"I came to Al-Madinah and said: 'I am going to watch the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) pray. He said the takbir and raised his hands until I saw his thumbs near his ears. When he wanted to bow, he said the takbir and raised his hands. Then he raised his head and said: 'Sami Allahu liman hamidah (Allah hears the one who praises Him).' Then he said the takbir and prostrated, and his hands were in the same position in relation to his ears as when he started the prayer."
The Book of The At-Tatbiq (Clasping One's Hands Together)
Sunan an-Nasa'i - Hadith 1102
Hadith Text
"I came to Al-Madinah and said: 'I am going to watch the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) pray. He said the takbir and raised his hands until I saw his thumbs near his ears. When he wanted to bow, he said the takbir and raised his hands. Then he raised his head and said: 'Sami Allahu liman hamidah (Allah hears the one who praises Him).' Then he said the takbir and prostrated, and his hands were in the same position in relation to his ears as when he started the prayer."
Commentary on Raf' al-Yadayn (Raising the Hands)
This hadith establishes the sunnah of raising hands during prayer at four positions: opening takbir, bowing, rising from bowing, and standing after first tashahhud. The Prophet (ﷺ) raised his hands until his thumbs were parallel to his earlobes, demonstrating the proper height.
The scholars differ regarding raising hands when standing from tashahhud, but this narration clearly indicates the Prophet's consistent practice. The hands should be raised with palms facing the qiblah, fingers extended naturally, not excessively spread nor completely closed.
Commentary on Takbirat al-Ihram
The opening takbir (Allahu Akbar) marks the formal commencement of prayer. The hands should be raised simultaneously with uttering the takbir, not before or after. This synchronization is essential for the validity of the prayer's initiation according to the majority of scholars.
The phrase "thumbs near his ears" indicates the hands should be raised to the level of the shoulders or earlobes, with some scholars preferring shoulder level and others ear level. Both positions are substantiated by authentic narrations.
Commentary on Transition Movements
When moving from standing to bowing, the Prophet (ﷺ) raised his hands while saying takbir. This demonstrates that physical movements in prayer should accompany the verbal pronouncements, creating harmony between body and tongue in worship.
The consistent hand-raising throughout prayer transitions reflects the completeness of the Prophet's guidance and serves as a physical manifestation of transitioning between prayer's spiritual stations, each marked by Allah's remembrance.