What is the wisdom behind raising hands while uttering takbir in prayer? Those who follow Shafii madhhab raise their hands every time they stand up from ruku’.

Those who follow Shafii madhhab raise their hands every time they stand up from ruku’. I knew that it meant not to want this world by pushing the world away with the hands. Can it have some other meanings?

Dear Brother / Sister,

According to the madhhabs, it is sunnah to raise the hands while saying "Allahu akbar" during takbir al-iftitah at the beginning of the prayer.

According to Shafii and Hanbali madhhabs, it is among hay’at sunnahs to raise the hands up to the level of the ear lobes by opening them while uttering takbir al-iftitah at the beginning of the prayer, bowing down for ruku’, standing up from ruku’ and standing up from tashahhud (it is mustahab for the palms to face the qiblah while raising the hands). If it is abandoned, sajdah as-sahw is not necessary and the prayer is valid but the sunnah is regarded to have been abandoned. (Nawawi, al-Majmu, 3/425)

Every Muslim performs prayers based on the decrees of the madhhab he follows.

There may be many wisdoms behind raising the hands at the beginning and other parts of the prayer. However, every madhhab does its practice based on the Quran, hadiths or practices of the Companions.

To raise the hands while uttering takbir in prayer is a sign of asking permission from Allah to enter into His presence, to keep one’s hands off anything except His consent and to approach His door.

One does not worship for the world or due to the love of Paradise and fear of Hell. This movement which means throwing everything except Allah behind spiritually by raising the hands aims to show that one worships only because it is ordered by Allah and to attain His consent. It reminds us to have this consciousness.

Both hands are raised together; one hand shows that worshipping is not for the world while the other hand shows that worshipping is not done due to the love of Paradise and fear of Hell. It is also called "to give up both worlds". Raising two hands together shows that one gives up both worlds and worships only for Allah’s sake.

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