What is the ruling on raising the index finger between the two prostrations and in the tashahhud, and what is the ruling on praying four rak'ahs before Fajr?
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The questioner : He says:The questioner : May Allah be pleased with you, Shaykh. I testify to Allah of my love for you in Him. My question is: What is the ruling on raising the index finger between the two prostrations, and what is the ruling on praying four rak'ahs before Fajr?
The Shaykh : I ask Allah the Exalted to love him as we love him in Him, and to make me and you all among those who love one another for the sake of Allah and cooperate in righteousness and piety.
As for raising the index finger between the two prostrations, what has become clear to me from the Sunnah is that it is like raising the index finger during the tashahhud, and there is no difference.
First: Because some of the wordings of the hadith of Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), which is established in *Sahih Muslim*, state that he said:Sahih Muslim 579a. And this statement is general.
Second: Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) narrated in his *Musnad* with a good chain from the hadith of Wa'il ibn Hujr:Sunan an-Nasa'i 1687Sahih (Darussalam).
Third: Those who described the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned that he spreads his left hand on his left thigh or places it on his left knee, and not a single word came from them saying that he spreads his right hand on his right thigh or places it on his right knee. Accordingly, the generality of the hadith regarding grasping the little finger, ring finger, thumb, and middle finger in this manner, or wrapping the thumb around the middle finger, applies generally to the sitting between the two prostrations and the sitting in the two tashahhuds.
As for the pointing, yes, the pointing with the finger is done like this, raised. But when you supplicate to Allah in every supplicatory phrase, you raise it. For example, you say: "My Lord, forgive me," and you raise it; "and have mercy on me," and you raise it; "and grant me health," and you raise it. And likewise in the tashahhud. In every supplicatory phrase, you raise it, pointing to the loftiness of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), whom you are supplicating to.
In the tahiyyat, with every supplication. In the tahiyyat, there is supplication. "Peace be upon you, O Prophet" is a supplication. "Peace be upon us" is a supplication. "O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad" is a supplication. "O Allah, bless Muhammad" is a supplication. "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"—that is eight. And there may be another supplication in it. In every supplicatory phrase, you raise your finger, yes.
The Shaykh : I ask Allah the Exalted to love him as we love him in Him, and to make me and you all among those who love one another for the sake of Allah and cooperate in righteousness and piety.
As for raising the index finger between the two prostrations, what has become clear to me from the Sunnah is that it is like raising the index finger during the tashahhud, and there is no difference.
First: Because some of the wordings of the hadith of Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), which is established in *Sahih Muslim*, state that he said:
When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sat in prayer
إذا قعد في الصلاةSecond: Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) narrated in his *Musnad* with a good chain from the hadith of Wa'il ibn Hujr:
that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to do that
أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يفعل ذلك بين السجدتينThird: Those who described the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned that he spreads his left hand on his left thigh or places it on his left knee, and not a single word came from them saying that he spreads his right hand on his right thigh or places it on his right knee. Accordingly, the generality of the hadith regarding grasping the little finger, ring finger, thumb, and middle finger in this manner, or wrapping the thumb around the middle finger, applies generally to the sitting between the two prostrations and the sitting in the two tashahhuds.
As for the pointing, yes, the pointing with the finger is done like this, raised. But when you supplicate to Allah in every supplicatory phrase, you raise it. For example, you say: "My Lord, forgive me," and you raise it; "and have mercy on me," and you raise it; "and grant me health," and you raise it. And likewise in the tashahhud. In every supplicatory phrase, you raise it, pointing to the loftiness of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), whom you are supplicating to.
In the tahiyyat, with every supplication. In the tahiyyat, there is supplication. "Peace be upon you, O Prophet" is a supplication. "Peace be upon us" is a supplication. "O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad" is a supplication. "O Allah, bless Muhammad" is a supplication. "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"—that is eight. And there may be another supplication in it. In every supplicatory phrase, you raise your finger, yes.