[Q 178] Significance of Raising the Index Finger in Tashahhud

Question

When we sit in salah and read Tashahhud, why do we raise the shahadat finger. Is there any particular reason or hadith stating this and its significance?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الجواب بعون الملك الوهاب اللهم هداية الحق والصواب

Answer

It is sunnah to raise the index finger when reciting shahadah in Tashahhud, and according to a Hadith this is very troublesome for shaytaan.

Note: the correct method of doing this is that when one reaches the point of reciting shahadah in tashahud (اَشْهَدُ اَن لَّا اِلٰهَ اِلَّا ﷲ) then he should close-up the smallest and the ring finger of the right hand, form a circle with thumb and middle finger; and raise the index finger when reciting “لا” and then put it down when reciting “إلّا”. Now put all fingers in their normal state. Do not keep the index finger moving for the whole duration.

Regarding pointing with the finger in Tashahhud, it has been related in Sahih Muslim, Jami Tirmidhi, Sunan Nasai and in other sahih and sunan books.

‎عن عامر بن عبد اللہ بن الزبير، عن أبيه، قال: كان رسول اللہ صلى اللہ عليه وسلم إذا قعد يدعو، وضع يده اليمنى على فخذه اليمنى، ويده اليسرى على فخذه اليسرى، وأشار بإصبعه السبابة، ووضع إبهامه على إصبعه الوسطى

Translation:

‘on the authority of Aamir bin abdullah ibn zubair, who related from his father that he said, when the prophet of Allah, upon him be peace, would sit for Tashahhud in prayer, he would put his right hand on his right thigh and his left hand on his left thigh, and would point with his index finger and would place his thumb on his middle finger (i.e. would make a circle with his thumb and finger).

(Sahih Muslim, book of prayer, chapter of description of sitting in prayer, volume 1, page 260, published in Lahore)

Nafi’ mawla Abdullah bin Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, says:

‎کَانَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ إِذَا جَلَسَ فِي الصَّلَاةِ وَضَعَ يَدَيْهِ عَلَى رُكْبَتَيْهِ، وَأَشَارَ بِإِصْبَعِهِ، وَأَتْبَعَهَا بَصَرَهُ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَهِيَ أَشَدُّ عَلَى الشَّيْطَانِ مِنَ الْحَدِيدِ يَعْنِي السَّبَّابَةَ.

Translation:

When Abdullah bin Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, sat (for Tashahhud) during his prayer, he put his hands on his knees and pointed with his finger. He also kept his sight on that finger. Then he said that the prophet of Allah, peace be upon him, said that this finger of shahaadat (index finger) falls harder on the shaytaan than iron.

(Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Al-musnad, volume 2, page 119, number 600, Misr: muassassah qurtuba)

According to Hanafi school of thought it is sunnah to raise the index finger in tashahud upon reciting “لا” and to put it down on “إلّا”.

‎حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ الْمِصْيصِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا حَجَّاج، عَنِ ابْنِ جُرَيْجٍ، عَنْ زِيَادٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَجَلَانَ، عَنْ عَامِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، أَنَّهُ ذَكَرَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ يُشيرُ بِأَصْبَعِهِ إِذَا دَعا، وَلا يُحركها

Translation:

It has been narrated by Sayyiduna Abdullah Ibn Zubayr رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم would raise the index finger when reciting tashahhud but he would not keep on moving the finger.

(Sunan Abi Dawood, Kitab ul salah, Bab ul Isharah fi Tashahhud, Vol 1, Pg 260, Al Maktabah Al Asariyah Beirut)

Answered by: Tabaruk Madani (Askmufti Scholar)

Verified by: Mawlana Umar Madani

Translated by: Mawlana Ikram Madani