Should the hands be raised for the dua after adhan?
The question, as received
I see many people raising their hands when reciting the dua after athan. I have also seen some scholars not raising their hands? What is the correct procedure?
The answer
In essence there are two types of du῾ā’s:
Explanation
1) Those which do not consist of any particular wording for any given situation. For example, a person makes his own du῾ā’ for a need he has after performing two rak῾at of voluntary prayer.
2) Those du῾ā which have specific wordings and phrases at particular times and instances. For example, the du῾ā’s after eating, after sleeping etc.
The Ahādith pertaining to raising the hands for du῾ā’ are in relation to the first category and not the second category. The second category of du῾ā’s are considered as athkār (remembrance of Allah) and thus, the hands should not be raised for such utterances.
The du῾ā’ after adhān falls under category two, therefore, the hands should not be raised when reciting the du῾ā’ after adhān.1
And Allah knows best.
Mufti Faraz Adam
References
1فتاوى دار العلوم زكريا ج 2 ص 92 زمزم
Based on the Hanafi school and on the question as it was asked. Another mufti may reach a different conclusion. Read the disclaimer.