How should the shadah finger (index finger) be raised during tashahhud while reciting kalima ash-shahada?
Dear Brother / Sister,
While reciting at-Tahiyyat in the first and final sitting in the prayer, it is sunnah to raise the index finger of the right hand when saying, “la ilaha” and lower it when saying “illallah”.
While doing this, we should make a circle with our thumb and middle finger and the other two fingers should be bent inside the palm. Many people cannot perform this sunnah. Thus, not doing this is considered to be more suitable. It would be better for those who do not know how to do, not to do it.
One of the wisdoms of doing this is as follows: the word we utter when we are doing this means “there is no deity”. Then we say “except for Allah”. So, we show the Oneness of Allah when we say “there is no deity” with the movement of raising the finger.
Questions on Islam
- While reciting the tashahhud in the prayer, how should we raise our index finger? We raise our index finger when we recite tashahhud while we pray. How long should this last?
- How should the fingers be held during tashahhud (tahiyyat)?
- How is Sajda as-Sahw performed and how should one keep his index finger during tashahhud according to sunnah?
- What are the Sunnahs of Friday Sermon?
- Does a person who dies by saying la ilaha illallah in his last breath die as a Muslim?
- How did Suraka bin Ju'shum become a Muslim during the return from the siege of Taif?
- Friday Prayer
- Does a person who believes have to utter kalima ash-shahada (say it in Arabic)?
- Is there a verse in the Quran stating that if people loved someone or something more than they love Allah, Allah would be their rivals?
- Can women say prayers while they are in menstruation?

