Written by: Abu Ismail Abdul Ghaffar, Hyderabad, India
Published by: Sabeel al-Mu’mineen Foundation, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Department of Scholarly Research
بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds, and peace and blessings be upon His trustworthy Messenger, his family, his companions, and those who follow them in righteousness until the Day of Judgment.
Respected Readers:
The practice of raising the hands (Raf‘ al-Yadayn) during the additional Takbirat in Eid prayers is not authentically reported from the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ or from his Companions (رضي الله عنهم). However, it is authentically established from the Tabi‘een, their followers, and the great Imams of the religion.
Imam Abu Bakr al-Bayhaqi (d. 458 AH) established a chapter in Kitab Salat al-‘Eidayn with the title:
“Chapter on Raising the Hands with the Takbirat of Eid.”
He based this on the following narration:
❝كَانَ رَسُولُ اللّٰهِ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ... وَيَرْفَعُهُمَا فِي كُلِّ رَكْعَةٍ وَتَكْبِيرَةٍ كَبَّرَهَا قَبْلَ الرُّكُوعِ، حَتَّى تَنْقَضِيَ صَلَاتُهُ❞
Meaning:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to raise his hands when he stood for prayer, until they were level with his shoulders. He would say “Allāhu Akbar,” then raise his hands again before bowing (ruku‘), and also when rising from ruku‘. He did not raise his hands during prostration. He raised his hands in every rak‘ah and with every Takbir before ruku‘, until the prayer was completed.
Musnad Ahmad, Vol. 2, pp. 133–134, Hadith 6175
Sunan Abu Dawood, Hadith 722
Al-Muntaqa Ibn al-Jarood, Hadith 178
Musnad ash-Shamiyyin, Hadith 1777
Sunan ad-Daraqutni, Hadiths 1111, 1117
As-Sunan al-Kubra lil-Bayhaqi, Hadiths 2541, 6188
Sharh as-Sunnah lil-Baghawi, Hadith 561
This narration proves that raising hands during every Takbir performed in a standing position is a Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ. Since the Takbirat of Eid and Janazah are also done while standing, the same ruling applies: Raf‘ al-Yadayn is established by analogy (Qiyas) and direct interpretation of the Sunnah.
Imam Ibn al-Mundhir derived from this narration that Raf‘ al-Yadayn is valid for the extra Takbirat of Eid and Janazah, saying:
❝Since the Prophet ﷺ clarified that hands should be raised in every Takbir uttered while standing, and since the Takbirat of Eid and Janazah are all done in standing posture, Raf‘ al-Yadayn applies to them as well.❞
Al-Awsat, Vol. 5, p. 428; Alt. Vol. 4, p. 324
✔ Imam ‘Ata ibn Abi Rabah (d. 114 AH):
He was asked if the Imam should raise his hands during the extra Takbirat in Eid al-Fitr, to which he replied:
❝Yes, and the people behind him should also raise their hands.❞
Al-Musannaf ‘Abd ar-Razzaq, Vol. 3, p. 297, Hadith 5699
→ Authentic Isnad
✔ Imam al-Awzaa‘i (d. 157 AH):
When asked, “Should I raise my hands like I do in regular prayer Takbir?”
He said:
❝Yes, raise your hands with each of them.❞
Ahkam al-‘Eidayn, p. 182, Hadith 136
→ Authentic Isnad
✔ Imam Malik ibn Anas (d. 179 AH):
He said:
❝Yes, raise your hands with each Takbir, though I haven’t heard a specific hadith on this.❞
Ahkam al-‘Eidayn, pp. 182–183, Hadith 137
→ Authentic Isnad
✔ Imam ash-Shafi‘i (d. 204 AH):
Also affirmed the practice of raising hands during Eid Takbirat.
Kitab al-Umm, Chapter: Raf‘ al-Yadayn in Takbirat of the Two Eids, p. 177
✔ Imam Yahya ibn Ma‘in (d. 233 AH):
He said:
❝I raise my hands with every Takbir in Eid prayers. I follow the opinion of ‘Ata.❞
Tareekh Ibn Ma‘in, Vol. 1, p. 338, Entry 2284
✔ Imam Ishaq ibn Rahwayh (d. 238 AH):
Agreed with raising hands during extra Takbirat of Eid.
Masa’il Ahmad wa Ishaq, Vol. 2, p. 376, Entry 2868
✔ Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (d. 241 AH):
Held the same view as well.
Masa’il Ahmad by Abu Dawood, Vol. 2, p. 60; Alt. p. 87, Entry 421
✔ Imam Ibn al-Mundhir (d. 318 AH):
Wrote a full chapter titled: “Mention of Raising Hands in the Takbirat of Eid.” He states:
❝Those who favored raising the hands with every Takbir in Eid prayer include: ‘Ata, al-Awzaa‘i, ash-Shafi‘i, and Ahmad.❞
Al-Awsat, Vol. 4, p. 282
✔ Imam al-Baghawi (d. 516 AH):
❝Raising the hands with the Takbirat of Eid is Sunnah according to most scholars. This is the opinion of Ibn al-Mubarak, ash-Shafi‘i, Ahmad, and Ishaq.❞
Sharh as-Sunnah, Vol. 4, p. 310, under Hadith 1106
The consistent practice of the Tabi‘een, their followers, and many major Imams confirms that:
Raising the hands (Raf‘ al-Yadayn) with each of the extra Takbirat in Eid prayers is a valid and established Sunnah.
Based on this, we should also perform Raf‘ al-Yadayn with every additional Takbir during Eid prayers, just as it is done at the beginning of Salah and before/after Ruku‘.
"Our responsibility is only to convey the message."
