Ruling on Raising the Hands in Supplication After the Obligatory and Voluntary Prayers

Is it permissible for a Muslim to raise his hands in supplication after the sunnah prayer that follows the obligatory prayer, or not? Some people deny this and say it is a religious innovation. If one raises his hands in supplication immediately after the obligatory prayer, is the one who does so censured?
Answer: It is not established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he raised his hands after the obligatory prayer. Rather, the recommended practice is that he remembers Allah and makes supplication, but without raising his hands after the five obligatory prayers. As for after the voluntary prayers, I do not know, despite much research, that he (peace and blessings be upon him) raised his hands after the voluntary prayers. However, the general meaning of the hadiths indicating that raising the hands is among the causes of acceptance implies that there is no harm in raising them at times, provided it is not done constantly. One raises his hands and makes supplication when a need arises, even without prayer. So if he prays and raises his hands seeking forgiveness and asking for his need, there is no harm in that. However, making this a habit, raising his hands every time he prays, it is better to leave that.
A weak hadith has been narrated on this, but it is not relied upon. However, one should do this at times and not at others, and not persist in it; because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not do this. If it had been a recommended practice, he (peace and blessings be upon him) would have done it. Since he did not do it, that indicates it is not a recommended practice, so one should not persist in it. If one does it at times out of need, to ask for what benefits him in this world and the Hereafter, or if one raises his hands without prayer when making supplication, all of this is good, and raising the hands is among the causes of acceptance.
In this authentic hadith, he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: And in another hadith, he (peace and blessings be upon him) said, when he mentioned .
This indicates that raising the hands and persisting in supplication are among the causes of acceptance. But because this man was involved in what is forbidden, his dealing with what is forbidden in his drinking, eating, and clothing became a cause for the prevention of acceptance. There is no power and no strength except with Allah.
In summary: Raising the hands is among the causes of acceptance in supplication in the places where the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) raised them, and in the places where it is not established that he raised them and their causes did not exist in his time (peace and blessings be upon him), one raises them there too if one intends to make supplication. As for the causes that existed in his time (peace and blessings be upon him) and he did not raise his hands in them, such as the obligatory prayer, he (peace and blessings be upon him) did not raise his hands in it, so we leave it as he (peace and blessings be upon him) left it. And like the Friday sermon, he did not raise his hands, so we leave it and do not raise them. Like the supplication at the end of the prayer before the taslim and after the taslim, he did not raise his hands, so we do not raise them in the obligatory prayer. And like the supplication between the two prostrations, he did not raise his hands, so we do not raise them. Rather, we make supplication with the hand on the thigh or on the knees without raising it; because we follow his example (peace and blessings be upon him) in that and imitate him (peace and blessings be upon him). If raising the hands had been prescribed in these matters, he (peace and blessings be upon him) would have raised them.
As for the supplications in which he raised his hands, such as the supplication in the sermon for rain, we raise them; because he (peace and blessings be upon him) raised them. And like the supplication on al-Safa and al-Marwah during the sa'y, and like the supplication at 'Arafah and at Muzdalifah, we raise our hands; because he (peace and blessings be upon him) raised his hand in that. Also, the supplication at the first and second pillars during the days of Tashriq: when he (peace and blessings be upon him) supplicated at the first, he advanced and placed it on his left and raised his hands and supplicated (peace and blessings be upon him). And when he stoned the second, he took the left side and placed it on his right and raised his hands, faced the qiblah, and supplicated. All of this is prescribed; because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did it. As for something about which it has not reached us that he raised his hands or left it, we are given a choice: if we raise them, raising is among the causes of acceptance, and if we leave it, there is no harm.
As for the thing he did and did not raise his hands in, like what was mentioned, it is better that we do not raise them. The recommended practice is that we do not raise them in the Friday sermon, and in the five obligatory prayers when we have finished them, we do not raise them. Or in the tashahhud, we do not raise them. Or between the two prostrations, we do not raise them; because he (peace and blessings be upon him) did not raise them in them. And the good is in what he (peace and blessings be upon him) did. Yes.
The presenter: But if a person does it, does he sin? Is he censured?
The Shaykh: After the voluntary prayer. As for after the obligatory prayer, he is censured; because he did something the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not do, and its causes existed in his time (peace and blessings be upon him), yet he did not do it. If it had been a recommended practice, he (peace and blessings be upon him) would have done it. As for the voluntary prayers, their matter is broader, but we do not see persisting in it; because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not persist in it. If he had persisted, it would have been known. If he had persisted after the voluntary prayers, the Companions would have transmitted it and explained it (peace and blessings be upon him). Yes.
The presenter: If he prays and then makes a voluntary supplication after this voluntary prayer which is after the obligatory prayer?
The Shaykh: Yes, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not do it in what was transmitted. He did not do it. But if he does it at times, we hope there is no harm on him. As for persisting in it, it is better to leave it. Yes.
The presenter: Meaning: once and once.
The Shaykh: Yes, at times and at times.