In The name of Allah, most gracious, most merciful

In this small treatise, a humble attempt is made to put forward some authentic (saheeh) ahaadeeth that prove the noble practice of rafa yadain of Rasoolullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) and Sahaabah (Radi Allaahu Anhuma).

Importance of offering salaah correctly

Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) said Pray as you have seen me praying [Saheeh Bukhari Book 9 Vol. 91 hadeeth 352] Hazrat Huzaifa (Radi Allaahu Anhu) saw a person who was not performing rukoo (bow ing) and sujood (prostration) properly. He said to him, "You hav e not prayed and if you die you w ould die on a religion other than that of Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam)."[ Saheeh Bukhari Book 1 Vol. 12 hadeeth 757] Similar report is mentioned in Sunan Nasaai w ith some additions. He (Hazrat Huzaifa) asked, 'How long have you been praying Salaah like this?' The man replied, '40 years'. He said, 'Then you haven't even prayed for the past 40 years, if you die in this state you will not die follow ing the religion of Muhammad '. (Sunan Nasaai Vol. 2, P 58)

Rafa Yadain (Raising both hands up to the shoulders or ears before and after rukoo, and after two rak'ahs in Salaah) is an integral part of salaah. But unfortunately some people due to their narrow mindedness try to prove that either rafa yadain never existed or earlier existed but later abandoned and abrogated by our beloved Nabi (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam). I n this small compilation, readers w ill see that this noble practice w as not only practised by Rasoolullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) till his demise but w as also practised by Sahaabah after his (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) death.

In this compilation we will cover............. 1. What scholars say about Rafa yadain 2. Rafa Yadain is the beauty of Salaah (prayer) 3. Practice of Famous Companions of Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) 4. Names of other Sahaabah who reported this noble practice 5. Rew ards of Rafa Yadain

What Scholars say about Rafa Yadain

Imam Shafaee says Anyone who hears the hadeeth of rafa yadain in the
beginning of salaah (prayer), befor rukoo and after rukoo, its not permissible (halaal) for him to not practise it and abandon this Sunnah.[Tabaqaate Shafaee Al Kubra 1/242] Imam Ahmad Ibn Hambal says Those who dont do rafa yadain, their salaah is defective. [Al Manhajul Ahmad 1/159] Imam Hakim says We dont know of any Sunnah except rafa yadain, which is agreed upon by all 4 righteous caliphs, Ashra mubashshira (10 great Sahaabah who were promised paradise) and many major Sahaabah even if they migrated to different countries [Fath Ul Bari 2/220 ] Imam Bukhari says According to the people of knowledge, it is not proven from any of the companions of the Prophet (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) that they left Rafa Yadain (Raising hands before and after rukoo in prayer). [Juzz Raful Yadain of I mam Bukhari P 1] Imam Auzaaee says His prayer is defective (on being asked about the one who reduces the number of rafa yadain in prayer). [Al Tabaree with reference of Al Tamheed 9/226] Imam Baihaqi says Rafa yadain is proven by Apostle (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam), 4 righteous caliphs, many other Sahaabah and Taabayeen (those who saw Sahaabah). [Sunan Baihaqi 1/81] Imam Ibn Qayyim says Anyone who does not do rafa yadain while going to rukoo and raising head from rukoo is a forsaker of Sunnah of Rasoolullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam). [ Elamul Muwaqqeeen 1/335] Imam Shafaee says Ahaadeeth of Rafa yadain have been narrated from so many Sahaabah that probably no other hadeeth has been reported by such number of Sahaabah. [Nailul Autaar 2/3/9]

 Allama Ibn Jauzi says The reports that are presented in support of abrogation
of rafa yadain are either fabricated or weak [Tazkiratul Mauzooaat 2/98 ] Shah Wali Ullah Dehalwi says Someone who does rafa yadain is more beloved to me than the one who doesnt do it because the Ahaadeeth of rafa yadain are aplenty and saheeh. [Hujjatullahil Baalighah 2/10] Rasoolullah has done rafa yadain before and after rukoo. Those who say that doing rafa yadain corrupts (fasaad) salaah, their claim are unacceptable. [Fataawa Shaami Vol. 1 P 459] Renowned Hanafi scholar Anwar Shah Kashmiri said On the basis of both, sanad (chain of narrations) and practice, ahaadeeth of rafa yadain are mutaw aatir (reported by large number of narrators). There is no scope of doubt in it. Not ev en a single word is abrogated (mansookh). [Nailul Farqadain page 220] Another great scholar Abdul Haiy Lucknowi says The evidences of rafa yadain from Prophet (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) are numerous and extremely good. Those w ho say that rafa yadain has been abrogated (mansookh), hav e no basis for their claim. They dont have satisfactory proofs. [Taaliqul Mumjad page 190] Allama Sindhi Hanafi says Those w ho say rafa yadain has been abrogated (mansookh) are wrong. [Hashiya of Sunan Nasaai 1/140]

