What are the guidelines for raising the hands in supplication?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you with good, O Shaykh, regarding the guidelines for raising the hands in supplication?
The Shaykh : Yes, indeed.
The questioner : That is, there are specific occasions for which the Sunnah has come regarding raising the hands.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : In Hajj, in rain, and on Friday in seeking aid, but in specific places, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Listen, listen to the answer. I understood what you said. We say that raising the hands in supplication falls into three categories:
The first category: that for which the Sunnah has come. It is clear that the hands are raised in it.
The second category: that for which the Sunnah has come in opposition to it. It is also clear that the hands are not raised in it. Did you understand?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : We now have two categories:
The first: that for which the Sunnah has come. The hands are raised in it.
The second: that for which the Sunnah has come in opposition to it. The hands are not raised in it.
The first is common, and the second is also common. For example, if a person wants to raise his hands between the two prostrations while saying, "My Lord, forgive me and have mercy on me," we say no, this is a religious innovation. If the preacher wants to raise his hands in supplication on Friday, we say no, do not raise them except in the prayer for rain and the prayer for relief from harm. In the prayer for rain, he says, "O Allah, send us relief," and in the prayer for relief from harm, he says, "O Allah, send us relief." Did you understand?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : If a person wants to raise his hands in the opening supplication, we say no, because the Sunnah has come in opposition to it.
The third category remains: that for which the Sunnah has not come, neither affirming nor denying it. It is recommended to raise the hands in it, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Bulugh al-Maram 16:117, and the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding the man: Sunan ad-Darimi 20:12. This is the ruling on raising the hands in supplication. There are three categories. Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, indeed.
The questioner : That is, there are specific occasions for which the Sunnah has come regarding raising the hands.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : In Hajj, in rain, and on Friday in seeking aid, but in specific places, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Listen, listen to the answer. I understood what you said. We say that raising the hands in supplication falls into three categories:
The first category: that for which the Sunnah has come. It is clear that the hands are raised in it.
The second category: that for which the Sunnah has come in opposition to it. It is also clear that the hands are not raised in it. Did you understand?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : We now have two categories:
The first: that for which the Sunnah has come. The hands are raised in it.
The second: that for which the Sunnah has come in opposition to it. The hands are not raised in it.
The first is common, and the second is also common. For example, if a person wants to raise his hands between the two prostrations while saying, "My Lord, forgive me and have mercy on me," we say no, this is a religious innovation. If the preacher wants to raise his hands in supplication on Friday, we say no, do not raise them except in the prayer for rain and the prayer for relief from harm. In the prayer for rain, he says, "O Allah, send us relief," and in the prayer for relief from harm, he says, "O Allah, send us relief." Did you understand?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : If a person wants to raise his hands in the opening supplication, we say no, because the Sunnah has come in opposition to it.
The third category remains: that for which the Sunnah has not come, neither affirming nor denying it. It is recommended to raise the hands in it, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):