Authored by: Shaykh Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani حفظ اللہ
"Then he raised his finger, and I saw him moving it as he made supplication with it."
(Reference: Nasai, Kitab al-Salah, Chapter on Grasping Two Fingers of the Right Hand and Folding the Middle and Thumb Together - 1269)
Maulana Salamullah Hanafi explains in his commentary on Muwatta:
"This hadith indicates that the finger should be continuously moved during Tashahhud because the supplication (du'a) takes place after the Tashahhud."
Imam Nasiruddin al-Albani رحمہ اللہ also remarks:
"This hadith provides evidence that the Sunnah is to continue pointing and moving the finger until the end of the Salam because the supplication is connected to it."
(Reference: Sifat Salah an-Nabi, p. 158)
Moving the finger just once or raising it solely at the phrase "أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله" is not substantiated by any authentic hadith, and this act contradicts the mentioned narration.
There exists a narration suggesting that the Prophet ﷺ did not move his finger during Tashahhud, but this hadith is weak. This is because it is narrated by Muhammad ibn 'Ajlan from 'Amir ibn Abdullah ibn Zubayr, who is considered a weak narrator. Additionally, four other reliable narrators have transmitted the same narration from 'Amir ibn Abdullah without including the words "he did not move it." Therefore, these words are considered unusual (shadh).
Imam Muslim has also cited this narration from Muhammad ibn 'Ajlan, without including the words "he did not move it." In contrast, the narration by Wa'il ibn Hujr رضي الله عنه has been authenticated by scholars like Ibn Malqan, Ibn Qayyim, Imam Nawawi, and Shaykh Nasiruddin al-Albani رحمہ الله. Only the author of al-Hidayah fi Takhrij Ahadith al-Bidayah deemed this hadith unusual, arguing that the words "he moved it" were reported only by Zaidah ibn Qudamah from Asim, while Asim's other students recorded it as "he pointed with his hand." However, this assertion lacks thorough research and fairness.
Firstly, all major hadith scholars have affirmed the authenticity of this hadith. Secondly, the narration involving pointing does not negate the act of movement. For instance, in a sound hadith narrated by Sayyida Aisha رضي الله عنها, the Prophet ﷺ was teaching the companions while seated, and they were standing behind him. He gestured to them to sit down:
"He signaled to them to sit down."
(Reference: Bukhari, Kitab al-Adhan, Chapter on Imam Only to be Followed - 688)
This narration indicates that his gesture was not merely lifting his hand, as in responding to a Salam, but a directive gesture that conveyed the command to sit, which inherently involves movement. This example demonstrates that pointing narrations do not contradict narrations about movement.
Another narration from Abdullah ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما states:
"It (the finger) is more intense against Shaytan than iron."
(Reference: Sifat Salah an-Nabi, al-Albani, p. 159)
This narration cannot be used to argue against movement, as it neither explicitly supports nor opposes moving the finger. Since movement is validated by the hadith of Wa'il ibn Hujr رضي الله عنه, if we consider the possibility of non-movement, we might conclude both actions are permissible, as interpreted by Allama San'ani رحمہ الله in Subul al-Salam. However, the preferred opinion is that of Wa'il ibn Hujr رضي الله عنه, who provided a detailed description of the Prophet's ﷺ prayer, particularly during Tashahhud, emphasizing specific actions not noted by others. Therefore, his narration is given precedence.
For more details, refer to Shaykh Nasiruddin al-Albani's work Tamam al-Minnah.
"When the Prophet ﷺ sat in prayer, he would point with his finger toward the Qibla and keep his gaze fixed on it."
(Reference: Abu Awana, Kitab al-Salah, Chapter on Pointing - 2017; Ibn Khuzaymah, Kitab al-Salah, Chapter on Pointing with the Index Finger - 719)
In another narration, it is mentioned:
"Indeed, when the Prophet ﷺ sat in Tashahhud, he would place his left hand on his left thigh and his right hand on his right thigh, pointing with his index finger, and his gaze would not move beyond his finger."
(Reference: Abu Awana, Kitab al-Salah, Chapter on Pointing with the Index Finger - 2018)
From these narrations, it is evident that pointing the index finger toward the Qibla during Tashahhud and keeping one's gaze fixed on it is Sunnah.
Question:
Is it Sunnah to move the index finger during Tashahhud?Answer:
Yes, moving the index finger during Tashahhud is indeed Sunnah, as this practice has been narrated from the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. In the hadith narrated by Hazrat Wa'il ibn Hujr رضي الله عنه, it is stated:"Then he raised his finger, and I saw him moving it as he made supplication with it."
