Is raising the hands prescribed in every supplication?

Question : Is raising the hands prescribed in every supplication?

Answer : The answer to this falls into three categories. The first is what is reported regarding raising the hands, the second is what is reported regarding not raising them, and the third is what is unknown. Allah is the Greatest. Allah. I say that raising the hands in supplication falls into three categories: the first is what is reported in the Sunnah, the second is what is reported regarding not raising them, and the third is what is unknown. As for what is reported regarding raising them, it is clear, such as raising the hands in the sermon to ask for rain or to ask for it to be withheld. This is established, and when the imam raises his hands, the people should raise their hands because they are following him. Likewise, raising the hands in the qunut during calamities or in the witr prayer, and raising the hands on al-Safa and al-Marwah, and raising the hands at 'Arafah. The important point is that we may not recall every example, but the matter in this is clear. The second is what is reported regarding not raising the hands, such as supplication in the sermon other than for rain or for withholding it. If the imam supplicates for the believers, male and female, or for the victory of the mujahideen in the sermon, he does not raise his hands. If he raises them, it is to be disapproved of. Likewise, raising the hands in supplication during the prayer, such as the supplication between the two prostrations, the supplication after the final tashahhud, and the like. This is also clear; its ruling is apparent.
The third is what is not reported regarding either raising or not raising. What is the default? Raising, because it is among the etiquettes of supplication and among the causes of its being answered. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: But there are situations where a person may prefer not to raise his hands, even if it is not reported, such as the supplication between the two sermons, for example. Here, we do not know that the Companions used to raise their hands in supplication between the two sermons. So raising the hands in this case is a matter of consideration. Whoever raises his hands based on the principle that the default in supplication is to raise the hands, no one should disapprove of him. And whoever does not raise them based on the fact that this is the apparent practice of the Companions, no one should disapprove of him. The matter in this is broad, if Allah wills. And among the benefits of this hadith is that among the causes of supplication being answered is seeking nearness to Allah the Exalted through His lordship, seeking nearness to Allah through one's sins, as he says, "O my Lord, O my Lord." And it was reported in a hadith: "O my Lord." Allah the Exalted said, "What do you want?" or a word to that effect, and then He answered him. For this reason, you will find that most of the supplications found in the Qur'an begin with what? With "Rab" (Lord). And when some of the Salaf heard a supplicant saying, "O my Master," they said, "Do not say 'O my Master.' Say what the messengers said: 'O my Lord.' Because deviating from the terms prescribed by the Shari'ah is wrong, even if a person feels that it is more reverential.
And this is a calamity that many people have been afflicted with. You find them bringing in many long strings of supplications that have no control over them, and some of them may be forbidden. And they deviate from the supplications prescribed by the Shari'ah. For this reason, I advise you not to deviate from the supplications prescribed by the Shari'ah to others, except for one who has a specific need he wants to ask his Lord for; that is a different matter. But bringing in long, wide strings of supplications that have no basis and no control over them is contrary to what is befitting for a person when he supplicates to Allah Mighty and Majestic.