Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
What is the position of raising the hands during the takbir of du’a-e-qunoot in witr salaat? Is it fard, wajib, sunna? For those who have many make up’s to do, praying witr make up’s in the masjid may cause some funny looks
Walaikum assalam,
Raising the hands is a sunna; not letting people know you are performing makeups is obligatory. The lesser is left to avoid something greater.
It is not the funny looks that is a problem: it is letting people know you either did not pray or prayed invalidly, both of which are sinful. Revealing one’s sins without a genuine Shariah-countenanced reason is not allowed.
Wassalam,
Faraz.
Response from Shaykh Abu Usamah
Al-Salam alaykum
Saying the takbir of Qunut is wajib. Raising the hands is sunnah. It is a general principle that one should not expose one’s sins. Therefore when praying make-ups in public it is allowed to say the takbir without raising the hands. (Al-Tahtawi ala Maraqi al-Falah p305) Nevertheless it is still best to pray make-ups in private and this is especially the case between Asr and Magrib, Fajr and sunrise.
Abu Usamah