Moving the Finger in Tashahhud.

“He  (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) would spread his left palm on his left knee, clench all the fingers of his right hand, point with the finger adjacent to the thumb towards the qiblah, and fix his sight on it (i.e. the finger).” [Muslim, Abu `Awaanah & Ibn Khuzaimah. Humaidi (13/1) and Abu Ya`laa (275/2) added with a saheeh sanad on the authority of Ibn `Umar: “and this is the shooting of the devil; no-one will forget when he does this”.]

Also, “when he  (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) pointed with his finger, he would put his thumb on his middle finger” [Muslim & Abu `Awaanah], and sometimes “he would make a circle with these two.” [Abu Daawood, Nasaa’i, Ibn al-Jaarood in al-Muntaqaa (208), Ibn Khuzaimah (1/86/1-2) & Ibn Hibbaan in his Saheeh (485) with a saheeh sanad.]

“When he raised his finger, he would move it, supplicating with it” [Abu Daawood, Nasaa’i, Ibn al-Jaarood in al-Muntaqaa (208), Ibn Khuzaimah (1/86/1-2) & Ibn Hibbaan in his Saheeh (485) with a saheeh sanad.], and he used to say, “It is surely more powerful against the devil than iron, meaning the forefinger.” [Ahmad, Bazzaar, Abu Ja`far al-Bukhteeri in al-Amaali (60/1), `Abdul Ghani al-Maqdisi in his Sunan (12/2) with a hasan sanad, Rooyaani in his Musnad (249/2) & Baihaqi.]

About “supplicating with it”, Imaam Tahaawi said, “This is evidence that it was at the end of the prayer.” Hence, there is evidence in this that the Sunnah is to continue pointing and moving the finger until the tasleem, for the supplication is until then. This is the view of Maalik and others. Imaam Ahmad was asked, “Should a man point with his finger during prayer?” He replied, “Yes, vigorously.” (Mentioned by Ibn Haani in his Masaa’il of Imaam Ahmad, 1/80). From this, it is clear that moving the finger in tashahhud is a proven sunnah of the Prophet  (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) and it was practiced by Ahmad and other Imaams of the Sunnah. Therefore, those who think that it is pointless and irrelevant and has nothing to do with the Prayer, should fear Allah, since because of this, they do not move their fingers although they know it to be an established Sunnah; and they take great pains to interpret it in a way which is inconsistent with the `Arabic way of expression and contrary to the understanding of the Imaams with regard to it.

The amazing thing is that some of them will defend an Imaam on other issues, even if his opinion conflicts with the Sunnah, with the argument that to point out the Imaam’s mistakes inevitably means to taunt and disrespect him. They then forget this and reject this established sunnah, at the same time mocking at those who practise it. Whether or not they realise it, their mockery also includes those Imaams whom they often defend wrongly, and who are correct about the Sunnah this time! In fact, they are deriding the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) himself, for he is the one who brought us this Sunnah, and so jeering at it is equivalent to jeering at him. << But what is the reward for those among you who behave like this except … >>

As for putting the finger down after pointing, or limiting the movement to the affirmation (saying laa ilaaha: ‘there is no god …’) and negation (saying: illallaahu: ‘… except Allaah’), all of that has no basis in the Sunnah; in fact, it is contrary to the Sunnah, as this Hadeeth proves.

Further, the Hadeeth that he would not move his finger does not have an authentic isnaad, as I have explained in Da`eef Abi Daawood (175). Even if it were authentic, it is negatory, while the Hadeeth above is affirmatory: the affirmatory takes precedence over the negatory, as is well-known among the scholars.

Also, “the Companions of the Prophet ( (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) used to remind each other, that is, about pointing with the finger when supplicating.” [Ibn Abi Shaibah (2/123/2) with a hasan sanad.]

Once, “he saw a man supplicating with two fingers, so he said, “Make it one, [make it one,]” and indicated with his forefinger.” [Ibn Abi Shaibah (12/40/1, 2/123/2) & Nasaa’i]

“He  (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) would do this in both Tash-huds.” [Nasaa’i & Baihaqi with a saheeh sanad.]

The scholars are in consensus that the Tash-hud should be recited silently, and saying it loudly is disliked. (Mentioned by an-Nawawi)

•  It is not permissible to point with other than the right index finger in the Tash-hud. If the right index is amputated, it is preponderant in this case not to point with it, and the person is excused from performing this Sunnah act. Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aala) burdens not a person beyond his scope. However, pointing with another finger requires a legal evidence, and there is not any. [Ahkam Mukhtasah fi al-Manhiyyat ash-Shar’iyyah fi Sifat as-Salat, by Abdur-Ra’oof al-Kamali]

The Tasleem (Salutation of Peace)

Next, “he  (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) would salute to his right:

Peace and Allah’s Mercy be on you [such that the whiteness of his right cheek was visible,], and on his left:

Peace and Allah’s Mercy be on you [such that the whiteness of his left cheek was visible].[Abu Dawood, An-nasaa’I and At-Tirmidhi]

Sometimes, he would add to the greeting on the right:

… and His blessings (be on you). [Abu Dawood and Ibn Khuzaimah]

“When he said:

Peace and Allaah’s Mercy be on you to his right, he would sometimes shorten the greeting on his left to:

Peace be on you.[An-Nasaa’i and Ahmad]

Sometimes, “he would salute once only,

Peace be on you [in front of his face, turning to his right side a bit,] [or a little].”[Ibn Khuzaimah, Baihaqi and Al-Haakim]

The dislikeness of moving the hands in Tasleem in the prayer:

Jabir bin Abdullah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu)  narrated: “They (the companions) used to gesture with their hands when saluting to the right and left; when the Messenger of Allah  (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) saw them, he said, “What is the matter with you, gesturing with your hands as if they are the tails of wild horses?! When one of you salutes, he should look towards his companion and not indicate with his hand.” [So when they prayed with him, they did not gesture.] (In one narration: It is enough for each of you to place his hand on his thigh, and then salute his brothers who are on his right and left). [Muslim]