Is the prayer of the ma'mum valid if the imam does not raise his hands at the takbir of ihram?

Question:
May Allah reward you, Honorable Shaykh. This questioner says: I prayed behind an imam while I was traveling, and this imam did not raise his hands when he said the takbir for ihram. Is my prayer valid?

Answer:
Raising the hands is a recommended practice (sunnah), not obligatory. Some scholars do not consider raising the hands to be required, but the sunnah is to raise the hands at the time of ihram, at the time of ruku', and when rising from ruku'. This is the sunnah. If he does not raise them, he owes nothing.