QUESTION:

What do the Scholars say regarding the following: What is the method of raising the finger during Tashahud? 

Questioner: Ansar from UK

ANSWER:

All praises belong to Allāh, the Creator Most Sublime Who is Uncreated, the One Who enjoined upon the believers prayer at fixed times, Peace and blessings of Allāh be upon the final Prophet, Our Master, Muhammad Mustafa ﷺ, upon his purified family, his esteemed companions, and whomsoever follows in his blessed footsteps until the last day.

Asalāmu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullāhi wa barakātu hu

The Prophet of Allāh ﷺ has said:

صَلُّوا كَمَا رَأَيْتُمُونِي أُصَلِّي

“Pray as you have seen me praying…” [Sahih al-Bukhari 63]

There are many traditions which emphatically highlight the prayer of the Prophet ﷺ which the illustrious Imāms of Ahlu l-Sunnah have collated and presented to the masses in the form of jurisprudence.

The Hanafi school hold the position it is sunnah (recommended) to raise the index finger and keep remaining fingers folded like a fist while reciting ‘lā’ of lā-ilāha- il’lal’lāhū and release all fingers and place them in original position on the thigh near to knee with the word il’lal’lāhū

The evidence for this is found in numerous traditions. Sayyidunā ‘Abdu l-llāh radiyaAllāh anhu said:

إِذَا جَلَسَ فِي الصَّلاَةِ وَضَعَ يَدَهُ الْيُمْنَى عَلَى رُكْبَتِهِ وَرَفَعَ إِصْبَعَهُ الَّتِي تَلِي الإِبْهَامَ الْيُمْنَى يَدْعُو بِهَا وَيَدُهُ الْيُسْرَى عَلَى رُكْبَتِهِ بَاسِطَهَا عَلَيْهِ

“When the Prophet would sit during the Salāt, he would place his right hand on his knee, and raise his finger, the one that is next to the [right] thumb, supplicating with it, and his left hand was spread flat on his left knee.” [Jami` at-Tirmidhi 294]

With regards to the hadith wherein there is the mention of movement of the finger, the Hanafi hold the position these hadith are shādh (irregular) when compared to the narrations from more authoritative narrators.

And Allāh knows best.

Answered by Ustadh Asid Shafait
Checked by Shaykh Naveed Jameel ash-Shaami

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