Based on the Work of Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Ameenpuri (حفظه الله)
Organized for Clear Understanding and Reference
Whenever the Prophet ﷺ stood for prayer, he raised both hands to shoulder level and said “Allāhu Akbar.” He would do the same before going into rukūʿ and upon rising from it. He did not raise his hands for sujūd, but he continued to do Rafʿ al-Yadayn before every rukūʿ until the end of the prayer.
Sunan Abū Dāwūd: 722, al-Muntaqā by Ibn al-Jārūd: 178 – Chain is ḥasan.
"Rafʿ al-Yadayn is done in seven places including at the start of prayer, in Witr during Qunūt, and in ʿEid prayers..."
Sharḥ Maʿānī al-Āthār by Ṭaḥāwī: 2/178
⚠ This narration is weak due to:
Ahl al-Ḥadīth consistently adhere to every aspect of the Prophetic Sunnah, while others show inconsistency—accepting it in ʿEid but not in regular prayers or Janāzah.
Organized for Clear Understanding and Reference
❖ The Sunnah of Rafʿ al-Yadayn in ʿEid Prayers
It is established from the Sunnah that the Prophet ﷺ used to perform Rafʿ al-Yadayn (raising of the hands) during each Takbīr prior to Rukūʿ. Since the Takbīrāt in ʿEid prayers are also before Rukūʿ, performing Rafʿ al-Yadayn in them is in accordance with the Prophetic practice.❖ Authentic Hadith Evidence
Narrated by ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما:Whenever the Prophet ﷺ stood for prayer, he raised both hands to shoulder level and said “Allāhu Akbar.” He would do the same before going into rukūʿ and upon rising from it. He did not raise his hands for sujūd, but he continued to do Rafʿ al-Yadayn before every rukūʿ until the end of the prayer.
Sunan Abū Dāwūd: 722, al-Muntaqā by Ibn al-Jārūd: 178 – Chain is ḥasan.❖ Position of Leading Hadith Scholars
- Imām al-Shāfiʿī رحمه الله:
“Rafʿ al-Yadayn should be done for every Takbīr in the ʿEid and Janāzah prayers, based on the Prophetic Sunnah.”
Al-Umm: 1/127 - Imām Ibn al-Mundhir رحمه الله:
“The Prophet ﷺ instructed Rafʿ al-Yadayn for each standing Takbīr, and since ʿEid and Janāzah Takbīrāt are also in standing posture, the same ruling applies.”
Al-Awsaṭ: 5/428 - He also added:
“Whenever Takbīr is said in the standing position, it is Sunnah to do Rafʿ al-Yadayn.”
Al-Awsaṭ: 4/282 - Imām al-Bayhaqī رحمه الله titled a chapter:
“Chapter on Rafʿ al-Yadayn in the Takbīrāt of ʿEid.”
Al-Sunan al-Kubrā: 3/411
❖ Statements from Other Imams
- Imām al-Awzāʿī رحمه الله:
“Yes, do Rafʿ al-Yadayn with every Takbīr in ʿEid prayers.”
Aḥkām al-ʿĪdayn by al-Firyābī: 136 – Chain is ṣaḥīḥ. - Imām Mālik رحمه الله:
“Yes, with every Takbīr, and I’ve heard no differing opinion.”
Aḥkām al-ʿĪdayn by al-Firyābī: 137 – Chain is ṣaḥīḥ. - Imām Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal رحمه الله and Imām Isḥāq ibn Rāhawayh رحمه الله also held this view.
Masā’il Aḥmad reported by Abū Dāwūd: 87, Masā’il Aḥmad wa Isḥāq: 8/4054
❖ The Ḥanafī Position and Its Weak Basis
Some Ḥanafīs also accept Rafʿ al-Yadayn in ʿEid Takbīrāt but base it on a weak narration from Ibrāhīm al-Nakhaʿī:"Rafʿ al-Yadayn is done in seven places including at the start of prayer, in Witr during Qunūt, and in ʿEid prayers..."
Sharḥ Maʿānī al-Āthār by Ṭaḥāwī: 2/178⚠ This narration is weak due to:
- Shuʿayb ibn Sulaymān al-Kaysānī – Unknown in authentication.
- Qāḍī Abū Yūsuf – Declared weak by majority scholars.
- Nuʿmān ibn Thābit (Abū Ḥanīfah) – Agreed upon weakness among Muḥaddithīn.
❖ Final Conclusion
The Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ establishes Rafʿ al-Yadayn before every rukūʿ, and by extension, it applies to the extra Takbīrāt in ʿEid prayers. The Ḥanafī position lacks strong hadith evidence, and if they accept Rafʿ al-Yadayn in ʿEid Takbīrāt, then logically they must accept it before rukūʿ and after rising, which they generally neglect.Ahl al-Ḥadīth consistently adhere to every aspect of the Prophetic Sunnah, while others show inconsistency—accepting it in ʿEid but not in regular prayers or Janāzah.
