Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalamo alaykum brother burhan

I would appreciate any information on the below queries in detail.as i am very confused.  my parents say something, my granny has different opinion.  i donot know whom to listen!!!!!! 

i fail to understand everytime my granny makes duaa, she raises hands, especially after completing the salah. she is habituated. as i have heard after fard salah it is bidah to raise hands what about after completing the salah (sunnah and nawafil salah )  is it bidah?

i heard

-duaa (supplications) are accepted after fard salah

-after adhan

-3rd part of the night

-during sujood

-before breaking fast

- while it is raining etc

 
My questions are: 

for the above can one make supplications without raising hands, and when one can raise hands and make supplications. 

can one blow on oneself any time after the duaa?  i have heard before sleeping our holy prophet peace be upon him he used to blow on his body after reciting the quls.

 
after the fard salah i have not seen anyone in the mosque raising hands then how do the make the duaa?  can we make duaa after fard salah?

 
there are some duaas to be recited during  morning and evening, so when should it be done, after the complete salah or after the fard salah?  (should one raise hands or not)?

 
-3rd part of the night,      is it after performing tahajjud (nawafil) salah and make supplications or before ? and my question is after tahajud salah can one raise hands and ask Allah? 

- during sujood---- is it during salah's sujood, i mean while saying salah or after the salah?  can one ask in one own's language in sujood?  is there any duaa during sujood while praying?

I have seen during arafat people raise hands and look towards the sky to make supplications.  can one see towards the sky and make duaa?

brother could u pls. provide the answers so it can benefit all of us.  i will look forward for your  great help.

A sister

thanks immensely

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Answer:

Raising hands in dua supplication

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: ….as i have heard after fard salah it is bidah to raise hands what about after completing the salah (sunnah and nawafil salah )  is it bidah?

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 5.612 Narrated by Abu Musa

….. Then Prophet (saws) asked for water, performed ablution and then raised hands, saying, "O Allah! Forgive 'Ubaid, Abu Amir." At that time I saw the whiteness of the Prophet's armpits.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 2.807 Narrated by Salim

Ibn 'Umar used to do Rami of the Jamrat-ud-Dunya (the Jamra near to the Khaif mosque) with seven small stones and used to recite Takbir on throwing every pebble. He then would go ahead till he reached the level ground where he would stand facing the Qibla for a long time to invoke (Allah) while raising his hands (during the invocations). Then he would do Rami of the Jamrat-ul-Wusta (middle Jamra) and then he would go to the left towards the middle ground, where he would stand facing the Qibla. He would remain standing there for a long period to invoke (Allah) while raising his hands, and would stand there for a long period. Then he would do Rami of the Jamrat-ul-Aqaba from the middle of the valley, but he would not stay by it, and then he would leave and say, "I saw the Prophet (saws) doing like this."

The raising of one’s hands when making supplications (individually) to the Lord Most Gracious is amongst the etiquettes of making supplications as taught by the Messenger of Allah (saws); and there is enough and ample evidence in the authentic and established Sunnah to support the act. When the Messenger of Allah (saws) sought to make his individual supplications to his Lord Most Gracious, at times he (saws) would raise his hands above his shoulders, with the palms of his hands facing inwards….and there is also evidence to the fact that at times, the Messenger of Allah (saws) would make his supplications without raising his hands.

There is also evidence in the authentic and established Sunnah that the Messenger of Allah (saws) would raise his hands during his ‘qunut’ supplications during the prayer, and also during his supplications during the prayers of ‘Istisqa’ or rain.

But to the best of our knowledge, there is absolutely no evidence in the established and authentic Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws) whereby it is stated that he (saws) would raise his hands and make dua or supplication in congregation after the prayers.

The majority of the scholars and jurists in Islam are of the opinion that if an individual raises his hands to make supplications at any time (including after his prayers) in his individual capacity, there is absolutely no harm…for the raising of hands when making supplications unto the Lord Most Gracious is an etiquette of making dua as taught by the Messenger of Allah (saws)……but for a whole congregation to raise their hands and make collective dua after the prayers is not from the established Sunnah or practice of the Messenger of Allah (saws). And Allah Alone Knows Best.

Your Question: ….for the above can one make supplications without raising hands, and when one can raise hands and make supplications. 

Salman reported that the Prophet (saws), said, "Your Lord, the Blessed and the Exalted One, is Modest and Generous, and He loathes to turn away His servant empty-handed when he raises his hands to Him in supplication."

Narrated by Ahmad and Ibn Hibban.

In one’s individual capacity, one is at absolute liberty to raise their hands and beseech their Lord Most Gracious for whatever their hearts desire.

