What was Abdullah ibn Masood’s position on Raf al-Yadayn?

The position of Sayidina Abdullah ibn Masood on Raf al-Yadayn (raising the hands) was that it should be done at the beginning of the prayer alone and not throughout the prayer.

حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنْ مِسْعَرٍ، عَنْ أَبِي مَعْشَرٍ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، أَنَّهُ كَانَ يَرْفَعُ يَدَيْهِ فِي أَوَّلِ مَا يَسْتَفْتِحُ، ثُمَّ لَا يَرْفَعُهُمَا

Ibrahim narrated that Abdullah (Ibn Masood, May Allah Most High be pleased with him) used to raise his hands when he would begin (his Salah). Thereafter, he would not raise them (his hands). (Musanaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, 2443).

The narrators in the chain above all also the narrators of Imam Muslim. Imam Ibn Abi Shaybah also narrated from Alqamah (2441) that the position of Sayidina Abdullah ibn Masood on Raf al-Yadayn (raising the hands) was not to practice it except at the beginning of the Salah (prayer).

This should come as no surprise since Sayidina Abdullah ibn Masood (May Allah Most High be pleased with him) narrated this position from the Holy Prophet ﷺ.

عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ، قَالَ: قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْعُودٍ: أَلَا أُصَلِّي بِكُمْ صَلَاةَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ؟ فَصَلَّى، فَلَمْ يَرْفَعْ يَدَيْهِ إِلَّا فِي أَوَّلِ مَرَّةٍ. وَفِي البَابِ عَنْ البَرَاءِ بْنِ عَازِبٍ. حَدِيثُ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ، وَبِهِ يَقُولُ غَيْرُ وَاحِدٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ العِلْمِ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، وَالتَّابِعِينَ، وَهُوَ قَوْلُ سُفْيَانَ الثَّوْرِيِّ، وَأَهْلِ الكُوفَةِ

Alqamah narrated that (Sayidina) Abdullah bin Mas’ud (May Allah Most High be pleased with him) said, ‘Shall I not demonstrate the Prayer of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to you?’ Then he offered Salah and he did not raise his hands except while saying the first Takbir. (Tirmidhi 257, Hasan).

Despite these narrations the Ikhtilaaf (difference of opinion) regarding Raf al-Yadayn (raising the hands) is well established. Those who consider Raf al-Yadayn to be Sunnah do have proof too. However, the Hanafi Imams went with the position of Sayidina Ibn Masood on Raf al-Yadayn. Therefore, they do not consider it to be the Sunnah. This was also the position of Sayidina Ali.

The fact that there is evidence for both sides is to be expected. Since the great Imams of Ahl al-Sunnah would always base their religious positions on evidence from Quran and Sunnah. Furthermore, their students and later Imams of the Madhab would check to make sure that the position has a basis in Quran and Sunnah.

Therefore, we can be confident that whenever there exists a credible difference amongst the authoritative scholars of Ahl al-Sunnah, all parties will have evidence to substantiate their position. Which is why we have always respected valid differences of opinion. Unfortunately, some people have moved away from this practice of Ahl al-Sunnah and caused great confusion and division because they do not recognise or respect valid differences.

And Allah Most High Knows Best.

-Answered by Shaykh Noorud-deen Rashid (11.01.2023)

See also:
Respecting difference of opinion
Is Raf al-Yadayn Sunnah?
Sayidina Ali did not practice Raf al-Yadayn

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