt.
(Al-Umm, Vol. 1, p. 237 — Masāʾil Aḥmad, narrated by Abū Dāwūd, pp. 59–60)
➍ Among the Ḥanafīs – Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥasan al-Shaybānī رحمه الله:
This view is also transmitted from him.
(Al-Awsaṭ by Ibn al-Mundhir, Vol. 4, p. 282 — Al-Aṣl, Vol. 1, pp. 374–375)
A weak narration is reported from ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه:
"كان عمر بن الخطاب يرفع يديه في كل تكبيرة من الصلاة على الجنازة وفي الفطر والأضحى"
(Al-Awsaṭ by Ibn al-Mundhir, Vol. 4, p. 282 — al-Sunan al-Kubrā by al-Bayhaqī, Vol. 3, p. 293 — Declared Munqaṭiʿ)
Weaknesses in the Chain:
➊ Unknown reliability of Abū Zurʿah al-Lakhmī
➋ Ibn Lahīʿah is a Mudallis and is narrating with ʿanʿanah
➌ The chain is disconnected (Munqaṭiʿ)
About the Narrators:
➊ Abū Zurʿah al-Lakhmī: A Muslim general who attacked Constantinople
(Mukhtaṣar Tārīkh Dimashq by Ibn Manẓūr, Vol. 28, pp. 325–326)
➋ Bakr ibn Sawādah: A trustworthy jurist
(Al-Taqrīb, no. 742)
➌ Ibn Lahīʿah: Trustworthy and Ḥasan al-Ḥadīth prior to his memory deterioration. Isḥāq ibn ʿĪsā’s narration is from before the period of weakness.
(Mīzān al-Iʿtidāl, Vol. 2, p. 477)
Imām al-Dāraquṭnī رحمه الله reported:
"Indeed the Prophet ﷺ would raise his hands at every Takbīr during the funeral prayer, and when he would conclude, he would give salām."
(Kitāb al-ʿIlal by al-Dāraquṭnī, Vol. 13, p. 22, Ḥadīth 2908)
This narration is Hasan (good) in its chain.
Both Imām al-Dāraquṭnī and Yaḥyā ibn Saʿīd al-Anṣārī are free from the charge of Tadlīs.
(Tārīkh Baghdād, Vol. 4, p. 409; Vol. 3, pp. 310–311)
The following personalities practiced Rafʿ al-Yadayn in funeral prayer Takbīrs:
◈ ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar
◈ ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz
◈ ʿAṭāʾ ibn Abī Rabāḥ
◈ Muḥammad ibn Sīrīn
(Source: Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah, Vol. 3, pp. 292, 297, etc.)
هٰذَا مَا عِندِي، وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah, Volume 1, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Page 457
❀ Ruling on Raising Hands During Takbirat of Eid and Funeral Prayers
Question:
Is it necessary to raise the hands (Rafʿ al-Yadayn) along with the Takbirat in Eid prayers and the funeral prayer?
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
In light of authentic narrations reported from ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما, the act of raising the hands during five different occasions in Salah is clearly established:
✔ Five Established Instances Where Rafʿ al-Yadayn is Legislated
① At the beginning of prayer during Takbirat al-Taḥrīmah
② Before going into Rukūʿ
③ After rising from Rukūʿ
➡ These three are unanimously agreed upon by all Muḥaddithīn.
④ When standing up after two rakʿahs (mentioned in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī)
⑤ Before Rukūʿ, with each Takbīr:
وَيَرْفَعُهُمَا فِي كُلِّ تَكْبِيرَةٍ يُكَبِّرُهَا قَبْلَ الرُّكُوعِ
(Referenced from Sunan Abī Dāwūd with ʿAwn al-Maʿbūd, Vol. 1, p. 263, Ḥadīth 722 — Ṣaḥīḥ Ḥadīth)
This narration is authentic in its chain. It also appears through other routes in Musnad Aḥmad (Vol. 2, pp. 133-134) and al-Mustakhraj li Ibn al-Jārūd (Ḥadīth 174).
✔ Understanding and Deduction of the Muḥaddithīn
- Imām al-Bayhaqī (Vol. 3, pp. 292–293) and Ibn al-Mundhir have deduced from this narration the permissibility of Rafʿ al-Yadayn in the Takbirat of the Eid prayers.
- No known Muḥaddith is reported to have opposed this interpretation.
Legal Maxim in Uṣūl al-Fiqh:
"al-ʿIbrah li-ʿumūm al-lafẓ lā li-khuṣūṣ as-sabab"
Meaning: The generality of the wording is to be considered, not the specificity of the cause.
