What is the criterion for raising the hands in supplication and wiping the face with the hands afterward?
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The questioner : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
May Allah preserve you, O Shaykh: What is the criterion for raising the hands in supplication? When does it occur, I mean?
The Shaykh : Raising the hands in supplication falls into three categories:
The first category is that for which the Sunnah has come, and for that which the Sunnah has come, it is clear that raising the hands is a recommended practice (sunnah), such as: the supplication for rain, if a person seeks rain in the Friday sermon or in the sermon for seeking rain, he raises his hands, and raising the hands on al-Safa and on al-Marwah, and raising the hands at 'Arafah in supplication, and raising the hands at the first pillar during the days of Tashriq and the middle pillar, for this reason, in Hajj there are six standings: the first standing: on al-Safa.
The second: on al-Marwah.
The third: at 'Arafah.
The fourth: at Muzdalifah after the Fajr prayer.
The fifth: after the first pillar during the days of Tashriq.
The sixth: after the middle pillar during the days of Tashriq.
There is no doubt that a person raises his hands in this category.
The second category is that for which the non-raising of the hands has come, such as: supplication in the prayer, for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to open the prayer and supplicate and say:Sunan Abi Dawud 781Sahih (Al-Albani) and he would supplicate between the two prostrations: and he would supplicate in the final tashahhud, and he did not raise his hands, and likewise in the Friday sermon he would supplicate and not raise his hands except in seeking rain or seeking relief from a calamity, in this also the hands are not raised, and if a person raises his hands in these situations and their like, we say: it is a religious innovation (bid'ah), and we forbid him from it.
The third category is that for which neither the raising nor the non-raising of the hands has come, so the original rule is that among the etiquettes of supplication is that one raises his hands, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Bulugh al-Maram 16:117 and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned: Sahih Muslim 1015 so the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) made raising the hands to Allah one of the causes for the acceptance of supplication.
So these are the categories of raising the hands, but in the category in which the hands are raised, if one finishes the supplication, does he wipe his face with his hands?
The correct view is: that he does not wipe his face with his hands, because the hadith that came regarding that is weak and does not constitute a proof, so if we see a person wiping his face with his hands when he finishes supplication, we explain to him that the Sunnah is not to wipe your face with your hands, because what came regarding that is weak.
Did you understand?
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : Good, if Allah wills.
May Allah preserve you, O Shaykh: What is the criterion for raising the hands in supplication? When does it occur, I mean?
The Shaykh : Raising the hands in supplication falls into three categories:
The first category is that for which the Sunnah has come, and for that which the Sunnah has come, it is clear that raising the hands is a recommended practice (sunnah), such as: the supplication for rain, if a person seeks rain in the Friday sermon or in the sermon for seeking rain, he raises his hands, and raising the hands on al-Safa and on al-Marwah, and raising the hands at 'Arafah in supplication, and raising the hands at the first pillar during the days of Tashriq and the middle pillar, for this reason, in Hajj there are six standings: the first standing: on al-Safa.
The second: on al-Marwah.
The third: at 'Arafah.
The fourth: at Muzdalifah after the Fajr prayer.
The fifth: after the first pillar during the days of Tashriq.
The sixth: after the middle pillar during the days of Tashriq.
There is no doubt that a person raises his hands in this category.
The second category is that for which the non-raising of the hands has come, such as: supplication in the prayer, for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to open the prayer and supplicate and say:
O Allah, purify me from sins as a white garment is purified from filth
اللهم باعد بيني وبين خطاياي كما باعدت بين المشرق والمغربMy Lord, forgive me
رب اغفر ليThe third category is that for which neither the raising nor the non-raising of the hands has come, so the original rule is that among the etiquettes of supplication is that one raises his hands, due to 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 يستحي من عبده إذا رفع إليه يديه أن يردهما صفراًHe then made a mention of a person who travels widely, his hair disheveled and covered with dust. He lifts his hand towards the sky (and thus makes the supplication): "O Lord, O Lord," whereas his diet is unlawful, his drink is unlawful, and his clothes are unlawful and his nourishment is unlawful. How can then his supplication be accepted?
الرجل يطيل السفر أشعث أغبر يمد يديه إلى السماء: يا رب! يا رب! ومطعمه حرام، وملبسه حرام، وغذي بالحرام، فأنى يستجاب لذلكSo these are the categories of raising the hands, but in the category in which the hands are raised, if one finishes the supplication, does he wipe his face with his hands?
The correct view is: that he does not wipe his face with his hands, because the hadith that came regarding that is weak and does not constitute a proof, so if we see a person wiping his face with his hands when he finishes supplication, we explain to him that the Sunnah is not to wipe your face with your hands, because what came regarding that is weak.
Did you understand?
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : Good, if Allah wills.