This article is adapted from the book "Main Raf' al-Yadayn Kyun Karoon?" by Abu Hamza Abdul Khaliq Siddiqi.
The narration from Musnad Abu Awanah is as follows:
"Abdullah bin Ayyub al-Makhzumi, Sa'd bin Nasr, Shu'ayb bin Umar, and others reported: Sufyan bin 'Uyaynah narrated from Az-Zuhri from Salim from his father (Ibn Umar) who said: I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ raising his hands level with his shoulders when he began the prayer, and some of them said, 'level with his shoulders', and when he intended to bow (Ruku') and after he raised his head from bowing. He did not raise them, and some said, he did not raise (his hands) between the two prostrations. And the meaning is one."
(Musnad Abi Awanah 1/334, Hadith 1251)
Imam Abu Awanah رحمه الله himself established the chapter under the heading:
"The Explanation of Raising the Hands at the Beginning of the Prayer, at Bowing, and After Rising from Bowing, but not between the two prostrations."
This explicitly confirms that the narration was brought to establish Raf' al-Yadayn, not its negation.
➋ Analyzing the Text: "The Meaning is One"
The phrase "والمعنى واحد" ("and the meaning is one") indicates that the clause "he did not raise his hands between the two prostrations" is consistent and not contradictory to the earlier statements about raising the hands at Takbir, before and after Ruku'.
If the phrase "لا يرفعهما" were incorrectly connected to bowing and rising from bowing, the phrase "and the meaning is one" would make no sense.
➌ Corroborating Narrations
Later in Musnad Abu Awanah, it is narrated:
"Ar-Rabi' bin Sulayman narrated from Ash-Shafi'i, from Ibn Uyaynah similarly, and he said: 'He does not do so between the two prostrations.'"
Moreover, Kitab al-Umm (1/203, Beirut Edition) also records this narration, affirming Raf' al-Yadayn.
➍ Cross-referencing with Musnad Ash-Shafi'i
In Musnad Ash-Shafi'i (p. 72, Hadiths 209-210), Imam Ash-Shafi'i transmits from Sufyan Ibn Uyaynah the affirmation of Raf' al-Yadayn at the specified points, further supporting the same.
➎ Imam Ali ibn al-Madini's Testimony
Imam Abu Awanah also cited from Abu Dawood, from Ali ibn al-Madini, from Sufyan Ibn Uyaynah, confirming Raf' al-Yadayn at the recognized points — not negating it. (See: Juz' Raf' al-Yadayn by Imam Bukhari, p. 35, Hadith 2)
➏ Additional Evidence from Bayhaqi
Imam Bayhaqi, through Sa'dan bin Nasr, recorded the same hadith from Ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما affirming Raf' al-Yadayn, not denying it.
(Sunan al-Kubra lil-Bayhaqi 2/69)
➐ Manuscript Evidence
The handwritten manuscripts of Musnad Abu Awanah housed at the Madinah University Library and Maktabah New Saeedabad, Sindh, show the conjunction "و" ("and") before "he does not raise his hands", clearly linking it to between the two prostrations only.
➑ Reference to "Hadith aur Ahl al-Hadith"
Copies of these manuscripts have been published at the end of the book Hadith aur Ahl al-Hadith by Anwar Khurshid Deobandi and also in Quran wa Hadith Mein Tahrif.
This malpractice includes:
Such actions betray a lack of scholarly integrity.
As someone once said:
"All their lives they spent in the love of idols;
What kind of Muslims could they become in the end?"
(Attributed incorrectly in an ironic remark: the verse is actually by Mirza Ghalib, not Shaikh Saadi, and not from the Diwan-e-Ghalib.)
