[Q 403] Raising Shahada Finger in Tashahhud And The Correct Method

QUESTION:

Dear Respected Scholars – please may you explain why we raise our shahada finger in attahiyyaaat- and what is the correct manner of doing this. Also is there various narrations on different methods such as constant raising of the finger, numerous raising and dropping or raising the finger but then leaving the right hand as a full fist until salaam

ANSWER:

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم
الجواب بعون الملک الوھاب اللھم ھدایة الحق والصواب

Pointing with the index finger during Tashahhud while reciting the Kalima as-Shahadah is Sunnah, and this is established through authentic Ahadith. The correct manner is that when the worshipper reaches the words “اشهد ان لا اله الا الله”, he should fold the smallest (little) finger and the one next to it (ring finger) of the right hand, form a circle with the thumb and middle finger, and raise the index finger on the word “لا”, and lower it at “الا”, then straighten all fingers back as they were i.e he should not keep moving the finger continuously.

Authentic collections such as Sahih Muslim, Jami‘ Tirmidhi, Sunan Nasa’i and others mention the raising of the finger within tashahud:

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

(Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Salat, Bab Sifat al-Juloos fi al-Salat, Vol. 1, p. 260, Lahore)

Regarding not moving the index finger continuously in Tashahhud, the following is narrated in Sunan Abi Dawood, Sunan Nasa’i, Sunan al-Kubra by al-Bayhaqi, and Sharh al-Sunnah by al-Baghawi, among others — wording from Abi Dawood:

“عن عبد الله بن الزبير، أنه ذكر، أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يشير بأصبعه إذا دعا، ولا يحركها، قال ابن جريج: وزاد عمرو بن دينار، قال: أخبرني عامر، عن أبيه، أنه رأى النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يدعو كذلك”

(Sunan Abi Dawood, Kitab al-Salat, Bab al-Isharah fi al-Tashahhud, Vol. 1, p. 150, Lahore)

Commenting on the phrase “ولا يحرّكها”, Imam Husayn ibn Mahmood Shirazi al-Mazhari رحمة اللہ تعالیٰ علیه (d. 727 AH), the commentator of Mishkat, writes:

“اختلف في تحريك الاصبع إذا رفعها للاشارة، الأصح أنه إذا رفعها يضعها من غير تحريك”

(Al-Mafatih Sharh al-Masabih, Vol. 2, p. 158, Dar al-Noor)

The juristic books Muhit Burhani, Fatawa Tatarkhaniyyah, Fath al-Qadeer and others mention:

“وعن الحلواني يقيم الأصبع عند”لا إله “ ويضعها عند ”إلا اللہ“ ليكون الرفع للنفي والوضع للاثبات وينبغي أن يكون أطراف الأصابع على حرف الركبة”

(Fath ul-Qadeer, Kitab al-Salah, Vol. 1, p. 321, Quetta)

Answered by: Usman Madani (Ask Mufti scholar)
Translation checked by: Muhamed Hamza Attari
Date: 4th May 2025