We observe that some people make supplication between the two sermons when the imam sits and raises his hands. What is the ruling on that?
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The questioner : This questioner, Abu Abdullah, says: We observe that some people make supplication between the two sermons when the imam sits and raises his hands. What is the ruling on that? May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : As for supplication at this time, it is good and recommended, because this is a time in which response is hoped for. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) informed us that on Friday there is an hour in which no Muslim servant who is standing, praying, and making supplication to Allah the Exalted will be answered except that he will be granted his request. The hour of prayer is the most likely time to be the hour of response, as Muslim narrated from Abu Musa al-Ash'ari (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Riyad as-Salihin 1157 Therefore, one should seize the opportunity and make supplication between the two sermons.
As for raising the hands in doing so, I do not know of any harm in it, because the original principle in supplication is that raising the hands is one of its etiquettes. If a person raises his hands, there is no blame on him, and if he makes supplication without raising his hands, there is no blame on him.
The questioner : May Allah bless you...
The Shaykh : This applies to the supplication between the two sermons. As for when the imam makes supplication during the sermon, it is not recommended for him, nor for the congregation, to raise their hands, except in one or two cases. The first case is seeking rain: if the Friday preacher makes supplication for rain, meaning asking for the descent of rain, he raises his hands and the people raise their hands.
The second case is seeking clear weather, meaning if the Friday preacher makes supplication for clear skies and for Allah to keep the rain away from the land, he also raises his hands, as established in the two Sahihs from the hadith of Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him). He said: A man entered on a Friday while the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was delivering the sermon and said: "O Messenger of Allah, the wealth has been destroyed and the roads have been cut off, so call upon Allah to relieve us." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) raised his hands and the people raised their hands and said:Sahih Muslim 897a Anas said: "By Allah, there was no cloud in the sky, nor a wisp of cloud, meaning a wide cloud, nor a wisp, meaning a piece of cloud, and between us and Sal'—a mountain in Medina from which clouds appear—there was no house or dwelling. Then a cloud arose behind it like a shield, and it rose in the sky. When it reached the middle, it spread out, and it thundered and flashed and rained. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not descend from the pulpit until the rain was dripping from his beard." They remained in this state for a full week with the rain falling. When the next Friday came, a man, or the first man, entered and said: "O Messenger of Allah, the buildings have collapsed and the wealth has been drowned, so call upon Allah to hold it back from us." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) raised his hands and said: Mishkat al-Masabih 5902 and he gestured to every direction. Whenever he gestured to a direction in the sky, it cleared and the sky became clear. The people went out walking in the sun.
In these two places, the preacher raises his hands in supplication for seeking rain and seeking clear weather. As for anything other than that, he does not raise his hands, because the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) criticized Bishr ibn Marwan when he raised his hands in supplication during the sermon. Likewise, the people do not raise their hands during the Friday sermon, because that is not prescribed for them; they follow their imam. If it is not prescribed for the preaching imam, then it is not prescribed for the listeners to raise their hands during the sermon. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : As for supplication at this time, it is good and recommended, because this is a time in which response is hoped for. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) informed us that on Friday there is an hour in which no Muslim servant who is standing, praying, and making supplication to Allah the Exalted will be answered except that he will be granted his request. The hour of prayer is the most likely time to be the hour of response, as Muslim narrated from Abu Musa al-Ash'ari (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
It occurs between the time when the Imam sits down (on the pulpit after the first Khutbah) and the time Salat is over.
هي ما بين أن يخرج الإمام إلى أن تُقضى الصلاةAs for raising the hands in doing so, I do not know of any harm in it, because the original principle in supplication is that raising the hands is one of its etiquettes. If a person raises his hands, there is no blame on him, and if he makes supplication without raising his hands, there is no blame on him.
The questioner : May Allah bless you...
The Shaykh : This applies to the supplication between the two sermons. As for when the imam makes supplication during the sermon, it is not recommended for him, nor for the congregation, to raise their hands, except in one or two cases. The first case is seeking rain: if the Friday preacher makes supplication for rain, meaning asking for the descent of rain, he raises his hands and the people raise their hands.
The second case is seeking clear weather, meaning if the Friday preacher makes supplication for clear skies and for Allah to keep the rain away from the land, he also raises his hands, as established in the two Sahihs from the hadith of Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him). He said: A man entered on a Friday while the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was delivering the sermon and said: "O Messenger of Allah, the wealth has been destroyed and the roads have been cut off, so call upon Allah to relieve us." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) raised his hands and the people raised their hands and said:
O Allah, send down rain upon us; O Allah, send dowp rain upon us; O Allah, send down rain upon us
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 والضِراب وبطون الأودية ومنابت الشجرIn these two places, the preacher raises his hands in supplication for seeking rain and seeking clear weather. As for anything other than that, he does not raise his hands, because the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) criticized Bishr ibn Marwan when he raised his hands in supplication during the sermon. Likewise, the people do not raise their hands during the Friday sermon, because that is not prescribed for them; they follow their imam. If it is not prescribed for the preaching imam, then it is not prescribed for the listeners to raise their hands during the sermon. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.