Raising hands during Salah

Posted Nov 13, 2009 by Aboo Thaabit with 3 Comments

Imaam Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah writes in his book Kitaab raf’ul yadeyni fi as-Salah describing the prayer of the Prophet:

Whenever he [the Prophet] used to stand up for prayers he used to say ‘Allahu Akbar’ and he never used to say anything before it nor did he ever utter the intention outloud ever. Neither the Prophet did this not even in a single prayer of his nor did anyone from amongst his successors or companions do this, this is their guidance and path and there is no Sunnah except what the Prophet laid down.

And it was from his habit to enter the salah with the statement ‘Allahu Akbar’ nothing else, and there has not be any reports contrary to this. And he used to raise his hands when saying this, with his fingers spaced out, the [palms of his hands] facing the Qiblah, leveling it with his earlobes or his shoulders.

And when he finished reciting he would pause enough to catch his breath then he would raise his hands and say the takbir as mentioned before, going into Rukuu’. He would put his hands on his knees holding [his knee cap] firmly straightening out his back and stretching it whereupon he used to say ‘Subhaana rabiyal ‘atheem’

Then he would raise his head saying ‘Sami’Allahu liman hamidah’ and raise his hands as mentioned before [i.e same manner] these are the three times that have been reported that the Prophet used to raise his hands during salah and this has been reported by about 30 souls [i.e individuals].

And there is no disagreement concerning this whatsoever, rather this was his practise always until he left this world.

[Kitaab raf'ul yadeyni fi as-Salah page 23]