Supplicating in prayer with one finger: those who permitted it

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) saw Sayyiduna Sa'd (may Allah be pleased with him) supplicating with two fingers, and he said: "O Sa'd, supplicate with one finger, supplicate with one finger."

Ibn Sirin said: Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) saw a man supplicating with both of his index fingers, so he said: "Supplicate with one finger, the right one."

Sa'id bin Abd al-Rahman bin Abza said: When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sat in the prayer, he would place his hand on his thigh and point with his finger in the supplication.

Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: Supplicating with the finger is ikhlas (sincere affirmation of Allah's oneness).

Sulayman bin Abi Yahya said: The Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to hold one another to pointing with the finger in supplication.

Mujahid said: Pointing with the finger in supplication is like striking Satan with a whip.

Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: Allah Almighty loves that supplication be made like this. Having said this, she pointed with one finger.

Kathir bin Aflah said: I prayed, and in the final sitting I raised both of my index fingers. Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) took hold of my left finger.

Ata said: Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) used to point with his finger in prayer for the supplication.

Talhah said: Khaythamah used to form the sign of fifty-three with his fingers and point with his finger in supplication.

Ibn Sirin said: When the earlier people saw someone pointing with two fingers in prayer, they would strike one of the fingers and say: "The One worshipped is only One."

Ibrahim said: If a man points with one finger in his prayer, that is good and it is an expression of tawhid (Allah's oneness). But he should not point with two fingers; that is disliked (makruh).

Hisham bin Urwah said: His father used to point with his finger in supplication and would not move it.

Ma'bad bin Khalid said: Sayyiduna Qays bin Sa'd (may Allah be pleased with him) would not do more than this. Having said this, he pointed with one finger.

Sayyiduna Numayr al-Khuza'i (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I saw the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sitting in prayer; he had placed his right hand on his thigh and was pointing with his finger.

It is narrated from Abu Salih that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) saw Sayyiduna Sa'd (may Allah be pleased with him) supplicating with two fingers, and he said: "Supplicate with one finger, supplicate with one finger."

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin al-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sat in the sitting (of the prayer), he would place his right hand on his right thigh and supplicate, and place his left hand on his left thigh. He would point with his index finger, place his thumb on his middle finger, and keep his left palm spread over his knee.

Sayyiduna Wa'il bin Hujr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) placed the edge of his right elbow on his right thigh, then made a circle with his thumb and middle finger, and then raised the finger next to the thumb and supplicated.

Sayyiduna Abu Barzah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) raised his hands while supplicating against two men.

Sayyiduna Abd al-Rahman bin Samurah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) raised his hands in supplication.