Q: In some areas we find that the Imam (the one who leads congregational Prayer) and the Ma’mum (people being led by an Imam in Prayer) raise their hands after the prescribed Salah (Prayers). The Imam raises his hands and makes Du‘a’ (supplication to Allah) and the Ma’mum say "Amen!" to his Du‘a’. I hope that you confirm or refute this act and support your answer with evidence?

A: Acts of ‘Ibadah (worship) are Tawqifiy (bound by a religious text and not amenable to personal opinion), therefore, it is not permissible to say that this act of ‘Ibadah is ordained by Islam either with regards to its origin, number, manner, or place without legal evidence to support it. We do not know of any Sunnah (what was reported from the Prophet), from his words, deeds, or approvals, which supports the legitimacy of raising hands after offering the prescribed Salah; and indeed all good lies in following the guidance of the Prophet (peace be upon him). (Part No. 7; Page No. 100) The teachings of the Prophet (peace be upon him) established in this regard are grounded on authentic evidence indicating what he (peace be upon him) used to do after the Taslim (salutation of peace ending the Prayer), and was acted upon by his successors, Sahabah (Companions), and those who followed them in righteousness. Anyone who innovates anything in the religion contradicting the teachings of the Messenger (peace be upon him), will have it rejected. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever does an action which is not in accordance with this matter of ours (Islam), will have it rejected.” So an Imam who makes Du‘a’ after the Taslim and the people being led by him in prayer saying "Amen" after his after his Du‘a’, all of them raising their hands, should be asked to provide evidence to support his deed, otherwise he will have it rejected.Having clarified this, we will now give a summary of the guidance of the Prophet (peace be upon him) [as to what he used to do after the Taslim. Ed.]. Among his teachings is that he used to ask Allah for forgiveness three times, saying, “O Allah, You are Al-Salam (the One Who is free from all defects and deficiencies) and from You is all peace, blessed are You, Possessor of majesty and honor!” Al-Awza‘y was asked about how the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to seek forgiveness from Allah, and he answered, “He used to say, ‘I seek the Forgiveness of Allah. I seek the Forgiveness of Allah.’” This is the narration of Muslim, Al-Tirmidhy, and Al-Nasa’y; but the narration reported by Al-Nasa’y said: when the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) finished his Salah, ....and he stated the Hadith. According to the narration of Abu Dawud: “When the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) wanted to leave after finishing his Salah, he used to ask Allah for Forgiveness three times, and then say: ‘O Allah! You are Al-Salam.’” In the narration reported by Abu Dawud and Al-Nasa'y on the authority of `Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her): “Upon concluding his Salah with Taslim, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to say: ‘O Allah, You are Al-Salam (the One Who is free from all defects and deficiencies) and from You is all peace, blessed are You, Possessor of majesty and honor!’” In the narration of Muslim, reported on the authority of Warrad, the freed slave of Al-Mughirah ibn Shu‘bah, he said that Al-Mughirah ibn Shu‘bah dictated to him in a letter addressed to Mu`awiyah that: “The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to say after every prescribed Salah, ‘There is no god but Allah, Alone, with no partner or associate, His is the Sovereignty and His is the Praise, and He has power over all things. O Allah! No one can withhold what You give and no one can give what You withhold, and no one’s wealth or might is of any avail to him before You.’” (Part No. 7; Page No. 101) In the narration of Muslim it is also reported on the authority of `Abdullah ibn Al-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with them) that, at the end of every Salah, the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to say, after the Taslim: “There is no god but Allah, Alone, with no partner or associate, His is the Sovereignty and His is the Praise, and He has power over all things. There is neither might nor power except with Allah and we worship none but Him. From Him (alone) come all blessings and favors, and all good praise is due to Him. There is no god but Allah and we make our worship purely for Him (alone) however much the disbelievers may hate that.” He added that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to recite them out loud at the end of every Salah. In another narration also reported by Muslim from the Hadith on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), he said that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Anyone who says, ‘Subhan Allah (Glory be to Allah),’ at the end of every Salah thirty-three times, and says, ‘Al-hamdu lillah (All praise is due to Allah),’ thirty-three times, and ‘Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest)’ thirty-three times, and then completes the one hundred with, ‘La ilaha illallahu, wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu, wa Huwa ‘ala kully shay’in Qadir (There is no god but Allah, Alone, with no partner or associate, His is the Sovereignty and His is the Praise, and He has power over all things),’ all their sins will be forgiven, even if they are like (as many as) the foam on the sea.” For further information on Du‘a’, please refer to the compilations of Du‘a’, such as "Jami‘ Al-Usul", "Majma‘ Al-Zawa’id", "Al-Matalib Al-‘Aliyah bi Zawa’id Al-Masanid Al-Thamaniyyah", and others. (Part No. 7; Page No. 102) May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.