Shar‘i Ruling on Raf‘ al-Yadayn for a Latecomer (Masbuq) in SalahDerived from: Fatawa ‘Ulama-e-Hadith, Kitab al-Salah, Volume 1
❖ Question:
What is the ruling regarding a Masbuq (a latecomer) performing Raf‘ al-Yadayn (raising the hands) during Salah?
❖ Answer:
A Masbuq is someone who joins the congregational prayer after missing one or more rak‘ahs. The following principles explain the correct Shar‘i approach regarding Raf‘ al-Yadayn for a Masbuq:
❖ Foundational Principle: Masbuq Acts According to His Own Rak‘ah Count
✔ Raf‘ al-Yadayn during his third rak‘ah:
When the Masbuq completes two rak‘ahs with the Imam and stands for what is technically his third rak‘ah, he should perform Raf‘ al-Yadayn, because:
This rak‘ah is his third, and according to the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ, Raf‘ al-Yadayn is established when rising for the third rak‘ah.
Hadith: "When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would stand up after two rak‘ahs, he would raise his hands."
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī)
This command is general and therefore applies to the Masbuq as well.❖ No Requirement to Follow Imam in Every Raf‘ al-Yadayn
✔ A Masbuq, while following the Imam, is required to follow the general postures and movements, but not every Raf‘ al-Yadayn of the Imam.
✔ There is no explicit command in Hadith stating:
“When the Imam raises his hands, you should also raise your hands.”
✔ Thus, the Masbuq follows the general Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ in his own rak‘ahs, such as performing Raf‘ al-Yadayn with Takbir Tahrimah and again in his own third rak‘ah.
❖ Why the Masbuq Does Not Raise Hands with the Imam’s Third Rak‘ah
Suppose a Masbuq joins the Salah in the second rak‘ah—when the Imam stands for his third rak‘ah, the Masbuq is still in his second, and does not perform Raf‘ al-Yadayn at that moment. When he later stands for what is his own third rak‘ah, even if it is the Imam’s fourth, he should then raise his hands, following the established Sunnah.✔ This proves that Raf‘ al-Yadayn relates to the Masbuq's personal rak‘ah sequence, not the Imam’s.
❖ Summary of the Ruling
① A Masbuq will perform Raf‘ al-Yadayn at the beginning of his own third rak‘ah, regardless of which rak‘ah the Imam is in.
② It is not obligatory for the Masbuq to perform Raf‘ al-Yadayn every time the Imam does.
③ The Masbuq should observe the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ in his own rak‘ahs and avoid unnecessary innovation.
④ The timing and validity of Raf‘ al-Yadayn for a Masbuq are based on his own count of rak‘ahs, not the Imam's.
وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
