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As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh

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Question; Some muslims believe that when the prophet's name is mentioned we should all kiss our tips of our fingers and then put them over our eyes. Is there such a thing everbeen practised by past muslims or is this innovation?

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Answer:

Kiss fingers when the Prophet’s name is said

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

May Allah Subhanah reward you with the best of this world and the Hereafter for your kind comments of encouragement for our humble efforts in the propagation of the Truth. We humbly hope, beg, and pray the Merciful Lord accepts our humble and weak efforts, forgives us our shortcomings, and saves you, us, and all the believers from the torment of the Hell Fire. Ameen.

Your Question: Some muslims believe that when the prophet's name is mentioned we should all kiss our tips of our fingers and then put them over our eyes. Is there such a thing everbeen practised by past muslims or is this innovation?

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 33 Surah Ahzaab verse 56: Allah and His Angels send blessings on the Prophet: O ye that believe! send ye blessings on him and salute him with all respect.

Abu Mas'ud Al-Ansari reported the following account from Bashir ibn Sa'd: "I asked the Prophet (saws), 'O Messenger of Allah (saws), Allah has commanded us to invoke blessings upon you (Holy Quran 33:56). How should we do it?' The Messenger of Allah (saws) remained silent until we wished we had not asked him. Then he (saws) told us to say,

'Allahumma salli 'ala muhammadin wa 'ala ali muhammadin kama sallayta 'ala ali ibrahima wa barik 'ala muhammadin wa 'ala ali muhammadin kama barakta 'ala ibrahima wa 'ala ali ibrahima fil 'alamin, innaka hammidum majeed

(O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You blessed the family of Ibrahim, and give baraka to Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You gave baraka to the family of Ibrahim, in all the worlds. You are worthy of Praise and Glorious), and then he told us to give the taslim as you have learned it."

Related by Muslim.

The noble companions of the Messenger of Allah (saws) never ever kissed the tips of their fingers and put them over their eyes, etc. when they mentioned or heard the name of the beloved Prophet (saws). Whenever the name of the Messenger of Allah (saws) was mentioned, they would supplicate the above blessings or simply say ‘Sall-Allaho alayhe wa Sallam’ (Allah’s Blessings and Peace be upon him).

Kissing the tips of the fingers and placing them over the eyes, or any other physical act done when the name of the Messenger of Allah (saws) is mentioned is an innovation and must be avoided by the believers. The believers who truly wish to fulfill the command of Allah Subhanah, must invoke Allah’s Blessings and Peace upon the Messenger of Allah (saws) as taught by the Prophet (saws) to the believers.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan