The Statement of Abū Bakr ibn ʿAyyāsh and ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Abī Laylā Regarding Rafʿ al-Yadayn
Reference: Fatāwā Rashidiyyah, Page 551
❖ The Question
Abū Bakr ibn ʿAyyāsh said:
"I never saw any faqīh (jurist) performing rafʿ al-yadayn (raising the hands in ṣalāh)."
What is the status of this statement?
It is also reported that ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Abī Laylā did not perform rafʿ al-yadayn. Please clarify this as well.
❖ The Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
✔ The Statement of Abū Bakr ibn ʿAyyāsh
His claim, “I never saw any faqīh performing rafʿ al-yadayn”, is astonishing.
◄ Was Imām Mālik not a faqīh?
◄ Was Imām al-Shāfiʿī not a faqīh?
◄ Was Imām Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal not a faqīh?
◄ Was Imām al-Awzāʿī not a faqīh, though a full work of fiqh attributed to him still exists?
All of these noble imams were undoubtedly eminent fuqahāʾ, and all of them practiced rafʿ al-yadayn.
Therefore, the statement of Ibn ʿAyyāsh holds no real weight; it is an unfounded remark with no value.
Wallāhu aʿlam.
✔ The Case of ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Abī Laylā
If indeed ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Abī Laylā did not practice rafʿ al-yadayn, this in no way affects the validity of the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.
◈ Even if the whole Ummah were on one side against the statement and action of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, it would carry no worth.
◈ There is no doubt that in this matter, differences existed among scholars:
- Some performed rafʿ al-yadayn,
- Some did not,
- Some did it occasionally and left it at times.
But this difference neither changes the ruling of rafʿ al-yadayn nor diminishes its establishment from the Sunnah.
Thus, presenting the opinion or practice of any follower against the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ is the way of the ignorant and disrespectful.
✿ Conclusion
- The statement of Abū Bakr ibn ʿAyyāsh is unfounded and contradicts the practice of many leading fuqahāʾ who upheld rafʿ al-yadayn.
- The practice of ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Abī Laylā, even if leaving rafʿ al-yadayn, does not undermine the prophetic Sunnah.
- The authentic Sunnah of the Messenger ﷺ remains above every other opinion or action.
ھذا ما عندی، واللہ أعلم بالصواب