Your Question: ….can one blow on oneself any time after the duaa?  i have heard before sleeping our holy prophet peace be upon him he used to blow on his body after reciting the quls.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 8.331 Narrated by Aisha

Whenever Allah's Messenger (saws) went to bed, he (saws) used to blow on his hands while reciting the Mu'auwidhat ( i.e. Suratal-Falaq 113 and Surat-an-Nas 114) and then pass his hands over his body.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.631 Narrated by Aisha

During the Prophet's (saws) fatal illness, he (saws) used to recite the Mu'auwidhat (Surat An-Nas and Surat Al-Falaq) and then blow his breath over his body. When his illness was aggravated, I used to recite those two Surahs and blow my breath over him and make him rub his body with his own hand." (Ma'mar asked Az-Zuhri: How did the Prophet use to blow? Az-Zuhri said: He used to blow on his hands and then passed them over his face.)

Al-Muwatta Hadith 50.10

Yahya related from Malik from Ibn Shihab from Urwa ibn az-Zubayr from Aisha that the Messenger of Allah (saws) when he had a (physical) complaint, would recite the last three surahs of Quran, over himself and blow. She said, "When his pain was great, I would recite it over him and wipe him with his right hand hoping for its blessing."

When retiring for the night, or when one has a physical ailment, to recite the last two/three Surahs (112 Al-Ikhlaas, 113 Al-Falak, 114 An-Naas) and blow over one’s hands and rub one’s body is indeed from the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws).

To the best of our knowledge, there is no specific evidence that the Messenger of Allah (saws) would blow unto his hands or his body every time he (saws) made a supplication unto his Lord Most Gracious. And Allah Alone Knows Best.

Your Question:….after the fard salah i have not seen anyone in the mosque raising hands then how do the make the duaa?  can we make duaa after fard salah?

Nu'man b. Bashir reported that the Prophet (saws), said, "Verily ‘dua’ is worship."

Narrated by Ahmad and Sunan.

Abu Hurairah reported, "The Prophet (saws) said, "Nothing is more dear to Allah than one's supplication (dua) to Him.''

Narrated by Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah.

A believer is at absolute liberty to make ‘dua’ and supplications unto his Lord Most High whenever and wherever one’s desires. To make supplications after the performance of any good deed is from the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws), and Allah is our witness, the ‘fard’ salaah is as good a deed as any!

Your Question: ….- during sujood---- is it during salah's sujood, i mean while saying salah or after the salah?  can one ask in one own's language in sujood?  is there any duaa during sujood while praying?

Just as one is at liberty to raise their hands and supplicate unto their Lord wherever and whenever one wills; one is at liberty to perform the ‘sajdah’ unto their Lord Most High and make supplications in it whenever one wills and pleases.

The Prophet (saws) said, 'The closest one of you comes to his Lord is while he is prostrating, (therefore) make many supplications therein.' And he (saws) also said, 'During the prostrations, strive your hardest in making supplications. Most likely, you will be listened to."

Related by Ahmad and Muslim.

One is at absolute liberty to bow down in ‘sajdah’ unto their Lord Most Gracious and make supplications, regardless of whether in the state of ‘salaah’ or otherwise. The only times the Messenger of Allah (saws) forbade the believers from performing the ‘sajdah’ is after the performance of the ‘fajr’ prayer until the sun has completely risen, and after the ‘Asr’ prayer until the sun has completely set. Other than these two specific times, one is at liberty to bow down in ‘sajdah’ unto their Lord and make as many supplications as they will and please.

Your Question: can one ask in one own's language in sujood?

The absolutely majority of the scholars are of the opinion that when one is in the actual rite of ‘salah’, it is best and preferred that the person offer his full prayer in the Arabic language, including the supplications which are made in the ‘salaah’ to the Lord Most High.

But at all times other than the prescribed rite of prayer, if one is not comfortable or does not understand the Arabic language, there is absolutely no harm in making supplications to their Lord Most Gracious in any language of their choice….for without an iota of a doubt, our Lord Most High hears and responds to every supplication of His believing and repentant slaves.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 186:

And if My servants ask you, O Prophet, concerning Me, tell them that I am quite near to them. I hear and answer the prayer of the suppliant, when he calls on Me. So let them respond to My call and believe in Me. (Convey this to them), perhaps they may be guided aright!

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chater 40 Surah Mumin verse 60:

And Your Lord says, “Call upon Me. I will answer your prayers. Those who disdain My worship on account of arrogance, shall certainly enter Hell in disgrace!”

Your Question: ….i have seen during arafat people raise hands and look towards the sky to make supplications.  can one see towards the sky and make duaa?

Abu Hurairah reports that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said: "Those who raise their sight to the sky during the prayer should stop doing so or their sight may be taken away!"

Related by Ahmad, Muslim, and an-Nasa'i.

The Messenger of Allah (saws) specifically forbade the believers to raise their sight towards the sky when in the actual state of ‘salaah’. But if one happens to raise their sight towards the heavens when making a supplication when not in the state of ‘salaah’, there is no harm.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan