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| Rafaa - Al Yadain |
Rafa al-Yadain in Salah – The Final Evidence from Qur’an & Sahih Hadith
Introduction
The practice of Rafa al-Yadain — raising the hands at specific points in Salah — has become a topic of unnecessary debate. Some claim that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ stopped this Sunnah in the last part of his life.
However, authentic evidence from Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim proves otherwise. This blog will present historical facts, authentic hadith (in Arabic + English), and scholarly reasoning to end this discussion once and for all.
Historical Timeline: Abdullah Ibn Umar (RA) and the Prophet ﷺ
-
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
Born: 570 AD
Passed away: 632 AD (Age 62–63 years) -
Abdullah Ibn Umar (RA)
Born: 610 AD
Passed away: 693 AD (Age ~83 years)
Abdullah Ibn Umar (RA) lived about 61 years after the Prophet ﷺ passed away.
He was a close companion who:
- Prayed directly behind the Prophet ﷺ
- Observed his prayer in detail
- Narrated numerous authentic hadith about Salah
If the Prophet ﷺ had truly stopped doing Rafaʿ al-Yadayn, Ibn Umar (RA) — living decades after — would have known and transmitted this change.
Instead, he consistently narrated and practiced it until his death.
Evidence from Sahih al-Bukhari & Sahih Muslim
1. The General Command to Pray as the Prophet ﷺ Prayed
Sahih al-Bukhari – Hadith 631
Arabic:
عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ الْحُوَيْرِثِ، قَالَ: قَالَ لَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ:
«صَلُّوا كَمَا رَأَيْتُمُونِي أُصَلِّي»
English Translation:
Narrated Malik bin Huwairith: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to us:
“Pray as you have seen me praying.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 631)
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2. Ibn Umar (RA)’s Detailed Description of Rafaʿ al-Yadayn
Sahih al-Bukhari – Hadith 735–736
Arabic:
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ:
كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذَا قَامَ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ حَتَّى تَكُونَا حَذْوَ مَنْكِبَيْهِ، وَإِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَرْكَعَ بَعْدَ التَّكْبِيرِ، وَإِذَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ الرُّكُوعِ، رَفَعَهُمَا كَذَلِكَ
English Translation:
Narrated Abdullah Ibn Umar (RA):
When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ stood for prayer, he raised both his hands till they were in line with his shoulders; and did the same before bowing, and after rising from bowing.
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 735–736)
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3. Sahih Muslim Confirmation
Sahih Muslim – (Same Narrator, Malik bin Huwairith)
The same companion who was told “Pray as you have seen me praying” also narrates in Sahih Muslim that the Prophet ﷺ was seen performing Rafaʿ al-Yadayn — showing a direct connection between the command and the act.
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Refuting the “He Stopped Doing It” Claim
- No Sahih narration exists proving that the Prophet ﷺ stopped Rafaʿ al-Yadayn.
- Mutawatir narrations (narrated by multiple companions with the same content) confirm that he continued this Sunnah until his last days.
- If he had stopped, long-living companions like Ibn Umar (RA) would have informed the Ummah — but instead, they continued to teach and perform it.
Qur’anic Reminder
Arabic:
فَإِنَّهَا لَا تَعْمَى الْأَبْصَارُ وَلَـٰكِن تَعْمَى الْقُلُوبُ الَّتِي فِي الصُّدُورِ
English Translation:
“It is not the eyes that are blinded, but blinded are the hearts within the breasts.”
(Qur’an 22:46)
Conclusion
- Rafaʿ al-Yadayn is an established Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.
- Practiced until his passing.
- Preserved by companions like Ibn Umar (RA) for decades afterward.
Neglecting it knowingly is abandoning part of the Prophet’s ﷺ way.
As he said:
“Pray as you have seen me praying.”
May Allah ﷻ guide us to follow the Sunnah exactly as it was practiced.
JazakAllahu Khayran
رَبِّ زِدْنِي عِلْمًا
“My Lord, increase me in knowledge.”
(Qur’an 20:114)
اَللّٰهُمَّ أَرِنَا الْحَقَّ حَقًّا وَارْزُقْنَا اتِّبَاعَهُ،
وَأَرِنَا الْبَاطِلَ بَاطِلًا وَارْزُقْنَا اجْتِنَابَهُ،
وَلَا تَجْعَلْهُ مُلْتَبِسًا عَلَيْنَا فَنَضِلَّ
“O Allah, show us the truth as truth and grant us the ability to follow it. Show us falsehood as falsehood and grant us the ability to avoid it. Do not make it unclear to us, lest we go astray.”
اللّٰهُمَّ اجْعَلْنَا مِنَ الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ كَمَا أَمَرْتَ،
وَكَمَا صَلَّى نَبِيُّنَا مُحَمَّدٌ ﷺ
وَارْزُقْنَا الْخُشُوعَ وَالْإِخْلَاصَ فِي الْعِبَادَةِ.
🌸 Jazakumullahu Khayran for reading.
🌙 May peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you.
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ
✍️ Written By:
Rizwan Ibn Ali Abdullah
Student of Islam and Science | Researcher | Thinker | Against Sectarianism | Reviving Ummah | Qur'an and Sunnah
© 2019– Rizwan Ibn Ali Abdullah. All Rights Reserved.
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1 comment:
Jazaak'Allah hu khair
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