The Hadith of Hadhrat ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud are more preferable than the Hadith of Hadhrat Waail Hadhrami (May Allah be well pleased with them both):
It should be remembered that here 2 kinds of Hadith are related about raising hands in Salaat. One is of Hadhrat Waail Hadhrami (May Allah be well pleased with him) which says that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would raise His hands before and after Ruku’. The second is of Hadhrat ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud (May Allah be well pleased with him) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would not raise His hands before and after Ruku’. Thus, there is some contradiction about raising hands in Salaat.
Imam Tahaawi (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) has said that about raising hands in Salaat, those Hadith are preferable which are related on the authority of Hadhrat ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud (May Allah be well pleased with him), through which it is established that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) did not raise His hands before and after Ruku’.
Waail Hadhrami (May Allah be well pleased with him) came to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) as a part of a delegation and he had the company of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) only for a few days. On the other hand, Hadhrat ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud (May Allah be well pleased with him) would always remain in the company of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), so much so that unacquainted people would consider him a member of the Prophet’s Family. This shows that, in terms of being in the company of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), Hadhrat ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud (May Allah be well pleased with him) is far older than Hadhrat Waail Hadhrami (May Allah be well pleased with him). For this reason, the Hadith of Hadhrat ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud (May Allah be well pleased with him) enjoy a degree of preference over the Hadith of Hadhrat Waail Hadhrami (May Allah be well pleased with him).
Another reason for preferring the Hadith of Hadhrat ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud (May Allah be well pleased with him) is that he is considered to be one of those emigrant Companions who stayed in the company of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) all the time.
Due to this closeness to Him, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said about him, and the author of Mishkaat Ul Masabeeh himself related this in Al Kamaal Fee Asmaair Rijaa: Whatever Ibn Umm ‘Abd i.e. Hadhrat ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud (May Allah be well pleased with him) likes for My Ummah, I also like it.
This is the distinction because of which Imam Tahaawi (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) said: Hadhrat ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud (May Allah be well pleased with him) is more understanding of the actions of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) than Hadhrat Waail Hadhrami (May Allah be well pleased with him). For this reason, the Hadith of ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud (May Allah be well pleased with him) are more preferred than the Hadith of Waail Hadhrami (May Allah be well pleased with him). (Sharh Ma’ani Ul Aathaar).
[Excerpted from Noor Ul Masabeeh, Vol. 2]
