❖ Definition and Status of Raf‘ al-Yadayn
① Is Raf‘ al-Yadayn a Sunnah?Yes, raising the hands in Salah—at the start, before and after ruku—is a confirmed Sunnah. Though the word "Sunnah" is not explicitly used for it in the Quran, the practice is firmly established from multiple authentic Hadiths in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
❝Pray as you have seen me praying.❞
(Sahih al-Bukhari)
And the Quran commands:
➤ "Follow him so that you may be guided" (Al-A‘raf: 158)
➤ "Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah you have an excellent example" (Al-Ahzab: 21)
Thus, following the Prophet’s ﷺ consistent practice of Raf‘ al-Yadayn is to follow his Sunnah.
❖ Definition of Sunnah
"Sunnah" refers to any statement, action, or silent approval of the Prophet ﷺ. Even if the term “Sunnah” isn’t specifically used in the Quran for Raf‘ al-Yadayn, the act itself qualifies under this definition as a regular practice of the Prophet ﷺ.❖ Did the Prophet ﷺ Practice Raf‘ al-Yadayn Until His Death?
Yes, the Hadith of Abdullah ibn Umar رضي الله عنه in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim confirms:➤ "The Prophet ﷺ used to raise his hands to the level of his shoulders when beginning the prayer, when going into ruku, and when rising from it."
This consistent description confirms that the Prophet ﷺ performed Raf‘ al-Yadayn throughout his life, including the final prayers before his passing.
❖ Summary
➊ Raf‘ al-Yadayn is a confirmed Sunnah, firmly proven through Sahih Hadiths.➋ The Prophet ﷺ practiced it consistently, until his death, and his followers should emulate this blessed Sunnah in their prayers.
