Issue of Raising the Index Finger (Raf’ al-Sabbabah): Raising the Finger in Tashahhud
Raising the index finger during tashahhud and pointing with it is the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم. Regarding this, there are numerous hadiths from various Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) that explain this practice. Below, these narrations are presented in detail.
The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم Raising the Finger and Making Supplication
Sayyidina Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates:
“When the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم sat in the qa’dah of the prayer, he would place both his hands on his knees, close all the fingers of his right hand, and raise the finger of his right hand that is near the thumb, and make supplication with it, while he spread his left hand on his left knee.”
Pointing with the Finger of the Right Hand
Sayyidina Abdullah ibn Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates:
“When the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم sat for tashahhud in the prayer, he would place his right hand on his right thigh and his left hand on his left thigh, and point with the index finger, while resting the thumb on the middle finger.”
This narration shows that there is leeway for the worshipper to place the hands either on the knees or on the thighs.
Explanation of Pointing with a Specific Method of the Finger
Sayyidina Wa’il ibn Hujr (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates:
“The Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم sat in the qa’dah after the second prostration, closed two fingers, formed a circle with the thumb and middle finger, and pointed with the index finger.”
Imam Ibn Hibban
and Ibn Khuzaymah
have declared it authentic (sahih).
Moving the Index Finger
Sayyidina Wa’il ibn Hujr (may Allah be pleased with him) says:
“The Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم raised the finger and moved it.”
Ibn Hibban and Ibn Khuzaymah have also declared this narration authentic.
Shaykh al-Albani (may Allah have mercy on him) states:
“The narration of not moving the finger is shadh or munkar, and therefore it cannot be presented against the hadith of Wa’il ibn Hujr (may Allah be pleased with him).”
It has also been clarified that:
“Raising the finger upon saying (لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ) and then lowering it afterwards is not proven from any authentic narration.”
The Prophet’s Gaze Being Fixed on the Index Finger
Sayyidina Abdullah ibn Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates:
“The gaze of the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم during tashahhud did not go beyond the pointing of his finger.”
Prohibition of Pointing with Two Fingers
Sayyidina Sa’d (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates:
“The Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم passed by me while I was pointing with two fingers, and he صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
‘(Point) with one finger, with one finger,’ i.e., point with the index finger.”
All these hadiths make clear that pointing with the index finger in tashahhud, moving it, and keeping the gaze on it is the Sunnah of the Messenger صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم, while pointing with two fingers is prohibited.
