Should a Latecomer Raise His Hands Upon Rising After The Imam Completes The Prayer?

Question

A latecomer arrives for prayer. The imam has finished the prayer, but the latecomer has only completed one rakat. Should the latecomer raise his hands to shoulder level after the imam says his Salam or do it in his third rakat?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

May Allah guide every dimension of our lives to that which pleases Him.

The rak‘as one performs before the imam finishes with salams are the first rak‘as of one’s prayer, and those performed after the imam finishes are the last. In the scenario in question, the latecomer completed one raka‘a. It is not recommended to raise one’s hands after rising from a completed raka‘a, except after the second raka‘a, and Allah knows best.

When the Imam completes his salams, the latecomer rises, saying “Allah Akbar” and leaning on his hands (to assist in rising– following the Sunna). When he reaches the standing position, he lifts his hands to shoulder level only after completing his second raka‘a (but not after rising from the first or third raka‘a) and then performs the remainder of the prayer. [Nawawi, Rawdat al-Talibin; Keller, Reliance of the Traveller]

I pray this is of benefit and that Allah guides us all.
[Shaykh] Irshaad Sedick
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Irshaad Sedick was raised in South Africa in a traditional Muslim family. He graduated from Dar al-Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah in Strand, Western Cape, under the guidance of the late world-renowned scholar Shaykh Taha Karaan.

Shaykh Irshaad received Ijaza from many luminaries of the Islamic world, including Shaykh Taha Karaan, Mawlana Yusuf Karaan, and Mawlana Abdul Hafeez Makki, among others.

He is the author of the text “The Musnad of Ahmad ibn Hanbal: A Hujjah or not?” He has served as the Director of the Discover Islam Centre and Al Jeem Foundation. For the last five years till present, he has served as the Khatib of Masjid Ar-Rashideen, Mowbray, Cape Town.

Shaykh Irshaad has thirteen years of teaching experience at some of the leading Islamic institutes in Cape Town). He is currently building an Islamic online learning and media platform called ‘Isnad Academy’ and has completed his Master’s degree in the study of Islam at the University of Johannesburg. He has a keen interest in healthy living and fitness.