Ruling on Raf ul Yadain (رفع الیدین) in prayer

Question

What do the scholars of Islam and the Muftis of Shariah say regarding the follow:

That some people say regarding “رفع اليدين” (Raf ul-Yadain) that it is Sunnah, is this correct? If this is not correct, then please prove this from Hadith.

Answer

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الجواب بعون الملك الوهاب اللهم هداية الحق والصواب

رفع اليدين , meaning to raise the hand up to the ears, is most certainly Sunnah for Takbir al-Tahrima (The first Takbir of Salah). However, aside from this, meaning when going into Ruku, when standing from Ruku, is رفع اليدين sunnah? There is a difference of opinion between the Mujtahid Imams; according to Imam al-A’zam Abu Hanifah and Imam Malik رضي الله عنهما it is against the Sunnah. According to Imam Shaf’i and Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal رضي الله عنهما it is Sunnah and both sides take proofs from the blessed Ahadees to prove their respective opinions. However, the correct opinion is that to not do رفع اليدين is Sunnah (Note: Whenever the discussion of رفع اليدين takes place as to whether it is Sunnah or not, then the intended meaning of it is the raising the hands to the ears for other than Takbir al-Tahrima).

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ in the early stages of Islam did used to do رفع اليدين, then later on he ﷺ would only do it for Takbir al-Tahrima and would leave doing it in the other positions (i.e., when going into Ruku etc). Hence why there was a difference of opinion about this issue within the Companions and the Tabi’een and the followers of the Tabi’een رضي الله عنهم أجمعين .

It is not proven from any narration that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ always did رفع اليدين, however in some narrations it has been mentioned that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ did prohibit from it, hence Shaykhain Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq and Sayyiduna Umar, about whom we have been commanded to follow them, Sayyiduna Ali, Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas’ood, and other companions رضي الله عنهم أجمعين had the same practice, that they would only do رفع اليدين for Takbir al-Tahrima. One unique aspect in this is that one narration on the authority of Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه is that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to do رفع اليدين, however Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه himself did not used to do it, this is a clear proof that the ruling of رفع اليدين has been abrogated. Hence, those blessed Ahadees which mention the Prophet ﷺ doing رفع اليدين are from the early period of Islam, and by adopting this way Ahadees of both sides can be reconciled so that no contradiction remains.

The Messenger of Allahﷺ did not used to do رفع اليدين:

عن عبد الله عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: أنه كان يرفع يديه في أول تكبيرة، ثم لا یعود

Translation: Narrated from Abduallah bin Mas’ood رضي الله عنه that the messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم used to raise his hand in the first Takbir and he did not used to raise them again”

(Reference شرح مشكل الآثار, Vol 15, page 35, Hadees number:5826, Publisher مؤسسة الرسالة)

Furthermore, in Sunnan al-Tirmizi

 عن علقمة، قال: قال عبد الله بن مسعود: ألا أصلي بكم صلاة رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم؟ فصلى، فلم يرفع يديه إلا في أول مرة- وفي الباب عن البراء بن عازب- حديث ابن مسعود حديث حسن، وبه يقول غير واحد من أهل العلم من أصحاب النبي ﷺ ، والتابعون، وهو قول سفيان الثوري، وأهل الكوفة

Translation: “Sayyiduna Alqamah narrates that Sayyiduna Abduallah ibn Mas’ood رضي الله عنهما said that “Shall I not pray Salah with you like the salah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ? Then he prayed Salah, so did not raise his hands expect once at the start. There is also a narration from Sayyiduna Ba’raa bin A’zib رضي الله عنه in this chapter. The Hadees of Sayyiduna ibn Mas’ood is Hasan (in grading), and this is the opinion of the majority of the learned companions, the Tabi’een رضي الله عنهم أجمعين, Sayyiduna Sufyan al-Thawri, and the people of Kufa”

(Reference Sunan al-Tirmizi, أبواب الصلاة, chapter: رفع اليدين, Vol 2, Page 40, Publisherمصطفى البابي مصر)

Sayyiduna Umar رضي الله عنه did not used to do رفع اليدين :

عن الأسود، قال: صليت مع عمر، فلم يرفع يديه في شيء من صلاته إلا حين افتتح الصلاة

Translation: “Narrated from Sayyiduna al-Aswad, he said that “ I prayed behind Sayyiduna Umar رضي الله عنه, He did not raise his hand for anything in his Salah except at the time of starting Salah.”

