What is the basis for raising the index finger of the right hand while reciting the tashahhud in prayer, and is it one of the pillars of prayer or a sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)?
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The questioner : What is the basis for raising the index finger of the right hand while reciting the tashahhud in prayer, and is it one of the pillars of prayer or a sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)? What is its purpose and what is its correct manner? Please inform us, may Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : Placing the hands when sitting for the tashahhud or between the two prostrations is that the left hand is spread on the left thigh and the right hand is on the right thigh, with the little finger, ring finger, thumb, and middle finger gathered together, while the index finger remains open. Every time he supplicates, he moves it and raises it upward as a sign of the exaltation of Allah the Exalted, to whom the supplication is directed. For example, if he says: "Peace be upon you, O Prophet," he raises the finger. If he says: "May Allah send blessings upon Muhammad," he raises it. If he says: "O Allah, bless Muhammad," he raises it. If he says: "I seek refuge in Allah from the punishment of the Hellfire," he raises it. In each of the four phrases: "I seek refuge in Allah from the punishment of the Hellfire, from the punishment of the grave, from the trial of life and death, and from the trial of the Dajjal."
He also has the option to gather the little finger, ring finger, and middle finger of the right hand and loop the thumb with the middle finger. As far as I know, it is not reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he spread the right hand on the left thigh between the two prostrations. Rather, the texts are general in that he gathers the three fingers—the little, ring, and middle—and adds the thumb to them, or loops the thumb with the middle finger. This is general, and some of it is specified by the tashahhud. It is known among the majority of scholars that mentioning some individuals of a general category with a ruling that covers them and others does not constitute specification. For example, if I say: "Honor the students of knowledge," and then I say: "Honor so-and-so," and he is one of the students, that does not imply restricting the honor to so-and-so. Specification only occurs when some individuals of a general category are singled out with a ruling that contradicts the general category. That is what constitutes specification.
Based on this, we say: The placement of the right hand in the first and second tashahhud and in the sitting between the two prostrations is one and the same; it does not differ. Let anyone who has seen a text indicating that the right hand is spread on the right thigh between the two prostrations or in the tashahhud convey it to us, and we will be grateful to him.
As for whether this gesture is a pillar or a sunnah, it is a sunnah, not a pillar, and it is not even obligatory. If a person leaves it out, there is no blame on him, and the prayer is valid without it.
The Shaykh : Placing the hands when sitting for the tashahhud or between the two prostrations is that the left hand is spread on the left thigh and the right hand is on the right thigh, with the little finger, ring finger, thumb, and middle finger gathered together, while the index finger remains open. Every time he supplicates, he moves it and raises it upward as a sign of the exaltation of Allah the Exalted, to whom the supplication is directed. For example, if he says: "Peace be upon you, O Prophet," he raises the finger. If he says: "May Allah send blessings upon Muhammad," he raises it. If he says: "O Allah, bless Muhammad," he raises it. If he says: "I seek refuge in Allah from the punishment of the Hellfire," he raises it. In each of the four phrases: "I seek refuge in Allah from the punishment of the Hellfire, from the punishment of the grave, from the trial of life and death, and from the trial of the Dajjal."
He also has the option to gather the little finger, ring finger, and middle finger of the right hand and loop the thumb with the middle finger. As far as I know, it is not reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he spread the right hand on the left thigh between the two prostrations. Rather, the texts are general in that he gathers the three fingers—the little, ring, and middle—and adds the thumb to them, or loops the thumb with the middle finger. This is general, and some of it is specified by the tashahhud. It is known among the majority of scholars that mentioning some individuals of a general category with a ruling that covers them and others does not constitute specification. For example, if I say: "Honor the students of knowledge," and then I say: "Honor so-and-so," and he is one of the students, that does not imply restricting the honor to so-and-so. Specification only occurs when some individuals of a general category are singled out with a ruling that contradicts the general category. That is what constitutes specification.
Based on this, we say: The placement of the right hand in the first and second tashahhud and in the sitting between the two prostrations is one and the same; it does not differ. Let anyone who has seen a text indicating that the right hand is spread on the right thigh between the two prostrations or in the tashahhud convey it to us, and we will be grateful to him.
As for whether this gesture is a pillar or a sunnah, it is a sunnah, not a pillar, and it is not even obligatory. If a person leaves it out, there is no blame on him, and the prayer is valid without it.