to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.

ʿAlī ibn Abī Tālib reported:

“When the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, stood to perform an obligatory prayer, he would say ‘Allah is the Greatest’ and raise his hands level with his shoulders. He would do the same when he finished his recitation and when he intended to bow, and again when he rose from bowing. He would not raise his hands at any point in the prayer while seated. When he stood after the first two units of prayer, he would likewise raise his hands and say ‘Allah is the Greatest.’”

This was narrated by Ahmad, Abū Dāwūd—whose wording is given here—Ibn Mājah, and al-Tirmidhī, who said: “It is a sound and authentic hadith.”

Abū Humayd al-Sāʿidī described the Prophet’s prayer, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. His account includes:

“When he rose after the two prostrations, he would say ‘Allah is the Greatest’ and raise his hands level with his shoulders, just as he had done when beginning the prayer.”

This was narrated by Imam Ahmad, Abū Dāwūd, Ibn Mājah, al-Nasāʾī, and al-Tirmidhī, who graded it authentic.

These are authentic, firmly established hadiths, in addition to the other transmitted reports on this matter. There is no counterevidence strong enough to match them, let alone outweigh them. Allah knows best.