The Fiqhah of Dua with the Hands, Fingers, and Eyes

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

The Fiqhah of Dua with the Hands, Fingers, and Eyes

“And when My slaves ask you concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor)”

عَنْ سَلْمَانَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله -صلى الله عليه وسلم- : إِنَّ رَبَّكُمْ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى حَيِىٌّ كَرِيمٌ يَسْتَحْيِى مِنْ عَبْدِهِ إِذَا رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ إِلَيْهِ أَنْ يَرُدَّهُمَا صِفْرًا

Salman (رضي الله عنه) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

“Your Rabb (Lord of the Universe) is Modest and Generous, and would never turn the hands of a slave without gain when he raises them to Him (in supplication).”[1]

Explanation for this topic

• Allah said: “And when My slaves ask you concerning Me, then (answer them),…” Ibn Abbass (Radi Allahu anhu) said this verse was revealed because the Jews said,”How can our Lord hear our prayers since you claim between us and Him is a distance of five hundred years?!”[2]

• There are numerous reports that mention the Prophet (ﷺ) raised his hands when making Dua and among those instances are; six places during Hajj, the Qunoot and during the Rain Prayer.

• There is a consensus that raising the hands when making Dua is Sunnah and recommended except during the Khutbah. It’s disliked for the Imam and the listeners to raise their hands while making Dua during the sermon.[3]

• Imam Yusef ibn Hasan Al-Hanbali( 909H) said raising the hands while making Dua can be done in five different ways:

1. The hands aren’t raised high, but a person points with his index finger towards the sky.

2. The hands are raised slightly at shoulder length with the palms facing the sky and the back of the hands facing the ground.

3. The hands are lifted up with the back of them facing the direction of the Qiblah and the palms towards the face.

4. This is done the opposite of number 3 above. You place the palms in the direction of the Qiblah and the back of the hands towards the face and supplicate to Allah.

5. The servant extends his arms out with the palms facing the ground and then raises them making dua.[4]

• Raising the finger while supplicating to Allah is an established Sunnah during the Tashahud inside and outside of the prayer. It is a well known practice. It can be done when a person asks Allah for forgiveness and mentions the words of Tawheed. Using two fingers while making Dua isn’t allowed.[5]

Ibn Abbas (رضي الله عنهما) said: Seeking Allah’s forgiveness is requested and done while pointing one finger.[6]

Aisha (رضي الله عنها) said : “Allah loves to asked for something using the index finger.”[7]

The salaf used to make dua lifting their index finger towards the sky while giving the Khutbah and during the Qunoot.[8]

• Looking up at the sky is part of man’s natural disposition since he realizes that Allah is up in the Heavens above His throne in a manner that befits His Majesty. For that reason you’ll find people looking up when making Dua and doing the Thikr of Allah. Acknowledging that Allah is above us causes the Heart to point the finger to the sky, raise the hands, and look up with the eyes and the head when asking the Most High for something.

Allah said: Verily! We have seen the turning of your (Muhammad’s ﷺ) face towards the heaven.[Al-Baqarah/144]. It’s found in the Sunnah the Prophet (ﷺ) looked up at the sky when making Dua against the Jews and Christians and while he was on his death bed. Nonetheless, there isn’t anything in the Sunnah that commands us to raise our eyes to sky when making Dua. The scholars unanimously agree that the direction for prayer is the Kab’ah.

In summary looking up at the sky during prayer is Haraam based on the Ijma, but if a person does it outside of the prayer when making dua, then it’s allowed according to the many scholars who investigated this topic.[9]

• Wiping the face with hands after completing dua is an issue the scholars differ in. Imam Malik, Ibn Mubarak, Ahmed and Al-Bayhaqi all view that a person shouldn’t wipe his face after finishing the Dua. While others like Hasan Al-Basri,Ma’mar ibn Rushd, Abdur Razaaq As-San’anee, Ibn Rawhawayah, Ahmed and Ibn Hajr consider it a good and acceptable action.

After reviewing and looking at both sides of the argument for wiping the face after dua sometimes, we find there is some wisdom in doing it.