(Reference مصنف ابن أبي شيبة, كتاب الصلوات, chapter من كان يرفع يديه, Vol 1, Page 214, Hadees number: 2454, Publisher مكتبة الرشد رياض)

Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه did not used to do رفع اليدين :

عن كليب: أن عليا رضي الله عنه كان يرفع يديه في أول تكبيرة من الصلاة، ثم لا يرفع بعد

Translation: “Narrated from Kulaib: That Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه used to raise his hands at the time of the first Takbir of Salah, then he would not raise them after this”

(Reference, شرح معاني الآثار, كتاب الصلاة, Chapter التكبير للركوع, volume 1, page 225, Hadees Number: 1353, Publisher عالم الكتب)

Sayyiduna Abduallah bin Mas’ood رضي الله عنه made the following observation multiple times:

عن المغيرة قال: قلت لإبراهيم: حديث وائل أنه رأى النبي ﷺ يرفع يديه إذا افتتح الصلاة، وإذا ركع وإذا رفع رأسه من الركوع. فقال: إن كان وائل رآه مرة، فقد رآه عبد الله خمسين مرة لا يفعل ذلك

Translation: “Sayyiduna Mughirah رحمه الله said that he said to Sayyiduna Ibrahim رحمه الله that “In the Hadees of Sayyiduna Waail (وائل) رضي الله عنه he says that he saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ do رفع اليدين when he ﷺ would start Salah, when he ﷺ would go into Ruku, when he ﷺ would stand from Ruku. So, Sayyiduna Ibrahim said that if Sayyiduna Waail رضي الله عنه saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ do this once, then indeed Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas’oodرضي الله عنه saw the Prophet ﷺ not do رفع اليدين fifty times.”

(Reference شرح مشكل الآثار, Vol 15, Page 37, Hadees Number: 5826, Publisher مؤسسة الرسالة)

Also, in Sunan al-Kubra

عن عبد الله بن مسعود قال: صليت خلف النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم وأبي بكر وعمر، فلم يرفعوا أيديهم إلا عند افتتاح الصلاة

Translation: Narrated from Abduallah bin Mas’ood that “ I prayed behind the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and behind Sayyiduna Abu Bakr and Sayyiduna Umar رضي الله عنهما and none of them would do رفع اليدين except at the start of Salah”

(Reference السنن الكبرى للبيهقي, كتاب الصلاة, chapter من لم يذكر الفرع, Vol 3, Page 496, Publisher مركز هجر)

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم prohibited from رفع اليدين:

عن جابر بن سمرة خرج عليها رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال: ما لي أراكم رافعي أيديكم كأنها اذناب خيل شمس؟ اسكنوا في الصلاة

Translation: Jabir bin Samrah رضي الله عنه said the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to us and said “What is the matter that I see you people doing رفع اليدين like the tails of restive horses? Be tranquil in your prayer.”

(Reference Sahih Muslim, كتاب الصلاة, chapter الأمر بالسكون في الصلاة, vol 1, page 332, publisher دار احياء التراث العربي بيروت)

Follow Sayyiduna Abu Bakr and Sayyiduna Umar, and affirm (the statement of) ibn Mas’ood رضي الله عنهم:

عن حذيفة قال: كنا جلوسا عند النبي ﷺ فقال: إني لا أدري ما قدر بقائي فيكم فاقتدوا باللذين من بعدي وأشار إلى أبي بكر و عمر، واهتدوا بهدي عمار، وما حدثكم ابن مسعود من شيء فصدقوه

Translation: Narrated from Sayyiduna Huzaifah he said “We were sitting with the Prophet ﷺ he said: Indeed, I do not know for how long I will remain among you, so after me follow these people, whilst he pointed towards Sayyiduna Abu Bakr and Sayyiduna Umar رضي الله عنهما and seek guidance with the guidance of Ammar رضي الله عنه, and whatever Hadees ibn Mas’ood رضي الله عنهbrings affirm it.

(Reference منصف ابن شيبة, كتاب المغازي, chapter خلافة أبي بكر, vol 7, page 433, Hadees number 37049, publisher مكتبة الرشد رياض)

Regarding my ummah I am content with that thing which ibn Mas’ood is content with it:

عن القاسم بن عبد الرحمن، قال: حدثت أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: رضيت لأمتي بما رضي لها ابن أم عبد

Translation: Narrated from Sayyiduna Qasim that he said a hadees has been narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said that “ I am content, for my Ummah, with that thing with which ibn Mas’ood is content with it.”

(Reference المعجم الكبير للطبراني, Chapter العين, vol 9, page 80, Hadees number 8458, publisher القاهرة)

Answered by: Mufti Sajid Attari

Translated by: Aqib Attari