5/15. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 864 — Raising Hands in Prescribed Prayer
Raising the hands when bowing, and when raising the head from bowing
Raising Hands in Prescribed Prayer
Sunan Ibn Majah : 864
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 864
حَدَّثَنَا الْعَبَّاسُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْعَظِيمِ الْعَنْبَرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ دَاوُدَ أَبُو أَيُّوبَ الْهَاشِمِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ عُقْبَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْفَضْلِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي رَافِعٍ، عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ، قَالَ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ إِذَا قَامَ إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ الْمَكْتُوبَةِ كَبَّرَ وَرَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ حَتَّى يَكُونَا حَذْوَ مَنْكِبَيْهِ وَإِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَرْكَعَ فَعَلَ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ، وَإِذَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ الرُّكُوعِ فَعَلَ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ، وَإِذَا قَامَ مِنَ السَّجْدَتَيْنِ فَعَلَ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ .
It was narrated that ‘Ali bin Abu Talib said: “When the Prophet (ﷺ) stood up to offer a prescribed prayer, he said Allahu Akbar and raised his hands until they were parallel to his shoulders. When he wanted to bow he did likewise; when he raised his head from bowing he did likewise; and when he stood up after the two prostrations he did likewise.”*
[1] Sindi said: "It is as if they abandoned that because of it contradicting the popular narrations." Azimabadi ( Awnul-Ma'bud ) said: "The meaning of 'the two prostrations' is two Rak'ahs without a doubt, as is reported in the following narrations. This is what was said by the scholars among the Muhadithin and the Fuqaha' , except for Khattabi."Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 864In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 62English translation : Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 864
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 864
This Hadith is about raising hands in prescribed prayer. Ali bin Abu Talib narrated that when the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم stood for the prescribed prayer, he said Allahu Akbar and raised his hands until they were parallel to his shoulders. The narration also says he did the same when he wanted to bow, when he raised his head from bowing, and when he stood after the two prostrations. The main topic is the Prophet’s prayer method, especially the timing of raising hands in Salah. The report connects the action with the prescribed prayer and with major prayer movements. It should be explained simply: this Hadith describes repeated hand raising at defined points, without going into matters not mentioned in the text.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم raised his hands when starting the prescribed prayer.
- He raised his hands to shoulder level according to this narration.
- The action is mentioned before Ruku, after Ruku, and after two prostrations.
- Prayer has taught positions that deserve careful learning.
