Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
It is proven in the saheeh Sunnah of the Prophet (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) that the hands should be raised when
saying takbeer in four places: the opening takbeer (takbeerat al-ihraam),
before bowing, after rising from bowing, and after standing up following the
middle tashahhud in a three- or four-rak’ah prayer. This is different from
the view of the Hanafis, who say that the hands should be raised only with
the opening takbeer, and unlike the majority of Hanbalis who say that the
hands should not be raised in the fourth place.
See the answers to questions no.
3267 and
21439.
Secondly:
With regard to raising the hands after the middle tashahhud
and standing up for the third rak’ah, the scholars differed as to the point
at which the hands should be raised. Some of them said: before standing up,
when one is still sitting. This is the view of the Shaafa’is and of the
scholars of the Standing Committee, and of Shaykh al-Albaani. Others said
that it is after standing up. This is the view of Abu Hurayrah, Ibn ‘Umar,
Imam Maalik and others; it was also stated by Shaykh al-‘Uthaymeen in his
fatwas.
There are proven ahaadeeth about this raising of the hands,
including the following:
1-
It was narrated from Naafi’ that when Ibn ‘Umar began to pray
he would say takbeer and raise his hands, and when he bowed he would raise
his hands, and when he said ‘Sami’a Allaahu liman hamidah (Allaah hears the
one who praises him)’ he would raise his hands, and when he stood up
after two rak’ahs he would raise his hands.
And Ibn ‘Umar attributed that to the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him).
This was narrated by al-Bukhaari, who included it in a
chapter entitled: “Chapter on raising the hands when standing up after two
rak’ahs”.
We shall see clearly below that Ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be
pleased with him) would say takbeer and raise his hands after he had stood
up straight.
2-
It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that he would say takbeer
in every prayer, obligatory or otherwise, in Ramadaan and at other times. He
would say takbeer when he stood up, then he would say takbeer when he bowed,
then he would say ‘Sami’a Allaahu lima hamidah (Allaah hears the one who
praises him)’, then he would say, ‘Rabbana wa laka’l-hamd (Our Lord, to You
be praise)’ before he prostrated; then he would say Allaahu akbar when he
went down in prostration, then he would say takbeer when he raised his head
from prostration, then he would say takbeer when he prostrated, then he
would say takbeer when he lifted his head from prostration, then he would
say takbeer when he stood up after sitting following the two rak’ahs,
and he would do that in every rak’ah until he had finished the prayer. Then
he would say when he finished: By the One in Whose hand is my soul, I am the
one among you whose prayer most closely resembles that of the Messenger of
Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). That is how he used
to pray until he departed this world.
Narrated by al-Bukhaari (770) and Muslim (392).
We shall see below that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased
with him) would say takbeer after he had stood up straight.
3-
It was narrated from ‘Ali ibn Abi Taalib (may Allaah be
pleased with him) that when the Messenger of Allaah (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) stood up to offer an obligatory prayer, he
would say takbeer and raise his hands up to his shoulders, and he would do
that when he had finished his recitation and wanted to bow, and he would do
it when he rose from bowing, but he did not raise his hands at any point
during his prayer when he was sitting, but when he stood up after two
prostrations he would raise his hands likewise and say takbeer.
Narrated by al-Tirmidhi (3423); he said it is hasan saheeh.
Also narrated by Abu Dawood (744) and classed as saheeh by Ibn Khuzaymah
(584), Ibn Taymiyah in al-Fataawa (22/453) and al-Albaani in
Saheeh al-Tirmidhi.
What is meant by the phrase “when he stood up after two
prostrations” is when he stood up after two rak’ahs. This is stated clearly
in one of the two reports of al-Bukhaari in the section on “Raising the
hands” where it says: When he stood up after two rak’ahs he would do
likewise.
