Raising the Hands (Rafʿ al-Yadayn) at Every Takbīr in Funeral Prayer

Source: Fatāwā Āman Pūrī by Shaykh Ghulām Muṣṭafā Ẓahīr Āman Pūrī

Question​

Should one raise the hands (rafʿ al-yadayn) at every takbīr in the funeral prayer, according to the aḥādīth?

Answer​

Yes, raising the hands at every takbīr in the funeral prayer is a Sunnah.

Ḥadīth Evidence​

❀ ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنهما) said:


“When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ led the funeral prayer, he would raise his hands with every takbīr, and when he finished the prayer, he would give salām.”
(al-ʿIlal by al-Dāraquṭnī 3/22, ḥadīth 2908 – authentic chain)


❀ Nāfiʿ (رحمه الله) reported:


“Ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنهما) used to raise his hands at every takbīr in the funeral prayer.”
(Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah 3/295 – authentic chain)


❀ Khālid ibn Abī Bakr (رحمه الله) said:


“I saw Sālim ibn ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar say four takbīrs over a funeral, raising his hands at each one.”
(Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah 3/295 – authentic chain)


❀ ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAwn (رحمه الله):


“Imām Muḥammad ibn Sīrīn (رحمه الله) would raise his hands at the start of prayer, when bowing, when rising from bowing, and in the funeral prayer at every takbīr.”
(Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah 3/295 – authentic chain)


❀ ʿUmar ibn Abī Zāʾidah (رحمه الله):


“I prayed a funeral prayer behind Qays ibn Abī Ḥāzim (رحمه الله); he said four takbīrs and raised his hands at each.”
(Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah 3/295 – ḥasan chain)


❀ Ibn Jurayj (رحمه الله) narrated from ʿAṭāʾ ibn Abī Rabāḥ (رحمه الله):


“He used to raise his hands at every takbīr, and those behind him did likewise.”
(Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah 3/295 – authentic)


❀ Maʿmar ibn Rāshid (رحمه الله) reported from al-Zuhrī (رحمه الله):


“He would raise his hands with every takbīr in the funeral prayer.”
(Juzʾ Rafʿ al-Yadayn by al-Bukhārī p.118 – authentic)


❀ ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAlāʾ (رحمه الله):


“I saw Imām Makḥūl (رحمه الله) say four takbīrs over a funeral, raising his hands at each.”
(Juzʾ Rafʿ al-Yadayn by al-Bukhārī p.116 – ḥasan)


❀ Al-Ḥasan al-Baṣrī (رحمه الله):


“He would raise his hands with every takbīr in the funeral prayer.”
(Juzʾ Rafʿ al-Yadayn by al-Bukhārī p.122 – authentic)


❀ Abū al-Ghaṣn (رحمه الله):


“I saw Nāfiʿ ibn Jubayr (رحمه الله) raise his hands at every takbīr in the funeral prayer.”
(Juzʾ Rafʿ al-Yadayn by al-Bukhārī p.114 – ḥasan)

Statements of the Imāms​

• Imām ʿAbdullāh ibn al-Mubārak, Imām al-Shāfiʿī, Imām Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal, and Imām Isḥāq ibn Rāhwayh (رحمهم الله) all supported raising the hands at every takbīr in the funeral prayer.
• Imām Ibn al-Mundhir (رحمه الله) said:
  
  “Since the Prophet ﷺ raised his hands with every takbīr in standing positions, and the takbīrs of ʿĪd and funerals are also in standing positions, raising the hands in them is established.”
  (al-Awsaṭ fī al-Sunan wa-l-Ijmāʿ wa-l-Ikhtilāf 5/426)
  

Conclusion​

• Raising the hands with every takbīr in the funeral prayer is authentically established from the Prophet ﷺ, the Companions, and the Salaf.
• It is a Sunnah practice and should be observed.

ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
(This is what I hold; and Allah knows best what is correct.)