Raising the Forefinger in Tashahhud: Sunnah and Its Rulings

Originally authored by Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amaanpuri (ḥafiẓahullāh), this article has been enhanced with headings and formatting for easier reading.

❀ Introduction to the Forefinger​

The forefinger, also known as the index finger or "musabbihah" in Arabic (the finger used for glorification), is referred to as "shahādat ki ungli" (testimony finger) in Urdu. It is primarily used to testify to the Oneness of Allah during acts of worship. Pious individuals use this finger to declare the Oneness of Allah, whereas immoral individuals misuse it for obscenities and vulgar gestures. For this reason, it is also termed "sabbābah" (the cursing finger) in Arabic.

❀ Literal Meaning of “Raf‘ al-Sabbābah”​

The term رَفْع in Arabic means "to raise." Thus, رَفْعُ السَّبَّابَةِ means "raising the forefinger." This represents the literal definition.

❀ Terminological Meaning of “Raf‘ al-Sabbābah”​

Pointing with the forefinger during Tashahhud in prayer is referred to as رَفْعُ السَّبَّابَةِ. Scholars of different schools of thought have varying views on this matter. However, according to the Ahl al-Ḥadīth, this act is considered a Sunnah and is recommended (mustaḥabb).

❀ Position of Ahl al-Ḥadīth and Their Evidences​

① The Practice of ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar (ra)​

Narrated by Nāfiʿ, the freed slave of ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar (ra):
"When ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar (ra) sat for Tashahhud in prayer, he would place his hands on his knees and point with his forefinger, keeping his gaze fixed on it. He said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, ‘This finger has a harsher impact on Shayṭān than iron.’”
(Musnad Aḥmad: 2/119, ḥadīth with ḥasan chain)

The narrator Kathīr ibn Zayd al-Aslamī is deemed trustworthy and a sound narrator by the Muḥaddithīn.

② The Practice of the Prophet ﷺ​

In another narration, ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar (ra) states:
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ, during Tashahhud in prayer, would place his hands on his knees and raise the forefinger next to his thumb, using it to make supplication."
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 580)

❀ Various Positions of the Right Hand in Tashahhud​

Multiple ḥadīths describe how the Prophet ﷺ pointed with the forefinger, which are presented below under specific headings:

① Ḥadīth of ʿAbdullāh ibn al-Zubayr (ra)​

"When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ sat for Tashahhud, he would place his right hand on the right thigh and left hand on the left thigh. He pointed with the forefinger and placed the thumb over the middle finger."
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 13/579)

② Ḥadīth of ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar (ra)​

"He would place his right hand on the right knee and left hand on the left knee, form the number 53 with his fingers, and point with the forefinger."
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 115/580)

Explanation of the “53 Gesture”
Arabs used a finger-based numbering system. To represent 53, they would close the three fingers besides the thumb and forefinger. The thumb would touch the base of the forefinger, leaving it raised.

③ Ḥadīth of Wā’il ibn Ḥujr (ra)​

"I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ form a circle using the thumb and middle finger, raising the forefinger and using it to supplicate."
(Sunan Abū Dāwūd: 957; Nasā’ī: 1266; Ibn Mājah: 912 – Ṣaḥīḥ chain)

❀ Various Gestures of the Right Hand​

These narrations indicate that multiple gestures of the right hand during Tashahhud are authentically reported from the Prophet ﷺ. Any of these are permissible, but the act of pointing with the forefinger is consistently mentioned in every narration.

❀ Description of the Gesture​

From the narrations, the following details emerge:

① Ḥadīth of Abū Ḥumayd and Others​

"The Prophet ﷺ would sit with the left foot laid flat and the right foot upright facing the Qiblah. He would place the right hand on the right knee, left hand on the left knee, and point with the forefinger."
(Sunan al-Tirmidhī: 293 – ḥasan)

② Ḥadīth of Numayr al-Khuzāʿī (ra)​

"I saw the Prophet ﷺ placing his right hand on his right thigh and pointing with the forefinger during prayer."
(Musnad Aḥmad: 3/471; Ibn Mājah: 911 – ḥasan)

③ Ḥadīth of ʿAlī ibn ʿAbd al-Raḥmān​

Ibn ʿUmar (ra) forbade someone from playing with pebbles in prayer and instructed to emulate the Prophet ﷺ who pointed with the forefinger while keeping other fingers folded.
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 116/580)

④ Ḥadīth of Numayr al-Khuzāʿī (ra) – Second Version​

"I saw the Prophet ﷺ making duʿāʾ during Tashahhud with a slightly bent raised forefinger."
(Musnad Aḥmad: 3/471; Ibn Mājah: 911 – ḥasan)

⑤ Ḥadīth of ʿAbdullāh ibn al-Zubayr (ra)​

"The Prophet ﷺ would look at his pointing finger and not beyond it."
(Musnad Aḥmad: 3/4; Abū Dāwūd: 990 – ḥasan)

⑥ Ḥadīth of Wā’il ibn Ḥujr (ra)​

"The Prophet ﷺ raised his forefinger and I saw him moving it while making duʿāʾ."
(Musnad Aḥmad: 4/318; Nasā’ī: 890, 1269 – Ṣaḥīḥ)

❀ Key Points on the Gesture​

✔ Initiation: Begin pointing at the start of Tashahhud.
✔ Finger Position: Slightly bend the forefinger during pointing.
✔ Gaze: Keep your eyes focused on the pointing finger.

❀ Moving the Forefinger During Tashahhud​

Should the forefinger be moved or kept still during pointing? Our research indicates both practices are established Sunnah. Movement is confirmed in narrations ➊ and ➌, and stillness in ➍ and ➎. Hence, both practices are valid and can be followed.

❀ Scholarly Differences​

Imām Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr (463–368 AH) states:
"Scholars differ on moving the forefinger; some support it, others favor keeping it still. Both practices are authentically reported from the Prophet ﷺ."
(Al-Istidhkār: 1/478; Tafsīr al-Qurṭubī: 1/361)

Other scholars such as ʿAllāmah al-Ṣanʿānī (Sabil al-Salām 1/187–188) and Muḥaddith Mubārakpūrī (Tuḥfat al-Aḥwadhī 1/241) also affirm both practices.

❀ Ḥanafī View on Pointing​

Some Ḥanafī scholars rejected the Sunnah of moving the forefinger:

Aḥmad Sirhindī (1034–971 AH) wrote:
"It is not proper for us muqallidīn to act on ḥadīths and show audacity by pointing (in prayer)."
(Maktūbāt: 1/718, Letter 312)

Comments from Other Ḥanafīs:
Shaykh al-Ḥadīth Ḥusayn Aḥmad Madanī (Dār al-ʿUlūm Deoband):

"Numerous companions narrated the pointing gesture. These reports have reached the level of tawātur, and not a single Ṣaḥābī or Tābiʿī is reported to have abandoned it."
(Taqrīr al-Tirmidhī, pp. 433–434)

Justice Taqī ʿUthmānī writes:

"Some later Ḥanafīs called pointing with the forefinger a bidʿah, but the Prophet’s ﷺ statement should suffice."
(Taqrīr al-Tirmidhī: 2/62)

❀ Conclusion​

Raising the forefinger during Tashahhud and keeping it raised until the end is a Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ. Both movement and stillness of the finger are authentically proven, and following either practice is valid Sunnah.

❀ Supplication​

May Allah grant us the ability to act upon the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ and protect us from denying it. Āmīn!