I saw that whenever Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) stood for the prayer, he used to raise both his hands up to the shoulders, and used to do the same on saying the Takbir for bowing and on raising his head from it and used to say, "Sami`a l-lahu liman hamidah". But he did not do that (i.e. raising his hands) in prostrations.
The Manner of Raising Hands in Prayer
This narration from Sahih al-Bukhari 736 details the precise manner in which the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) performed the Raf' al-Yadayn (raising of the hands) during the prescribed prayers (Salah). It establishes a Sunnah Mu'akkadah (a stressed, established tradition) for the Ummah to follow.
Commentary on the Specific Positions
The raising of the hands is legislated at four specific points in the prayer: 1) At the opening Takbir (Takbiratul Ihram), 2) When bowing into Ruku', 3) When rising from Ruku' while saying "Sami'a Allahu liman hamidah", and 4) When standing up after the first Tashahhud in prayers of three or four Rak'ahs.
The hands are to be raised until they are parallel to the shoulders, with the fingers naturally spread. This act signifies a transition between postures, marking the shift in one's state before Allah and demonstrating physical and spiritual readiness.
The Exception of Prostration
The hadith explicitly states that the Prophet (ﷺ) did not raise his hands during the movements into or out of prostration (Sujood). This exception is crucial, as it distinguishes the postures where this Sunnah applies from those where it does not, preserving the unique humility and lowliness inherent in the act of prostration itself.
Scholarly Significance
This hadith is a primary evidence in the school of Imam al-Shafi'i and Imam Ahmad, among others, for the practice of raising the hands at the described positions. It refutes the notion that this practice was only for the initial Takbir or was later abrogated. Following this Sunnah beautifies the prayer and ensures it conforms to the perfect model of the Prophet (ﷺ).