The Hadith from Musnad Abu Awanah
Regarding the practice of not raising the hands (Raf' al-Yadayn), some cite a narration from Musnad Abu Awanah attributed to Ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما. In reality, however, this narration actually supports the affirmation of Raf' al-Yadayn.The narration from Musnad Abu Awanah is as follows:
"Abdullah bin Ayyub al-Makhzumi, Sa'd bin Nasr, Shu'ayb bin Umar, and others reported: Sufyan bin 'Uyaynah narrated from Az-Zuhri from Salim from his father (Ibn Umar) who said: I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ raising his hands level with his shoulders when he began the prayer, and some of them said, 'level with his shoulders', and when he intended to bow (Ruku') and after he raised his head from bowing. He did not raise them, and some said, he did not raise (his hands) between the two prostrations. And the meaning is one."
(Musnad Abi Awanah 1/334, Hadith 1251)
Clarifications and Rebuttal
➊ The Chapter Heading Clarifies the IntentImam Abu Awanah رحمه الله himself established the chapter under the heading:
"The Explanation of Raising the Hands at the Beginning of the Prayer, at Bowing, and After Rising from Bowing, but not between the two prostrations."
This explicitly confirms that the narration was brought to establish Raf' al-Yadayn, not its negation.
➋ Analyzing the Text: "The Meaning is One"
The phrase "والمعنى واحد" ("and the meaning is one") indicates that the clause "he did not raise his hands between the two prostrations" is consistent and not contradictory to the earlier statements about raising the hands at Takbir, before and after Ruku'.
If the phrase "لا يرفعهما" were incorrectly connected to bowing and rising from bowing, the phrase "and the meaning is one" would make no sense.
➌ Corroborating Narrations
Later in Musnad Abu Awanah, it is narrated:
"Ar-Rabi' bin Sulayman narrated from Ash-Shafi'i, from Ibn Uyaynah similarly, and he said: 'He does not do so between the two prostrations.'"
Moreover, Kitab al-Umm (1/203, Beirut Edition) also records this narration, affirming Raf' al-Yadayn.
➍ Cross-referencing with Musnad Ash-Shafi'i
In Musnad Ash-Shafi'i (p. 72, Hadiths 209-210), Imam Ash-Shafi'i transmits from Sufyan Ibn Uyaynah the affirmation of Raf' al-Yadayn at the specified points, further supporting the same.
➎ Imam Ali ibn al-Madini's Testimony
Imam Abu Awanah also cited from Abu Dawood, from Ali ibn al-Madini, from Sufyan Ibn Uyaynah, confirming Raf' al-Yadayn at the recognized points — not negating it. (See: Juz' Raf' al-Yadayn by Imam Bukhari, p. 35, Hadith 2)
➏ Additional Evidence from Bayhaqi
Imam Bayhaqi, through Sa'dan bin Nasr, recorded the same hadith from Ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما affirming Raf' al-Yadayn, not denying it.
(Sunan al-Kubra lil-Bayhaqi 2/69)
➐ Manuscript Evidence
The handwritten manuscripts of Musnad Abu Awanah housed at the Madinah University Library and Maktabah New Saeedabad, Sindh, show the conjunction "و" ("and") before "he does not raise his hands", clearly linking it to between the two prostrations only.
➑ Reference to "Hadith aur Ahl al-Hadith"
Copies of these manuscripts have been published at the end of the book Hadith aur Ahl al-Hadith by Anwar Khurshid Deobandi and also in Quran wa Hadith Mein Tahrif.
Important Note
The methodology of distorting authentic narrations for the sake of defending Madhhab (juristic schools) — by altering words or misattributing narrations — has unfortunately been a trend among some Hanafi scholars.This malpractice includes:
- Changing words (e.g., altering "سعبہ" to "سعیہ"),
- Misattributing Sahih narrations,
- Ignoring the correct chains of narration.
Such actions betray a lack of scholarly integrity.
As someone once said:
"All their lives they spent in the love of idols;
What kind of Muslims could they become in the end?"
(Attributed incorrectly in an ironic remark: the verse is actually by Mirza Ghalib, not Shaikh Saadi, and not from the Diwan-e-Ghalib.)
