Fatwa No : 3744
The people of the land where the Holy Mecca is,do Rafa e Yadain

The people of the land where the Holy Mecca is,do Rafa e Yadain

I am from the Thableegh Jama'ath and of Deoband Maslak but in my mind I get the question that the people of the land where the Holy Mecca is,do Rafa e Yadain (Raising hands in Namaz) and why not we do whereas Ahl e Hadees too do Rafa e Yadain? Is this matter established in the light of any Hadees or no? Please inform me.

الجوابُ حامِدا ًو مُصلیِّا ً

In the foremost it should be understood that the difference of opinion with regard to raising or not raising hands twice or more than twice in Namaz does not pertaining to the validity or invalidity of Namaz. On the contrary, it is only about the superiority of the Namaz and evidences are found in Ahadees e Mubaraka for both these ways of performing Namaz.

The reason behind this is that in the outset, hands were raised in more than these two places and as and when the orders of observing tranquility in Namaz descended raising hands in Namaz too was abandoned to the extent that during last stages of life of Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam such Namaz too are established where he didn't perform Raf'a Yadain except in Thkbeer e Thahreema. And there are some instances where prohibition of Raf'a Yadain too is recorded. Now that, although it is permissible to perform Namaz in either way, yet in the basis of the following evidences and further evidences similar to them, according to the Ahnaf it is excellent to omit Raf'a Yadain except in Thakbeer e Thahreema and preference is accrued for it. Therefore it is necessary for the questioner to follow his Maslak without any doubt or hesitation and avoid falling into commotion just by seeing the Ghair Muqallidin whereas, in Makka Mukarrama, there are large number of people available who do not make Raf'a Yadain. And in Makka Mukarrama people of different Mazahib have become Imams in different periods and for a long period of time, Imaams from the Hanafi Mazhab too used to conduct Namaz.

Some of the explicit authentic Ahadees and Ahadees of Hasan category where it is mentioned not to make Raf'a Yadain are given below for further reference.

Narration of Jabir bin Samura Radhiyallahu Anhu
- Muslim vol 1, p 181, Abu Daud Vpl 1, p 150, Nasa'i Vol 1, p144. Thahavi p 157, Musnad Ahmad Vol 5, p 93-

Narration of Alqama Radhiyallahu Anhu
- Musnad Ahmad Vol 1, p 388-

Narration of Abdullah bin Mas'ood Radhiyallahu Anhu
- Nasa'i Vol 1, p 157

Narration of Abdul Azeez bin Hakeem Rahimahullah
-Mu'aththa Imam Muhammad p 9