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Rafʿ al-Yadayn (Arabic: رَفْعُ الْيَدَيْن; lit. 'raising of the hands') is a Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad of raising the hands during the Rukū of Salah (Islamic prayer). This practice is widely found in the Hadiths and followed differently among Islamic schools of thought.
Etymology
The term Raf' al-Yadayn literally means 'raising of the hands' in Arabic. It is derived from the root word رَفَعَ (rafa'a), meaning 'to raise', and يَدَيْن (yadayn), meaning 'hands'.
Jurisprudential views
Islamic jurisprudence, or fiqh, includes different interpretations of Raf' al-Yadayn based on Hadith evidence and scholarly opinions. The practice varies across the four major Sunni schools of thought:
Hanafi school
The Hanafis generally limit Raf' al-Yadayn to the Takbeer al-Tahreema (opening Takbeer) and do not perform it during other transitions in Salah. This view is based on their understanding of Hadiths narrated by companions like Abdullah ibn Mas'ud, where it is said that the Prophet (peace be upon him) abandoned the practice of raising hands except at the beginning of the prayer (e.g., Sunan Abu Dawood, Hadith 748).
Shafi'i school
The Shafi'is uphold the practice of Raf' al-Yadayn is considered Sunnah, including:
- The opening Takbeer
- Before bowing (Ruku')
- After rising from Ruku'
Maliki school
The Malikis are divided in following the practice of Raf' al-Yadayn. Some consider the additional instances non-obligatory and not emphasized in practice while some argued that it is a Sunnah and one must practice it in Salah. Malik ibn Anas, in his hadith collection Muwatta Imam Malik, narrated that "the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to raise his hands to the level of his shoulders when he began the prayer and when he raised his head from the ruku he raised them in the same way."
Raf' al-Yadayn also appears in Muhammad al-Bukhari's Sahih al-Bukhari: "Narrated Salim bin `Abdullah: My father said, 'Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to raise both his hands up to the level of his shoulders when opening the prayer; and on saying the Takbir for bowing. And on raising his head from bowing he used to do the same and then say "Sami`a l-lahu liman hamidah, Rabbana wa laka l-hamd." And he did not do that (i.e. raising his hands) in prostrations'". The chain of this hadith contains , Abd Allah ibn Umar ibn al-Khattab, Malik ibn Anas and Ibn Shihab az-Zuhri.
Hanbali school
The Hanbalis, like the Shafi'is, emphasize performing Raf' al-Yadayn at all prescribed points. They rely on Hadiths such as the one narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar, recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari (Hadith 739).
Practice in Salah
Muhammad is reported to have performed Raf' al-Yadayn at various stages of Salah, including:
- Before Takbeer al-Tahreema (opening Takbeer):
"He raised his hands up to the level of his shoulders and said Allahu Akbar."
— Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 735
• Before and after Ruku' (bowing):
"He raised his hands when going into Ruku' and when rising from it."
— Sahih Muslim, Hadith 390
- When standing up after the second Rak'ah in Salah:
Whenever Ibn `Umar started the prayer with Takbir, he used to raise his hands: whenever he bowed, he used to raise his hands (before bowing) and also used to raise his hands on saying, "Sami`a l-lahu liman hamidah", and he used to do the same on rising from the second rak`a (for the 3rd rak`a). Ibn `Umar said: "The Prophet (ﷺ) used to do the same."
— Sahih al-Bukhari 739
References
- "Sahih Muslim 390a - The Book of Prayers - كتاب الصلاة". Sunnah.com.
- "Sunan Abi Dawud 722 - Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat) - كتاب الصلاة". Sunnah.com.
- "Raising the Hands in Prayer". Islam Question & Answer.
- "What is the proof of Rafa Yadain?". Islam Question & Answer. September 14, 2012.
- ^ "Sahih al-Bukhari 739 - Call to Prayers (Adhaan) - كتاب الأذان". Sunnah.com.
- "Rafa-ul-Yadain - To do or not to do". IslamicTeachings.org. September 22, 2014.
- "A Question on Raf' al-Yadayn". IslamQA. August 31, 2012.
- "Hadith - Prayer - Muwatta Malik". Sunnah.com. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
- "Sahih al-Bukhari 735 - Call to Prayers (Adhaan) - كتاب الأذان". Sunnah.com. Retrieved 2025-01-01.