Raising the Forefinger in Tashahhud: Sunnah and Its Rulings

Introduction to the Index Finger

The finger next to the thumb, which is called the “Forefinger” or “Index finger,” is called مُسَبِّحَۃ (the finger that glorifies Allah) in Arabic and “angusht-e-shahadat” (the testifying finger) in Urdu. It is named this because this finger is generally used at the time of glorifying Allah and bearing witness to His oneness. Righteous people use this finger to bear witness to Allah’s oneness, whereas wicked people use this same finger for insults and wrongful deeds, which is why in Arabic it is also called سَبَّابَۃ (the insulting finger).

The Linguistic Meaning of Raf’ al-Sabbabah

رَفْع is an Arabic word meaning “to raise.” Thus

رَفْعُ سَبَّابَۃٍ

means “raising the index finger.” This is only the linguistic explanation.

The Technical Meaning of Raf’ al-Sabbabah

Pointing with the index finger during the tashahhud in prayer is called

رَفْعُ سَبَّابَۃٍ

. On this matter too, there is difference of opinion among the various schools of thought. However, according to Ahl-e-Hadith, raf’ al-sabbabah is Sunnah and recommended.

1. The Practice of Sayyidina Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both)

Hadrat Nafi, mawla of Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both), narrates that:

“When Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) sat for the tashahhud in prayer, he would place his hands on his knees, point with his index finger, and also keep his gaze fixed on that finger. Then he would say that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘This finger has a stronger effect on the devil than iron.'”

The narrator of this report, Kathir bin Zaid Aslami, has been declared “muwaththaq” and “hasan al-hadith” by the muhaddithun.

2. The Practice of the Prophet ﷺ

Sayyidina Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) says in another report that:

“When the Prophet ﷺ sat for the tashahhud in prayer, he would place his hands on his knees and raise the finger next to the thumb of his right hand, and supplicate with it.”

The Prophet ﷺ Pointing

The mention of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ pointing with his index finger during the tashahhud is found in numerous hadiths. We also receive guidance from different reports about how this pointing was done. All the hadiths so far and those that follow concern this same raf’ al-sabbabah, and we will present them in order under various headings.

1. The Report of Sayyidina Abdullah bin Zubair (may Allah be pleased with them both)

Hadrat Abdullah bin Zubair (may Allah be pleased with them both) says that:

“When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ sat in the tashahhud, he would place his right hand on his right thigh and his left hand on his left thigh. He would point with the index finger and would place the thumb on the middle finger.”

2. The Report of Sayyidina Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both)

Sayyidina Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates that:

“When the Prophet ﷺ sat in the tashahhud, he would place his right hand on his right knee and his left hand on his left knee. At the same time he would make the 53 knot, and point with the sabbabah (index finger).”

The Meaning of the 53 Knot

The Arabs used to count with their fingers in a specific way. The number 53 was shown in a particular shape of the hand, in which the three fingers other than the thumb and index finger were closed, the index finger remained open, and the tip of the thumb was placed on its base.

3. The Report of Sayyidina Wa’il bin Hujr (may Allah be pleased with him)

Sayyidina Wa’il bin Hujr (may Allah be pleased with him) says that:

“I saw the Prophet ﷺ during the tashahhud with his thumb and middle finger forming a circle, and he raised the finger next to the thumb (the index finger) and was supplicating with it.”

Different States of the Right Hand

From the above hadiths it is known that different positions of the right hand in the tashahhud are reported from the Prophet ﷺ. Any of these states may be adopted, and all of them are permissible. However, every hadith contains mention of pointing with the index finger, the details of which we will explain further.

The Manner of Pointing

In light of the hadiths, the method of pointing in the tashahhud and all the related rulings are as follows:

1. The Report of Sayyidina Abbas bin Sahl Sa’idi (may Allah be pleased with him)

Sayyidina Abu Humaid, Abu Usaid, Sahl bin Sa’d and Muhammad bin Maslamah (may Allah be pleased with them) were present in one gathering, and they mentioned the prayer of the Prophet ﷺ. Sayyidina Abu Humaid (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

“When the Prophet ﷺ sat for the tashahhud, he would spread out his left foot and keep his right foot upright towards the qiblah. He would place his right hand on his right knee and his left hand on his left knee, and point with the sabbabah (index finger).”

