Raising the Hands in Supplication and the Places Where It Is Not Prescribed

Question:
I read that the Shaykh said: Raising the hands for supplication is a recommended practice (sunnah) at all times.

Answer:
Yes, the default is to raise the hands in supplication, except in the situations where it is established that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) supplicated without raising his hands. For example, in the Friday sermon, except for the prayer for rain; he (peace and blessings be upon him) would supplicate without raising his hands. The Salaf (the earliest generations) did the same; they would supplicate without raising their hands. When some of the Companions saw a ruler raising his hands during the Friday sermon, they disapproved of that, except in the supplication for rain. If the imam supplicates for rain in the Friday sermon, he raises his hands, just as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) raised his hands. Likewise, in the prayer, in the final tashahhud (the testification recited while sitting in prayer), there is no report that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) raised his hands for the supplication in the final tashahhud, nor in ruku' (the bowing of prayer) for the supplication in ruku', nor in sujud (prostration) for the supplication in sujud; there is no report that he raised his hands in these matters. Therefore, in the matters where it is reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) supplicated without raising his hands, the hands are not raised. In all other cases, the default is to raise the hands in supplication, because it is more likely to lead to a response. Indeed, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: