Raising the hands with every Takbeer in the Funeral Prayer: A Research Study

This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amanpuri's book Mas'alah Raf' al-Yadain.

Raising the Hands with Every Takbeer in the Funeral Prayer​

​

Raising the hands with every takbeer in the funeral prayer is the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet ﷺ. Consider the evidences:

① Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) narrates:​

[أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم كان إذا صلىٰ علىٰ جنازة رفع يديه في كل تكبيرة وإذا انصرف سلم]
When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ led the funeral prayer, he would raise his hands with every takbeer, and when he finished the prayer, he would give the salam.

Reference: Al-‘Ilal by Al-Daraqutni: 22/3, Hadith: 2908, and its chain is authentic

② Nafi’ (may Allah have mercy on him) narrates about Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them):​

[كان يرفع يديه في كل تكبيرة علىٰ جنازة]
He used to raise his hands with every takbeer in the funeral prayer.

Reference: Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 11380, and its chain is authentic

③ Khalid bin Abi Bakr (may Allah have mercy on him) says:​

[رأيت سالما كبر علىٰ جنازة أربعا، يرفع يديه عند كل تكبيرة]
I saw Salim bin Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah have mercy on him) say four takbeers in the funeral prayer, raising his hands with every takbeer.

Reference: Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 11384, and its chain is authentic

④ Abdullah bin Awn (may Allah have mercy on him) says:​

[كان محمد يرفع يديه في الصلاة، وإذا ركع، وإذا رفع رأسه من الركوع، وكان يفعل ذٰلك مع كل تكبيرة علىٰ الجنازة]
Imam Muhammad bin Sirin, a Tabi'i, may Allah have mercy on him, used to raise his hands at the beginning of the prayer, during the bowing (ruku'), and when rising from the bowing; likewise, in the funeral prayer, he would raise his hands with every takbir in this manner.

Reference: Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 11389, and its chain is authentic

⑤ Umar bin Abi Za'idah, may Allah have mercy on him, says:​

[صليت خلف قيس بن أبي حازم علىٰ جنازة فكبر أربعا يرفع يديه في كل تكبيرة]
I prayed the funeral prayer behind Qais bin Abi Hazim, a Tabi'i, may Allah have mercy on him; he said four takbirs and raised his hands with every takbir.

Reference: Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 11385, and its chain is good

⑥ Ibn Jurayj, may Allah have mercy on him, says about Imam Ata bin Abi Rabah, may Allah have mercy on him:​

[يرفع يديه في كل تكبيرة، ومن خلفه يرفعون أيديهم]
He would raise his hands with every takbir, and the followers would also raise their hands.

Reference: Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 11382, and its chain is authentic

⑦ Mu'ammar bin Rashid, may Allah have mercy on him, narrates about Imam Zahri, may Allah have mercy on him:​

[إنه كان يرفع يديه مع كل تكبيرة علىٰ الجنازة]
He would raise his hands with every takbir in the funeral prayer.

Reference: Juz' Raf' al-Yadain by al-Bukhari: 118, and its chain is authentic

❀ Imam Abdul Razzaq, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
[به نأخذ]
We (the Muhaddithin) act upon this.

Reference: Musannaf Abdul Razzaq: 469/3

⑧ Abdullah bin 'Alaa, may Allah have mercy on him, says:​

[رأيت مكحولا صلىٰ علىٰ جنازة، فكبر عليها أربعا ويرفع يديه مع كل تكبيرة]
I have seen Imam Makhool Tabi'i, may Allah have mercy on him, say four Takbirs at a funeral prayer and raise his hands with each Takbir.

Reference: The section on raising hands in Bukhari: 116, and its chain is Hasan

⑨ Ashath bin Abdul Malik Hamrani, may Allah have mercy on him, says:​

[كان الحسن يرفع يديه في كل تكبيرة علىٰ الجنازة]
Imam Hasan Basri, may Allah have mercy on him, used to raise his hands with every Takbir in the funeral prayer.

