al-Bahr (1/322) says: “In al-Majmaʿ this view is attributed to Abu Hanifa and Muhammad; in Ghaya al-Bayan to the majority of our scholars; and in al-Mabsut to most of our shaykhs.” Ibn al-Humam adds in his commentary on al-Hidaya (1/197): “The sounder position is that he first raises his hands and then pronounces the takbir, because the gesture negates greatness for anyone other than Allah, and negation precedes affirmation.” (1) Malik b. al-Huwayrith reported: whenever the Messenger of Allah ﷺ pronounced the opening takbir he raised his hands until they were level with his ears; when he bowed he raised his hands until they were level with his ears; and when he lifted his head from bowing and said, “Samiʿa Allahu liman hamidah,” he did likewise. Recorded by Muslim (2/7); al-Bukhari in Rafʿ al-yadayn (7, 23); Abu Dawud (1/119); al-Darimi (1/285); Ibn Majah (1/282); al-Bayhaqi (2/25); and Ahmad (5/53). Al-Bayhaqi (2/27, 71) and Muslim also transmit, through another chain from Abu Qilabah, that he saw Malik b. al-Huwayrith pray as follows: he would pronounce the takbir and then raise his hands; when he intended to bow he raised his hands; and when he lifted his head from bowing he raised his hands, and he related that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to do the same. As for raising the hands after the takbir, al-Hafiz remarks: “I have not found anyone who held this opinion.” I respond: it is, in fact, one view within the Hanafi school. The truth is that each of these three methods is an authenticated sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ; therefore, a Muslim should