The Places of Raising the Hands in Prayer and Its Ruling in Other Prayers
Question:
Is it established to raise the hands at times other than the four specific places in prayer? Also, should the hands be raised in the funeral prayer and the two Eid prayers?
Answer:
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
First of all, we should know these four clear places where the hands are raised. These four places are as follows:
The Four Established Places for Raising the Hands:
- At the time of Takbeer-e-Tahreema (opening Takbeer)
- When going towards Ruku (bowing)
- When rising from Ruku
- When rising from the first Tashahhud
The act of raising the hands (Raf’ al-Yadain) is proven by authentic hadiths on these four occasions. It is narrated from Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with him):
«کان النبیِ صَلَّی اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ َ يَرْفَعُ يَدَيْهِِ إِذَا کبرللصَّلَاةَ وَإِذَا کَبَّرَ لِلرُّکُوعِ واذاَقَالَ سَمِعَ اللّٰهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ»قال:«ُ وَکَانَ لَا يَفْعَلُ ذَلِکَ فِی السُّجُودِ»
Meaning:
When the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) started the prayer, when he said the takbir for bowing (ruku’), when he raised his head from bowing, he would raise both of his hands at these occasions. And when he said “سَمِعَ اللّٰہُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَہُ رَبَّنَا وَلَکَ الْحَمْدُ” he would also raise his hands. However, he did not raise his hands during the prostrations (sujood).
The Practice and Observation of Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him):
Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was very keen on following the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). He clearly observed by fully following the prayer of the Prophet (peace be upon him) that he (peace be upon him):
- Raised his hands at the time of Takbir al-Ihram
- Raised his hands when going to bow (ruku’)
- Raised his hands when raising his head from bowing
- Raised his hands when rising from the first Tashahhud
And it was also clarified that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) did not raise his hands during prostrations.
This statement has been made without any doubt or hesitation, and it cannot be dismissed by saying that it is merely a difference of positive and negative. Because in the hadith of Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), where the raising of hands is clearly mentioned, the statement that it was not done during prostration is also certain and definitive.
If someone says that it is possible that Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) did not observe the raising of hands during prostration, then this is not acceptable. Because he firmly stated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) did not raise his hands during prostrations.
Similarly, he mentioned with certainty and clarity the other three occasions of raising hands. All these points indicate that raising hands is an established Sunnah at these four places.
Raising Hands in Funeral Prayer and the Two Eids:
As far as raising the hands (raf’ al-yadain) in the funeral prayer and Eid prayers is concerned, in these prayers raising the hands with every takbeer is prescribed (permissible and recommended in Shariah).
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
