What is the ruling on raising the index finger during the tashahhud in prayer, and when is it obligatory to lower it? Is it when we finish saying, “I bear witness that there is no god but Allah,” or when we finish saying, “and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah”?
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The questioner : The questioner says: What is the ruling on raising the index finger during the tashahhud in prayer, and when is it obligatory to lower it? She says: Is it when we finish saying, “I bear witness that there is no god but Allah,” or when we finish saying, “and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah”?
The Shaykh : Raising the index finger in the tashahhud is only during supplication; that is, for every supplicatory phrase, the one performing the tashahhud raises his index finger. For example, if he says, “Peace be upon you, O Prophet,” this is a supplication for the safety of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family), so he raises his finger. If he says, “Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah,” this is also a supplication, and he raises his finger in it. If he says, “O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad,” this is a supplication, and he raises his finger in it. If he says, “O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad,” this is a supplication, and he raises his finger in it. If he says, “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,” this is a supplication, and he raises his finger in it. As for anything other than the supplicatory phrases, he does not raise his finger; rather, he keeps it neither joined to his palm nor raised upward. This is what comes to mind from the Prophetic Sunnah. As for one who raises the finger continuously from the beginning of the tashahhud to the end, or who moves it continuously without paying attention to the supplicatory phrases, I do not know any basis for that in the Sunnah.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Raising the index finger in the tashahhud is only during supplication; that is, for every supplicatory phrase, the one performing the tashahhud raises his index finger. For example, if he says, “Peace be upon you, O Prophet,” this is a supplication for the safety of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family), so he raises his finger. If he says, “Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah,” this is also a supplication, and he raises his finger in it. If he says, “O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad,” this is a supplication, and he raises his finger in it. If he says, “O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad,” this is a supplication, and he raises his finger in it. If he says, “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,” this is a supplication, and he raises his finger in it. As for anything other than the supplicatory phrases, he does not raise his finger; rather, he keeps it neither joined to his palm nor raised upward. This is what comes to mind from the Prophetic Sunnah. As for one who raises the finger continuously from the beginning of the tashahhud to the end, or who moves it continuously without paying attention to the supplicatory phrases, I do not know any basis for that in the Sunnah.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.