This article is derived from the book "Why Should I Perform Raf‘ al-Yadayn?" by respected Abu Hamzah Abdul Khaliq Siddiqi.
"I prayed with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, Abu Bakr, and Umar رضي الله عنهما, and they would not raise their hands during the prayer except at the beginning with Takbir Tahrimah."
[Akhbar al-Fuqaha, p. 214]
It is stated in:
Fairness and honesty demand that when using this narration as proof, its weaknesses must also be acknowledged. However, this would expose the invalidity of using it as a proof for abandoning Raf‘ al-Yadayn, thus silence is often preferred.
❷ Muhammad ibn Jabir al-Hanafi al-Yamami stated:
"Abu Hanifah stole the books of Hammad from me."
[Al-Jarh wa al-Ta'dil, 8/450]
Now, we ask those who use Muhammad ibn Jabir's narration:
Will you accept his narration regarding abandoning Raf‘ al-Yadayn, or will you accept his accusation that Imam Abu Hanifah was a thief?
Both cannot be accepted together.
❸ In the chain is Hammad ibn Abi Sulayman, who was a Mukhtalit (his memory deteriorated).
Only Shu‘bah, Sufyan al-Thawri, and Hisham Dastuwa'i have verified early narrations from him. Apart from these three, narrations from Hammad are not acceptable.
[See: Majma' al-Zawaid 18/119-120; Sharh ‘Ilal al-Tirmidhi, p. 326; al-‘Ilal wa Ma‘rifat al-Rijal, p. 335]
Thus, Muhammad ibn Jabir's narration from Hammad is not acceptable by any standard, considering his own memory issues and excessive confusion.
[Taqrib al-Tahdhib, p. 292]
❹ Hammad was not only Mukhtalit but also a Mudallis (one who obscures his source in narration).
[Al-Madkhal by Al-Hakim, p. 16]
❺ Ibrahim (al-Nakha‘i) was also a Mudallis.
[Ma‘rifat ‘Ulum al-Hadith, p. 108]
❻ Ibn al-Jawzi counted this narration among the fabrications:
[Kitab al-Mawdu'at, 3/45]
✿ Conclusion:
The narration attributed to Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Mas'ud رضي الله عنه regarding abandoning Raf‘ al-Yadayn by Abu Bakr and Umar رضي الله عنهما is weak from multiple angles. It cannot be taken as authentic evidence against the consistent practice of Raf‘ al-Yadayn established through strong and authentic narrations.
◈ The Evidence
Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Mas'ud رضي الله عنه said:"I prayed with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, Abu Bakr, and Umar رضي الله عنهما, and they would not raise their hands during the prayer except at the beginning with Takbir Tahrimah."
[Akhbar al-Fuqaha, p. 214]
◈ The Response and Analysis
❶ This narration is weak. Both Dar Qutni, Al-Bayhaqi, and Al-Haythami have declared it weak.It is stated in:
- Al-Bayhaqi (2/80) and Dar Qutni (1/295):
"Muhammad ibn Jabir is alone in narrating this, and he is weak."
- Majma' al-Zawaid (2/101):
"It is narrated by Abu Ya‘la, and in its chain is Muhammad ibn Jabir al-Hanafi al-Yamami, whose Hadith became mixed up, and he used to be prompted and would accept prompting."
Fairness and honesty demand that when using this narration as proof, its weaknesses must also be acknowledged. However, this would expose the invalidity of using it as a proof for abandoning Raf‘ al-Yadayn, thus silence is often preferred.
❷ Muhammad ibn Jabir al-Hanafi al-Yamami stated:
"Abu Hanifah stole the books of Hammad from me."
[Al-Jarh wa al-Ta'dil, 8/450]
Now, we ask those who use Muhammad ibn Jabir's narration:
Will you accept his narration regarding abandoning Raf‘ al-Yadayn, or will you accept his accusation that Imam Abu Hanifah was a thief?
Both cannot be accepted together.
❸ In the chain is Hammad ibn Abi Sulayman, who was a Mukhtalit (his memory deteriorated).
Only Shu‘bah, Sufyan al-Thawri, and Hisham Dastuwa'i have verified early narrations from him. Apart from these three, narrations from Hammad are not acceptable.
[See: Majma' al-Zawaid 18/119-120; Sharh ‘Ilal al-Tirmidhi, p. 326; al-‘Ilal wa Ma‘rifat al-Rijal, p. 335]
Thus, Muhammad ibn Jabir's narration from Hammad is not acceptable by any standard, considering his own memory issues and excessive confusion.
[Taqrib al-Tahdhib, p. 292]
❹ Hammad was not only Mukhtalit but also a Mudallis (one who obscures his source in narration).
[Al-Madkhal by Al-Hakim, p. 16]
❺ Ibrahim (al-Nakha‘i) was also a Mudallis.
[Ma‘rifat ‘Ulum al-Hadith, p. 108]
❻ Ibn al-Jawzi counted this narration among the fabrications:
[Kitab al-Mawdu'at, 3/45]
✿ Conclusion:
The narration attributed to Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Mas'ud رضي الله عنه regarding abandoning Raf‘ al-Yadayn by Abu Bakr and Umar رضي الله عنهما is weak from multiple angles. It cannot be taken as authentic evidence against the consistent practice of Raf‘ al-Yadayn established through strong and authentic narrations.
