Fatwa ID: 06712
Answered by: Mufti Yūsuf Badāt
Question:
I had a question concerning raf’al yadayn (raising hands before and after rukū’u). It has come to my knowledge that it was originally commanded by the Prophet Muḥammad (peace and blessings be upon him) because the Muslims used to hide idols under their arms, and this “raising of hands” would drop the idols. Later after the Muslims realized that it was wrong, he (Prophet Muḥammad) (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade it so we should not do it. Is all this true?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
I have not come across any such reliable report to prove the truth of the notion that hands were raised to drop hidden idols during prayer. In fact, the source texts prove that this notion is false, inaccurate and fabricated.
The Ṣaḥābah (may Allāh be pleased with them) who embraced Islam with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) were steadfast on tawḥīd and stayed far away from idol-worship and or shirk (association of partners with Allāh). This is the very reason why the Almighty announced His pleasure upon them by declaring, “He is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him”.
Raising and not raising hands before and after rukū’u are both acceptable ways of performing the prayer (ṣalāh) according to the various schools of jurisprudence. Some of the Ṣaḥābah, as well as pious predecessors and Muslims afterwards continue[d] to practice the raf’al yadayn.
“And the first forerunners [in the faith] among the Muhājirīn (migrants) and the Anṣār (helpers), and those who followed them with good conduct, God is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him, and He has prepared for them gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. That is the great attainment.” – (Qurʾān: 9:100)1
‘Alī ibn Abū Ṭālib (may Allāh be pleased with him) reported, “When the Messenger of Allāh (peace and blessings be upon him) stood for offering the obligatory prayer, he uttered the takbīr and raised his hands to his shoulders; and he did the same when he finished recitation and was about to bow; and he did the same when he rose after bowing; and he did not raise his hands in his prayer while he was in his sitting position.
When he stood up from his prostrations, he raised his hands likewise and uttered the takbīr and raised his hands so as to bring them up to his shoulders, just like he uttered the takbīr in the beginning of the prayer.” – (Abū Dāwūd 744)2
Only Allāh knows best
Written by Mufti Yūsuf Badāt
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
1 وَالسَّابِقُونَ الْأَوَّلُونَ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالْأَنصَارِ وَالَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُم بِإِحْسَانٍ رَّضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا عَنْهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي تَحْتَهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا أَبَدًا ذَٰلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ – سورة توبة ١٠٠
2 عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ رضى الله عنه عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ كَانَ إِذَا قَامَ إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ الْمَكْتُوبَةِ كَبَّرَ وَرَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ حَذْوَ مَنْكِبَيْهِ وَيَصْنَعُ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ إِذَا قَضَى قِرَاءَتَهُ وَأَرَادَ أَنْ يَرْكَعَ وَيَصْنَعُهُ إِذَا رَفَعَ مِنَ الرُّكُوعِ وَلاَ يَرْفَعُ يَدَيْهِ فِي شَىْءٍ مِنْ صَلاَتِهِ وَهُوَ قَاعِدٌ وَإِذَا قَامَ مِنَ السَّجْدَتَيْنِ رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ كَذَلِكَ وَكَبَّرَ قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ فِي حَدِيثِ أَبِي حُمَيْدٍ السَّاعِدِيِّ حِينَ وَصَفَ صَلاَةَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا قَامَ مِنَ الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ كَبَّرَ وَرَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ حَتَّى يُحَاذِيَ بِهِمَا مَنْكِبَيْهِ كَمَا كَبَّرَ عِنْدَ افْتِتَاحِ الصَّلاَةِ – رواه أبو داؤد ٧٤٤