1. Allah places blessings in hands of the person who makes dua as mentioned in the Sunnah and Allah would never turn the hands of a slave without gain when he raises them to Him (in supplication). Al-Ameer As-San’anee said since Allah doesn’t return the hands of the servant empty then  it’s understood the His blessings falls on the hands, so for that reason wiping the face with them  is fine as that is the noblest part of the  body the worthiest of honor.
2. Wiping the body and the face after blowing in the hands following the reading of Ikhlas, Falaq and Nas. Allah placed blessings in the hands after reading those chapters of His book so the body would be affected  with Allah’s Bounty.
3. There is a narration that Abu Ka’b wiped his face after making Dua.[10],[11]

• The right time and the right place to raise the hands for dua based on authentic hadith are;

1. After doing an injustice to someone raise the hands and beg Allah to refrain from punishing you.
2. Supplicating against someone.
3. After someone becomes Muslim
4. Supplication for a misguided person to be guided.
5. For the person who gives you a gift or performs a charitable act towards you.
6. Making dua for the deceased or while visiting their graves.
7. Place his hands upon someone and then raise them up when supplicating for them.
8. During the Qunoot of Witr Prayer.
9. During the Jum’ah sermon when asking for rain.
10. During the sermon for the eclipse prayer.
11. Rain prayer.
12. When asking Allah to stop the rain.
13. When looking at the Kab’ah after entering into Mecca.
14. On Safa.
15. On Arafah.
16. During the Khutbah on Mina
17. When performing the Jamarat.
18. When fighting your enemy in battle
19. When seeking refuge in Allah from Fitnah.
20. When asking Allah to relieve hardship and affliction.
21. While travelling.
22. When addressing the people for their wrong.[12]
23. Between the Athan and the Iqamah.[13]

• Some incorrect practices with hands when making Dua with them are;

1. Wiping the face with hands after Witr.
2. Wiping the chest and hands after completing your dua.
3. Shaking and jolting them while Dua.
4. Kissing them while making Dua with them.
5. Letting both thumbs point towards the sky while the other fingers in the direction of the Qiblah.
6. Lifting them up on Jum’ah while them imam is making Dua during or towards the end of the sermon.
7. Between the Iqamah and Takbeer Al-Ihram.
8. Raising the hands and making dua when looking at the Hilal
9. Raising the hands and making Dua in a group or individually after the obligatory prayer.[14],[15]

Keep the hands close together when making Dua .Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) stated in al-Sharh al-Mumti’ (4/25) that they should be held together. What he said is: “As for separating them and holding them far apart from one another, there is no basis for that in the Sunnah or in the words of the scholars.”

Making Dua while raising the hands is divided into 3 categories. This is an important note so pay close attention

1. There are no known texts that mention He (ﷺ) rasied his hands while making Dua. Included in this is the Jumu’ah Khutbah for the Imam and the listeners, and Dua for Tashahud.
2. We aren’t sure if he raised his hands while making Dua,so we abandon it. This is similar to the Dua done at the grave after placing the deceased there. “”Ask Allah to forgive your brother and supplicate for him for steadfastness because he is being questioned (about his deeds) now.”[16] This report doesn’t state he raised his hands; therefore we mustn’t.
3. Every other situation other than 1 & 2 above then we can raise our hands. The origin of Dua is raising the hands. Raising the hands is etiquette of making dua and a reason for the Dua to be answered.[17]

Organised and Prepared by your Brother in faith

Abu Aaliyah Abdullah Ibn Dwight Lamont Battle Sr.

PhD Student of Hadith Sciences

Doha, Qatar, 1437H ©

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[1] Abu Dawud (1488),At-Tirmithi (3556),Ibn Majah(3865)Ahmed (5/438), Ibn Hibban(876). They all mentioned this hadith from Salman Al-Farasi with the extra wording (rejected),except Abu Dawud. At-Tirmiith graded it as being Hasan.

[2] Refer to (معالم التنزيل  ) Al-Baghawi

[3] (تصحيح الدعاء ) shaykh Bakr ibn Abdillah Abu Zayd

[4] (أداب الدعائ ا) Imam Yusef ibn Hasan (841- 909H)

[5] Shaykh Bakr ibn Abdillah Abu Zayd , Pg 117

[6] Diya Al-Maqdasee (الأحاديث المختارة) 9/486

[7] Ibn Abee Shaybah (المصنف) 8431

[8] Shaykh Abdul Ghafur, (أحاديث و أثار في رفع اليدين في الدعاء) page 101-105

[9] Shaykh Bakr ibn Abdillah Abu Zayd, page 123-126

[10]  Shaykh Abdul Ghafur, (أحاديث و أثار في رفع اليدين في الدعاء) pg  82-91

[11] As-Suyuti grade this athar as being authentic in (فض الوعاء) pg 101

[12] Shaykh Abdul Ghafur, (أحاديث و أثار في رفع اليدين في الدعاء)pg 151-319

[13] Imam Muhammad ibn Salih Al-Uthaymeen. (Fatawa Nur ala Darb) #6327

[14] for further reading on this topic: https://www.abuaaliyah.com/2015/02/27/urying-bidah-4-raising-the-hands-after-the-prayer-for-dua/

[15] Shaykh Bakr ibn Abdillah Abu Zayd , pg 126-129

[16] Abu Dawud (3221)

[17] Imam Muhammad ibn Salih Al-Uthaymeen, Nur Ala Darb (6327)