Sayidina Umar did not do Raf al-Yadain

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the Name of Allah Most Merciful Most Kind

Short Answer

Yes, it is true that Hanafis believe Umar did not perform Raf al-Yadain. This is mentioned by one of the leading Imams of the Hanafi Madhab, Imam al-Tahaawi. It was authentically narrated in the Musanaf of Ibn Abi Shaybah.

Explanation

حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ آدَمَ، عَنْ حَسَنِ بْنِ عَيَّاشٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ بْنِ أَبْجَرَ، عَنِ الزُّبَيْرِ بْنِ عَدِيٍّ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنِ الْأَسْوَدِ، قَالَ: صَلَّيْتُ مَعَ عُمَرَ، فَلَمْ يَرْفَعْ يَدَيْهِ فِي شَيْءٍ مِنْ صَلَاتِهِ إِلَّا حِينَ افْتَتَحَ الصَّلَاةَ

Yahya bin Adam informed us from Hasan bin Ayyash, from Abd al-Malik bin Abjar, from al-Zubayr bin Adi, from Ibrahim, from al-Aswad. He said: I prayed with Umar, and he did not raise his hands during any of his prayer except when he began the prayer. (Musanaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, 2454).

As seen in the narration above, Sayidina Umar bin al-Khattab (May Allah Most High be pleased with him) did not perform Raf al-Yadain during Salah. Meaning, he did not repeatedly raise his hands during the prayer. Rather, he done so at the beginning and then refrained thereafter. This supports the position of the Hanafi Madhab.

Authenticity

The first question that must be asked when looking at a narration is that of authenticity. Regrettably, too many people overlook this issue and delve right into discussing what is contained within the narration. This is an obvious error. Since, there is no proof in an inauthentic narration, so why discuss it?

As for the narration above, it is authentic. All of the narrators in the chain are found in Sahih Muslim. Most of them are in Bukhari too. Therefore, there is no concern regarding them being reliable narrators. The above narration can be found in other works too. However, I preferred the narration from the Musanaf because the author is one of the great authorities regarding Hadith and is relatively early.

The Hanafi position

This narration proves that Sayidina Umar did not perform Raf al-Yadain during the Salah. This is one of several examples of Sahabah not raising the hands during Salah. As well as the actions of the Sahabah the Hanafi Imams cite Hadith of the blessed Prophet ﷺ himself in support of their position (see related answers).

Some people argue that the above narration is regarding Sayidina Abdullah bin Umar and not his father Sayidina Umar (May Allah Most High be pleased with both of them). This argument is not upheld. The narration above is authentic and clear regarding the fact that Sayidina Umar did not perform Raf al-Yadain during his Salah. This was also confirmed by one of the great Imams of Ahl al-Sunnah, Imam al-Tahawi.

فَهَذَا عُمَرُ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ يَرْفَعُ يَدَيْهِ أَيْضًا إِلَّا فِي التَّكْبِيرَةِ الْأُولَى فِي هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ , وَهُوَ حَدِيثٌ صَحِيحٌ لِأَنَّ الْحَسَنَ بْنَ عَيَّاشٍ , وَإِنْ كَانَ هَذَا الْحَدِيثُ إِنَّمَا دَارَ عَلَيْهِ , فَإِنَّهُ ثِقَةٌ حُجَّةٌ , قَدْ ذَكَرَ ذَلِكَ يَحْيَى بْنُ مَعِينٍ وَغَيْرُهُ. (شرح معاني الآثار)

This is Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), he did not raise his hands either. Except during the first Takbir. As mentioned in this Hadith. And it is a Sahih Hadith because al-Hasan bin Ayyash, upon whom the Hadith is dependent, is trustworthy and reliable. This was mentioned by Yahya bin Ma’in and others. (Imam Abu Ja’far al-Tahawi 321H, Sharh Ma’ani al-Aathaar).

The Salaf

Some of the people who criticise the Hanafi position on Raf al-Yadain the most, are those who claim to follow the Salaf. If they look at the evidence provided by the Hanafis then they will see that we have mentioned Hadith of the blessed prophet ﷺ, narrations form the Sahabah and later scholars of the Salaf.

Despite this fact, some insist on considering the Hanafis to have contradicted the Sunnah on this issue. This is the result of the disease of sectarianism and not understanding valid differences. They contradict the way of Ahl al-Sunnah and divide the Ummah.

Imam Ibn Abi Shaybah mentioned the following, after narrating that Sayidina Umar did not perform Raf al-Yadain. In the following narration you will see that significant Imams of the Salaf prayed without raising the hands. So those who attack this position should know they are attacking Sahbah and senior Tabieen. More importantly, they are ignoring numerous sound Hadith of the blessed Prophet ﷺ.

قَالَ عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ: وَرَأَيْتُ الشَّعْبِيَّ، وَإِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَأَبَا إِسْحَاقَ، لَا يَرْفَعُونَ أَيْدِيَهُمْ إِلَّا حِينَ يَفْتَتِحُونَ الصَّلَاةَ

Abdul-Malik said: I saw al-Sha’bi, Ibrahim, and Abu Ishaq not raising their hands except when they began the prayer. (Musanaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, 2454).

Conclusion

Accepting valid differences of opinion is fundamental to the way of Ahl al-Sunnah. This has been the case from the time of the companions of the blessed Prophet ﷺ (Sahabah). Sadly, many people have been consumed by the evil of sectarianism. Thus, they have departed from the methodology of Ahl al-Sunnah. As a result, they attack valid differences of opinion and cause division within the Ummah.

Their zealotry causes them to rush to condemnation. So, they condemn without sufficient research. This results in them attacking practices that are established in the Sunnah of the blessed Prophet ﷺ or the example of the Sahabah. This is certainly the case with Raff al-Yadain.

In this answer I have focused on the fact that Sayina Umar did not perform Raf al-Yadain. However, I have demonstrated the same from several other Sahabah in related answers. More importantly I have presented evidence for the Hanafi position from the Hadith of our beloved Prophet ﷺ.

Despite the abundance of evidence for the Hanafi position we respect that there is a valid difference regarding this issue. Thus, the Shafi position has evidence too. None of the great Imams of Ahl al-Sunnah took positions that had no proof.

And Allah Most High Knows Best.

–Answered by Shaykh Noorud-deen Rashid (03.08.24)