In the supplication for guidance (istikharah), is it prescribed to raise the hands, praise Allah, and send blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)?
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The questioner : In the supplication for guidance (istikharah), is it prescribed to raise the hands, praise Allah, and send blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)?
The Shaykh : As we said first, the principle is that raising the hands in supplication is among the etiquettes of supplication. We mentioned to you that some scholars say the principle is to raise the hands in supplication when a person exerts effort in his supplication and it is a matter of earnest pleading. As for passing supplication, one does not raise the hands in it. And we said that perhaps the closest view is that we do not recommend it absolutely, nor do we say that it is necessary to establish raising the hands in every issue. For if we said that it is necessary to establish raising the hands in every issue, we would not reach forty issues.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : No, praising Allah does not involve raising the hands. There is no raising of the hands in it. There is only what the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said.
The Shaykh : As we said first, the principle is that raising the hands in supplication is among the etiquettes of supplication. We mentioned to you that some scholars say the principle is to raise the hands in supplication when a person exerts effort in his supplication and it is a matter of earnest pleading. As for passing supplication, one does not raise the hands in it. And we said that perhaps the closest view is that we do not recommend it absolutely, nor do we say that it is necessary to establish raising the hands in every issue. For if we said that it is necessary to establish raising the hands in every issue, we would not reach forty issues.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : No, praising Allah does not involve raising the hands. There is no raising of the hands in it. There is only what the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said.