Reference: The section on raising hands in Bukhari: 122, and its chain is Sahih

⑩ Abu Al-Ghasn, may Allah have mercy on him, says:​

[رأيت نافع بن جبير يرفع يديه مع كل تكبيرة علىٰ الجنازة]
I have seen Nafi' bin Jubair, may Allah have mercy on him, raise his hands with every Takbir in the funeral prayer.

Reference: The section on raising hands in Bukhari: 114, and its chain is Hasan

Imam Abdullah bin Mubarak

Reference: (Jami' Tirmidhi, under Hadith: 1077)

, Imam Shafi'i

Reference: (Al-Umm: 271/1)

, Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal

Reference: (Seerah of Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal by Abi Al-Fadl Saleh bin Ahmad, p. 40)

, and Imam Ishaq bin Rahwayh, may Allah have mercy on them

Reference: (Sunan Tirmidhi, under Hadith: 1077)

also hold the view that raising hands with every Takbir in the funeral prayer is correct.

Benefit:​

It is not established from Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, that he raised his hands only with the first Takbir, because the book "Madunah Kubra" is unsourced, and the statements mentioned in it are not proven from Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him.

Arguments of the Opponents:​

​

Now we briefly review the arguments of those who believe in raising the hands only with the first Takbeer:

① It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him):​

[إن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كبر علىٰ جنازة، فرفع يديه في أول تكبيرة، ووضع اليمنىٰ على اليسرىٰ]
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said Takbeers in the funeral prayer, raised the hands only with the first Takbeer, and placed the right hand over the left hand.

Reference: Sunan al-Tirmidhi: 1077, Sunan al-Daraqutni: 74/2, Hadith: 1813

Comment:​

❀ The chain of narration is "weak," Imam Darqutni, may Allah have mercy on him, himself says:
[الحديث غير ثابت]
This hadith is not established.

Reference: Al-‘Ilal: 151/8

❀ Hafiz Nawawi, may Allah have mercy on him, also declared its chain "weak."

Reference: Khulasat al-Ahkam: 984/2

① About Yahya ibn Ya'la Aslami, Hafiz Ibn Hajar, may Allah have mercy on him, writes:
[ضعيف شيعي]
Weak and a Shia narrator.

Reference: Taqrib al-Tahdhib: 7677

② Abu Farwah Yazid ibn Sinan Rahawi is also considered "weak" by the majority. Imam Darqutni, may Allah have mercy on him, called him "abandoned."

Reference: Su'alat al-Barqani: 560

❀ He is also called "weak."

Reference: Sunan al-Darqutni: 172/1, under hadith: 637

❀ Imam Ali ibn al-Madini, may Allah have mercy on him, said "weak hadith."

Reference: Al-Jarh wa al-Ta'dil by Ibn Abi Hatim: 266/9

❀ Imam Abu Zur'ah Razi, may Allah have mercy on him, said ”ليس بقوي الحديث.

Reference: Al-Jarh wa al-Ta'dil by Ibn Abi Hatim: 267/9

❀ Imam Abu Hatim Razi, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
[محله الصدق والغالب عليه الغفلة، يكتب حديثه، ولا يحتج به]
His place is truthful, but negligence was predominant over him; his hadith will be recorded, but it will not be used as evidence.

Reference: Al-Jarh wa al-Ta'dil by Ibn Abi Hatim: 267/9

❀ Imam Yahya ibn Ma'in, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
[ليس حديثه بشيء]
His hadith is nothing.

Reference: Al-Tarikh al-Kabir by Ibn Abi Khaythama: 9241, and his chain is authentic

❀ Imam Nasai, may Allah have mercy on him, said "weak and abandoned hadith," and Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, may Allah have mercy on him, said "weak." Hafiz Ibn Hajar, may Allah have mercy on him, also writes "weak."

Reference: Taqrib al-Tahdhib: 7727

❀ Hafiz Haithami, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
[الأكثر علىٰ تضعيفه]
❀ Most hadith scholars have called him weak.

