hands, and when he bowed, and after he raised his head from the bowing. And because it is a raising [of the hands], it is not legislated except in the state of standing, like the raising for bowing and for the opening (ihram). The second [view is that] he begins it when he begins raising his head, because Abu Humayd (2) said in the description of the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): "Then he said: 'Sami'a Allahu liman hamidah,' and he raised his hands." In the hadith of Ibn 'Umar, which is agreed upon, it states: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to, when he opened the prayer, raise his hands level with his shoulders, and when he performed the takbir for bowing, and when he raised his head from the bowing, he would raise them likewise, and say: "Sami'a Allahu liman hamidah." The literal meaning suggests that he raised his hands when he began raising his head, similar to the expression "when he performed the takbir," meaning "when he began the takbir." Also, because it is the time of transition, the raising is legislated from it just like the state of bowing, and because it is the position for the Ma'mum (follower) to raise [his hands], so it is a position for the Imam to raise [his hands] as well, just like in bowing. There is no disagreement that the follower begins the raising [of hands] when he raises his head, because there is no dhikr (remembrance) for him after the standing upright, and the raising was only made [as a form for the dhikr] (3), unlike the Imam. Then he stands erect and balances. Abu Humayd said, in the description of the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): "And when he raised his head, he stood upright until every vertebra returned to its place." [Narrated by al-Bukhari] (4). 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said, regarding the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): "When he raised his head from the bowing, he would not prostrate until he stood upright." Narrated by Muslim (5). The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said to the one who was poor in his prayer: "Then rise until you stand upright." Agreed upon (6).

Section: This raising and the standing upright from it are obligatory (wajib). This is the view of al-Shafi'i. Abu Hanifah and some of the companions of Malik said: It is not obligatory, because Allah the Exalted did not command it; He only commanded the bowing, prostration, and standing, so nothing else is obligatory. Also, because if it were obligatory, it would necessarily include an obligatory dhikr, like the first standing. Our evidence is that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) commanded the one who was poor in his prayer to do it and persisted in performing it; therefore, it falls under the generality of his saying: "Pray as you have seen me praying." As for their saying that Allah did not command it, we say: He has indeed commanded standing, and this is a [form of] standing. Furthermore, the command of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) must be followed, and he has commanded it. As for their saying it does not include an obligatory dhikr, [this claim] is rejected, and it is invalidated by [the act of] bowing and prostration, for they are two pillars, yet there is no obligatory dhikr in them according to their view.