Raising one’s hands and rubbing one’s face after supererogatory Prayer – Imam Ibn Baz

33 – Ruling on raising one’s hands and rubbing one’s face after supererogatory Prayer

Q: What is the ruling on raising one’s hand and rubbing one’s face after offering Tahiyyat-ul-Masjid (two-unit-Prayer to greet the mosque), optional Prayer and Al-Sunan Al-Rawatib (supererogatory prayer that was stressed and regularly performed by the Prophet)?

Answer by Imam Ibn Baz (rahimahullaah):

Raising one’s hands is one of the ways to have supplications answered. It is reported in a Prophetic Hadith that raising one’s hands is a way to have supplications answered. So, it is permissible for a Muslim to raise his hands after offering supererogatory prayer or at other times; however, he should not keep doing so, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) would not keep doing so all the time, but he may peace be upon him) sometimes did it.

As for obligatory prayer, neither the Prophet (peace be upon him) nor the Companions did it, but they would sometimes do it after supererogatory Prayer according to the religious evidence permitting raising one’s hands on supplicating to Allah when it is done from time to time.

As for rubbing one’s face after supplicating to Allah (Exalted be He), nothing has been reported about it in authentic Prophetic Hadiths. However, some weak Hadiths allow it, so the Muslim scholars see that such weak Hadiths support one another and authenticate one another. Thus, there is nothing wrong if a Muslim rubs the face after supplicating to Allah (Exalted be He), but it is better not to do it, because no authentic Hadith reported this act, i.e. rubbing one’s face after supplicating.

(Part No. 30; Page No.44)

---