Reference: Majma' al-Zawa'id: 218/4

③ Imam Zahri, may Allah have mercy on him, is "mudallis" (concealer), he did not specify the hearing.
As a benefit, it is stated that this narration does not establish the negation of raising the hands with the other takbirs.
“

② It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them):​

[إن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يرفع يديه على الجنازة في أول تكبيرة ثم لا يعود]
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would raise his hands with the first Takbeer at the funeral prayer, then he would not raise them again.

Reference: Sunan ad-Daraqutni: 74/2, Hadith: 1814

Commentary:​

❀ The chain is very weak; Hafiz Nawawi, may Allah have mercy on him, has called this hadith "weak."

Reference: Khilasat al-Ahkam: 984/2

① Hajjaj bin Nasir Basri is considered "weak" by the majority of hadith scholars. Imam Darqutni, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
[أجمعوا علىٰ تركه]
There is consensus among the hadith scholars to abandon him.

Reference: Al-Du'afa wal-Matrukoon: 174

❀ He has also been called "weak."

Reference: Sunan al-Darqutni: 157/1

❀ Imam Abu Hatim Razi, may Allah have mercy on him, writes:
[منكر الحديث، ضعيف الحديث، ترك حديثه، كان الناس لا يحدثون عنه]
He is a denier of hadith and weak in hadith; his hadith was abandoned, and people did not narrate hadith from him.

Reference: Al-Jarh wal-Ta'dil by Ibn Abi Hatim: 167/3

❀ Imam Bukhari, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
[سكتوا عنه]
Hadith scholars have declared him "abandoned."

Reference: Al-Kamil by Ibn 'Adi: 231/2, and his chain is authentic

❀ Imam Yahya bin Ma'in, may Allah have mercy on him, has called him "weak."

Reference: Al-Kamil by Ibn 'Adi: 231/2, and his chain is authentic

❀ Imam Nasai, may Allah have mercy on him, also considers him "weak."
❀ Imam Ali bin al-Madini, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
[ذهب حديثه]
He is a very weak hadith narrator.

Reference: Al-Jarh wal-Ta'dil by Ibn Abi Hatim: 167/3, and his chain is authentic

❀ Hafiz Ibn Hajar, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
[ضعيف، كان يقبل التلقين]
He is weak; he accepted prompting.

Reference: Taqrib al-Tahdhib: 1359

❀ Hafiz Al-Dhahabi, may Allah have mercy on him, writes:
[ضعيف، وبعضهم تركه]
He is weak; some have declared him "abandoned."

Reference: Al-Mughni fi al-Du'afa: 237/1

❀ Hafiz Haithami, may Allah have mercy on him, writes:
[قد ضعفه الجمهور]
The majority have declared him weak.

Reference: Majma' al-Zawa'id: 121/8

❀ Therefore, it is a mistake for Muhaddith Al-Albani, may Allah have mercy on him, to declare him "trustworthy."

Reference: (Ahkam al-Jana'iz, p. 147)

② Fazl bin Sakan is "unknown," Imam Aqili, may Allah have mercy on him, has called him "unknown."

Reference: Al-Du'afa' Al-Kabir: 449/3

❀ Hafiz Zahbi, may Allah have mercy on him, writes:
[لا يدرىٰ من ذا؟]
It is not known who this is?

Reference: Al-Mughni: 191/2

❀ He also states:
[لا يعرف]
He is not known.

Reference: Mizan al-I'tidal: 352/3

③ It is narrated from our master Abdullah bin Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both:​

[ترفع الأيدي في سبعة مواطن: إذا قام إلى الصلاة، وإذا رأى البيت، وعلى الصفا والمروة، وفي عرفات، وفي جمع وعند الجمار]
Raise the hands at seven places: when standing for prayer, when looking at the House of Allah, on Mount Safa and Mount Marwah, in Arafat, in Muzdalifah, and near the Jamarat.

Reference: Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 2450

Commentary:​

① The chain of narration is "weak," Ata bin Saib (good in hadith) is "mixed," and Ibn Fudail narrated from him after mixing.
❀ Imam Yahya bin Ma'in, may Allah have mercy on him, says that Ata bin Saib is a "mixed" narrator.

