❖ 4 Important Sharʿi Rulings on Raising the Index Finger During Tashahhud ❖
Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah, Volume 1, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Page 385
When exactly should the index finger (Sabbābah) be raised or moved during Tashahhud?
Should it be moved from the beginning of Tashahhud or only during duʿāʾ after Durūd?
Is there any evidence for moving the finger after Durūd?
What about between the two sajdahs?
(Questioner: Zafar Iqbal, Shakargarh)
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
It is established through authentic aḥādīth that the index finger should be raised at the beginning of the sitting position in Tashahhud.
Evidence:
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ, when he sat in prayer, pointed with his finger..."
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Bāb Ṣifat al-Julūs fī al-Ṣalāh, Ḥadīth: 579)
This general wording indicates that the finger should be raised at the start of Tashahhud.
It is proven through authentic evidence that the index finger is moved during duʿāʾ, which comes after reciting Durūd in Tashahhud.
Evidence:
"I saw the Prophet ﷺ moving it (his finger) while making duʿāʾ with it."
(Sunan al-Nasāʾī, Kitāb al-Iftitāḥ, Ḥadīth: 890 – Chain is Ṣaḥīḥ)
This hadith clearly indicates that movement of the finger corresponds to the act of supplication, typically recited after Durūd in the final Tashahhud.
There is no explicit textual evidence to indicate that the index finger should be raised or moved during the sitting between the two sajdahs.
Hence, no Sharʿi ruling should be inferred for this position.
Notably, the complete Sharʿi details on raising and moving the index finger are found in books or chapters related to Duʿāʾ,
not solely in the sections labeled under Tashahhud.
Example Referenced by Scholars:
Imām Rashīd Aḥmad Gangohī رحمه الله referred to a narration in Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī, Kitāb al-Duʿāʾ:
“A man was making duʿāʾ with two fingers, and the Prophet ﷺ said: 'One, One.'”
(Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī, Kitāb al-Daʿawāt, Ḥadīth: 3557)
Though this narration contains a weak chain due to tadlīs by Muḥammad ibn ʿAjlān,
the core principle of single-finger indication during duʿāʾ is supported by stronger aḥādīth (as seen above).
① The finger should be raised at the beginning of Tashahhud — supported by general authentic narrations.
② Finger movement during duʿāʾ after Durūd is established through Ṣaḥīḥ hadith.
③ There is no clear evidence to raise or move the finger between the two sajdahs.
④ Full details and supporting evidence are found in Kitāb al-Duʿāʾ, not just in Bāb al-Tashahhud.
ھذا ما عندي، واللہ أعلم بالصواب
Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah, Volume 1, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Page 385
✦ Question:
When exactly should the index finger (Sabbābah) be raised or moved during Tashahhud?
Should it be moved from the beginning of Tashahhud or only during duʿāʾ after Durūd?
Is there any evidence for moving the finger after Durūd?
What about between the two sajdahs?
(Questioner: Zafar Iqbal, Shakargarh)
✔ Answer:
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
◈ Sharʿi Guidance in Light of Authentic Ahadith
➊ Raising the Finger from the Beginning of Tashahhud
It is established through authentic aḥādīth that the index finger should be raised at the beginning of the sitting position in Tashahhud.
Evidence:
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ, when he sat in prayer, pointed with his finger..."
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Bāb Ṣifat al-Julūs fī al-Ṣalāh, Ḥadīth: 579)
This general wording indicates that the finger should be raised at the start of Tashahhud.
➋ Moving the Finger During Duʿāʾ (After Durūd)
It is proven through authentic evidence that the index finger is moved during duʿāʾ, which comes after reciting Durūd in Tashahhud.
Evidence:
"I saw the Prophet ﷺ moving it (his finger) while making duʿāʾ with it."
(Sunan al-Nasāʾī, Kitāb al-Iftitāḥ, Ḥadīth: 890 – Chain is Ṣaḥīḥ)
This hadith clearly indicates that movement of the finger corresponds to the act of supplication, typically recited after Durūd in the final Tashahhud.
➌ Moving the Finger Between the Two Sajdahs
There is no explicit textual evidence to indicate that the index finger should be raised or moved during the sitting between the two sajdahs.
Hence, no Sharʿi ruling should be inferred for this position.
➍ Complete Evidence Found in “Kitāb al-Duʿāʾ” — Not Just “Bāb al-Tashahhud”
Notably, the complete Sharʿi details on raising and moving the index finger are found in books or chapters related to Duʿāʾ,
not solely in the sections labeled under Tashahhud.
Example Referenced by Scholars:
Imām Rashīd Aḥmad Gangohī رحمه الله referred to a narration in Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī, Kitāb al-Duʿāʾ:
“A man was making duʿāʾ with two fingers, and the Prophet ﷺ said: 'One, One.'”
(Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī, Kitāb al-Daʿawāt, Ḥadīth: 3557)
Though this narration contains a weak chain due to tadlīs by Muḥammad ibn ʿAjlān,
the core principle of single-finger indication during duʿāʾ is supported by stronger aḥādīth (as seen above).
❖ Summary: 4 Sharʿi Rulings on Raising the Index Finger
① The finger should be raised at the beginning of Tashahhud — supported by general authentic narrations.
② Finger movement during duʿāʾ after Durūd is established through Ṣaḥīḥ hadith.
③ There is no clear evidence to raise or move the finger between the two sajdahs.
④ Full details and supporting evidence are found in Kitāb al-Duʿāʾ, not just in Bāb al-Tashahhud.
ھذا ما عندي، واللہ أعلم بالصواب
