Raising Hands (Raf‘ al-Yadayn) During Eid Takbīrāt: An Analytical Review
Written by: Imran Ayyub Lahori
The ruling on raising the hands during the extra Takbīrāt in Eid prayers has been debated among scholars, with differing opinions based on narrations and principles of ḥadīth authenticity.
It has been reported that Ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنهما) used to raise his hands with every Takbīrah during the Eid prayer.
This narration has been cited by Imām Ibn al-Qayyim (رحمه الله):
[Zād al-Maʿād: 1/443]
However:
❖ Those who support raising hands with each Takbīrah:
▶ They consider raising hands with every Takbīrah in Eid prayer as valid and part of the practice.
❖ Those who oppose it:
[Al-Awsaṭ by Ibn al-Mundhir: 4/282]
[Al-Mudawwanah: 1/169]
[Al-Muḥallā: 5/83]
[Al-Majmūʿ: 5/21]
Some scholars refer to the narration from Ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنهما):
"He (the Prophet ﷺ) used to raise both hands in every rakʿah and with every Takbīrah before the rukūʿ."
[Ṣaḥīḥ — Irwāʾ al-Ghalīl: 3/113, Abū Dāwūd: 722, Aḥmad: 2/134, Dār Quṭnī: 1/289]
But this hadith is not directly related to Eid prayers and is therefore not a clear textual proof for this specific context.
✔ According to many muḥaqqiq scholars, including Shaykh al-Albānī (رحمه الله), the practice of Raf‘ al-Yadayn in Eid Takbīrāt is not established through any authentic and specific narration.
✔ The mentioned narration does not explicitly refer to the Eid prayer, and thus cannot serve as conclusive evidence.
[See: Fatāwā al-Dīn al-Khāliṣ: 4/88–90]
It is ironic that the Ḥanafī school considers Raf‘ al-Yadayn in Eid Takbīrāt mustaḥabb (recommended), despite acknowledging that all narrations about it are weak,
— while at the same time, they reject Raf‘ al-Yadayn in obligatory prayers even though there are authentic hadiths supporting it.
[Al-Muḥallā: 2/296]
➤ The stronger opinion is that Raf‘ al-Yadayn in the extra Takbīrāt of Eid prayers is not Sunnah, as there is no ṣaḥīḥ marfūʿ narration proving it.
➤ Those who choose not to raise their hands in the extra Takbīrāt are following the sounder practice based on available evidence.
Written by: Imran Ayyub Lahori
✿ The Issue of Raising Hands With Eid Takbīrāt
The ruling on raising the hands during the extra Takbīrāt in Eid prayers has been debated among scholars, with differing opinions based on narrations and principles of ḥadīth authenticity.
◈ Attributed Practice of ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنهما)
It has been reported that Ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنهما) used to raise his hands with every Takbīrah during the Eid prayer.
This narration has been cited by Imām Ibn al-Qayyim (رحمه الله):
[Zād al-Maʿād: 1/443]However:
- Shaykh al-Albānī (رحمه الله) states:
"I have not found any authentic narration to this effect till now."
[Tamām al-Minnah: p. 349]
- Imām Mālik (رحمه الله) also said:
"I have not heard anything regarding this."
[Al-Mudawwanah al-Kubrā: 1/169]
◈ Scholarly Views on Raf‘ al-Yadayn in Eid Takbīrāt
❖ Those who support raising hands with each Takbīrah:
- Imām al-Shāfiʿī (رحمه الله)
- Imām Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal (رحمه الله)
- Imām al-Awzāʿī (رحمه الله)
- ʿAṭā’ ibn Abī Rabāḥ (رحمه الله)
▶ They consider raising hands with every Takbīrah in Eid prayer as valid and part of the practice.
❖ Those who oppose it:
- Imām Mālik (رحمه الله):
▶ Raise hands only at Takbīrat al-Taḥrīmah (opening Takbīrah). - Imām Ibn Ḥazm (رحمه الله)
- Imām al-Thawrī (رحمه الله)
[Al-Awsaṭ by Ibn al-Mundhir: 4/282] [Al-Mudawwanah: 1/169] [Al-Muḥallā: 5/83] [Al-Majmūʿ: 5/21]◈ Hadith Used by the Supporters
Some scholars refer to the narration from Ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنهما):
"He (the Prophet ﷺ) used to raise both hands in every rakʿah and with every Takbīrah before the rukūʿ."
[Ṣaḥīḥ — Irwāʾ al-Ghalīl: 3/113, Abū Dāwūd: 722, Aḥmad: 2/134, Dār Quṭnī: 1/289]But this hadith is not directly related to Eid prayers and is therefore not a clear textual proof for this specific context.
◈ Preferred Opinion (Rājiḥ Qawl)
✔ According to many muḥaqqiq scholars, including Shaykh al-Albānī (رحمه الله), the practice of Raf‘ al-Yadayn in Eid Takbīrāt is not established through any authentic and specific narration.
✔ The mentioned narration does not explicitly refer to the Eid prayer, and thus cannot serve as conclusive evidence.
[See: Fatāwā al-Dīn al-Khāliṣ: 4/88–90]❖ A Notable Observation
It is ironic that the Ḥanafī school considers Raf‘ al-Yadayn in Eid Takbīrāt mustaḥabb (recommended), despite acknowledging that all narrations about it are weak,
— while at the same time, they reject Raf‘ al-Yadayn in obligatory prayers even though there are authentic hadiths supporting it.
[Al-Muḥallā: 2/296]
Conclusion
➤ The stronger opinion is that Raf‘ al-Yadayn in the extra Takbīrāt of Eid prayers is not Sunnah, as there is no ṣaḥīḥ marfūʿ narration proving it.
➤ Those who choose not to raise their hands in the extra Takbīrāt are following the sounder practice based on available evidence.
