QUESTION

Is it permissible to raise only one hand for the takbeers in the prayer, while the other hand holds a child?

ANSWER by Shaykh Muhammad 'Umar Baazmool, instructor at Umm Al-Quraa University in Makkah

If someone is carrying something in his hand during the prayer, something that he is not able to put down, and he wants to make takbeer, then he raises his free hand and gestures with the other. This seems to be permissible in this instance, and Allaah knows best.

For proof, one could use the hadeeth of the Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) when he prayed holding Umaamah [1]. Since it could not have been possible for him, and Allaah knows best, to raise both of his hands. So this seems to provide proof for the permissibility of such an action, and Allaah is the One who grants success.

FOOTNOTES

[1] Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree #516 (1/735 of Fat-hul-Baaree)

SOURCE

This was translated exclusively for www.bakkah.net from a cassette recording with the knowledge and permission of the shaykh, file no. AAMB028, dated 1423/7/25. This answer was then updated based on an e-mail received from the shaykh, dated 1423/10/11.

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