✔ Endorsement by Imām Ibn al-Turkumānī
Imām Ibn al-Turkumānī supports the view of Imām al-Bayhaqī, stating:
"Irādat al-ʿumūm fī kull takbīrah taqaʿ qabl al-rukūʿ wa-yandarij fī dhālik takbīrāt al-ʿīdayn."
"This narration includes every Takbīr that is said before Rukūʿ, which encompasses the Takbirāt of the two Eids."
(Al-Jawāhir al-Ḥanafiyyah, Vol. 3, p. 293)
Though his statement shows some inconsistency, his claim that the narration is only reported by Baqiyyah is incorrect, since Ibn Akhī al-Zuhrī has also narrated it.
(Refer: Musnad Aḥmad, Vol. 2, pp. 133–134)
As for Baqiyyah, the scholars have agreed that he is Ṣadūq (truthful) and Ḥasan al-Ḥadīth, provided the narration contains a clear statement of hearing (samāʿ).
❀ Support from the Early Salaf
Rafʿ al-Yadayn during Takbirāt al-ʿĪdayn:
➊ Imām al-Awzāʿī رحمه الله:
"One should raise hands with every Takbīr in Eid prayers."
(Aḥkām al-ʿĪdayn by al-Firyābī, p. 182, Ḥadīth 132 — Authentic Chain)
➋ Imām Mālik رحمه الله:
"Raising hands with the Takbirāt of Eid is recommended, although I have not heard much on this."
(Aḥkām al-ʿĪdayn, Ḥadīth 137 — Authentic Chain)
➌ Imām al-Shāfiʿī and Imām Aḥmad رحمهما الله:
Both held the view that Rafʿ al-Yadayn should be performed during Eid Takbirāt.
(Al-Umm, Vol. 1, p. 237 — Masāʾil Aḥmad, narrated by Abū Dāwūd, pp. 59–60)
➍ Among the Ḥanafīs – Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥasan al-Shaybānī رحمه الله:
This view is also transmitted from him.
(Al-Awsaṭ by Ibn al-Mundhir, Vol. 4, p. 282 — Al-Aṣl, Vol. 1, pp. 374–375)
❀ Rafʿ al-Yadayn in Funeral Prayer
❐ Weak Narration:
A weak narration is reported from ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه:
"كان عمر بن الخطاب يرفع يديه في كل تكبيرة من الصلاة على الجنازة وفي الفطر والأضحى"
(Al-Awsaṭ by Ibn al-Mundhir, Vol. 4, p. 282 — al-Sunan al-Kubrā by al-Bayhaqī, Vol. 3, p. 293 — Declared Munqaṭiʿ)
Weaknesses in the Chain:
➊ Unknown reliability of Abū Zurʿah al-Lakhmī
➋ Ibn Lahīʿah is a Mudallis and is narrating with ʿanʿanah
➌ The chain is disconnected (Munqaṭiʿ)
About the Narrators:
➊ Abū Zurʿah al-Lakhmī: A Muslim general who attacked Constantinople
(Mukhtaṣar Tārīkh Dimashq by Ibn Manẓūr, Vol. 28, pp. 325–326)
➋ Bakr ibn Sawādah: A trustworthy jurist
(Al-Taqrīb, no. 742)
➌ Ibn Lahīʿah: Trustworthy and Ḥasan al-Ḥadīth prior to his memory deterioration. Isḥāq ibn ʿĪsā’s narration is from before the period of weakness.
(Mīzān al-Iʿtidāl, Vol. 2, p. 477)
❐ Marfūʿ Evidence for Rafʿ al-Yadayn in Funeral Prayer
Imām al-Dāraquṭnī رحمه الله reported:
"Indeed the Prophet ﷺ would raise his hands at every Takbīr during the funeral prayer, and when he would conclude, he would give salām."
(Kitāb al-ʿIlal by al-Dāraquṭnī, Vol. 13, p. 22, Ḥadīth 2908)
This narration is Hasan (good) in its chain.
Both Imām al-Dāraquṭnī and Yaḥyā ibn Saʿīd al-Anṣārī are free from the charge of Tadlīs.
(Tārīkh Baghdād, Vol. 4, p. 409; Vol. 3, pp. 310–311)
❀ Reports from the Early Salaf on Funeral Prayer
The following personalities practiced Rafʿ al-Yadayn in funeral prayer Takbīrs:
◈ ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar
◈ ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz
◈ ʿAṭāʾ ibn Abī Rabāḥ
◈ Muḥammad ibn Sīrīn
(Source: Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah, Vol. 3, pp. 292, 297, etc.)
هٰذَا مَا عِندِي، وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
