This article is adapted from the book "Why Should I Perform Raf' al-Yadayn?" by respected Abu Hamzah Abdul Khaliq Siddiqi.
"Narrated from Abdullah ibn Abbas (RA) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
'After me, a group will emerge who will perform Raf' al-Yadayn during prayer like the tails of mischievous horses.'"
[Musnad al-Rabi' ibn Habib, p. 56]
➔ There is no mention of them in the recognized books of Rijal (biographical evaluation of narrators).
Thus, until their reliability is established, using this book as evidence is absolutely invalid.
"Indeed successful are the believers, those who are humble in their prayers."
[Surah Al-Mu'minun: 1–2]
They claim that Abdullah ibn Abbas (RA) interpreted this verse as:
"The humble are those who do not turn their faces to the right or left, and they do not raise their hands during prayer."
[Tafsir Ibn Abbas, p. 212]
➔ The chain of narration includes Al-Suddi and Al-Kalbi, both of whom are liars (كذّابين).
➔ Which is clearly false, as these actions are unanimously established as Sunnah.
Abu Hamzah (Tabi'i) رحمه الله said:
"I saw Ibn Abbas raising his hands when he said Takbir and when he raised his head from Ruku'."
[Juz' Raf' al-Yadayn, p. 49]
Thus, Raf' al-Yadayn is authentically established from Ibn Abbas (RA).
"The Prophet ﷺ instructed Raf' al-Yadayn because people would hide idols under their armpits."
➔ Response:This claim is not even proven by any weak Hadith, let alone authentic reports.
➔ It is a fabricated and baseless accusation against the noble companions (Sahabah) رضي الله عنهم.
In reality, Raf' al-Yadayn is a Prophetic Sunnah firmly established through multiple chains of authentic, mass-transmitted (متواتر) ahadith.
Conclusion:
The narration cited from Musnad al-Rabi' and the claimed interpretation from Ibn Abbas (RA) are fabricated and invalid. Authentic evidence consistently supports the practice of Raf' al-Yadayn in prayer, following the pure Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
والله أعلم
Alleged Hadith Against Raf' al-Yadayn
In an attempt to oppose Raf' al-Yadayn, a narration from the Khawarijite book Musnad al-Rabi' ibn Habib is presented:"Narrated from Abdullah ibn Abbas (RA) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
'After me, a group will emerge who will perform Raf' al-Yadayn during prayer like the tails of mischievous horses.'"
[Musnad al-Rabi' ibn Habib, p. 56]
Response and Refutation:
❖ This book is completely fabricated (مَوْضُوْع) and baseless.➊ Unknown Authors
The author Rabi' ibn Habib and his teacher Abu Ubaidah are both unknown personalities (مجهول الحال).➔ There is no mention of them in the recognized books of Rijal (biographical evaluation of narrators).
Thus, until their reliability is established, using this book as evidence is absolutely invalid.
➋ Condemnation by Hadith Scholars
The eminent scholar Shaykh Nasiruddin al-Albani رحمه الله has strongly refuted this book in his work Silsilah al-Ahadith al-Da'ifah.Misinterpretation of Verses from Surah Al-Mu’minun
Opponents of Raf' al-Yadayn also cite the following verses:"Indeed successful are the believers, those who are humble in their prayers."
[Surah Al-Mu'minun: 1–2]
They claim that Abdullah ibn Abbas (RA) interpreted this verse as:
"The humble are those who do not turn their faces to the right or left, and they do not raise their hands during prayer."
[Tafsir Ibn Abbas, p. 212]
Response to This Interpretation:
(1) Fabricated Interpretation
This tafsir attributed to Ibn Abbas (RA) is fabricated (مكذوب) and falsely attributed.➔ The chain of narration includes Al-Suddi and Al-Kalbi, both of whom are liars (كذّابين).
(2) Logical Fallacy
If this interpretation were accepted, then even raising hands at Takbir al-Tahrimah (opening Takbir) and during Qunoot would become invalid –➔ Which is clearly false, as these actions are unanimously established as Sunnah.
(3) Contradiction by Authentic Reports
Moreover, authentic narrations from Ibn Abbas (RA) explicitly confirm raising hands during prayer:Abu Hamzah (Tabi'i) رحمه الله said:
"I saw Ibn Abbas raising his hands when he said Takbir and when he raised his head from Ruku'."
[Juz' Raf' al-Yadayn, p. 49]
Thus, Raf' al-Yadayn is authentically established from Ibn Abbas (RA).
Baseless Claim: "Raf' al-Yadayn Was Due to Carrying Idols Under the Arms"
Some people claim:"The Prophet ﷺ instructed Raf' al-Yadayn because people would hide idols under their armpits."
➔ Response:This claim is not even proven by any weak Hadith, let alone authentic reports.
➔ It is a fabricated and baseless accusation against the noble companions (Sahabah) رضي الله عنهم.
In reality, Raf' al-Yadayn is a Prophetic Sunnah firmly established through multiple chains of authentic, mass-transmitted (متواتر) ahadith.
Conclusion:
The narration cited from Musnad al-Rabi' and the claimed interpretation from Ibn Abbas (RA) are fabricated and invalid. Authentic evidence consistently supports the practice of Raf' al-Yadayn in prayer, following the pure Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
والله أعلم
