Salat according to Hanafi Madhab - some points to clarify confusion

I was in Bangladesh the past couple of weeks. During my recent trip I was genuinely concerned that many of our friends and family members were unaware about the basis of our Islamic rituals, and are relying upon narratives, which seemingly are weaker or unreliable rather than the guidelines established by Imam Abu Hanifa and his worthy followers based on what they saw and documented from the very fist generation of Muslims who stood next in line to the Prophet (SM) during prayer services. Confusions abound about raising of the hands at various rukus, gesture of the forefinger during seating position for reciting tashahhud, and making du'a, let alone number of rakats during Tarawih and witr (vitr).
There are some excellent books on the  subject, written by genuine ulama (and not self-reading and - proclaiming pseudo scholars), which clearly show that most of the Hanafi prayer rituals are based on hadiths narrated by Abdullah b. Mas'oud and Ali (RA) who were some of the foremost converts (ashab) to Islam who stood in the first row of the prayer behind the prophet (S).
 
One of the good books is Anwarul Muqallideen (available in Bangla). See also the book by Mufti Dr. Taqi Usmani's - Bengali tr. work - Madhab kee and kano (What and Why Madhab?). The English (original) version of the Mufti's book can be viewed by clicking here: http://archive.org/stream/TheLegalStatusOfFollowingAMadhab#page/n3/mode/2up
By the way, on all matters of Islam, esp. Hanafi Madhab, Mowlana Ashraf Ali Thanwi's Behesti Jewar is a great source to de-program from any confusion.
 
The ZamZam Academy of UK has done a great job in guiding the ummah on all such matters and remain a treasure trove to benefit us all, esp. in these days when la madhabi (Saudi induced and funded) charlatans are confusing everyone on the essence of our deen through their easily available books and websites. You can view its site by clicking here: http://www.zamzamacademy.com/courses/pray-as-you-have-seen-me-pray/
 
Discussion on 20 rakat tarawih: https://islamqa.org/hanafi/qibla-hanafi/34687
 
It is narrated that when Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) used to sit down to supplicate, (to recite tashahhud) he used to place his right hand on his right thigh and his left hand on his left thigh. He would indicate at the time of reciting the shahadah by raising his index finger. He would also join the ends of his thumb and middle finger (thereby forming a circle). [Sahih Muslim, chapter on the description of sitting-Hadith no.579] [http://www.sunnah.org/fiqh/hanafi_salah.htm#4.15]
 
Prophet (S) raised his hands to make du'a:
Raising Both the Hands and Making Dua
 

It is narrated that Abdullah Ibn Zubair (radhiallahu anhu) saw a man raising his hands and making dua before completing his salah. When the person had completed his salah, Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Zubair (radhiallahu anhu) went up to him and said: "Verily, Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) used to only raise his hands and make dua after completing his salah" (the narrators of this Hadith are all trustworthy — Majmauz Zawaaid, vol. 1, pg. 169).
 
As to the merit of du'a: here are some relevant info from Shaykh Abdur Raheem:
The following discussion can be found in full detail in fath-ul-bari, the commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari, from pages 150-153 volume 12 (Cairo print) under the baab, بَاب الدُّعَاءِ بَعْدَ الصَّلَاةِ (page 397 of the Indian print).

1 - The first proof of evidence of the Hanafi School of Fiqh comes from the Qur'an, surah Qaaf (Surah 50, v. 40), where Almighty Allah says, "وَمِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَسَبِّحْهُ وَأَدْبَارَ السُّجُودِ". Some of the commentators of the Qur'an, on the commentary of this ayat, have said that this ayat is referring to congregational Dua after salah.

2 - Secondly, Imam Abu Daud and Imam Nasai have narrated from Hazrat Mua'z Ibn Jabal radhiyallahu anhu that the Holy Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam said to him,

يَا مُعَاذ إِنِّي واللہ لَأُحِبّك ، فَلَا تَدَع دُبُر كُلّ صَلَاة أَنْ تَقُول : اللَّهُمَّ أَعِنِّي عَلَى ذِكْرك وَشُكْرك وَحُسْن عِبَادَتك
Imam Ibn Hibaan and Imam Hakim have classified this Hadith as authentic.

3 - Imam Tirmizi has narrated from Hazrat Abu Umamah radhiyallahu anhu that the Holy Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam was asked,

أَيّ الدُّعَاء أَسْمَع ؟ قَالَ : جَوْف اللَّيْل الْأَخِير وَدُبُر الصَّلَوَات الْمَكْتُوبَات قِيلَ يَا رَسُول اللہ
4 - Imam Hakim, Imam Nasai, Imam Tirmizi and Imam Ahmad have said that the following Hadith is authentic, narrated from Hazrat Abu Bakarah,

حَدِيث أَبِي بَكْرَة فِي قَوْل " اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذ بِك مِنْ الْكُفْر وَالْفَقْر وَعَذَاب الْقَبْر ، كَانَ النَّبِيّ صَلَّى اللہ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَدْعُو بِهِنَّ دُبُر كُلّ صَلَاة " أَخْرَجَهُ أَحْمَد وَالتِّرْمِذِيّ وَالنَّسَائِيُّ وَصَحَّحَهُ الْحَاكِم ۔
There are many more proofs from the ahadith, which prove that Dua after Salah is a practice of the Holy Prophet (May peace and blessings be upon him) himself, but I have omitted them to prevent prolonging the answer.

Hazrat Shaikh Yunus Sahib (of India, Saharanpoor, and the great Khalifah of the late Hazrat Shaikh Zakariya rahmatullahi alaiyah), has said that the majority of the evidence points towards the Dua after salah.
 
According to Shaykh Muhammad al-Akili (a scholar whom I met in Philadelphia, who is a translator of some classic books on Islam) congregational du'a, although not mandatory, is preferred since it is the essence (Mukkhul) of ibadat and has more chance of being answered than made solo. There are many ahadith pointing to benefit of group zikr and other praises of Allah and his prophet (S).

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