90 — Degrees of Raising the Hands in Supplication

The preceding discussion concerned an important etiquette of supplication and a major means by which it is answered: raising one’s hands to Allah—Glorified and Exalted is He—when supplicating with humility, meekness, and a sense of utter need. We cited a number of authentic hadiths from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) concerning this practice and noted that its meaning has been transmitted from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) through numerous independent reports. We also discussed the three ways of raising the hands in supplication, according to the type of supplication. When the supplication takes the form of earnest entreaty and humble imploration, the hands are extended toward the sky until the whiteness of the armpits becomes visible. When it is a petition for one’s needs, the hands are raised to the shoulders or thereabouts. When it consists of seeking forgiveness, glorifying Allah, and praising Him, one finger is raised: the index finger of the right hand.

It is authentically reported that Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would not raise his hands in any of his supplications except when praying for rain.” Agreed upon1.

On the basis of this hadith, some scholars held that raising the hands in supplication is prescribed only when praying for rain and is not prescribed in any other supplication. This hadith, however, is countered by numerous hadiths demonstrating that it is prescribed to raise the hands in supplications other than the prayer for rain. Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) therefore said: “The sound view is that the hands may be raised without restriction, for this has been established through mass-transmitted reports