Volume 2 – 186 – To indicate with a finger (the Shahada/Declaration of Faith)
Ali bin Abdurrahman al-Muwaiyi (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
– Abdullah bin Umar saw me stirring pebbles during prayer.
After finishing the prayer, he forbade me from doing so. And he said to me:
– Do as the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) used to do.
I asked, “How did the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) do?” Abdullah bin Umar said:
– When he sat down in prayer, he placed his right hand on his right thigh, curling all his fingers except for the index finger, which he raised with his thumb. He also placed his left hand on his left thigh, cupped [upon it]. [83]
**EXPLANATION:**
Several variations have been narrated regarding placing the right hand upon the right knee during the Tashahhud.
1 – As mentioned in hadith number 957, curling the little finger and the finger next to it, forming a circle with the middle and thumb fingers, and raising the index finger to indicate.
2 – In a hadith narrated by Muslim through Abdullah bin Umar: “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) used to place his right hand on his right knee, form the fingers into fifty-three [53], and point with his index finger,” is stated. In this case:
The head of the thumb would rest on the middle phalanx of the index finger, and the middle finger would be bent with the other fingers upon the knee.
3 – As in this hadith, curling all the fingers and pointing with the index finger.
4 – As narrated by Muslim and Abu Dawud through Abdullah bin Zubayr: “The hands are placed on the knees, the thumb is placed on the middle finger, and a sign is made with the index finger.”
The purpose of the indication is to confirm with the hand what is negated and affirmed with the tongue.
According to the Hanafi school: "When 'La ilaha' is said, the fingers are raised, and when 'Illallah' is said, they are lowered."
According to Imam Shafi’i: The finger is raised when “Illallah” is said.
The Hanafi jurists have taken the first and second narrations as the basis from these narrations. Pointing in the Tashahhud is sunnah. However, since everyone may not know how to do it, there are jurists who permit its abandonment. (Avnul Ma’bud, vol. 1, p. 325, Manhel, vol. 5, p. 102)
Amir bin Abdullah bin Zubayr, may Allah be pleased with him and his father, said:
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, would sit in prayer placing the sole of his left foot beneath his thigh and ankle, and laying his right foot flat. He would place his left hand on his left knee, and his right hand on top of his right thigh, pointing with his index finger.
Abdul-Wahid demonstrated to us how it was done by pointing with his index finger. [84]
Abdullah ibn Zubayr, may Allah be pleased with him, related:
– He used to point with his finger when the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, supplicated, but he would not move it.
Ibn Jurayj said:
– Amr ibn Dinār added, reporting from his father, Abdullah ibn Zubayr, that Amr reported:
– My father saw the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, supplicating in this manner, resting his left hand on his left thigh.
Amir bin Abdullah bin al-Zubayr, may Allah be pleased with him, reported from his father:
– (He narrated) the aforementioned hadith and said:
– His gaze did not stray beyond [the point of] his finger. [85]
Abu Dawud said: The narration of Hajjaj is more complete.
EXPLANATION:
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, when reciting the testimony and pointing with his finger, his eyes would follow his finger, not looking to the right or left. Because, in order to remain tranquil while reciting the greeting, one must look down [into their lap]. As the limit of sight expands, so too does concentration and tranquility diminish accordingly.
Mālik bin Numeyr al-Huzaiyy reported from his father, Numeyr, may Allah be pleased with him: I saw the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, place his right hand on his right thigh, raising his index finger slightly.