The Sharʿī Legitimacy of Raising Hands (Rafʿ al-Yadayn) in the Takbīrāt of the Two Eids
Source: Aḥkām wa Masāʾil, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Vol. 1, p. 249
Question:
What is the Sharʿī evidence for raising the hands (rafʿ al-yadayn) during the Takbīrāt of Eid prayers?
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd:
The evidence for raising the hands in the Takbīrāt of Eid is found in the following Hadith:
The Hadith Reference
In Sunan al-Dāraqutnī (vol. 1, p. 289), from ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما, a marfūʿ narration states:
«وَيَرْفَعُهُمَا فِیْ كُلِّ رَكْعَةٍ وَتَكْبِيْرَةٍ يُكَبِّرُهَا قَبْلَ الرُّكُوْعِ حَتَّى تَنْقَضِيَ صَلَاتُهُ»
[Abū Dāwūd, Kitāb Iftitāḥ al-Ṣalāh, Bāb Rafʿ al-Yadayn fī al-Ṣalāh]
Translation:
“And he ﷺ used to raise both his hands in every rakʿah and at every Takbīr he made before bowing, until his prayer was completed.”
Deriving the Ruling
- This Hadith shows that the Prophet ﷺ raised his hands with every Takbīr before rukūʿ.
- Since the Takbīrāt of Eid are also recited before rukūʿ, the Hadith applies to them by its general wording.
- Therefore, raising the hands along with the Takbīrāt of Eid is in accordance with the Sunnah and is a valid practice.
Conclusion:Performing rafʿ al-yadayn with the Takbīrāt of Eid is proven by authentic evidence, and it is a Sunnah practice of the Prophet ﷺ.
