Pointing with the index finger during Tashahhud

15-3-2009 | IslamWeb

Question:

Assalamu Alaikum, I heard from one of my friends, while offering Salah, if we raise and move our index finger in tashahhud, So, from this kind of act Shaitan would get irritated and also beaten up. Please let me know, whether this statement is true according to any Hadees. Your quick reply would be appreciatable..Thank You..
Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

 

Imaam Ahmad may Allaah have mercy upon him reported that when ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Umar may Allaah be pleased with him sat in prayer [i.e. in the position of Tashahhud] he would put his hands on his knees and he would point with his (index) finger and he would look at it [finger] and then he said: "the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “It (meaning the index finger) is more powerful against the devil than iron.” The meaning –according to what the scholars may Allaah have mercy upon them said –is that pointing to the Oneness of Allaah is more powerful against the devil than iron because he is not harmed by iron like he is harmed by the Oneness of Allaah, therefore, this pointing is harder for the devil than the sword and the arrow because of the Oneness [of Allaah] that it refers to. This, indeed, makes the devil give up hope in the praying person to commit Shirk [associate partners to Allaah] and disbelief. Mujaahid may Allaah have mercy upon him said about this pointing: ‘It is a hooked rod (of iron) i.e. a humiliation and torture for the devil.'

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