4-
It was narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Amr ibn ‘Ata’ that Abu
Humayd al-Saa’idi said: I heard him when he was among ten of the companions
of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him),
one of whom was Abu Qataadah ibn Rib’i, saying, I am the most knowledgeable
of you about the prayer of the Messenger of Allaah (S). They said: You are
not among the senior of us in terms of companionship and you are not among
those who met him often. He said: Yes I was. They said: Then tell us. He
said: When the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) stood up to pray, he stood up straight and raised his hands until
they were in line with his shoulders. When he wanted to bow in rukoo’, he
raised his hands until they were in line with his shoulders, then he said
“Allaahu akbar” and bowed, and he made his backbone straight, neither
raising his head nor lowering it, and he put his hands on his knees. Then he
said “Sami’a Allaahu liman hamidah (Allaah hears those who praise
Him),” and raised his hands and stood up straight until every bone went back
to its place. Then he went down in prostration, then he said “Allaahu akbar”
and held his upper arms away from his body and spread out his toes. Then he
would tuck his foot under his body and sit on it. Then he sat upright until
every bone has returned to its place. Then he went down in prostration. Then
he said Allaahu akbar and tucked his foot under his body and sat on it. Then
he sat upright until every bone has returned to its place. Then he got up,
then he did likewise in the second rak’ah , and when he stood up after
two rak’ahs, he said takbeer and raised his hands until they were in line
with his shoulders, as he did when he started the prayer, then he did
likewise until, in the rak’ah with which he ended his prayer, he pushed back
his right foot and sat on his left buttock mutawarrikan
(with the left upper thigh on the ground and both
feet protruding from one (i.e., the right) side), then he said the
salaam.
Narrated by al-Tirmidhi (304), Abu Dawood (730), al-Nasaa’i
(1181) and Ibn Majaah (862). Classed as saheeh by al-Tirmidhi, al-Nawawi in
al-Majmoo’ (3/447) and al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi.
Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
This hadeeth of Abu Humayd is a saheeh hadeeth that accepted
(by the scholars) and has no faults. Some people regarded it as having
faults but Allaah and the scholars of hadeeth showed it to be free of such
faults. We will mention the faults they ascribed to it, then we will explain
what is wrong with their thinking …
Haashiyat Ibn al-Qayyim ‘ala Tahdheeb Sunan Abi Dawood
(2/295).
Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
What is meant by the two prostrations is undoubtedly two
rak’ahs, as it says in the reports of the others. This was stated by the
scholars, both muhadditheen and fuqaha’, except for al-Khattaabi, who
thought that what was meant was the two well known prostrations, then he was
confused about the hadeeth and said: I do not know of any of the fuqaha’ who
said that. It is as if he did not study its isnaads; if he had studied them,
he would have understood it as referring to two rak’ahs as the imams did.
Al-Majmoo’ (3/447).
Thirdly:
The opinions of the scholars, and the reason for the
difference of opinion:
1-
The first opinion:
Those scholars who said that the worshipper should raise his
hands whilst he is still sitting, before he stands up for the third rak’ah,
only said that because of the apparent meaning of some of the texts that we
have quoted, which say that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) raised his hands before standing. What is meant by “when he
stood up” in their view is when he wanted to stand up.
Because of that, raising the hands was mentioned in
conjunction with the takbeer. There are texts which clearly state that that
the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said the
takbeer for the third rak’ah when he was still sitting, so these scholars
said that the takbeer should be accompanied by the raising of the hands.
Abu Ya’la (10/419) narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be
pleased with him) said: When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) wanted to prostrate he would say takbeer then prostrate, and
when he stood up after sitting he said takbeer then stand up.
Shaykh al-Albaani (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
This hadeeth clearly shows that the Sunnah is to say takbeer
and then prostrate, and to say takbeer whilst sitting, then get up.
Al-Silsilah al-Saheehah (2/157),
hadeeth no. 604.
It should be noted that some of those who study hadeeth
refuted the Shaykh (may Allaah have mercy on him) and explained that this
report of Abu Ya’la is shaadhdh (odd). We say: Even if it is saheeh, it does
not mention raising the hands.
Those imams did not think that the words of the narrator
“when he stood up he said takbeer” mean that he said takbeer after standing;
rather it was when he wanted to stand up. This is like the verse in which
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “So when you want to recite
the Qur’aan, seek refuge with Allaah from Shaytaan (Satan), the outcast (the
cursed one)” [al-Nahl 16:98]; the original text literally says “when you
recite” but what is meant is: when you want to recite, then seek refuge with
Allaah.
Imam Ibn Khuzaymah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
would raise his hands when he said takbeer to pray, and when he bowed, and
when he raised his head from bowing. This indicates that the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) enjoined raising the hands when
the worshipper wants to bow, and when he raises his head from bowing. Every
phrase that has been narrated concerning this shows that the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) raised his hands when he bowed.
