Tuesday 14 February 2017

The Lawful and Prohibited Times to Raise One’s Hands in Du’aa

Shaykh ‘Abdul-Azeez bin Abdullaah bin Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked: Is it legislated to raise the hands in du’aa especially when travelling in a plane, car, train and others?

He replied: Raising the hands in du’aa is one of the means of acceptance of du’aa in any place. The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) said: “Indeed, your Lord is Shy and Concealing. He is Shy when His servant raises his hands to Him (in du’aa) to return them empty.” The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) also said: “Verily, Allaah is Pure and He only accepts that which is Pure. Allaah has commanded the Believers what He has commanded the Messengers, for He said: ‘O you who have believed, eat from the good things which We have provided for you and be grateful to Allaah if it is [indeed] Him that you worship.’ Allaah said: ‘O messengers, eat from the good foods and work righteousness.”  Then the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) mentioned a traveller on a long journey, who is dishevelled and dusty; and stretches forth his hand to the sky, saying: O my Lord, O my Lord, while his food is unlawful, his drink is unlawful, his clothing is unlawful and he was nourished unlawfully; how can he be answered?[1]

So he made raising the hands one of the means of acceptance of du’aa. And one of the causes of rejection and non-acceptance of du’aa is consuming unlawful things. Therefore, this indicates that raising one’s hands in du’aa is one of the means of acceptance of du’aa regardless of whether it is in a plane, train, car or space ship or other than that. If a person makes du’aa and raises his hand, this is one of the means of acceptance of du’aa except during the times in which the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) did not raise his hands. In such instances, we should not raise our hands such as during Jumu’ah khutbah. He did not raise his hands during it except when praying for rain.

Similarly, he did not raise his hands between the two prostrations, before salaam in the last tashahhud. So we should not raise our hands in these times which he did not raise his hands because if he does something, it is a proof and when he abandons it, it is also a proof. This also applies to after completing the five daily prayers. He used to recite the legislated remembrance without raising his hands. So we should not raise our hands in emulation of him. As regards the time in which he raised his hands, the Sunnah is to raise the hands in following his example because it is one of the means of acceptance of du’aa.

Further, we should raise our hands during the times in which a Muslim should supplicate to his Lord but nothing has been reported from the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) whether he raised his hands or not, based on the ahaadeeth which indicates that raising the hands is one of the means of acceptance of du’aa as preceded.[2]

Raising the Hands After Adhaan
What is legislated after repeating what the Mu’adhdhin is saying and Salaah upon the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) is to say: ‘O Allaah, Lord of this perfect call and established prayer. Grant Muhammad the intercession and favour, and raise him to the honoured station that You have promised him.’ This is because that has been established from the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) from the hadeeth of Jaabir bin Abdullaah al-Ansaaree (may Allaah be pleased with them both) in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree without raising the hands because such has not been reported in this time. So doing it would be considered an innovation.[3]

Raising the Hands After Sujood at-Tilaawah
Shaykh Bakr Aboo Zayd (may Allaah have mercy on him) said, ‘Raising the hands in du’aa after rising from sujood at-Tilaawah and making du’aa is a newly invented matter that has no basis. So it is an innovation.’[4]

Raising the Hands upon sighting the New Moon
Shaykh Bakr Aboo Zayd (may Allaah have mercy on him) also said, ‘Facing the new moon and raising the hands in du’aa are both innovations. The Sunnah is to face the Qiblah during du’aa and nothing has been established with regard to raising the hands upon sighting the new moon.[5]




[1] Recorded by Muslim in his saheeh
[2] Source: Ahkaam al-Musaafir p. 35-36 by Shaykh Abdul-‘Azeez Abdullaah bin Baaz

[3] Al-Lajnah ad-Daai’mah, fatwa no. 16874
[4] Tasheeh ad-Du’aa, p. 128
[5] See previous footnote

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