How do we move the finger in the tashahhud?

The questioner : In one of the tapes, I heard you say regarding moving the finger in prayer that it is not lowering and raising. We want you to demonstrate that for us in reality.

The Shaykh : This is correct. Many of our brothers in all the lands of Islam, and praise be to Allah, we see them performing this sunnah, but they exaggerate in it. What is reported regarding the finger in the tashahhud is moving it, not lowering and raising it. So, you place your hand on your knee, and the movement is like this, not like this. This is called lowering and raising. This lowering and raising is not in any hadith, not even a fabricated one. Rather, everything in the reports is that they saw the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) moving it and making du'a with it. So, this movement is the sunnah. As for this, it is called lowering and raising, and this has not been reported at all. It is necessary to be aware of this distinction: the movement is like this, not lowering and raising.

The questioner : And looking, O Shaykh, from that comes sincerity.

The Shaykh : Looking is part of the sunnah. And on this occasion, one thing reminds one of another. Some people say, "Place your hand like that, may Allah reward you with good, as you did." What do many people do with this knee? They place their hands like this. And where does the finger go? Downward. This is contrary to the sunnah. Rather, we bring our hand forward and move it back, and raise it like this toward the qiblah, and we move it. As for this, it is a deviation from the qiblah toward the ground, which is contrary to the sunnah. This knee, these fingers here, they should not be protruding like this; they should be like this. This whole knee, we raise it and clench it, and we point like this toward the qiblah and move it. As for this, it is an error, and it is a common error, just like lowering and raising. Allahu, the time is running out.