What is the Ruling on Raising Hands in Qunūt al-Witr? ◈
Source: Fatāwā Amunpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amunpuri
What is the ruling on raising the hands during Qunūt in Witr prayer?
Raising the hands during Qunūt is permissible.
Sayyidunā Sahl ibn Saʿd رضي الله عنه narrated that during the final illness of the Prophet ﷺ, Abū Bakr aṣ-Ṣiddīq رضي الله عنه was leading the people in prayer. The Prophet ﷺ came forward by moving through the rows. Sayyidunā Abū Bakr رضي الله عنه intended to move back, but the Prophet ﷺ signaled for him to remain at his place:
رفع أبو بكر رضى الله عنه يديه، فحمد الله على ما أمره به رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم من ذلك.
"Abū Bakr رضي الله عنه raised his hands and praised Allah for what the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had commanded him to do."
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 684, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 421)
This shows that raising the hands for duʿā’ in any prayer is legislated and permissible.
Sayyidunā Anas ibn Mālik رضي الله عنه said:
لقد رأيت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كلما صلى الغداة رفع يديه، فدعا عليهم.
"I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, whenever he prayed Fajr, he would raise his hands and supplicate against the tribes of Riʿl and Dhakwān."
(Musnad Aḥmad: 3/137 — authentic chain)
This narration has been declared Ṣaḥīḥ by Imām Abū ʿAwānah رحمه الله (Hadith no. 7443)
Qunūt is Qunūt — whether in Witr or Nāzilah, and the raising of hands in both is established.
❖ Imām Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal رحمه الله said:
رفع يديه فى قنوته فى الوتر.
"The person performing Qunūt in Witr should raise his hands during it."
(Masā’il Aḥmad by ʿAbdullāh, p. 90, Issue: 319)
❖ Imām Isḥāq ibn Rāhawayh رحمه الله held the same view.
(Masā’il al-Imām Aḥmad wa Isḥāq by al-Kawsaj: 2/649)
Conclusion:
All authentic evidence and scholarly statements show that raising the hands during Qunūt al-Witr is legislated and permissible.
There is no reliable Imām from the Salaf who opposed this practice.
Source: Fatāwā Amunpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amunpuri
❖ Question:
What is the ruling on raising the hands during Qunūt in Witr prayer?
❖ Answer:
Raising the hands during Qunūt is permissible.
✿ Evidence from the Sunnah:
Sayyidunā Sahl ibn Saʿd رضي الله عنه narrated that during the final illness of the Prophet ﷺ, Abū Bakr aṣ-Ṣiddīq رضي الله عنه was leading the people in prayer. The Prophet ﷺ came forward by moving through the rows. Sayyidunā Abū Bakr رضي الله عنه intended to move back, but the Prophet ﷺ signaled for him to remain at his place:
رفع أبو بكر رضى الله عنه يديه، فحمد الله على ما أمره به رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم من ذلك.
"Abū Bakr رضي الله عنه raised his hands and praised Allah for what the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had commanded him to do."
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 684, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 421) This shows that raising the hands for duʿā’ in any prayer is legislated and permissible.✿ Proven from Qunūt Nāzilah (and by extension Qunūt al-Witr):
Sayyidunā Anas ibn Mālik رضي الله عنه said:
لقد رأيت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كلما صلى الغداة رفع يديه، فدعا عليهم.
"I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, whenever he prayed Fajr, he would raise his hands and supplicate against the tribes of Riʿl and Dhakwān."
(Musnad Aḥmad: 3/137 — authentic chain) This narration has been declared Ṣaḥīḥ by Imām Abū ʿAwānah رحمه الله (Hadith no. 7443) Qunūt is Qunūt — whether in Witr or Nāzilah, and the raising of hands in both is established.✿ Opinions of the Salaf and Imāms:
❖ Imām Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal رحمه الله said:
رفع يديه فى قنوته فى الوتر.
"The person performing Qunūt in Witr should raise his hands during it."
(Masā’il Aḥmad by ʿAbdullāh, p. 90, Issue: 319)❖ Imām Isḥāq ibn Rāhawayh رحمه الله held the same view.
(Masā’il al-Imām Aḥmad wa Isḥāq by al-Kawsaj: 2/649) Conclusion:All authentic evidence and scholarly statements show that raising the hands during Qunūt al-Witr is legislated and permissible.
There is no reliable Imām from the Salaf who opposed this practice.
