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Fatwa CenterThe Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, raising his hands during the prayer
Question
Tell me some Hadeeth of Rafa' Al-Yadayn is this correct that Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, Wassala left Rafa' Al-Yadayn in his last days or last time. Is this true from Abdullaah Ibn Mas'ood or Anas bin Maalik Sahabas? In Saheeh Muslim that Prophet didn't Rafa' Al-Yadayn in later period of his life.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.
It is not confirmed as far as we know that the Prophet 
abandoned the raising of the hands when starting the prayer or during any other position whereby raising the hands is required like when bowing and when raising up from the bowing position and when standing up for the third Raka'h. Indeed it is confirmed in authentic narrations reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim and the books of Sunnah and other books that the Prophet used to raise his hands. This is the opinion of 'Umar, 'Ali, Waa'il Ibn Hujr, Maalik Ibn Al-Huwayrith, Anas, Abu Hurayrah, Abu Hameed, Abu Usyad, Sahl Ibn Saa'd, Mohammad Ibn Maslamah, Abu Qataadah, Abu Moosaa Al-Ash'aree, Jaabir, Ibn 'Abbaas, Ibn Az-Zubayr and others 
. This is also the opinion of Imaam Maalik, Mu'ammar, Al-Awzaa'i, Ibn 'Uayaynah, Ibn Al-Mubaarak, Ash-Shaafi'ee, Ahmad, Is-Haaq and others
. However, it has been reported that Ibn Mas'ood 
narrated that the Prophet prayed and did not raise his hands except at the beginning of the prayer, but the scholars classified this narration to be weak. For instance, Al-Daaraqutni
reported that Ibn Mas'ood said that he prayed with the Prophet Abu 'Bakr and 'Umar and did not raise their hands except when starting the prayer. Ibn Al-Mubaarak said that this narration is not authentic, and Ibn Abu Haatem reporting from his father said that this is a wrong narration. Imaam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal and his Shaykh Yahya Ibn Aadam said that this is a weak narration as reported by Al-Bukhari who agreed to their opinion. Moreover, Abu Daawood said that it is not an authentic narration. Also, Imaam At-Tirmithi reported that Ibn Mas'ood said: "Shall I not lead the prayer with you and pray like the Prophet prayed." So he led the prayer and did not raise his hands except at its beginning. The scholars differed about the authenticity of this narration. However, some of them argued that it is permissible not to raise the hands, but the Sunnah is to raise the hands as previously discussed according to the authentic narrations.
Allaah knows best.
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