Pointing and validity of Moving the Finger in Tashahhud.

AND VALIDITY of Supplicating during it

Praise be to Allaah.

Firstly:

It is proven that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to point with his index finger and move it during the tashahhud when praying.

The scholars differed concerning that and there are several points of view.

1 – The Hanafis say that the finger should be raised when saying “Laa (no)” in the phrase “Ash-hadu an laa ilaaha ill-Allaah (I bear witness that there is no god except Allaah)” and it should be lowered when saying, “ill-Allaah (except Allaah).”

2 – The Shaafa’is say that it should be raised when saying “ill-Allaah.”

3 – The Maalikis say that it should be moved right and left until one finishes the prayer.

4 – The Hanbalis say that one should point with the finger when saying the name of Allaah, without moving it.

Shaykh al-Albaani (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: There is no basis for any of these definitions and manners in the Sunnah. The closest of them to the correct view is the Hanbali view, were it not that they limited raising the finger to when saying the name of Allaah.

Tamaam al-Minnah, p. 223.

Secondly:

With regard to the evidence concerning this issue:

(a) It was narrated that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn al-Zubayr said: When the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) sat during the prayer, he would place his left foot between his thigh and calf, and tuck his right foot underneath him, and place his left hand on his left knee, and place his right hand on his right thigh, and point with his finger.

Narrated by Muslim, 579.

In al-Nasaa’i (1270) and Abu Dawood (989) it says: “He used to point with his finger when making du’aa’ but he did not move it.”

This addition – “but he did not move it” – was classed as da’eef by Ibn al-Qayyim in Zaad al-Ma’aad, 1/238. It was also classed as da’eef by al-Albaani in Tamaam al-Minnah, p. 218.

(b) It was narrated that Waa’il ibn Hajar said: I said: I will certainly watch how the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) prays. So I watched him and he stood up and said takbeer (“Allaahu akbar”), and raised his hands until they were level with his ears. Then he placed his right hand on his left hand, wrist and lower forearm. When he wanted to bow, he raised his hands likewise, and put his hands on his knees, and when he raised his head he raised his hands likewise. Then he prostrated and put his hands level with his ears, then he sat with his left foot tucked underneath him and put his left hand on his left thigh and knee, and he put the edge of his right elbow on his right thigh. Then he held two of his fingers and made a circle, then he raised his forefinger and moved it, making du’aa’ with it.

Narrated by al-Nasaa’i, 889; classed as saheeh by Ibn Khuzaymah, 1/354; Ibn Maajah, 5/170; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Irwa’ al-Ghaleel, 367.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen quoted this hadeeth – “moving it, making du’aa’ with it” – as evidence that moving the forefinger during the tashahhud should be done with every phrase of the du’aa’. He said in al-Sharh al-Mumti’:

The Sunnah indicates that he should point with it when making du’aa’, because the wording of the hadeeth is “moving it, making du’aa’ with it”. So every time you make du’aa’, move your finger thus indicating the exalted nature of the One to Whom you are addressing your du’aa’s. So we say:

“Al-salaamu ‘alayka ayyuha’l-Nabiyyu (peace be upon you, O Prophet)” – you should point your finger because this salaam is a kind of du’aa’. “Al-salaamu ‘alayna (peace be upon us)” – you should point your finger. “Allaahumma salli ‘ala Muhammad (O Allaah, send blessings upon Muhammad)” – you should point your finger. “Allaahumma baarik ‘ala Muhammad) O Allaah, send blessings upon Muhammad)” – you should point your finger. ‘A’oodhu Billaahi min ‘adhaab jahannam (I seek refuge with Allaah from the torment of Hell)” – you should point your finger. “Wa min ‘adhaab al-qabr (and from the torment of the grave)” – you should point your finger. “Wa min fitnat il-mahya wa’l-mamaat (and from the trials of life and death)” – you should point your finger. “Wa min fitnat il-maseeh il-dajjaal (and from the tribulation of the Dajjaal) – you should point your finger. Every time you make du’aa’ you should point your finger, indicating the greatness of the One to Whom you are making du’aa’. This is closer to the Sunnah. End quote.

Thirdly:

It is Sunnah when pointing to look at your finger.

Al-Nawawi said:

The Sunnah is not to let your gaze go beyond the pointing finger. There is a saheeh hadeeth concerning this in Sunan Abi Dawood. You should point in the direction of the qiblah and intend when pointing to affirm the Oneness of Allaah and exclusive devotion to Him.

Sharh Muslim, 5/81.

The hadeeth to which al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) referred is the hadeeth of ‘Abd-Allaah ibn al-Zubayr quoted above. The version narrated by Abu Dawood is (989): “And he should not let his gaze go beyond his pointing finger.” Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood.

Fourthly:

It is Sunnah to point with it towards the qiblah.

It was narrated from ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Umar that he saw a man moving pebbles with his hand whilst he was praying. When he finished, ‘Abd-Allaah said to him: “Do not move pebbles whilst you are praying, for that comes from the Shaytaan. Rather do what the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to do. He put his right hand on his thigh and pointed with the finger that is next to the thumb towards the qiblah, and he fixed his gaze on it.” Then he said: “This is what I saw the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) doing.” Narrated by al-Nasaa’i, 1160; Ibn Khuzaymah, 1/355; Ibn Hibbaan, 5/273. classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Nasaa’i.

