Raising the Hands When Supplicating

5-12-2019 | IslamWeb

Question:

Assalamu Alaikkum
My friend says when we make Dua’a we should raise the hands and keep both hands together. Other wise it is not good. Also we should not keep both hands down keeping right hand over left hand. Is he right?

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Raising the hands when supplicating during the prayer is not prescribed under the Sharee‘ah. However, outside the prayer, it is recommended but not obligatory. Ibn Hajar Al-Haytami said in Al-Fataawa Al-Kubra: “Raising the hands is recommended while supplicating outside the prayer and the like. Whoever claimed that the Prophet did not raise his hands except during the supplication of Istisqaa’ (asking Allah for rain) has committed a major oversight and a serious mistake.” [End of Quote]

The apparent meaning of the scholars’ statements in this regard is that the supplicant joins his hands together while supplicating. However, we do not know of any scholar who said that doing this is obligatory.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said in Ash-Sharh Al-Mumti’, when talking about Qunoot supplication: “The apparent meaning of the scholars’ statements is that he joins his hands, like a beggar when he asks someone to give him something. As for keeping the hands apart, then I do not know of any basis for that in the Sunnah or in the words of the scholars.” [End of Quote]

Regarding the second question, if it means the manner of placing the hands while standing up in prayer, then there are several manners. We shall mention one of them only, namely holding the left wrist with the right hand and placing them on the chest above the navel.

Allah knows best.