during the Takbir, he should raise them; for its designated time still remains. If it is not possible for him to raise his hands to the shoulders, he should raise them as much as he is able. If he is able to raise one but not the other, he should raise it, because of the Prophet's saying (may Allah bless him and grant him peace): "If I command you to do something, perform of it what you are able" (10). If it is not possible for him to raise them except by exceeding the prescribed Sunnah, he should raise them, for he is performing the Sunnah along with an unavoidable addition. Al-Shafi'i's opinion is the same as our own in this entire section.

Section: If his hands are inside his garment, he should raise them as much as possible; for it was narrated by Wa'il ibn Hujr that he said: I came to the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) in the winter and saw his companions raising their hands inside their garments during prayer. In another narration, he said: Then I came in a time of intense cold and saw people wearing heavy garments, and their hands were moving under the clothes. Both were recorded by Abu Dawud (11). In another narration: And I saw them raising their hands to their chests (12).

Section: The Imam, the follower, and the one praying alone are equal in this regard, as are the obligatory and supererogatory prayers, because the reports do not make a distinction between them. As for the woman, the Qadi mentioned two narrations from Ahmad regarding her; the first is that she should raise [them], due to what Al-Khallal narrated with his chain of authority from Umm al-Darda (13) and Hafsah bint Sirin (14), that they both used to raise their hands. This is the opinion of Tawus, and because whoever is legislated to perform the Takbir is also legislated to perform the raising of the hands, like the man. Accordingly, she raises them slightly. Ahmad said: A raising that is less than [that of a man]. The second [narration] is that it is not legislated, because it is in the same category as the state of separation (tajafi), which is not legislated for her; rather, she should draw herself together in bowing, prostration, and the rest of her prayer.