Rafa Yadain is the beauty of Salaah

Abdullah I bn Umar (Radi Allaahu Anhu) states Rafa yadain is the beauty of
salaah [Umdatul Qari Vol 5 P 272; Nailul Autaar P 68; Zarqani P 142]
of Imam Bukhari hadeeth 41; Talkhees al Habeer P 28]

I mam I bn Sireen says Doing Rafa yadain completes salaah [Juzz Raful Yadain Saeed
bin Jubair (rahimahullah, a famous Taaba yee) was asked about rafa yadain in salaah. He said: This is the thing which beautifies your prayer. [Juzz Raful Yadain of Imam Bukhari hadeeth 39; Sunan Baihaqi 2/75] bin Abi Ayyaash, said Everything has an adornment, and the adornment of salaah is that whenever you say Takbeer, raise both your hands, and w hen you bow for rukoo, and when you rise up from rukoo (do the same). [Juzz Raful Yadain of Imam Bukhari hadeeth 59]

Al-Numan

Now, in coming few pages we will see the noble practice of Rafa Yadain of some of the Companions (Sahaabah) of Prophet (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam)

Before jumping to the names of Sahaabah w ho reported and practised rafa yadain, let us have a look at one hadeeth that is frequently used to prove that some major Sahaabah did not do rafa yadain. Sayyidana Abdullah I bn Masood says, I prayed behind the Prophet (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam), Abu Bakr, and Umar and they did not raise their hands except in the beginning salaah. [Abu Yalaa 8/453; Darqutni 1/295 and Baihaqi 2/180] Reply: This hadeeth has been classified as weak (daeef) by Imam Darqutni (Sunan Darqutni 1/295) and Imam Baihaqi (Sunan Baihaqi 2/180). One of the narrators, Muhammad bin Jabir is weak. His full name is Muhammad bin Jabir Bin Siyyaar bin Tariq al Hanafi al Yamami Abu Abdullah (see Taqreeb at Tahzeeb) This w eak narrator Muhammad bin Jabir bin Siyyaar al Yamaami said "Abu Hanifa stole Hammaad's books from me."[Al Jarh Wa Tadeel 8/450 no 2062] Therefore, this hadeeth cannot be accepted as proof. Imam Hakim rightly said Sunnah of rafa yadain has been reported from Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali [Taaliqul Mughni Page 111]

From Abu Bakr Siddique (Radi Allaahu Anhu)

Abdullah bin Zubair said I prayed behind Abu Bakr and he was doing rafa yadain in start of salaah, before rukoo and after rukoo, and Abu Bakr said I prayed behind Muhammad Rasool Allah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam), he was doing rafa yadain in start of prayer, before rukoo and after rukoo.

[Sunan

Baihaqi 2/73 , Imam Bai haqi s aid Narrators are trustworthy, Imam D ahabee sai d narrators are trus tworthy (Al Madhab Ikhtisaar Sunan al Kabeer 2/49 hadeeth 1943) and Ibn Hajar sai d narrators are trustworthy (Talkh ees al Habeer 1/219) ]

From Umar Ibn Khattaab (Radi Allaahu Anhu)

Abdullah bin Qasim (freed slave of Abu Bakr) said People were praying at the Masjid-e-Nabaw i (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam), Umar Ibn Khattab (Radi Allaahu Anhu) came and said, O people! Turn your faces towards me, let me show you the prayer of Prophet (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam), the prayer he (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) practised and ordered. Then he (Umar) faced Kabah and raised his hands up to his shoulders and uttered takbeer, then he raised his hands up to his shoulders and uttered takbeer and did rukoo and he did same when he raised his head from rukoo. After prayer he said O people this is the prayer of Prophet
(Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam)

[Sunan

Baihaqi 2/23; N asb ur-Raayah of Az-Zailee Hanafi (1/416); Nafkhush-Shuzee Commentary of sunan at Tirmidhi of Ibn Sayyid An Naas (1 /217-218) who s aid all the narrators in this chain are reliable and acceptable, Musnad al Farooq of Ibn Katheer vol 1 page 165]

From Ali Ibn Abi Taalib (Radi Allaahu Anhu)

It was narrated from Ali I bn Abi Taalib (Radi Allaahu Anhu) that w hen the Messenger of Allaah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) stood up to offer an obligatory prayer, he would say takbeer and raise his hands up to his shoulders and he would do that when he had finished his recitation and w anted to bow , and he would do it w hen he rose from bow ing, but he did not raise his hands at any point during his prayer when he was sitting, but when he stood up after Sajdatain (tw o prostrations/two Rakah) he would raise his hands likewise and say takbeer.

