I would like to know raising the hands
during the prayers. What is the right act exactly? As we know in the deen there must be
unity, even in the daily prayer. So there are many ahadith speaking differently about
raising the hands: one of them speaks of raising the hands only after the first takbeer,
and another is speaking about raising the hands after all takbeer. What is right? We have
only one messenger (Muhammad s.a.w) so there must be one way of praying!!
Praise be to Allaah.
It is Sunnah to raise one’s hands in four places during the
prayer:
When pronouncing Takbeer al-Ihraam (the first Takbeer), when bowing
in Rukoo’, when rising from Rukoo’ and when standing up after the first
Tashahhud. Ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) narrated that when the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) started his prayer, he would say
“Allaahu akbar” and raise his hands, when he bowed in rukoo’ he would raise
his hands, when he said “Sami’a Allaahu liman hamidah [Allaah hears those
who praise Him]” he would raise his hands, and when he stood up after two
Rak’ahs he would raise his hands. (Reported by al-Bukhaari, 2/222; Abu Dawood,
1/197).
The meaning of “when he stood up after two Rak’ahs he would
raise his hands” is, when he stood up after the first Tashahhud.
The hands may be raised to the level of the shoulders or the ears. See
Al-‘Ayni fi’l-‘Umdah, 5/7; Sharh Muslim by al-Nawawi, 4/95; Sifat
Salaat al-Nabi by al-Albaani, 87.
