When is it not permissible to raise the hands during supplication? We ask for your reward in providing this information.
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The questioner : This is a message received from the listener Farhan Salim, who says: “O honorable Shaykh, when is it not permissible to raise the hands during supplication? We ask for your reward in providing this information?”
The Shaykh : The original ruling regarding raising the hands during supplication is that it is a recommended practice (sunnah) and that it is one of the causes for the acceptance of supplication. This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)Bulugh al-Maram 16:117 and because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said Sahih Muslim 1015. And Allah commanded the believers with what He commanded the messengers, so He the Exalted said: [Al-Mu'minun 23:51] And He the Exalted said: [Al-Baqarah 2:172] Then He mentioned the man who travels a long distance, disheveled and covered in dust, stretching his hands to the sky, saying, “O my Lord, O my Lord,” while his food is forbidden, his clothing is forbidden, and he is nourished with what is forbidden. He said, “How will that be answered?” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned that raising the hands is among the causes for the acceptance of supplication. This indicates that among the etiquettes of supplication and the causes for its acceptance is that a person raises his hands to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) during supplication. This is the original ruling. However, the Sunnah has come regarding this in different forms. The first is raising the hands, which is what we mentioned as the original ruling.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : The second is the prohibition of raising the hands and the disapproval of one who does so. This applies to the Friday sermon, as the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) disapproved of Bishr ibn Marwan raising his hands while he was delivering the Friday sermon. However, an exception is made if he supplicates for rain, in which case he raises his hands. This is because it is established in the two authentic collections (al-Bukhari and Muslim) from the hadith of Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him). So Allah caused a cloud to form, which thundered and flashed, and it rained. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not descend from the pulpit until the rain was dripping from his beard. The rain continued to fall for a full week. Then a man, or the first man, entered while the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was delivering the sermon and said, “O Messenger of Allah, the wealth is drowning and the buildings are collapsing, so call upon Allah the Exalted to hold it back.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) raised his hands and said: Mishkat al-Masabih 5902 He kept pointing to the sky, and wherever he pointed, the clouds parted by the permission of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and the people walked out into the sun. So, from the non-raising of hands in supplication during the Friday sermon, an exception is made if one supplicates to Allah the Exalted for rain, or for istisqa' (seeking rain), meaning that He make the rain around us and not upon us.
The second is what the Sunnah has come with regarding raising the hands, which is supplicating for rain. This has been established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as we mentioned earlier. It is also established from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he raised his hands while supplicating to Allah the Exalted at the standing at 'Arafah. It is also established from him that he raised his hands in several places, some of which have been reported to number thirty or more.
The third is what the apparent Sunnah indicates is the non-raising of hands. This is in the saying of the one who prays after he finishes his prayer, when he says the taslim: “I seek forgiveness of Allah, I seek forgiveness of Allah, I seek forgiveness of Allah.” This is a supplication seeking forgiveness, and the apparent Sunnah indicates that there is no raising of hands in it.
Likewise, and even stronger than this, is the supplication between the two prostrations in prayer and in the final tashahhud. The apparent view, if not the definitive one, is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not raise his hands at that time.
These are three, or these are three conditions. The fourth condition is the first one, which is that the original ruling is to raise the hands in supplication.
With this, it becomes clear that raising the hands and not doing so falls under these four conditions: what the Sunnah has come with specifically regarding raising the hands; what the Sunnah has come with regarding its disapproval and non-performance, specifically such as supplication in the Friday sermon other than for seeking rain or istisqa'; and what the apparent Sunnah indicates is the non-raising of hands, which strengthens to the point of near certainty.
And the fourth is the general original ruling, which is that raising the hands is among the etiquettes of supplication and the causes for its acceptance. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you, O honorable Shaykh, and may He magnify your reward for what you have clarified for us and for the honorable listening brothers.
The Shaykh : The original ruling regarding raising the hands during supplication is that it is a recommended practice (sunnah) and that it is one of the causes for the acceptance of supplication. This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)
Your Rabb (Lord of the Universe) is Modest and Generous, and would never turn the hands of a slave without gain when he raises them to Him (in supplication).
إن الله حيي كريم يستحيي من عبده إذا رفع إليه يديه أن يردّهما صفراAllah is Good and He therefore, accepts only that which is good
إن الله طيب لا يقبل إلا طيباO messengers, eat from the good foods and work righteousness
يا أيها الرسل كلوا من الطيبات واعملوا صالحاO you who have believed, eat from the good things which We have provided for you and be grateful to Allah if it is [indeed] Him that you worship.
يا أيها الذين ءامنوا كلوا من طيبات ما رزقناكم واشكروا لله إن كنتم إياه تعبدونThe questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : The second is the prohibition of raising the hands and the disapproval of one who does so. This applies to the Friday sermon, as the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) disapproved of Bishr ibn Marwan raising his hands while he was delivering the Friday sermon. However, an exception is made if he supplicates for rain, in which case he raises his hands. This is because it is established in the two authentic collections (al-Bukhari and Muslim) from the hadith of Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him)
A man entered while the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was delivering the sermon on Friday and said, “O Messenger of Allah, the wealth has been destroyed and the paths have been cut off, so call upon Allah to send us relief.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) raised his hands, and the people raised their hands, and he said, “O Allah, send us rain, O Allah, send us rain, O Allah, send us rain.”
أن رجلا دخل والنبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يخطب يوم الجمعة فقال يا رسول الله هلكت الأموال وانقطعت السبل فادع الله يغيثنا فرفع النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يديه ورفع الناس أيديهم وقال اللهم أغثنا اللهم أغثنا اللهم أغثناO God, round about us, but not on us; O God, on the mounds and knolls, in the basins of the wadis and in the plantations.
اللهم حوالينا ولا علينا اللهم على الآكام والضراب وبطون الأودية ومنابت الشجرThe second is what the Sunnah has come with regarding raising the hands, which is supplicating for rain. This has been established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as we mentioned earlier. It is also established from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he raised his hands while supplicating to Allah the Exalted at the standing at 'Arafah. It is also established from him that he raised his hands in several places, some of which have been reported to number thirty or more.
The third is what the apparent Sunnah indicates is the non-raising of hands. This is in the saying of the one who prays after he finishes his prayer, when he says the taslim: “I seek forgiveness of Allah, I seek forgiveness of Allah, I seek forgiveness of Allah.” This is a supplication seeking forgiveness, and the apparent Sunnah indicates that there is no raising of hands in it.
Likewise, and even stronger than this, is the supplication between the two prostrations in prayer and in the final tashahhud. The apparent view, if not the definitive one, is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not raise his hands at that time.
These are three, or these are three conditions. The fourth condition is the first one, which is that the original ruling is to raise the hands in supplication.
With this, it becomes clear that raising the hands and not doing so falls under these four conditions: what the Sunnah has come with specifically regarding raising the hands; what the Sunnah has come with regarding its disapproval and non-performance, specifically such as supplication in the Friday sermon other than for seeking rain or istisqa'; and what the apparent Sunnah indicates is the non-raising of hands, which strengthens to the point of near certainty.
And the fourth is the general original ruling, which is that raising the hands is among the etiquettes of supplication and the causes for its acceptance. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you, O honorable Shaykh, and may He magnify your reward for what you have clarified for us and for the honorable listening brothers.