Answered by Shaykh Hamza Karamali, SunniPath Academy Teacher
According to the shafi’i Fiqh does one raise their hands after getting up for the third rakah of salah? Also the very first thing recited ”inna wajahtu wajiyah…” is that also for sunna salah?
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful and Compassionate
1. It is sunna to raise one’s hands when rising from the first testification of faith (Safinat al-Naja). When praying a three or four rak’ah prayer, it would therefore be sunna to raise one’s hands when rising for the third rak’ah after reciting the first testification of faith in the second rak’ah.
2. This du’a is termed “the opening du’a” (du’a al-istiftah). It is sunna to recite this du’a at the beginning of both obligatory and non-obligatory prayers. If one does not recite it, however, one’s prayer remains valid.
And Allah knows best.
Hamza.