and reciting the verses that command it. He raises his hands and supplicates with the supplication of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.

His statement, “and reciting the verses that command it”: that is, verses such as Allah’s saying:

“Seek your Lord’s forgiveness—for He is truly Most Forgiving.” [Noah 71:10]

“And seek your Lord’s forgiveness and then turn to Him in repentance.” [Hud 11:3]

“So seek His forgiveness and then turn to Him in repentance.” [Hud 11:61]

and other verses that he calls to mind at that time.

His statement, “He raises his hands and supplicates with the supplication of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him”: that is, the imam raises his hands, due to the hadith of Anas ibn Malik, may Allah be pleased with him: “The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would not raise his hands in any of his supplications except when praying for rain, until the whiteness of his armpits could be seen.” (1) What is meant is that while delivering the sermon, he would not raise his hands except when supplicating for rain. Likewise, the listeners raise their hands, for it is established that “when the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, raised his hands while praying for rain during the Friday sermon, the people raised their hands.” (2)

One should be emphatic in this raising of the hands, for the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would raise them high enough that the whiteness of his armpits could be seen. This whiteness is not seen except with a pronounced raising of the hands. Indeed, Sahih Muslim reports that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, “turned the backs of his hands toward the sky.” (3)

The scholars differed regarding its interpretation. Some scholars said: He turns the backs of his hands toward the sky.