Ibn ‘Umar used to say, “Your raising of your hands is an innovation. God’s messenger did no more than this,” meaning that he raised them to his breast.
‘Ikrima quoted Ibn ‘Abbas as saying, “When asking for something you should raise your hands opposite your shoulders or thereabout, when asking for forgiveness you should point with one finger, and when making earnest supplication you should stretch out both your hands.” In a version he said, “Earnest supplication should be made thus,” raising his hands and putting their backs next his face.