2. The Report of Sayyidina Numair Khuza’i (may Allah be pleased with him)

Sayyidina Numair Khuza’i (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates:

“I saw the Prophet ﷺ in prayer, with his right hand placed on his right thigh, pointing with the index finger.”

3. The Report of Sayyidina Ali bin Abdur Rahman Mu’awiyah

Sayyidina Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) saw Sayyidina Ali bin Abdur Rahman playing with pebbles in prayer and forbade him, saying:

“Do it the way the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to do it. When he sat for the tashahhud, he would place his right hand on his right thigh, close all his fingers, and point with the index finger.”

4. Second narration of Sayyiduna Numair Khuza’i (may Allah be pleased with him)

Sayyiduna Numair Khuza’i (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that:

“I saw the Prophet ﷺ sitting in the tashahhud, raising his index finger, bent, while making supplication.”

5. Narration of Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Zubair (may Allah be pleased with them both)

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Zubair (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates:

“When the Prophet ﷺ sat for the tashahhud, he would place his right hand on his right thigh and his left hand on his left thigh, and point with the index finger. His gaze did not go beyond the pointing.”

6. Narration of Sayyiduna Wa’il bin Hujr (may Allah be pleased with him)

Sayyiduna Wa’il bin Hujr (may Allah be pleased with him) says:

“The Prophet ﷺ raised his index finger, and I saw him moving it while making supplication.”

Details of the pointing

From these narrations, the manner of pointing is established in the following points:

◄ Beginning of pointing: One should begin pointing as soon as one sits for the tashahhud, as mentioned in most narrations that the Prophet ﷺ pointed from the start of the tashahhud.

◄ Bending of the finger: While pointing, the index finger should be bent slightly, as established by hadith No. 4.

◄ Direction of the gaze: In the tashahhud, the gaze should remain fixed on the index finger’s pointing, as stated explicitly in hadith No. 5.

These points make clear how pointing with the index finger in the tashahhud is to be done.

Moving the finger in the tashahhud or not?

Whether to move the index finger while pointing in the tashahhud is an important question. According to our research, both forms are established from the Sunnah. Moving it is also correct, as mentioned in hadith No. ➊ and ➌, and not moving it is also permissible, as found in hadith No. ➍ and ➎. Therefore, both methods are permissible and either may be adopted.

Difference of opinion among scholars

The renowned scholar Imam Ibn Abd al-Barr (463-368 AH) states:

“The scholars have differed regarding moving the index finger (sabbaba). Some scholars hold that it should be moved, while some scholars hold that it should be kept still. Both methods are established from the Prophet ﷺ with sahih chains, and both are permissible.”

Views of other scholars

Similarly, Allamah San’ani

also adopted this view, and Muhaddith Mubarakpuri

also supports it.

The position of some Hanafis

Some Hanafi scholars rejected the Sunnah of moving the index finger in the tashahhud and issued a ruling against it. For example, Ahmad Sirhindi Hanafi (1034-971 AH) writes:

“It is not appropriate for us muqallids to be bold enough to act upon the ahadith by pointing.”

Comments of Hanafi scholars

Shaykh al-Hadith Husain Ahmad Madani (Darul Uloom Deoband) states that:

“The narrations of pointing are narrated from a large number of the Companions. The narrations have reached the level of tawatur, and no Companion or Tabi’i has been reported to have abandoned pointing.”

Taqi Usmani wrote:

“Some later Hanafis declared pointing with the index finger (al-ishara bil-sabbaba) to be non-Sunnah and an innovation, whereas the saying of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ should suffice.”

Conclusion of the discussion

Raising the index finger of the right hand in the tashahhud and keeping it raised until the end of the tashahhud is the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ. Both moving the finger and keeping it still are established from him ﷺ. Adopting both methods is Sunnah, and both are correct.

Supplication

May Allah grant us the ability to act upon the Sunnahs of the Prophet ﷺ and protect us from rejecting the Sunnahs. Ameen!