[Ibn Maajah

hadeeth 864, chapter on raising hands in rukoo and after rukoo; Abu Dawood 739; Musnad Ahmad 3/165; Juzz Raful Yadain of Imam Bukhari hadeeth1; Sunan Darqutni P 107; Sunan Baih aqi 2/74; Tirmidhi P 36; Juzz Rafa yadain of Allama Subki P 7; Saheeh Ibn Khuzaima hadeeth 584, Ibn Khuzaima says it is saheeh ]

From Abdullah Ibn Umar (Radi Allaahu Anhu)

Narrated Salim bin Abdullah: My father said, "Allah's Apostle (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) used to raise both his hands up to the level of his shoulders when opening the prayer; and on saying the Takbeer for bowing. And on raising his head from bow ing he used to do the same and then say "Sami al-lahu Liman hamida, Rabbana w a lakal hamd." And he did not do that (i.e. raising his hands) in prostrations.

[Saheeh Bukh ari

Book 1 Vol 12 hadeeth 702; S aheeh Muslim Book 4 hadeeth 758,759; Jaame Tirmidhi 1/59; Juzz Raful Yadain of Imam Bukhari hadeeth 2; Sah eeh Ibn Khuzaima 1/232; Saheeh Ibn Hibbaan 3/168; Musnad Abu Awana 2/90 ]

I mam Ali bin Abdullah Al Madini (teacher of I mam Bukhari) says: On the basis of this hadeeth, its obligatory for every Muslim to practise rafa yadain

[Juzz Raful Yadain of Imam Bukhari hadeeth 2]

I mam Tirmidhi said after quoting this hadeeth: The Ahaadeeth pertaining to this topic are related from 'Umar, 'Ali, Wail bin Hujr, Maalik bin Huwairith, Anas, Abu Huraira, Abu Hamid, Abu Usaid, Sahl bin Sa'ad, Muhammad bin Muslimah, Abu Qataadah, Abu Musa al-Asharee, Jabir and 'Umair al-Laithi.

Abdullah bin Umar used to throw pebbles

Nafi said Abdullah I bn Umar (Radi Allaahu Anhu) used to throw small stones at those who would not practise rafa yadain while going to rukoo and after rukoo.

[Juzz Raful

Yadain of Imam Bukhari hadeeth 15; Imam Nawawi authenticated its chai n in Majmoo Sharah Madhab 3/405]

From Abdullah Ibn Abbas (Radi Allaahu Anhu)

Abu Hamza said, I saw Ibn Abbas (Radi Allaahu Anhu), he raised his hands in the beginning of the prayer, in Rukoo, and when he raised his head from rukoo.

[Sunan Ibn Maajah

P62; Juzz Raful Yadain of Imam Bukhari hadeeth 21; Musannaf Abdul Razzaaq 2/69 hadeeth 2523; Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaibah 1/234 hadeeth 243]

From Abu Hurairah (Radi Allaahu Anhu)

Narrated Abu Huraira: When the Apostle of Allah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) uttered the takbeer (Allah is greatest) for prayer (in the beginning), he raised his hands opposite to his shoulders; and when he (intended to) bow, he did like that; and w hen he raised his head (from rukoo and intended) to prostrate, he did like that; and w hen he got up at the end of two rak'ahs, he did like that.

[Musnad

Ahmad 1/93; Juzz Raful Yadain of Imam Bukhari hadeeth 19,22; S aheeh Ibn Khuzaimah hadeeth 693; Ibn Khuzaima says it is saheeh; Hafiz Ibn Hajar said narrators are trus tworthy Talkhees al Habeer 1/ 396]

Ata bin Abi Ribah said I prayed with Abu Huraira he raised his hand and uttered takbeer, and he raised hands when (he intended) to do rukoo.

[Juzz Raful Yadain of Imam Bukhari hadeeth 22 ]

From Anas Ibn Maalik (Radi Allaahu Anhu)

Asim Al-Ahool said I saw Anas bin Maalik, he raised his hands in the beginning of prayer and uttered takbeer, he raised his hands (w hen he intended to do) rukoo, and w hen he raised his head from rukoo.

