raising of hands during Du'aa

Shaikh Ibn Baaz (rahimahullaah) and the raising of hands during Du'aa, by Abu Khadeejah 'Abdul-Waahid


People often ask regarding the raising of the hands whilst making du'aa. There seems to be from the direction of the Sufis and grave-worshippers the usual spreading of lies and and deception claiming that the Salafis don't make du'aa for the deceased; that they don't make du'aa after salaah; that they don't even make du'aa for their own parents.


Nothing could be further from the truth. The Salafis are the people of Sunnah, and as such they are the closest of the people in emulating the Prophet (salallaahu alaihi wassalam) and his Companions - so that necessitates that they are most ardent in the supplication of their Lord alone, without directing their supplications to other than Allaah. They seek His aid alone, they seek refuge with Him and seek from Him to deliver them and rescue them from calamities. They seek from Him that He cures them from there illnesses and the illnesses of the believers; they supplicate to Him for forgiveness and mercy for themselves, their parents, their children and the believers. The Salafis should be foremost in this regard. Supplication can be with the raising of the hands at times and without at other times.


Shaikhul-Islaam Abdul-'Azeez bin Baaz was asked a question as to whether the rasing of the hands during supplication was something legislated, and in partcular, during a journey whilst in an airplane, or a car, or a train or other than that. He responded by stating that raising of the hands is from the causes of the supplications being answered in any location a person may be. The Prophet (salallaahu alaihi wassallam) stated:




"Indeed your Lord is Shy and Generous. He becomes shy when His servant raises his hands to Him [in du'aa] to turn him away empty-handed." (Saheeh Sunan Abi Dawood)





And he (salallaahu alaihi wassallam) said: Indeed Allaah, the Most High, is Good (Tayyib) and He does not accept except good. Allaah commanded the believers with that which He commanded the Messengers, so Allaah said: "O Messengers! Eat of the good, lawful foods and do righteous deeds."[1] And He, the Most Perfect, said: "O you who believe! Eat from the good, lawful things that We have provided you with and be grateful to Allaah."[2] Then he (salallaahu alaihi wassallam) mentioned the situation of a man who was upon a lengthy journey, dusty and deshevelled - he stretches his hands to the sky saying: "O my Lord! O my Lord!", whilst his food is unlawful, his drink is unlawful, his garments are unlawful and he nourishes with that which is unlawful. So how does he expect to be answered? (Reported by Muslim in his Saheeh).


So Allaah made the raising of the hands a reason for the du'aa to be answered; and he made unlawful food and nourishment a reason for the du'aa not being answered. So this is a proof that raising the hands is a cause for the du'aa to be answered, regardless of whether it's on an airplane, or train or a car or a spacecraft, or other than that. So if a person supplicates and raises his hands, then that becomes a reason for the du'aa to be accepted. The exception is that we do not raise our hands in those situations where the Messenger (salallaahu alaihi wassallam) did not raise his hands, such as the supplications during the Jumu'ah Khutbah wherein he would not raise his hands, unless he was seeking rain specifically (i.e. istisqaa), then he would raise his hands. Likewise he would not raise his hands during the supplication between the two prostrations or before the tasleem at the end of the final tashahhud in the prayer. So we do not raise our hands in those situations where he did not raise his hands - this is because his actions are an evidence for us and his abanddonment of affairs is an evidence also. So likewise after the five daily Prayers, he used make dhikr (rememberances) of Allaah, but he did not raise his hands, so we do not raise our hands at that time due to our following of him.


As for those situations and places where he would raise his hands, then the Sunnah is to raise one's hands, following him in that, because that is a reason for the du'aa to be answered.


Also in those situations wherein the Muslim supplicates to his Lord, and he does not find any text from the Prophet (salallaahu alaihi wassallam) in raising his hands and nor leaving it off - then in that situation we raise our hands, due to the fact that the ahaadeeth we have quoted prove that the raising of the hands in general is from the causes of the du'aa being answered, as long as they are not in those situations wherein the Messenger (salallaahu alaihi wassallam) abandoned the raising of the hands as has preceeded above.


Adapted from the Majmoo' Fatawa of Shaikhul-Islaam Ibn Baaz, vol. 6, pp. 158-159.


[1] Al-Mu'minoon: 51 [2] Al-Baqarah: 172





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