Pointing out the right index-finger during djalsa

[sharief]

Assalaamu 'alaykum

Why do we point out our right index-finger during prayers (during djalsa) when reciting the 'laaa' part of 'ash-hadu alLAAA...'?

Jazaakallaahu gairan
Wassalaam

[Imam]

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

Wa' Laykum-as-Salaam, wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakaatuhu,

It is a sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon Him), to raise the index finger of the right hand, during the 'tashahhud'. There has been many ahaadith-e-mubaarikah that have been related to this issue. There have been many narrators, to name a few, there is Ibn-e-Umar, Wa'il ibn-e-Hajar, and Abu Humayd Sa'di.

There have been many other ahaadith narrators, save the ones mentioned above. However there are not any ahaadith found on the contrary which state that one should not lift the index finger in tashahhud, during salaah.

The reason why we lift up the index finger during salaah, is to signify the oneness of Allah the Almighty during salaah. This is done by either clenching the fist from its former position of being placed on the thigh, and raising the index finger. This is done when one is reciting:

'ash-hadu allaa ilaaha'

When he reaches the 'laa ilaaha', he must raise the index finger. and as he recites 'ill-allahu', he must drop the index-finger, and this will signify the oneness of the Almighty Allah, during salaah.

A method of adjoining the middle-finger and the thumb, and enclosing the two small fingers, and then lifting the index-finger has also been recorded. Merely picking up the index finger from the relaxed hand position on the thigh, can also be used. However, 'allamah 'Aini, has specified that any of the above methods is permissable (ja'iz), yet to lift the fingers of both hands in any one method would render the salaah as 'makruh'.

I hope that this answer, answers the question that you have asked.

Wallaho a'lamu Biththawaab,

M. Waseem Ashrafi.