This is like the verse in which Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“O you who believe! When you intend
[lit. get up] to offer As-Salaah (the prayer), wash your faces …”
[al-Maa'idah 5:6]. Allaah enjoined washing the parts of the body that
are washed in wudoo’ when a person intends to pray, not after he starts to
do it. What is meant by the phrase “When
you intend [lit. get up] to offer As-Salaah” is when you intend
to do it. The same is meant by the phrase “he would raise his hands when he
bowed” i.e., when he wanted to bow, as in the report of ‘Ali ibn Abi Taalib
and Ibn ‘Umar, who said: “When he wanted to bow.”
Saheeh Ibn Khuzaymah (1/296).
The scholars of the Standing Committee were asked:
What is the ruling on raising the hands after standing up for
the third rak’ah, i.e., when one has finished the first two rak’ahs then
gets up to do the third rak’ah – is it permissible to raise your hands when
standing or not? Please quote the evidence.
They replied:
It is Sunnah to raise the hands when getting up for the third
rak’ah in a three- or four-rak’ah prayer, after reciting the tashahhud in
the second rak’ah, because of the report narrated by al-Bukhaari and others,
that when Ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) started to pray he
would say takbeer and raise his hands, and when he bowed he would raise his
hands, and when he said ‘Sami’a Allaahu liman hamidah (Allaah hears the one
who praises Him) he would raise his hands, and when he stood up after the
two rak’ahs he would raise his hands, and Ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased
with him) attributed that to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him).
Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz, Shaykh ‘Abd al-Razzaaq
‘Afeefi, Shaykh ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Ghadyaan, Shaykh ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Qa’ood.
Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah
(6/346).
They were also asked:
How should the takbeer when standing up after the first
tashahhud and raising the hands be done? Should (the worshipper) raise his
hands when he is still sitting, then say takbeer and get up? Or should he
not raise his hands until after he has stood up? Which is the more correct
view?
They replied:
It is prescribed to raise the hands in prayer when getting up
after the first tashahhud, and say takbeer after one has started to move
from sitting to standing.
Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz, Shaykh ‘Abd al-Razzaaq
‘Afeefi, Shaykh ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Ghadyaan
Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah
(6/347).
2-
The second opinion:
The scholars said that the hands should be raised after
standing up, and that it is not necessary to raise the hands at the same
time as saying takbeer; the takbeer may come before raising the hands, or
raising the hands may come before the takbeer, or they may be done at the
same time. All of these are proven in the Sunnah about the places where one
is to say takbeer and raise the hands. Some of these imams do not think one
should say takbeer when sitting, even if it is without raising the hands,
rather they think it should be said when standing. They said: The text
should be understood in accordance with its apparent meaning, and the texts
prove that he used to raise his hands “when he stood up” which means when he
had finished standing.
Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have
mercy on him) said:
Based on this, the places where the hands are to be raised
are four:
When saying the opening takbeer, when bowing, when rising
from bowing, and when standing up after the first tashahhud, which should be
done after one has stood up, because the wording of the hadeeth of Ibn ‘Umar
is: “When he stood up after two rak’ahs, he raised his hands,” and that can
only mean when he had finished standing. Based on this, (the worshipper)
should not raise his hands when he is sitting and then get up, as some
people imagine. It is known that the phrase “when he stood up” does not mean
when he was getting up, rather there is a difference between the two.
There is no raising of the hands apart from that.
Al-Sharh al-Mumti’ (3/214).
This is with regard to raising the hands. As for saying
takbeer, the Shaykh – may Allaah have mercy on him – said that it should
come between the two positions, not with either one of them. With regard to
the issue under discussion here, he should say takbeer whilst moving to
stand up, and raise his hands when he had stood up fully.
Shaykh al-‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
The takbeer for moving from one posture of the prayer to
another should be said between the two posture. So when he wants to
prostrate, he should say takbeer between standing and prostrating, and when
he wants to stand up after prostrating, he should say takbeer between
prostrating and standing. This is what is best.
If he starts to say takbeer before he goes down to prostrate,
and completes it as he is going down, there is nothing wrong with that.
Similarly if he starts it whilst he is going down and does not complete it
until he is prostrating, there is nothing wrong with it.
Majmoo’ Fataawa al-Shaykh al-‘Uthaymeen
(13/question no. 511).
What makes it more likely that this view is correct is what
it says in the third hadeeth – the hadeeth of ‘Ali (may Allaah be pleased
with him) – in which he says “he did not raise his hands at any point during
his prayer when he was sitting”.
