The Raf`al-Yadyan During The Solāh

The Raf`al-Yadyan During The Solāh
(Raising Hands in Solāh)

By Ibn Sālih

Question: Did the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) observe Raf `al-Yadyan, raise his hands during transition in Solāh. Please clarify the issue of the Raf `al-Yadyan. Jazakallah Khairan Kathira.

All the In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful;

All the praise and thanks is due to Allāh, the Lord of al-'ālameen. There is none worthy of worship except Allāh, and that Muhammad, Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam is His Messenger.

The term ‘Raf `al-Yadyan’, refers to the raising one’s hands shoulder level  when commencing the solāt  with Takbīratul-Ihram (The Opening Takbīr) and while transitioning between the different postures; such as going  down into ruku’  with takbir or rising up from ruku’ with tasmi, and when standing up standing up after the First Tashahhud.

Imāms Al-Bukhāri and Muslim and the jama’ah recorded in their al-Saheehyan and Sunan that the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) observes Raf ‘al-Yadyan (Raising hands) in Solāt.

This is the narration of the Salaf: 'Umar ibn Al-Khattab, 'Ali bin Abi Talib, Wā‘il Ibn Hujr, Mālik Ibn Al-Huwayrith, Anas bin Malik, Abu Hurayrah, Abu Hamīd, Abu Usyad, Sahal Ibn Sa'ad, Mohammad Ibn Maslamah, Abu Qatādah, Abu Mūsā Al-Ash‘arī, Jābir bin Abdullah, Abdullah Ibn 'Abbās, Ibn Az-Zubayr and others (radiyallāhu‘anhum). This is also the opinion of Ahmad, Imām Mālik, Ash-Shāfi‘ie, Mu'ammar, Al-Awzā'ie, Ibn Awanah, Ibn Al-Mubārak, Is-Hāq and others (rahimahullāh).

The Shāfi‘ie School Jurisprudence holds Raf `al-Yadyan (Raising hands) is a Sunnah of the Solāt; it is not obligatory , rather a Sunnah Haiah, to beutify the Solah. Its basis is the authority of Nafi’ that Abdullah Ibn ‘Umar (radiyallāhu‘anhu) reported: “When he entered the solāt with takbir and raise his hands, and when he would make ruku’ he would raise his hands, and when he would say, “samia allāhu li-man hamidah”, he would raise his hands; and  Ibn ‘Umar  ascribed (raf‘ah) this practice to Allah’s Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam).” [Recorded by Al-Bukhari v. 1, p. 188]

 

It is a Sunnah to observe Raf ‘al-Yadyan in for occasion: at the Opening Takbir (Takbiratulihram), and while transitioning between the solāt’s different postures: like going into ruku’, coming up from ruku’, and also after standing up after the First Tashahhud. 

The Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) would commence the solāt by Takbīratul-Ihram (The Opening Takbīr) saying: ‘Allāhu Akbar’. (Allāh is the Greatest) [Muslim and Ibn Mājah]

Rasūlullāh (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam) would raise his hands sometimes with the Takbīr, [Bukhari and Nasā'ie] sometimes after the Takbīr, [Bukhari and Nasā'ie] and sometimes before it. [Bukhari and Abu Dawud] “ Rasūlullāh (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) would raise them with fingers apart [not spaced out, nor together]”, [Abu Dawud, Ibn Khuzaimah (1/62/2, 64/1), Tammam and Hākim who declared it sahih and Dhahabi agreed.] and “Rasūlullāh (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) would put them level with his shoulders” [ Bukhari and Nasā'ie.], although occasionally, “Rasūlullāh (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) would raise them until they were level with [the tops of] his ears.” [Bukhari and Abu Dawud]

Imam Nawawi (rahimallāh) has enumerated in detail on the topic from the perspective of the evidence from the companions and authorities who maintained the view; based on the well-authenticated hadith evidence. Imam Nawawi (rahimallāh) very much relies on the works of his (our) two predecessors, Imams Bukhari and Bayhaqi (rahimahullāh). [See: Sharh al-Muhadhdhab v. 3, p. 320-28].

But there are hadith that narrated the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) did not raise his hands except at the beginning of the solat.  Al-Dāraqutni (rahimallāh) reported that Ibn Mas‘ūd (radiyallāhu‘anhu) said that he performed solāh with the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam), Abu 'Bakar and 'Umar (radiyallāhu‘anhum) and did not raise their hands except when commencing the solāt.

Imām Ahmad, Shaykh Yahya Ibn Adam, Ibn Al-Mubārak (rahimahullāh) said that this narration is weak not authentic, and Ibn Abu Hātim (rahimallāh) said that this is unauthentic.

Also, Imām At-Tirmidzi (rahimallāh) reported that Ibn Mas'ūd (radiyallāhu‘anhu) said: " Shall I not lead the solāh with you and observe like the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) performed solāh." So he led the solāh and did not raise his hands except at its beginning, the Takbiratulihram. The scholars (rahimahullāh) differed about the authenticity of this narration.

Hence, some of them argued that it is permissible not to raise the hands.

But Raf `al-Yadyan the correct and worthy way; it is a Sunnah, as previously discussed mentioned in the authentic narrations. It means the raising one’s hands shoulder level when commencing the solāt along  with the opening takbīr  (Takbīratul-Ihram) and while transitioning between the solāh’s different postures; such as going  down into ruku’  with takbir or rising up from ruku’ with tasmi, and when standing up standing up after the First Tashahhud.  

And Allāh Almighty knows best.

[Ref: Shafiifiqh.com Fatwa Dept. A Question on Raf` al-Yadayn, Feb 5, 2012; Islam Web Fatwa No : 89001 Dated : Shawwāl 24, 1425 / 7-12-2004]