Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Mas’ud Radiyallahu anhu narrated: ‘I performed Salaah with Rasulullah Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam while Abu Bakr and Umar Radiyallahu Anhuma were with him. When I sat down, I began (making Dua) by praising Allah, then sending salutations upon Rasulullah Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, then supplicating for myself. Rasulullah Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said, “Ask and you will be given. Ask and you will be given.” [Sunan Tirmidhi]
Question:
Is there any Hadith that mentions wiping the hands over the face after making Du‘aa? Some people say it is a Bid’ah (innovation)
Answer:
A. Yes, it is Sunnah to wipe the hands over the face after completing Dua. Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam encouraged this practice.
Consider the following Hadith:
Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas Radhiyallahu Anhu reported: Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam said: “Ask Allah with your palms and do not ask Him with the backs of your hands, and when you finish your Dua, wipe your face with your palms.” [Abu Dawood]
Sayyiduna Umar ibn al-Khattab Radhiyallahu Anhu narrated: Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam said: “Whenever Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam raised his hands in Dua, he would not lower them until he had wiped his face with both hands.” [Tirmidhi]
Therefore, wiping the hands over the face after making Dua is established through authentic narrations and is a Sunnah practice – not a Bid’ah.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best
Mufti Muhammed Hamza Farooqui
Mufti Taahir Hansa
Fatwa Department
Jamiatul Ulama (KZN)
(The answer hereby given is specifically based on the question asked and should be read together with the question asked. Islamic rulings on this Q&A newsletter are answered in accordance to the Hanafi Fiqh unless otherwise stated.)