[Juzz Raful Yadain of Imam Bukhari hadeeth 20 and 56; Musnad Abu Yalaa: 6/424,425; Ibn
Maajah hadeeth 866; Sunan Darqutni 1/290; Musannaf ibn Abi Shaibah 1/235 ]

From Abu Moosa Al-Asharee (Radi Allaahu Anhu)

Abu Moosa Ash`aree said Let me show you the prayer of Prophet (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam), then he said takbeer and raised his hands, then he uttered takbeer for rukoo and raised his hands, then he said "Sami Allaahu Liman Hamidah" and again he raised his hands, Thus do like this and do not raise hands in prostrations.

 [Sunan Darqutni
1/219 ]

1/292; Hafiz Ibn Hajar s ays narrators are trustworthy Talkhees al Habeer

There is another mauqoof narration (own practice) of Abu Moosa Asharee w here he raised his hands in rukoo and after rukoo [Masail e Imam Ahmad Ibn Hambal with the narration of Saleh bin Ahmad bin Hambal P 174, Al Awsat Ibn Muzar Nesaboori 3/138]

From Jabir bin Abdullah (Radi Allaahu Anhu)

Abu al-Zubair said Jabir bin Abdullah raised his hands in the beginning of the prayer, he did same w hile doing Rukoo and after Rukoo and said I saw Prophet of Allah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) doing the same, I brahim bin Tahman (the narrator) raised his hands up to his ears.

[Sunan Ibn Maajah

hadeeth 868; Musnad al-Siraaj hadeeth 92; Imam Baihaqi narrated in Sunan Al Kubra 2/73 and s aid this hadeeth is authentic]

From Umme Darda (Radi Allaahu Anha)

Abdarba bin Suleiman bin Umair (Shami) said I saw Umme Darda, she raised her hands in prayer up to shoulders in start of the prayer, and when she (intended) to do rukoo and when (I mam) said Sami Allaahu Liman Hamidah she raised her hands and said Rabbana Lakal Hamd.

[Juzz Raful

Yadain of Imam Bukhari hadeeth 25; Abdarba is trus tworthy according to Ibn

Hibbaan (Kitab at Thiqqaat 7/153) and Marwan bin Muhammad ad-Damishqee (Tareekh Damishq of Abu Zura ad-D amishqee 650) ]

I mam Bukhari after quoting above narration said: The w ives of some companions of Prophet (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) w ere more knowledgeable than these people because they were practising rafa yadain in Prayer.

[Juzz Raful yadain

hadeeth 25]

From Maalik Ibn Huwairith (Radi Allaahu Anhu)

Abu Qilaba narrated I saw Maalik bin Huwairith saying takbeer and raising both his hands on starting the prayers and raising his hands on bow ing and also on raising his head after bow ing. Maalik bin Huwairith said, "Allah's Apostle (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) did the same."

[Saheeh Bukhari

Book 1 Volume 12 hadeeth 704; Sah eeh Muslim Book 4 hadeeth 761; Saheeh Ibn Khuzaima 1/295; Saheeh Ibn Hibbaan 3/175 ]

From Waail bin Hujr (Radi Allaahu Anhu)

Waail bin Hujr reported He saw the Apostle of Allah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) raising his hands at the time of beginning the prayer and reciting takbeer, and according to Hammam (the narrator), the hands were lifted opposite to ears. He (the Holy Prophet) then wrapped his hands in his cloth and placed his right hand over his left hand. And when he w as about to bow dow n, he brought out his hands from the cloth, and then lifted them, and then recited takbeer and bowed down, and w hen (he came back to the erect position) he recited "Samia Allaahu Liman Hamidah". And when prostrated, he prostrated between the two palms.

[Saheeh Muslim Book 4 hadeeth 792; Musnad Hameed 2/342 ]

Maalik bin Huwairith and Wail bin Hujr (Radi Allaahu Anhuma) embraced Islam in 9 Hijri [Umdatul Qaari 5/ 274; Fathul Baari 2/110] and both of them have reported Rasoolullahs (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) practice of Rafa Yadain. In fact Wail bin Hujr came again in the winter of 10 Hijri when Prophet (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) was preparing for Hajj and noticed same practice of Rafa Yadain [Abu Dawood 272; Saheeh Ibn Hibbaan 3/168]. Therefore, those who claim that Rafa yadain has been abrogated, have to bring forward even a single hadeeth after this report.

