as in most hadiths; and the third is earnest entreaty.”1 End quote. A Muslim must therefore look to what is authentically established from the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—in this regard, adhere to it, and abide by it, for his guidance—peace and blessings be upon him—is the best guidance. A Muslim should beware of people’s affected practices and excesses in this matter. The early generations—may Allah be pleased with them—used to warn against practising a transmitted form in a context other than that prescribed for it, such as raising one’s hands in supplication while on the pulpit on Friday, except when praying for rain—even though raising the hands in supplication is prescribed in other settings.

Muslim narrated in his Sahīh from Umāra ibn Ruayba that he saw Bishr ibn Marwān on the pulpit with his hands raised. He said, “May Allah disfigure those two hands! I saw the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—do no more than gesture with his hand like this,” and he pointed with his index finger.2 What, then, of someone who invents baseless ways of raising the hands or movements with no precedent? Anyone who reflects upon the conduct of those who supplicate will see astonishing things from them in this regard.3

One example is that some supplicants, when raising their hands, lower them—held apart or together—to the navel or below it. The carelessness and scant regard for this momentous matter evident in that are plain.

Others, when raising their hands, hold them apart, with their fingertips facing the qibla and their thumbs pointing towards the sky. It is clear that this contradicts the words of