Evidence of Sayyiduna Ali ibn Abi Talib (RA) Regarding Abandonment of Raf' al-Yadayn

This article is adapted from the book "Mein Raf' al-Yadayn Kyun Karun?" authored by the esteemed Abu Hamzah Abdul Khaliq Siddiqi.

Evidence​

It is narrated that Sayyiduna Ali ibn Abi Talib (رضي الله عنه) would perform Raf' al-Yadayn (raising of the hands) at the beginning of the prayer, but thereafter, he would not perform Raf' al-Yadayn throughout the remainder of the prayer.
Reference:
Muṣannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 1/267, Hadith No. 3

Analysis of the Evidence​

➊ Imam Ahmad (رحمه الله) has criticized this narration.
Reference:
Al-Masā'il: Narration of Abdullah bin Ahmad, 1/243–329

➋ Imam al-Bukhari (رحمه الله) states:
“No scholar among them has any authentic knowledge of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) abandoning Raf' al-Yadayn, nor of any of the companions of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) that they did not perform Raf' al-Yadayn.”
Reference:
Juz' Raf' al-Yadayn, p. 40

➌ Ibn al-Mulaqqin (رحمه الله) states:
“The narrtion attributed to Ali (رضي الله عنه) is weak. It is not authentically established from him. Among those who have declared it weak is also Imam al-Bukhari.”
Reference:
Al-Badr al-Munir, 3/499

➍ Imam al-Bayhaqi (رحمه الله) asserts:
“In the chain of this narration, Abu Bakr al-Nahshali is not a credible authority.”
Reference:
Mukhtaṣar Khilafiyat, 1/388

❖ Conclusion​

The claim that Sayyiduna Ali (رضي الله عنه) abandoned Raf' al-Yadayn after the opening Takbir is not established through any authentic chain of narration. In fact, scholars of Hadith have declared it weak and unreliable. Thus, Raf' al-Yadayn remains a proven, continuous Sunnah, practiced consistently throughout the generations.

وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