Fifthly:

Bending the finger slightly when pointing was mentioned in the hadeeth of Numayr al-Khuzaa’i, narrated by A u Dawood, 991, and al-Nasaa’i, 1275.

But this is a da’eef (weak) hadeeth.

See Tamaam al-Minnah by al-Albaani p. 222.

And Allaah knows best.

Also, "when he [Muhammad] (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) pointed with his finger, he [Muhammad] (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would put his thumb on his middle finger"2, and sometimes "he [Muhammad] (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would make a circle with these two."3

"When he [Muhammad] (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) raised his finger, he [Muhammad] (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would move it, supplicating with it”4; and he [Muhammad] (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) used to say, 'It is surely more powerful against the devil than iron, meaning the forefinger."5

Also, "the Companions of the Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) used to remind each other, that is, about pointing with the finger when supplicating."6

Keep in mind that the finger is moving from the start of the tashhaud till the end when we say the tasleem.  

The Obligation of the First Tashahhud, & the Validity of Supplication during it.

'He [Muhammad] (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would recite the Tahiyyah after every two rak'ahs"9;  "the first thing he [Muhammad] (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would say in this sitting would be: All compliments be to Allaah.' 10

"When he [Muhammad] (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) forgot to perform tashahhud after the first two rak'ahs, he would prostrate (twice) for forgetfulness’ 11

Reference:

1. Muslim, Abu 'Awaanah and Ibn Khuzaimah. Humaidi (l3/1) and Abu Ya’laa-(275/2) added with a saheeh sanad on the authority of Ibn ‘Umar: "and this is the shooting of the devil; no-one will forget when he does this", and Humaidi raised  his finger. Humaidi also said that Muslim bin Abi Maryam said, "A man related to me that in a Church in Syria, he saw images of Prophet depicted Iike this", and Humaidi raised his finger, This is an extremely strange remark, but its sanad up to “the man” is saheeh.

2. Muslim and Abu ‘Awaanah.

3. Abu Daawood, Nasaa'l, Ibn al-jarood in al·Muntaqaa (208), Ibn Khuzaimah [1/86/1-2) & Ibn Hlbbaan in his Saheeh (485) with a saheeh sanad. Ibn al-Mulaqqln also declared it saheeh (28/2), and it has a supporting narration in Ibn 'Adi (287/1).

4. ibid. About "supplicating with it", Imaam Tahaawi said, "This is evidence that it was at the end of the prayer." Hence, there is evidence in this that the Sunnah is to continue pointing and moving the finger until the tasleem, for the supplication is until then. This is the view of Maalik and others.  Imaam Ahmad was asked, "Should a man point with his finger during prayer?"  He replied, 'Yes, vigorously. (Mentioned by Ibn Haani in his Masaa'il of Imaam Ahmad, 1/80). From this, it is clear that moving the finger in tashahhud is a proven sunnah of the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi we sallam), and it was practised by Ahmad and other imaams of the Sunnah. Therefore, those who think that it is pointless and irrelevant and has nothing to do with the Prayer, should fear Allaah, since because of this, they do not move their fingers although they know it to be an established sunnah; and they take great pains to interpret it in a way which is inconsistent with the 'Arabic way of expression and contrary to the understanding of the imaams. 

The amazing thing is that some of them will defend an Imaam on other issues, even if his opinion conflicts with the Sunnah, with the argument that to point out the imaam’s mistakes inevitably means to taunt and disrespect him. They then forget this and reject this established sunnah, at the same time mocking at those who practise it. Whether or not they realise it, their mockery also includes those Imaams whom they often defend wrongly, and who are correct about the Sunnah this time! In fact they are deriding the Prophet (sallalaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) himself, for he is the one who brought us this sunnah, and so jeering at it is equivalent to jeering at him. << But what is the reward for those among you who behave like this except... >>,

As for putting the finger down after pointing, or limiting the movement to the affirmation (saying laa ilaaha: 'there is no god ...') and negation (saying: illallaahu:’ ... except Allaah'), all of that has no basis in the Sunnah; in fact, it is contrary to the Sunnah, as this hadeeth proves.

Further, the hadeeth that he would not move his finger does not have an authentic isnaad, as shaikh Albaani have explained in Da’eef Abi Dawood (175). Even if it were authentic, it is negatory, while the hadeeth above is affirmatory: the affirmatory takes precedence over the negatory, as is well known among the scholars.

5. Ahmad, Bazzaar, Abu Ja'far al-Bukteeri in al-Amaali (60/1),'Abdul Ghani al-Maqdisi in his Sunan (12/2) with a hasan-sanad Rooyaani in his Musnad (249/2) & Baihaqi.

6. Ibn Abi Shaibah (2/123/2) with a hasan sanad.

7. Ibn Abi Shaibah (12/40/1,2/123/2) & Nasaa’i . Haakim declared it saheeh and Dhahabi agreed, and there is a supporting narration for it in Ibn Abi Shaibah.

8. Nasaa’I & Baihaqi with a  saheeh sanad. 

9. Muslim & Abu ‘Awaanah.

10. Baihaqi transmitted it as a narration from ‘Aa’ishah with a good isnaad, as verified by Ibn al-Mulaqqin (28/2).
 

11. Bukhaari & Muslim. It is given in Irwaa’ al-Ghaleel (338).