Rafa Yadain Evidence from Hadith Until Death of Prophet ﷺ

Author: Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amani Puri

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) used to raise his hands (Raf’ul Yadain) to the level of his shoulders:

1. When starting the prayer.
2. When going into Ruku (bowing).
3. When rising from Ruku.
4. After rising from the first two Rak‘at.

This practice has not been proven to be abandoned. The following evidences clearly demonstrate its continuity.

Evidence No. 1​

Hadith of Abdullah ibn Umar (رضي الله عنهما):
“Indeed, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to raise his hands to the level of his shoulders when he started the prayer, when he said Takbeer for Ruku, and when he raised his head from Ruku, saying ‘Sami Allahu liman hamidah, Rabbana wa lakal hamd,’ and he did not do this during the prostration.”
[Sahih Bukhari: 1/102, Hadith: 735, 738, 738; Sahih Muslim: 168, Hadith: 390]

Practice of the Narrator of Hadith​

• Sulaiman Al-Shaibani says:
  “I saw Salim bin Abdullah start the prayer with raising his hands, raise his hands when he bowed, and raise his hands when he raised his head. I asked him about this, and he said, ‘I saw my father (Abdullah ibn Umar) do this, who said he saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) do this.’”
  [Hadith Al-Siraj: 2/34-35, Hadith: 115, and its chain is authentic]

Reflection:
SubhanAllah! This is a beautiful proof that the Prophet (ﷺ) continued to practice Raf’ul Yadain until his death. Abdullah ibn Umar (رضي الله عنهما) observed the Prophet (ﷺ) performing Raf’ul Yadain and followed him. His son Salim (a Tabi‘i) observed his father, who in turn followed the Prophet (ﷺ). If Raf’ul Yadain had been abrogated, how could Abdullah ibn Umar (رضي الله عنهما)—the Companion and narrator of this Hadith—remain unaware, while others centuries later claim otherwise?

Evidence No. 2​

Hadith of Malik bin Huwayrith (رضي الله عنه):
Malik bin Huwayrith (رضي الله عنه) stayed with the Prophet (ﷺ) for twenty days. When he was about to leave, the Prophet (ﷺ) said to him:
“Pray as you have seen me praying.”
[Sahih Bukhari: 1/88, Hadith: 631]

Practice of the Narrator of Hadith​

• Abu Qilabah (رحمه الله) narrates:
  “He saw Malik bin Huwayrith (رضي الله عنه) praying and raising his hands when he started the prayer, when he bowed, and when he raised his head from bowing. He said that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) did the same.”
  [Sahih Bukhari: 1/102, Hadith: 737; Sahih Muslim: 1/168, Hadith: 391]

Reflection:
Malik bin Huwayrith (رضي الله عنه) continued to perform Raf’ul Yadain after the Prophet’s (ﷺ) death, in compliance with the Prophet’s command: “Pray as you have seen me praying.” This indicates that the Prophet (ﷺ) practiced Raf’ul Yadain until his death.

Evidence No. 3​

Hadith of Wail ibn Hujr (رضي الله عنه):
“He saw the Prophet (ﷺ) enter the prayer with raising his hands to the level of his ears, wrap his garment around himself, place his right hand over his left hand, and when he intended to bow, he took his hands out from his garment and raised them; then he said Takbeer and bowed. When he said ‘Sami Allahu liman hamidah,’ he raised his hands, and he prostrated between his palms.”
[Sahih Muslim: 1/173, Hadith: 401]

Note:
Wail ibn Hujr (رضي الله عنه) came to the Prophet (ﷺ) in 9 AH.
[Umdat al-Qari by ‘Ayni Hanafi: 5/274]
He observed Raf’ul Yadain both times he visited—once during his initial visit and again when he returned during winter.
[Sunan Abi Dawood: 727 (chain is Hasan)]

Evidence No. 4​

Hadith of Ali ibn Abi Talib (رضي الله عنه):
“The Prophet (ﷺ) would stand for the obligatory prayer, say Takbeer, and raise his hands to the level of his shoulders. He would do the same when he completed his recitation and intended to bow, and when he raised his head from bowing. He did not raise his hands while sitting in prayer. After two Rakat, he would also raise his hands and say Takbeer.”
[Sunan Abi Dawood: 744; Musnad Ahmad: 1/93 (chain is Hasan)]

Note:
Imam Tirmidhi (رحمه الله) graded this Hadith as Hasan Sahih, and Imam Ibn Khuzaymah (رحمه الله) authenticated it [Hadith: 584].

Narrator’s Statement​

• Sulaiman bin Dawood al-Hashimi (رحمه الله) says:
  “This Hadith is like the Hadith of Al-Zuhri from Salim from his father (Abdullah ibn Umar).”
  [Sunan al-Tirmidhi, under Hadith: 3423, chain is Sahih]

Additional Note on the Narrator​

• Abdulrahman bin Abi Zinad is considered trustworthy by the majority, as stated by:
  • Hafiz Ibn Hajar (رحمه الله):
    “He is trustworthy according to the majority, although some criticized him without valid reason.”
    [Nataij al-Afkar by Ibn Hajar: 304]

His Hadith is considered Sahih in Madinah and was found disturbed only in Iraq. This narration is Madani—Alhamdulillah.

Evidence No. 5​

Hadith of Jabir bin Abdullah (رضي الله عنه):
“Jabir bin Abdullah (رضي الله عنه) would raise his hands when starting the prayer, when bowing, and when raising his head from bowing. He said that he saw the Prophet (ﷺ) do this.”
[Sunan Ibn Majah: 868 (chain is Sahih)]

Note:
Abu Zubair Muhammad bin Muslim bin Tadrus (a Tabi‘i) explicitly mentioned hearing Jabir in “Musnad Al-Siraj” [92].


