What is the manner of raising the hands?
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The questioner : Regarding the raising of the hands, there are narrations in Abu Dawud, Muslim, and others. For example, in Abu Dawud, it is described as opposite the ears, and in another, opposite the shoulders. And it says... opposite the ears, or...?
The Shaykh : This varies depending on whether one holds that the palms should face the qiblah or not. The answer branches out from this: like this or like that. If there is a Sunnah indicating that one should face the qiblah with the palms of the hands when raising them, whether in the takbir of ihram or in the takbirs of transition, then it is done like this. If one does not hold, or does not know, that there is a Sunnah encouraging facing the qiblah with the palms, then we do not insist on one specific manner over the other. Rather, we say this or that, and both are considered "opposite" (muhal). Whether one does it like this or like that, it is permissible, because we do not have a specific description of this manner. This is unlike the description of prostration, where there is a description of bringing the fingers together and directing them toward the qiblah. Such a description has not come regarding the raising of the hands in the takbir. Therefore, we leave it as it was mentioned in general terms, without restricting it to a specific manner that has not been reported.
The questioner : I mean, we do not search for the meaning of "muhal" and say "muhal is..."
The Shaykh : Search as much as you like, but do not add to what the language gives us. Search as much as you like, because "muhal" can be like this and it can be like that!
The questioner : They said, they said "qibalah."
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : He said it is "qibalah"... like this... He said "muhal" meaning "qibalah."
The Shaykh : ... Are you interpreting "muhal" or "qibalah"?
The questioner : No, he is saying "muhal" meaning "qibalah."
The Shaykh : It is fine, this is his interpretation. But "muhal" can be with the palm from the side, what shall I say, from its side, or it can be from its width, and so on.
The Shaykh : This varies depending on whether one holds that the palms should face the qiblah or not. The answer branches out from this: like this or like that. If there is a Sunnah indicating that one should face the qiblah with the palms of the hands when raising them, whether in the takbir of ihram or in the takbirs of transition, then it is done like this. If one does not hold, or does not know, that there is a Sunnah encouraging facing the qiblah with the palms, then we do not insist on one specific manner over the other. Rather, we say this or that, and both are considered "opposite" (muhal). Whether one does it like this or like that, it is permissible, because we do not have a specific description of this manner. This is unlike the description of prostration, where there is a description of bringing the fingers together and directing them toward the qiblah. Such a description has not come regarding the raising of the hands in the takbir. Therefore, we leave it as it was mentioned in general terms, without restricting it to a specific manner that has not been reported.
The questioner : I mean, we do not search for the meaning of "muhal" and say "muhal is..."
The Shaykh : Search as much as you like, but do not add to what the language gives us. Search as much as you like, because "muhal" can be like this and it can be like that!
The questioner : They said, they said "qibalah."
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : He said it is "qibalah"... like this... He said "muhal" meaning "qibalah."
The Shaykh : ... Are you interpreting "muhal" or "qibalah"?
The questioner : No, he is saying "muhal" meaning "qibalah."
The Shaykh : It is fine, this is his interpretation. But "muhal" can be with the palm from the side, what shall I say, from its side, or it can be from its width, and so on.