From Abu Humaid Al-Saadi and 10 Companions of Prophet (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam)
It was narrated from Muhammad I bn Amr Ibn Ata that Abu Humaid al-Saadi described the salaah of Rasoolullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) in front of 10 Sahaabah. He said When the Messenger of Allaah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) stood up to pray; he stood up straight and raised his hands until they were in line with his shoulders. When he wanted to bow in rukoo, he raised his hands until they were in line with his shoulders, then he said Allaahu akbar and bowed, and he made his backbone straight, neither raising his head nor lowering it, and he put his hands on his knees. Then he said Samia Allaahu Liman hamidah (Allaah hears those who praise Him), and raised his hands and stood up straight until every bone went back to its place.......... They (i.e. 10 Sahaabah) said you are truthful; I t was the Prayer of Prophet (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam).

[Abu Dawood
/182]

730; Tirmidhi 304, Imam Tirmidhi said it is Hasan saheeh; Ibn- Hibbaan 5

This hadeeth and the practice of Hazrat Umar (Radi Allaahu Anhu) further bolster the fact that Rafa yadain was not abrogated at all. The important point here is that these incidents took place after the death of our beloved Rasoolullah (Sallallaah u Alaihi Wasallam) and these Sahaabah affirmed Hazrat Abu Humaid and Umars description of prayer.

Apart from above mentioned Sahaabah, there are many other Sahaabah who reported the same practice of Rafa yadain, viz.

Abdullah I bn Jabir Al Bayaazi [ Sunan Baihaqi 2/75] Abdullah I bn Zubair [ Sunan Baihaqi 2/74] Abu Sa'eed Khudri [Juzz Raful Yadain P 49] Sahl I bn Saad [Sunan Ibn Maajah 1/62; Juzz Raful Yadain of Imam Bukhari hadeeth ;
Saheeh Ibn Hibbaan 1868; Tirmidhi 260]

Abu Aseed [Juzz Raful Yadain of Imam Bukhari hadeeth 5; Sunan Baihaqi 2/101 ; Sunan
Ibn Hibbaan 494, Tirmidhi 260]

Muhammad I bn Muslimah [Sunan Ibn M aajah 1/ 62; Juzz Raful Yadain of Imam Bukhari
hadeeth ; Sunan Ibn Hibbaan 49; Tirmidhi 260]

Abdullah I bn Umar Ibn Aas [Sunan Baihaqi 2/74] Salmaan Farsi [Juzz Rafa yadain of Allama Subki P 12; N eez Tasheelul Qaari 3/774] Bara Ibn Aazib [Talkhees Ul Habeer P 82; Juzz Rafa y adain of Allama Subki P 9,10]

Ubaid Ibn Umair [Juzz Raful Yadain of Imam Bukhari P 3] Qataadah [Tirmidhi P36] Suleiman I bn Yasaar [Muwatta Imam Maalik 1/98; Juzz Rafa yadain of Allama Subki P 8] Umar Laithi [Sunan Ibn Maajah P 62; Juzz Rafa yadain of Allama Subki P 7]

Rewards of Rafa Yadain

Uqbah Ibn

'Aamir (Radi Allaahu Anhu) says Those who do rafa yadain in salaah get one reward or one step(in paradise) for indication of each finger
[Al Fawaidul Baheer 2/39; Mujamul Kabir of Tabraani 8/298; Mujamul Zawaaid 2/103; Silsila As Saheeh a no 3276]

Uqbah Ibn

'Aamir (Radi Allaahu Anhu) reports from Rasoolullah (Sallallaahu

Alaihi Wasallam) A person gets 10 rewards for doing each indication of hands

(i.e. rafa yadain), one reward for one finger. [Tabraani Kabeer 18/298; Silsila As
Saheeh a no 3276]

Haafidh

Abdul Barr (rahimahullah) said: Abdullah I bn Umar (Radi Allaahu

Anhu) narrates On every rafa yadain 10 rew ards are aw arded, one for each

finger. [Umdatul Qari Vol 5 P 272]

I mam Ahmad I bn Hambal (rahimahullah) says Rafa yadain increases rewards

[Kitaabus Salaah P 56]

We get 10 rew ards for doing rafa yadain once, so in a 4 rakah salaah we earn 100 rew ards by doing rafa yadain only. And in a day we earn 430 rewards by offering only Fard (obligatory) salaah. If we add Sunnah raatibah (sunnat-e-muakkedah) then we get 600 more rewards. Therefore, by offering only Fard and Sunnah raatibah we can earn 1030 rewards every day. Masha Allah!

Some useful websites.........

http://islamiclectures.net/ http://www.islamicpdfs.com/ http://www.systemoflife.com/ http://www.islamqa.com/en http://www.allaahuakbar.net/INDEX.HTM http://alifta.com/Default.aspx