(Reference: Nasai, Kitab al-Salah, Chapter on Grasping Two Fingers of the Right Hand and Folding the Middle and Thumb Together - 1269)
Maulana Salamullah Hanafi explains in his commentary on Muwatta:
"This hadith indicates that the finger should be continuously moved during Tashahhud because the supplication (du'a) takes place after the Tashahhud."
Imam Nasiruddin al-Albani رحمہ اللہ also remarks:
"This hadith provides evidence that the Sunnah is to continue pointing and moving the finger until the end of the Salam because the supplication is connected to it."
(Reference: Sifat Salah an-Nabi, p. 158)
Moving the finger just once or raising it solely at the phrase "أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله" is not substantiated by any authentic hadith, and this act contradicts the mentioned narration.
There exists a narration suggesting that the Prophet ﷺ did not move his finger during Tashahhud, but this hadith is weak. This is because it is narrated by Muhammad ibn 'Ajlan from 'Amir ibn Abdullah ibn Zubayr, who is considered a weak narrator. Additionally, four other reliable narrators have transmitted the same narration from 'Amir ibn Abdullah without including the words "he did not move it." Therefore, these words are considered unusual (shadh).
Imam Muslim has also cited this narration from Muhammad ibn 'Ajlan, without including the words "he did not move it." In contrast, the narration by Wa'il ibn Hujr رضي الله عنه has been authenticated by scholars like Ibn Malqan, Ibn Qayyim, Imam Nawawi, and Shaykh Nasiruddin al-Albani رحمہ الله. Only the author of al-Hidayah fi Takhrij Ahadith al-Bidayah deemed this hadith unusual, arguing that the words "he moved it" were reported only by Zaidah ibn Qudamah from Asim, while Asim's other students recorded it as "he pointed with his hand." However, this assertion lacks thorough research and fairness.
Firstly, all major hadith scholars have affirmed the authenticity of this hadith. Secondly, the narration involving pointing does not negate the act of movement. For instance, in a sound hadith narrated by Sayyida Aisha رضي الله عنها, the Prophet ﷺ was teaching the companions while seated, and they were standing behind him. He gestured to them to sit down:
"He signaled to them to sit down."
(Reference: Bukhari, Kitab al-Adhan, Chapter on Imam Only to be Followed - 688)
This narration indicates that his gesture was not merely lifting his hand, as in responding to a Salam, but a directive gesture that conveyed the command to sit, which inherently involves movement. This example demonstrates that pointing narrations do not contradict narrations about movement.
Another narration from Abdullah ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما states:
"It (the finger) is more intense against Shaytan than iron."
(Reference: Sifat Salah an-Nabi, al-Albani, p. 159)
This narration cannot be used to argue against movement, as it neither explicitly supports nor opposes moving the finger. Since movement is validated by the hadith of Wa'il ibn Hujr رضي الله عنه, if we consider the possibility of non-movement, we might conclude both actions are permissible, as interpreted by Allama San'ani رحمہ الله in Subul al-Salam. However, the preferred opinion is that of Wa'il ibn Hujr رضي الله عنه, who provided a detailed description of the Prophet's ﷺ prayer, particularly during Tashahhud, emphasizing specific actions not noted by others. Therefore, his narration is given precedence.
For more details, refer to Shaykh Nasiruddin al-Albani's work Tamam al-Minnah.
Directing the Index Finger Towards Qibla in Tashahhud
Question:
Should the index finger point toward the Qibla during Tashahhud, and is it proven by any authentic hadith that one should keep their gaze fixed on it?Answer:
Abdullah ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما narrated:"When the Prophet ﷺ sat in prayer, he would point with his finger toward the Qibla and keep his gaze fixed on it."
(Reference: Abu Awana, Kitab al-Salah, Chapter on Pointing - 2017; Ibn Khuzaymah, Kitab al-Salah, Chapter on Pointing with the Index Finger - 719)
In another narration, it is mentioned:
"Indeed, when the Prophet ﷺ sat in Tashahhud, he would place his left hand on his left thigh and his right hand on his right thigh, pointing with his index finger, and his gaze would not move beyond his finger."
(Reference: Abu Awana, Kitab al-Salah, Chapter on Pointing with the Index Finger - 2018)
From these narrations, it is evident that pointing the index finger toward the Qibla during Tashahhud and keeping one's gaze fixed on it is Sunnah.