Q: Is it sunnat or permissible to raise the hands in dua during the Juma Khutba?
A: To raise the hands in dua during the Juma Khutba is a bid’ah, as mentioned in several Hanafi Fataawa books. It appears in the Book of Imam Tirmizhi that the governor of Iraq, Bishar bin Marwaan once raised his hands in dua during the khutba. A Sahaabi by the name of Umaarah bin Ruwaybah (RA), who was present in the audience, exclaimed: “May Allah destroy these two little hands. I saw Rasoolullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) (giving khutba) and he did no more than this (and Umaarah raised his forefinger)” That is, all he raised in the khutba was his finger to make a point or to emphasize something.