Reference: Al-Jarh wa al-Ta'dil by Ibn Abi Hatim: 334/6

❀ Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal, Imam Abu Hatim al-Razi

Reference: (Al-Jarh wa al-Ta'dil: 334/6)

and Imam al-Daraqutni

Reference: (Al-‘Ilal: 186/5, 288/8)

may Allah have mercy on them, have declared him "mixed."
❀ Imam Abu Hatim al-Razi, may Allah have mercy on him, says: [ما روى عنه ابن فضيل، ففيه غلط واضطراب]
What Ibn Fudail narrated from Ata bin Saib contains mistakes and confusion.

Reference: Al-Jarh wa al-Ta'dil by Ibn Abi Hatim: 334/6

This criticism is explanatory, therefore the chain is "weak." This narration does not mention the Qunoot of Witr and the raising of hands in the two Eids; why is that done?

② Abu Hamzah (Imran bin Abi Ata al-Qassab, trusted by the majority) may Allah have mercy on him, says:
[رأيت ابن عباس يرفع يديه إذا افتتح الصلاة وإذا ركع وإذا رفع رأسه من الركوع]
I saw Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both, raising his hands at the start of the prayer, when going into Ruku, and when rising from Ruku.

Reference: Musannif Ibn Abi Shaybah: 2431, and its chain is Hasan

Two things are proven from this:
① Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both, believed in raising the hands during prayer.
② His raising of the hands after the passing of the Prophet ﷺ is clear evidence that this practice is not abrogated.

Benefit:​

① This narration is also reported as Marfoo‘, but its chain is also "weak"; in it, Ibn Abi Layla is considered ”ضعیف، سیئ الحفظ“ by the majority of Muhaddithin. Hafiz Ibn Hajar, may Allah have mercy on him, writes: [ضعيف، سيء الحفظ]
He is weak and has a poor memory.

Reference: At-Talkhis Al-Habeer: 22/3

❀ Hafiz Ibn Kathir, may Allah have mercy on him, writes:
[محمد بن عبد الرحمٰن بن أبي ليلى سيء الحفظ، لا يحتج به عند أكثرهم]
Ibn Abi Layla has a poor memory and is not considered reliable by most Muhaddithin.

Reference: Tuhfat at-Talib: 345

❀ Allama Tahawi Hanafi, may Allah have mercy on him, called him ’’مضطرب الحدیث جداً‘‘.

Reference: Sharh Mushkil al-Athar: 226/3

❀ Maulana Anwar Shah Kashmiri says:
[هو ضعيف عندي كما ذهب إليه الجمهور]
In my view, he is also weak, as is the belief of the majority.

Reference: Fayd al-Bari: 168/3

❀ Imam Bayhaqi, may Allah have mercy on him, writes:
[تفرد ابن أبي ليلىٰ بروايته، وقد اتفق أئمة الحديث علىٰ ترك الاحتجاج بروايته]
Ibn Abi Layla is unique in narrating it; the consensus of the Imams of Hadith is that his narration is not to be taken as proof.

Reference: Al-Khilafiyat, under the Hadith: 1732

② Hukm bin Utaybah is a "Mudallis" (one who practices tadlis), he did not clarify the hearing; Allama Ayni Hanafi also called him "Mudallis".

Reference: (Umdat al-Qari: 248/21) also see (Asma’ al-Mudallisīn by Al-Suyuti: 96)

❀ Imam Hakim, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
[هٰذا حديث واه من أوجوه كثيرة]
This Hadith is weak for several reasons.

Reference: Al-Khilafiyat by Bayhaqi, under the Hadith: 1732

④ Imam Ibrahim Nakha'i, may Allah have mercy on him​

Imam Ibrahim Nakha'i, may Allah have mercy on him, did not raise his hands with every Takbeer.

Reference: Musannif Ibn Abi Shaybah:11386

Commentary:​

This is an ijtihadi error of the Imam, which is not to be followed because it goes against the practice of the Prophet ﷺ, Sayyiduna Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with them, and the pious predecessors.

Conclusion:​

Raising the hands with every Takbeer in the funeral prayer is Sunnah, therefore, like the pious predecessors, it is obligatory upon every Muslim to follow this Sunnah.