Reflection:
After the Prophet’s (ﷺ) death, a Tabi‘i observed the Companion Jabir bin Abdullah (رضي الله عنه) performing Raf’ul Yadain and narrating that the Prophet (ﷺ) did the same. If the Prophet (ﷺ) had abandoned this practice, why did the Companions continue it after his passing?

Evidence No. 6​

Hadith of Abu Musa al-Ash‘ari (رضي الله عنه):
“Should I show you how the Prophet (ﷺ) prayed? He said Takbeer and raised his hands, then said Takbeer and raised his hands for Ruku, then said ‘Sami Allahu liman hamidah’ and raised his hands. He said, ‘Do the same,’ but he did not raise his hands between the two prostrations.”
[Sunan al-Daraqutni: 1/292, Hadith: 1111 (chain is Sahih)]

• Hafiz Ibn Hajar (رحمه الله) says: “Its narrators are trustworthy.”
  [Al-Talkhis al-Habir: 1/219]

Reflection:
This refutes any claim that raising hands is somehow abrogated. Abu Musa al-Ash‘ari (رضي الله عنه) clearly continued performing and teaching Raf’ul Yadain after the Prophet’s (ﷺ) demise.

Evidence No. 7​

Hadith of Abu Humaid al-Sa‘idi (رضي الله عنه):
He demonstrated the Prophet’s (ﷺ) prayer in the presence of ten Companions. He performed Raf’ul Yadain when starting the prayer, going into Ruku, rising from Ruku, and after two Rak‘at. All ten Companions said:“You have spoken the truth. This is how the Prophet (ﷺ) prayed.”
[Musnad Ahmad: 5/424; Sunan al-Tirmidhi: 304 (chain is Sahih)]

Note:

Imam Tirmidhi (رحمه الله) graded this Hadith as Hasan Sahih.

• Imam Ibn Khuzaymah [587], Imam Ibn al-Jarud [192], and Imam Ibn Hibban [1865] also graded it Sahih.
• Hafiz Khattabi [Ma‘alim al-Sunan: 1/194] and Hafiz Nawawi [Khilasat al-Ahkam: 353] likewise declared it Sahih.
• Hafiz Ibn al-Qayyim (رحمه الله) says:
  “This Hadith of Abu Humaid is Sahih and accepted for practice. It has no defect. Some have criticized it without valid reason, which Allah has cleared the Hadith scholars from.”
  [Tahdhib al-Sunan: 2/416]
• Imam Muhammad bin Yahya al-Dhahli Abu Abdullah al-Naysaburi (رحمه الله) (258 AH) states:
  “One who hears this Hadith and does not perform Raf’ul Yadain after raising the head from Ruku, his prayer is incomplete.”
  [Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah: 1/298, chain is Sahih]

Evidence No. 8​

Narration of Imam Abu Ismail Muhammad bin Ismail al-Sulami (رحمه الله):
“I prayed behind Abu Nu‘man Muhammad bin Fadl (رحمه الله). He performed Raf’ul Yadain when starting the prayer, going into Ruku, and raising his head from Ruku. I asked him about this. He said, ‘I prayed behind Imam Hammad bin Zaid (رحمه الله), who did the same. I asked him about this. He said, ‘I prayed behind Imam Ayub al-Sakhtiyani (رحمه الله), who did the same. I asked him about this. He said, ‘I prayed behind Imam Ata bin Abi Rabah (رحمه الله), who did the same. I asked him about this. Imam Ata bin Abi Rabah (رحمه الله) said, ‘I prayed behind Abdullah bin Zubair (رضي الله عنه), who did the same. I asked him about this. Abdullah bin Zubair (رضي الله عنه) said, ‘I prayed behind Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (رضي الله عنه), who did the same. He said, ‘I prayed behind the Prophet (ﷺ), who performed Raf’ul Yadain when starting the prayer, going into Ruku, and raising his head from Ruku.’”
[Al-Sunan al-Kubra by Al-Bayhaqi: 2/73 (chain is Sahih)]

• Imam Al-Bayhaqi (رحمه الله) says: “Its narrators are trustworthy.”
• Hafiz Dhahabi (رحمه الله) [Al-Muhadhdhab fi Ikhtisar al-Sunan al-Kabir: 2/49] and Hafiz Ibn Hajar (رحمه الله) also grade the narrators as trustworthy.

Reflection:
This “golden chain” clearly shows how companions and Tabi‘in continued this practice after the Prophet (ﷺ).

Additional Note​

• Imam Abu Ja‘far Ahmad bin Ishaq bin Bahlul al-Baghdadi (رحمه الله) (318 AH) states:
  “I was following the Iraqi school of thought; then I saw the Prophet (ﷺ) in a dream praying. I saw that he performed Raf’ul Yadain during the first Takbeer, when bowing, and when raising his head from Ruku.”
  [Sunan al-Daraqutni: 1/292, Hadith: 1112 (chain is Sahih)]

Those who base their school of thought on the dreams of elders, are they ready to adopt this Sunnah of the Prophet (ﷺ) found in the dream of this trustworthy Imam?

Conclusion​

Raf’ul Yadain is a continuous Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). It has not been abandoned or abrogated by any authentic Hadith, and the Ummah has consistently practiced it throughout the generations. May Allah grant us the ability to follow this Sunnah as well.


Ameen, Ya Rabb al-‘Alamin!