Q 2: What is the degree of authenticity of the Hadith reported about passing the palms over one’s face after making Du‘a’ (supplication) whether in Qunut (supplication said after bowing while standing in Prayer) or other times, or about blowing on them then passing them over one’s entire body or part of it upon listening to a supplicatory Ayah (Qur’anic verse) or raising one’s hands while invoking Allah? I would like your opinion on the permissibility of doing this.

A: First: According to the narration by Ibn Majah: “When you invoke Allah raise the palms and not the backs of your hands upwards. Upon finishing your invocation, rub your palms against your face.” Related by Ibn Majah on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them). Al-Suyuty mentioned this Hadith in "Al-Jami‘ Al-Saghir" and indicated that it is Hasan (a Hadith whose chain of narration contains a narrator with weak exactitude, but is free from eccentricity or blemish.). However, Ibn Al-Jawzy said, "It is not a sound Hadith as its Sanad (chain of narrators) includes Salih ibn Hassan who is Matruk (a narrator whose Hadith transmission was discarded due to unreliability)." Moreover, Ibn Hibban said, "He (Salih Ibn Hassan) owned singers and used to listen to them and report fabricated Hadith ascribed falsely to reliable narrators." In addition, Ahmad, Ibn Ma‘in, Abu Dawud, Abu Hatim, and Al-Daraqutny all ranked him as Da‘if (weak) narrator. Al-Bukhari said, "Hadith reported by him are Munkar (rejected Hadith reported by a weak narrator whose narration conflicts with an authentic Hadith)." Abu Nu`aym Al-Asbahany said, "The Hadith he reports are Munkar (rejected) and Matruk (discarded due to unreliability)." Second: The wording of the same Hadith according to Al-Tirmidhy is as follows: Abu Musa Muhammad ibn Al-Muthanna and Ibrahim ibn Ya‘qub and other narrators reported to us that Hammad ibn `Isa Al-Juhany reported to them, on the authority of Hanzhalah ibn Abu Sufyan Al-Jumahy, on the authority of Salim ibn ‘Abdullah, on the authority of his father (‘Abdullah), on the authority of `Umar ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: “Whenever the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) raised his hands in supplication, he would not lower them until he had passed them over his face.” (Part No. 4; Page No. 445) According to the narration of Muhammad ibn Al-Muthanna: "...He would not put his hands back down until he had passed them over his face." Abu ‘Isa (Al-Tirmidhy) said, "This Hadith is Sahih Gharib (an authentic Hadith with a single narrator usually at the beginning of the chain of narration) and we know of it only through the narration of Hammad ibn ‘Isa. He was the only narrator to report this Hadith and he narrated few Hadith. Moreover, Handhalah ibn Abu Sufyan is considered by Yahya ibn Sa`id Al-Qattan as Thiqah (trustworthy) narrator." But the Sanad (chain of narration) of the Hadith he narrated includes Hammad ibn ‘Isa who is a weak narrator, and he was the only narrator of this Hadith as Al-Tirmidhy mentioned. In conclusion, Du‘a’ (supplication) is a permissible act of worship yet there is no authentic evidence about the permissibility of passing the palms over the face after Du‘a’ because all the existing narrations about passing the palms over the face after Du‘a’ are weak narrations. Consequently, it is not permissible to pass the palms over the face after Du‘a’.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.