Shaykh Saalih al-Fowzaan on how to use the index finger during the tashahhud

Question:

Oh Shaykh could you please explain to me how I should use the sabaabah in the salah (how to use the index finger during the tashahhud).

Answer:

Naam, sabaabah (index finger) in the salah should be raised when you mention the name of Allaah, or when you make du’a (1) (the supplication during tashahhud), you raise it as sign of tawheed (oneness of Allaah).

The Shaykh was then asked:

Some people oh Shaykh raise and continuously move their sabaabah until the end of the salah?  

The Shaykh replies: 

Naam, this is because some people believe this (from a hadeeth) or the likes that it most be moved (continuously) (2), because it is severe against the shaytaan (the devil). But the most correct opinion (3), and Allaah knows best, is that he does not move it, he just raises it and does not move it. And this is the sign of tawheed. 

فتاوى على الهواء (fatawaa live on air)

Date: 18/05/2011

Transcribed by Eesa Ibn Roy

Source:  How to Use Index Finger in Salah

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Footnote:

(1) Sa’d  ibn Abi Waqqas (radiyallaahu anhu) narrated: “ The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) passed by me when I was supplicating with my fingers and he said: “Use only one, Use only one” and he pointed with his forefinger.

Collected by Abu Dawud (1499), An-Nasa’i (1273)  Al-Albaani (raheemahuallaah) graded this hadeeth as being Saheeh.

(2) This is the opinion of Shaykh Al-Albaani (raheemahuallaah) and others, based upon the hadeeth of Waa’il bin Hujr (radiyallaahu anhu) An-Nasa’i (1268), see Al-Albaani's Sifat Salat-an-Nabee (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam)(The Prophets Prayer Described). 

(3) This is the also the opinion of Shaykh Muqbil (raheemahuallaah) who said the hadeeth that mentions ”I saw him moving it” is shaadh (irregular), see as-Sahih al-Musnad’ (2/265). 

Shaykh al-`Uthaymeen (raheemahuallaah) was asked about moving the finger in Salah:

Question:

I have heard that drawing the thumb against the middle finger and extending the forefinger and moving it is harsher for the devil then being struck with iron ... to what extent is this narration correct?

Answer:

I do not know anything of this narration, but it is lawful for a person to clench the little finger and the ring finger and to make a circle with the thumb and the middle finger and to point with the middle finger while he is supplicating.

Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-`Uthaymeen

Fatawa Islamiyah Vol. 2 Page 208

Source:  Moving the Finger in Tashahhud

Allaah hu Aalim.