It seems that this view is the one that was regarded as more
correct by Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah.
He (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked about raising
the hands after standing up following the sitting after the first two
rak’ahs: is it recommended? Did the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) or any of the Sahaabah do it?
He replied: Yes, it is recommended according to the scholars
who are well versed in the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him), and it is one of the two views narrated
from Ahmad, and the view of a number of his companions, and the companions
of al-Shaafa’i, and others. That was proven from the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) in the books of al-Saheeh and
al-Sunan.
Majmoo’ al-Fataawa (22/452).
Imam Maalik (may Allaah have mercy on him) was of the view
that the worshipper should not say takbeer when standing up for the third
rak’ah until after he has stood up straight. He narrated that in
al-Muwatta’ from some of the Sahaabah.
Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
He differed from Maalik with regard to standing up for the
third rak’ah following the first tashahhud. He narrated in al-Muwatta’
from Abu Hurayrah, Ibn ‘Umar and others that they used to say takbeer as
they were standing up, and Ibn Wahb narrated from him that saying takbeer
after standing up straight is better. In al-Mudawwanah it says that
one should not say takbeer until one is standing up straight.
Fath al-Baari (2/304).
Ibn Daqeeq al-Eid (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
They differed concerning the time of this takbeer. Some of
them favoured the view that it should be when starting to get up, which is
the view of al-Shaafa’i. Others were of the view that it should be when one
has stood up straight. This is the view of Maalik.
Ahkaam al-Ihkaam (p. 244).
The action of Abu Hurayrah:
‘Abd al-Razzaaq narrated that Ibn Jurayj said: ‘Ata’ told me:
I prayed behind Abu Hurayrah and I heard him saying takbeer when he started
to pray, and when he bowed, and when he went down to prostrate, then when he
raised his head, then when he lowered his head for the second prostration,
then when he raised his head, then when he stood up straight after two
(rak’ahs).
He said to me: That is how the takbeer should be in every
prayer.
Musannaf ‘Abd al-Razzaaq (2492).
Its isnaad is saheeh.
The action of ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Umar:
‘Abd al-Razzaaq narrated that Ibn Jurayj said: Naafi’ told me
that Ibn ‘Umar used to say takbeer with his hands when he started to pray,
and when he bowed, and when he said ‘Sami’a Allaahu liman hamidah
(Allaah hears the one who praises Him) and when he raised his head from
bowing, and when he stood up straight after two (rak’ahs). He said:
And he did not say takbeer with his hands when he raised his head after the
two prostrations.
Narrated by ‘Abd al-Razzaaq in al-Musannaf (2520) and
by al-Bukhaari in Juz’ Rafa’ al-Yadayn (38). Its isnaad is saheeh.
If these Sahaabah – along with Imam Maalik – say that the
takbeer should come when one has stood up straight, then it is more likely
that the hands should be raised when standing. The report of Ibn ‘Umar
clearly shows that he said takbeer and raised his hands when he had stood up
straight.
But we do not accept that it is not allowed to say takbeer
when sitting, before standing up, or whilst getting up – as Imam Maalik
disallowed it – because there is evidence which indicates that one may say
takbeer whilst sitting and we cannot reject that. This is the view of the
majority of scholars. But as for raising the hands, we think that it should
be done whilst standing.
Al-Bukhaari said, in a chapter entitled: Saying takbeer
whilst getting up after doing two rak’ahs and Ibn al-Zubayr used to say
takbeer whilst getting up. He narrated two hadeeth concerning that.
1-
It was narrated that Sa’eed ibn al-Haarith said: Abu Sa’eed
led us in prayer and he said the takbeer out loud when he raised his head
from prostration, and when he prostrated, and when he stood up following
the two rak’ahs. He said: This is what I saw the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) do.
2-
It was narrated that Mutarrif said: ‘Imraan ibn Husayn and I
prayed behind ‘Ali ibn Abi Taalib (may Allaah be pleased with him). When he
prostrated he said takbeer, and when he raised his head he said takbeer, and
when he got up after two rak’ahs he said takbeer. When he said the salaam,
‘Imraan took me by the hand and said: This man has led us in a prayer like
that of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), or: This
man reminded me of the prayer of Muhammad (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him).
Narrated by al-Bukhaari (753) and Muslim (393).
Ibn Rajab (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
The evidence in these two ahaadeeth which al-Bukhaari quoted
in this chapter shows that in the hadeeth of Abu Sa’eed the takbeer comes
when rising from prostration, which is apparent in starting to say takbeer
when starting to rise.
