By Hafiz Abu Yahya Noor Puri (Hafizahullah)
The index finger, known as Musabbihah in Arabic, is commonly used to glorify Allah and declare His oneness during prayer. In Islamic practice, Raf’a Sabaaba refers to raising this finger during Tashahhud (the sitting position in prayer). While different schools of thought hold varied views, for Ahl-e-Hadith, raising the forefinger is a recommended Sunnah.
[Sahih Muslim 580]
[Sahih Muslim, Sunan Abu Dawood]
[Sunan An-Nasa’i, Musnad Ahmad]
May Allah grant us the ability to follow the Sunnah with sincerity. Ameen!
The index finger, known as Musabbihah in Arabic, is commonly used to glorify Allah and declare His oneness during prayer. In Islamic practice, Raf’a Sabaaba refers to raising this finger during Tashahhud (the sitting position in prayer). While different schools of thought hold varied views, for Ahl-e-Hadith, raising the forefinger is a recommended Sunnah.
Evidence of Raising the Finger:
❀ Hadith: Abdullah bin Umar (RA) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ would place his hands on his knees, raise the index finger, and supplicate with it.[Sahih Muslim 580]
Hand Position During Tashahhud:
The Prophet ﷺ raised his index finger while placing his hands on his knees. Several hadiths show various methods of finger placement during Tashahhud, such as forming a circle with the thumb and middle finger.[Sahih Muslim, Sunan Abu Dawood]
Method of Pointing:
- The finger should be slightly bent, with the gaze fixed on it during Tashahhud.
[Musnad Ahmad, Sunan An-Nasa’i]
Moving the Forefinger:
Hadiths indicate both moving and keeping the finger still during Tashahhud. Both practices are valid.[Sunan An-Nasa’i, Musnad Ahmad]
Conclusion:
Raising the forefinger during Tashahhud is a beloved Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ. Both moving the finger and keeping it still are established practices, and either can be followed.May Allah grant us the ability to follow the Sunnah with sincerity. Ameen!