— Sabeel al-Mu’mineen Foundation Team
Published by: Sabeel al-Mu’mineen Foundation, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Department of Scholarly Research
بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds, and peace and blessings be upon His trustworthy Messenger, his family, his companions, and those who follow them in righteousness until the Day of Judgment.
✦ Introduction
Respected Readers:
The practice of raising the hands (Raf‘ al-Yadayn) during the additional Takbirat in Eid prayers is not authentically reported from the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ or from his Companions (رضي الله عنهم). However, it is authentically established from the Tabi‘een, their followers, and the great Imams of the religion.
Imam Abu Bakr al-Bayhaqi (d. 458 AH) established a chapter in Kitab Salat al-‘Eidayn with the title:
“Chapter on Raising the Hands with the Takbirat of Eid.”
He based this on the following narration:
✔ Hadith of Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (رضي الله عنهما)
❝كَانَ رَسُولُ اللّٰهِ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ... وَيَرْفَعُهُمَا فِي كُلِّ رَكْعَةٍ وَتَكْبِيرَةٍ كَبَّرَهَا قَبْلَ الرُّكُوعِ، حَتَّى تَنْقَضِيَ صَلَاتُهُ❞
Meaning:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to raise his hands when he stood for prayer, until they were level with his shoulders. He would say “Allāhu Akbar,” then raise his hands again before bowing (ruku‘), and also when rising from ruku‘. He did not raise his hands during prostration. He raised his hands in every rak‘ah and with every Takbir before ruku‘, until the prayer was completed.
Musnad Ahmad, Vol. 2, pp. 133–134, Hadith 6175 Sunan Abu Dawood, Hadith 722 Al-Muntaqa Ibn al-Jarood, Hadith 178 Musnad ash-Shamiyyin, Hadith 1777 Sunan ad-Daraqutni, Hadiths 1111, 1117 As-Sunan al-Kubra lil-Bayhaqi, Hadiths 2541, 6188 Sharh as-Sunnah lil-Baghawi, Hadith 561✦ Scholarly Analysis
This narration proves that raising hands during every Takbir performed in a standing position is a Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ. Since the Takbirat of Eid and Janazah are also done while standing, the same ruling applies: Raf‘ al-Yadayn is established by analogy (Qiyas) and direct interpretation of the Sunnah.
✔ Statement of Imam Ibn al-Mundhir (d. 318 AH)
Imam Ibn al-Mundhir derived from this narration that Raf‘ al-Yadayn is valid for the extra Takbirat of Eid and Janazah, saying:
❝Since the Prophet ﷺ clarified that hands should be raised in every Takbir uttered while standing, and since the Takbirat of Eid and Janazah are all done in standing posture, Raf‘ al-Yadayn applies to them as well.❞
Al-Awsat, Vol. 5, p. 428; Alt. Vol. 4, p. 324✦ Reports from the Tabi‘een and Early Imams
✔ Imam ‘Ata ibn Abi Rabah (d. 114 AH):
He was asked if the Imam should raise his hands during the extra Takbirat in Eid al-Fitr, to which he replied:
❝Yes, and the people behind him should also raise their hands.❞
Al-Musannaf ‘Abd ar-Razzaq, Vol. 3, p. 297, Hadith 5699→ Authentic Isnad
✔ Imam al-Awzaa‘i (d. 157 AH):
When asked, “Should I raise my hands like I do in regular prayer Takbir?”
He said:
❝Yes, raise your hands with each of them.❞
Ahkam al-‘Eidayn, p. 182, Hadith 136→ Authentic Isnad
✔ Imam Malik ibn Anas (d. 179 AH):
He said:
❝Yes, raise your hands with each Takbir, though I haven’t heard a specific hadith on this.❞
Ahkam al-‘Eidayn, pp. 182–183, Hadith 137→ Authentic Isnad
✔ Imam ash-Shafi‘i (d. 204 AH):
Also affirmed the practice of raising hands during Eid Takbirat.
Kitab al-Umm, Chapter: Raf‘ al-Yadayn in Takbirat of the Two Eids, p. 177✔ Imam Yahya ibn Ma‘in (d. 233 AH):
He said:
❝I raise my hands with every Takbir in Eid prayers. I follow the opinion of ‘Ata.❞
Tareekh Ibn Ma‘in, Vol. 1, p. 338, Entry 2284✔ Imam Ishaq ibn Rahwayh (d. 238 AH):
Agreed with raising hands during extra Takbirat of Eid.
Masa’il Ahmad wa Ishaq, Vol. 2, p. 376, Entry 2868✔ Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (d. 241 AH):
Held the same view as well.
Masa’il Ahmad by Abu Dawood, Vol. 2, p. 60; Alt. p. 87, Entry 421✔ Imam Ibn al-Mundhir (d. 318 AH):
Wrote a full chapter titled: “Mention of Raising Hands in the Takbirat of Eid.” He states:
❝Those who favored raising the hands with every Takbir in Eid prayer include: ‘Ata, al-Awzaa‘i, ash-Shafi‘i, and Ahmad.❞
Al-Awsat, Vol. 4, p. 282✔ Imam al-Baghawi (d. 516 AH):
❝Raising the hands with the Takbirat of Eid is Sunnah according to most scholars. This is the opinion of Ibn al-Mubarak, ash-Shafi‘i, Ahmad, and Ishaq.❞
Sharh as-Sunnah, Vol. 4, p. 310, under Hadith 1106
Conclusion
The consistent practice of the Tabi‘een, their followers, and many major Imams confirms that:
Raising the hands (Raf‘ al-Yadayn) with each of the extra Takbirat in Eid prayers is a valid and established Sunnah. Based on this, we should also perform Raf‘ al-Yadayn with every additional Takbir during Eid prayers, just as it is done at the beginning of Salah and before/after Ruku‘. "Our responsibility is only to convey the message."— Sabeel al-Mu’mineen Foundation Team
