Is It Recommended to Raise My Hands in Supplication After the Call to Prayer?
Hanafi Fiqh
Answered by Ustadh Salman Younas
Question: I was told to not raise my hands in supplication after giving/hearing the call to prayer. Is it recommended to raise my hands in supplication after the call to prayer?
Answer: Assalamu alaykum
Raising the hands when engaging in supplication is established from the sunna.
The Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him) said, “God is shy to return His servant empty handed when he raises his hands to Him in supplication.” [al-Tirmidhi, Sunan]
In another tradition, the Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him) mentions a “disheveled man who raises his hands to the sky saying, ‘My Lord!'” [Muslim, Sahih]
Imam al-Suyuti gathered a number of other traditions on the issue in a treatise entitled al-Fadd al-wi`a’ fi ahadith raf` al-yadayn fi al-du`a. Consequently, scholars identified raising the hands during supplication as a general adab/sunna with the exception of a few occasions, such as certain supplications while in prayer. [al-Haytami, al-Fatawa al-Fiqhiya al-Kubra (1:252-53); Ali al-Qari, Mirqat al-Mafatih (5:126-27)]
Supplicating Between the Adhan and Iqama
Following from the above, supplication between the adhan and iqama is affirmed in the primary texts. Anas ibn Malik relates that the Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him) said, “Supplication between the adhan and iqama is not rejected.” [al-Tirmidhi, Sunan; Abu Dawud, Sunan; Ahmad, Musnad (rigorously authentic according to Shu`ayb Arna’ut and with the addition at the end, ‘so supplicate’)]
Given that (a) supplicating between the adhan and the iqama is established in the primary texts, and (b) the general rule is that it is sunna to raise the hands for supplication unless the contrary is affirmed by the texts, it can be stated that it is (c) recommended to raise the hands when supplicating between the adhan and iqama.
While there are other specifics to the issue, the above should suffice in answering your question.
Salman
Checked & Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