As for the hadeeth of ‘Imraan, it says: “When he rose, he
said takbeer” which may also be understood as meaning that he said takbeer
when he started to rise.
The hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah to which we referred is clearer
than all of that; it says: “He used to say takbeer when he raised his head
from the first and second prostration.” There is no dispute concerning
this.
In the hadeeth of Abu Sa’eed the takbeer comes “When he stood
up following the two rak’ahs.” In the hadeeth of ‘Imraan is says: “When he
got up following the two rak’ahs he said takbeer.”
There was a difference of opinion concerning the
interpretation of this. The majority interpreted it as meaning that he said
takbeer when he began to stand up and get up.
In the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah referred to at the beginning
of the chapter, it says: “He said takbeer when he stood up from sitting in
the two (rak’ahs).”
This is the view of Abu Haneefah, al-Thawri, al-Shaafa’i and
Ahmad.
Maalik said – according to the better known of the two
reports narrated from him: He should not say takbeer when he stands up after
the two rak’ahs until he is standing up straight, because in some versions
of the hadeeth of Abu Humayd and his companions it says: “when he stood up
following the two rak’ahs he said takbeer.”
This was narrated by al-Tirmidhi, al-Nasaa’i, Ibn Majaah and
Ibn Hibbaan.
A similar report was narrated from Abu Hurayrah, Anas and
others.
These ahaadeeth may be understood as meaning that he said
takbeer when he wanted to stand up following the first tashahhud.
Fath al-Baari by al-Haafiz Ibn
Rajab (6/64).
Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
His saying: “Chapter: he should say takbeer as he is getting
up after the two prostrations” – the majority of scholars are of the view
that the worshipper should start to say takbeer and so on when he starts to
go down or get up, but there was a difference of opinion from Maalik with
regard to standing up for this third rak’ah after the first tashahhud.
Fath al-Baari (2/304).
To sum up:
1.
It is proven that one should
say takbeer when moving up or down in all movements of the prayer.
2.
It is proven that the hands
should be raised in four places: when saying the opening takbeer, when
bowing, when rising from bowing, and when standing up for the third rak’ah.
3.
The Hanafis say that the hands
should only be raised for the opening takbeer, and the Hanbalis say that the
hands should be raised in the first three places but not the fourth.
4.
The majority of scholars say
that the takbeer for standing up for the third rak’ah should be said whilst
sitting before standing up, or when getting up, unlike Imam Maalik who said
that the takbeer should come after one has stood up straight. From all
the reports that we have quoted in this answer, it is clear to us that
the takbeer may come before standing up, whilst standing up and after
standing up.
5.
What is proven from the
apparent meaning of many of the ahaadeeth, and from the actions of some of
the Sahaabah, is that the raising the hands in these places comes after one
has finished standing up, especially as it
says that there is no raising the hands when sitting, as we quoted in the
third hadeeth, from ‘Ali (may Allaah be pleased with him), which says: “he
did not raise his hands at any point during his prayer when he was sitting”.
Even though that may be interpreted as referring to not raising the hands
when prostrating and when rising from prostration.
6.
This issue is one of the issues
in which different views are acceptable, and it is Sunnah, not an obligatory
part of prayer, so it is not permissible to denounce harshly the one who
does something different, let alone hate him or cut off ties with him.
Note:
If a person joins the prayer late and has missed a rak’ah –
for example – there is a difference concerning the ruling. Should he raise
his hands after reciting the first tashahhud – which is the first rak’ah for
him – or after the third rak’ah of the imam, which is the second for him?
Al-Haafiz Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali regarded it is more likely that raising the
hands is connected to the tashahhud not to it being the third rak’ah, and
this is an acceptable argument. Some of the scholars regarded that as more
likely for a different reason, which is following the imam, if the imam
raises his hands at this point.
Mardaawi al-Hanbali (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
As for raising the hands when standing up following the first
tashahhud – if we regard it as mustahabb – it may be understood that he
should raise them when he stands up for the rak’ah that is judged to be the
third, whether he stands up following the tashahhud or otherwise, and it may
be understood that he should raise his hands when he stands up following his
first tashahhud, whether that is immediately after the second rak’ah or not.
He said: This is more likely to be correct. End quote.
Al-Insaaf (2/227).
And Allaah knows best.
