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The question

What is the authenticity of the Hadith: "It is as if I see a people coming after me, raising their hands in prayer as if they are the tails of wild horses"? Is raising the hands upon saying the Takbir forbidden? Does raising the hands after the Takbir invalidate the prayer? Is raising the hands after the Takbir an innovation that does not invalidate the prayer?

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Source: FtawySummarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 20261 min readAlso available in العربية
The answer

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, addressed his companions with the words: "Why do I see you raising your hands as if they are the tails of restive horses? Be still in prayer." This was when they used to raise their hands and gesture with them upon concluding the prayer with the Taslim, so he forbade them from doing so. As for raising the hands at the opening takbir (Takbirat al-Ihram), and when bowing, and when rising from bowing, these are established Sunnah practices from him, peace and blessings be upon him.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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