Raising the hands & wiping the face in qunut

Shaikh al-Albaani:

“Raising the hands in the (supplication of) qunoot for a naajilah[1][2] has been established from Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ in his supplication against the polytheists who killed the seventy recitors (of the Qur’aan). Imaam Ahmad narrated it (3/137) and at-Tabaraanee in ‘As-Sagheer’ (p. 111) from the hadeeth of Anas with an authentic chain of narration. And it (i.e., raising the hands) has also been established from ‘Umar and others[3] in the qunoot for the witr.

As for wiping them on the face in the qunoot, then this has not been mentioned at all – not from the Prophet ﷺ, nor from any of his Companions – so it is a heretical innovation no doubt.”

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[1] a calamity that befalls the Muslims
[2] Shaikh al-Albaani: “What is meant by a naajilah is a calamity that suddenly comes upon the Muslims, like an enemy attacking them, so here they supplicate with the qunoot. What is meant by a naajilah is a calamity that is new. As for something that has become usual, continuous, and something that has become a part of their lives, such as the Jewish occupation of Palestine, here the meaning of a naajilah has gone away and thus the qunoot is not made;” refer to silsilat ul-hudaa wa nnoor 132/3, 229/14, 704/3
[3] such as ‘Abdullaah bin Mas’ood; refer to silsilat ul-hudaa wa nnoor 395/5

[irwaa ul-ghaleel 181 / alalbaany.com]