Source: Fatāwā Amanpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amanpuri
Should Rafʿ al-Yadayn (raising the hands) be done during the Takbīrāt of the two ʿEids?
Yes, Rafʿ al-Yadayn during the Takbīrāt of the ʿEids is proven from the practice of the Prophet ﷺ.
ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنه narrated:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ, when he stood for prayer, raised both hands until they were level with his shoulders, then said Allāhu Akbar. When he intended to bow for rukūʿ, he raised both hands until they were level with his shoulders, then said Allāhu Akbar and bowed. When he rose from rukūʿ, he raised both hands to his shoulders, saying Samiʿallāhu liman ḥamidah. But he did not raise them in sujūd. Rather, he continued to raise his hands at every takbīr before rukūʿ until his prayer was complete.
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd 722, al-Muntaqā by Ibn al-Jārūd 178 – chain ḥasan)
This proves: The Prophet ﷺ performed Rafʿ al-Yadayn at every takbīr before rukūʿ. Since the Takbīrāt of the ʿEids are also before rukūʿ, Rafʿ al-Yadayn applies to them as well.
❀ Imām al-Awzāʿī رحمه الله (d. 157H):
“Yes, raise your hands with every takbīr.”
(Aḥkām al-ʿĪdayn by al-Firyābī 136 – authentic chain)
❀ Imām Mālik رحمه الله (d. 179H):
“Yes, raise your hands with every takbīr. I have not heard of any disagreement in this.”
(Aḥkām al-ʿĪdayn by al-Firyābī 137 – authentic chain)
❀ Imām al-Shāfiʿī رحمه الله (d. 204H):
“He should raise his hands with every takbīr in the Janāzah prayer and in the two ʿEids—both on the basis of authentic ḥadīth and by analogy, as these are takbīrs said in standing position.”
(al-Umm 1/127)
❀ Imām Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal رحمه الله (d. 241H):
“He should raise his hands with every takbīr.”
(Masāʾil al-Imām Aḥmad narrated by Abū Dāwūd 87)
❀ Imām Isḥāq ibn Rāhwayh رحمه الله (d. 238H): held the same view.
(Masāʾil al-Imām Aḥmad wa Isḥāq 8/4054, no. 2890)
❀ Imām Ibn al-Mundhir رحمه الله (d. 319H):
“When the Prophet ﷺ clarified raising the hands at every takbīr said in standing position, and since the Takbīrs of the ʿEids and Janāzah are also in standing position, it is established that Rafʿ al-Yadayn is to be done therein.”
(al-Awsaṭ 5/426)
✿ Rafʿ al-Yadayn with the Takbīrāt of the ʿEids is Sunnah, established from the Prophet ﷺ.
✿ The majority of early Imams (Mālik, Shāfiʿī, Aḥmad, Isḥāq, and al-Awzāʿī) confirmed this practice.
✿ It applies because these Takbīrs are said in standing position, just like those before rukūʿ.
❖ Question
Should Rafʿ al-Yadayn (raising the hands) be done during the Takbīrāt of the two ʿEids?
❖ Answer
Yes, Rafʿ al-Yadayn during the Takbīrāt of the ʿEids is proven from the practice of the Prophet ﷺ.
◈ Evidence from Ḥadīth
ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنه narrated:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ, when he stood for prayer, raised both hands until they were level with his shoulders, then said Allāhu Akbar. When he intended to bow for rukūʿ, he raised both hands until they were level with his shoulders, then said Allāhu Akbar and bowed. When he rose from rukūʿ, he raised both hands to his shoulders, saying Samiʿallāhu liman ḥamidah. But he did not raise them in sujūd. Rather, he continued to raise his hands at every takbīr before rukūʿ until his prayer was complete.
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd 722, al-Muntaqā by Ibn al-Jārūd 178 – chain ḥasan)
This proves: The Prophet ﷺ performed Rafʿ al-Yadayn at every takbīr before rukūʿ. Since the Takbīrāt of the ʿEids are also before rukūʿ, Rafʿ al-Yadayn applies to them as well.
◈ Opinions of the Imams
❀ Imām al-Awzāʿī رحمه الله (d. 157H):
“Yes, raise your hands with every takbīr.”
(Aḥkām al-ʿĪdayn by al-Firyābī 136 – authentic chain)
❀ Imām Mālik رحمه الله (d. 179H):
“Yes, raise your hands with every takbīr. I have not heard of any disagreement in this.”
(Aḥkām al-ʿĪdayn by al-Firyābī 137 – authentic chain)
❀ Imām al-Shāfiʿī رحمه الله (d. 204H):
“He should raise his hands with every takbīr in the Janāzah prayer and in the two ʿEids—both on the basis of authentic ḥadīth and by analogy, as these are takbīrs said in standing position.”
(al-Umm 1/127)
❀ Imām Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal رحمه الله (d. 241H):
“He should raise his hands with every takbīr.”
(Masāʾil al-Imām Aḥmad narrated by Abū Dāwūd 87)
❀ Imām Isḥāq ibn Rāhwayh رحمه الله (d. 238H): held the same view.
(Masāʾil al-Imām Aḥmad wa Isḥāq 8/4054, no. 2890)
❀ Imām Ibn al-Mundhir رحمه الله (d. 319H):
“When the Prophet ﷺ clarified raising the hands at every takbīr said in standing position, and since the Takbīrs of the ʿEids and Janāzah are also in standing position, it is established that Rafʿ al-Yadayn is to be done therein.”
(al-Awsaṭ 5/426)
Conclusion
✿ Rafʿ al-Yadayn with the Takbīrāt of the ʿEids is Sunnah, established from the Prophet ﷺ.
✿ The majority of early Imams (Mālik, Shāfiʿī, Aḥmad, Isḥāq, and al-Awzāʿī) confirmed this practice.
✿ It applies because these Takbīrs are said in standing position, just like those before rukūʿ.
