We see many Muslims, when they begin the prayer, raising their hands in the opening takbir and prolonging the raising until it sometimes reaches the duration of reciting al-Fatihah.
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The questioner : We see many Muslims, when they begin the prayer, raising their hands in the opening takbir and prolonging the raising until it sometimes reaches the duration of reciting al-Fatihah. Does this conform to one of the four schools of jurisprudence, or is there a report from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), or from his noble Companions, or from those who followed them in excellence?
We ask for clarification, as we do not have the guidance in this matter due to our limited knowledge of these issues?
The Shaykh : It is not reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that the hands are to be kept raised like this, as the questioner mentioned.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Up to near the middle of al-Fatihah. What is reported from him (peace and blessings be upon him) is that he used to raise his hands to the level of his shoulders or to the tips of his ears, as in the hadith of Ibn 'Umar and Malik ibn al-Huwayrith (may Allah be pleased with them both).
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : It is also reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he used to raise his hands first, then say the takbir, raising his hands until when he finished the raising, he said the takbir.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : It is also reported from him that he raises them when he says the takbir, so that the beginning of the raising coincides with the beginning of the takbir, and its end coincides with the end of the takbir.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : A third description is also reported, that he says the takbir and then raises his hands. All of this—these three descriptions, whether the raising is before the takbir, after it, or with it—is permissible, and the matter is broad in this regard. The limit of the raising, as we indicated, is either the shoulders or the tips of the ears.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This is the limit of the raising, but even so, it is not delayed as the questioner mentioned.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : For there is no Sunnah from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in that. And the place for this raising is in four positions in the prayer: at the opening takbir.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And at the bowing, and at the rising from it, and at the standing up from the first tashahhud.
The questioner : Yes, so from the aspect of raising the hands and prolonging the raising of the hands, nothing has ever been reported in that.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : Not from the imams, nor from those who came before them.
The Shaykh : Yes, not from the imams, as far as we know, nor from the Sunnah either, according to what we know of it.
The questioner : May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : Therefore, it is necessary that the one who does that be guided to what is the Sunnah, so that he may be correct in the proper manner.
The questioner : There is also, since we are speaking about raising the hands and the movement of the hands.
We ask for clarification, as we do not have the guidance in this matter due to our limited knowledge of these issues?
The Shaykh : It is not reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that the hands are to be kept raised like this, as the questioner mentioned.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Up to near the middle of al-Fatihah. What is reported from him (peace and blessings be upon him) is that he used to raise his hands to the level of his shoulders or to the tips of his ears, as in the hadith of Ibn 'Umar and Malik ibn al-Huwayrith (may Allah be pleased with them both).
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : It is also reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he used to raise his hands first, then say the takbir, raising his hands until when he finished the raising, he said the takbir.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : It is also reported from him that he raises them when he says the takbir, so that the beginning of the raising coincides with the beginning of the takbir, and its end coincides with the end of the takbir.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : A third description is also reported, that he says the takbir and then raises his hands. All of this—these three descriptions, whether the raising is before the takbir, after it, or with it—is permissible, and the matter is broad in this regard. The limit of the raising, as we indicated, is either the shoulders or the tips of the ears.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This is the limit of the raising, but even so, it is not delayed as the questioner mentioned.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : For there is no Sunnah from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in that. And the place for this raising is in four positions in the prayer: at the opening takbir.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And at the bowing, and at the rising from it, and at the standing up from the first tashahhud.
The questioner : Yes, so from the aspect of raising the hands and prolonging the raising of the hands, nothing has ever been reported in that.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : Not from the imams, nor from those who came before them.
The Shaykh : Yes, not from the imams, as far as we know, nor from the Sunnah either, according to what we know of it.
The questioner : May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : Therefore, it is necessary that the one who does that be guided to what is the Sunnah, so that he may be correct in the proper manner.
The questioner : There is also, since we are speaking about raising the hands and the movement of the hands.