What is the ruling on raising the hands in supplication and continuing to do so in times when a response is expected?
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The questioner : May Allah preserve you and reward you, my question is about raising the hands in supplication in times when a response is expected, if that is done continuously, such as in the last third of the night, or between the adhan and the iqamah?
The Shaykh : May Allah bless you. Raising the hands in supplication is among the etiquettes of supplication and among the causes of a response being granted. The original ruling is that it is prescribed, unless it is found that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not raise his hands in a specific instance during his time, in which case it is not prescribed. For this reason, the Companions rebuked Bishr ibn Marwan when he raised his hands in the Friday sermon during supplication, and they said that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not go beyond gesturing.
So you should know that the original ruling in supplication is to raise the hands, because it is among the etiquettes and causes of a response being granted, unless this matter is found to have occurred during the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) where he supplicated and did not raise his hands. In that case, it is better not to raise the hands, and one should rebuke whoever raises them.
The questioner : Does the fact that this was not reported from the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), despite the encouragement of it, indicate that the condition for it was present?
The Shaykh : Like what?
The questioner : Raising the hands, one of the brothers, may Allah reward him with good, when he saw me raising my hands, said that it is not established that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did so.
The Shaykh : When do you raise your hands?
The questioner : Between the adhan and the iqamah.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : And that is done almost always between the adhan and the iqamah. So the brother says: This is not reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and if it had been reported, it would have been transmitted. He says: Your continuity in this falls under the category of religious innovation.
The Shaykh : In any case, this is an error in our view. First: The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) does not come except at the time of the iqamah, so how does he know whether he raises his hands or not?
And second: The original ruling is that it is recommended to raise the hands in supplication, unless there is evidence to the contrary, based on the hadith:Bulugh al-Maram 16:117 This is one instance.
Second: If extending the hands had no effect on the acceptance of supplication, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) would not have mentioned it. And as the rule states: "The absence of transmission is not a transmission of absence", so what makes us know? Yes.
The Shaykh : May Allah bless you. Raising the hands in supplication is among the etiquettes of supplication and among the causes of a response being granted. The original ruling is that it is prescribed, unless it is found that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not raise his hands in a specific instance during his time, in which case it is not prescribed. For this reason, the Companions rebuked Bishr ibn Marwan when he raised his hands in the Friday sermon during supplication, and they said that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not go beyond gesturing.
So you should know that the original ruling in supplication is to raise the hands, because it is among the etiquettes and causes of a response being granted, unless this matter is found to have occurred during the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) where he supplicated and did not raise his hands. In that case, it is better not to raise the hands, and one should rebuke whoever raises them.
The questioner : Does the fact that this was not reported from the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), despite the encouragement of it, indicate that the condition for it was present?
The Shaykh : Like what?
The questioner : Raising the hands, one of the brothers, may Allah reward him with good, when he saw me raising my hands, said that it is not established that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did so.
The Shaykh : When do you raise your hands?
The questioner : Between the adhan and the iqamah.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : And that is done almost always between the adhan and the iqamah. So the brother says: This is not reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and if it had been reported, it would have been transmitted. He says: Your continuity in this falls under the category of religious innovation.
The Shaykh : In any case, this is an error in our view. First: The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) does not come except at the time of the iqamah, so how does he know whether he raises his hands or not?
And second: The original ruling is that it is recommended to raise the hands in supplication, unless there is evidence to the contrary, based on the hadith:
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).
إنّ الله حييّ كريم يستحيي من عبده إذا رفع إليه يديه أن يردّهما صفرًاSecond: