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One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear Brother

I am regular reader of your daily mail. I have send two mails earlier but did not got answer from you. May be my questions are not considered to be answered for some good reason, its Ok with me. you and your team is providing fantastic service to all those interested in seeking correct information. My question:

Raising hand during prayer which is (called Raffidan). Very good friend on mine is following this procedure, I am not. His statement is that Prophet Mohummed (SWPH) always used raffidan, but majority of muslim around the world dont follow the same.. WHY IS THIS SO. Is there any authentic hadees which provide accurate referance to this matter and also raising finger while sitting in "Tashood"

Hope to hear from you soon. Jazaallah khair 

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Answer:

Raising Hand and Finger in Prayer

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.

Your Statements: I am regular reader of your daily mail. I have send two mails earlier but did not got answer from you. May be my questions are not considered to be answered for some good reason, its Ok with me. you and your team is providing fantastic service to all those interested in seeking correct information.

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. If our humble and modest efforts have helped even one brother or sister get closer to Allah and His Deen of Truth, then we would consider ourselves indeed fortunate to have been given this opportunity by the Lord Most Merciful to serve in His Cause. We 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.

Dear and Beloved Brother, it is our ardent desire that every single question or query addressed to the forum for those seeking to learn the Truth is addressed in its entirety, and we sincerely and humbly apologize if some questions you might have posed have not yet been addressed by us. Beloved brother, it may be that the questions you might have asked were already asked by another believer, and the answer was distributed to you from our archives or your question is amongst those which are pending to be answered. In any case, we sincerely and humbly apologize for our shortcomings and seek your forgiveness and the forgiveness of our Lord Most High for our severe limitations. We assure you that we shall redouble our efforts to make sure that no question that is asked on this forum remains unanswered, Insha Allah.

Your Question: Very good friend on mine is following this procedure, I am not. His statement is that Prophet Mohummed (SWPH) always used raffidan, but majority of muslim around the world dont follow the same.. WHY IS THIS SO. Is there any authentic hadees which provide accurate referance to this matter

Rafayadain literally means to lift or raise both hands (unto the shoulder or ear).

All the scholars of Islam are absolutely unanimous in their opinion, that one must practice Rafayadain or lift both his hands unto his shoulders or ears when one starts his prayers by saying ‘Allah-o-Akbar’. This practice of Rafayadain signaling the start of prayer is an obligatory part of prayer.

But practicing Rafayadain in the prayer when one goes into ‘ruku’, or when one stands up from ‘ruku’, or going from a ‘qiyam’ (standing) posititon to sajdah in prayer, etc. does not constitute an obligatory part of the prayer. There is a difference of opinion amongst the scholars in the practicing of Rafayadain during the prayers because there are authentic narrations to both arguments. Most companions of the Prophet (saws) narrated that he (saws) used to practice Rafayadain in the beginning as well as in between his prayers, while some other state that he did it only once at the beginning of prayers. Thus, both are part of the Sunnah or Way of the Prophet (saws).

Reported Ibn 'Umar, "When the Prophet (saws) stood to pray, he would raise his hands until they were the same height as his shoulders and then he would make the takbir. When he wanted to bow, he would again raise his hands in a similar fashion. When he raised his head from the bowing, he did the same and said, 'Allah hears him who praises Him.' (Related by al-Bukhari, Muslim and al-Baihaqi.)

Reported bn Mas'ud : "I prayed with the Prophet (saws) and he raised his hands only once (at the beginning of prayer)."

Related by At-Tirmidhi.

Thus if a believer today gives weight to the narration reported by Hadrat Ibn Umar (r.a.) and prays and practices Rafayadain in the beginning of prayer as well in his movements, his intention being to follow the Sunnah of the Prophet (saws), it is fine. And if a believer giving weight to the narration reported by Hadrat Ibn Masud (r.a.), prays by practicing Rafayadain only at the beginning of prayer, his intention also being to follow the Sunnah of the Prophet (saws), that too is fine. What is important is that every believer does an act or a deed with the intention to follow the Sunnah or Way of the Prophet (saws).

Holding one’s hands, or keeping the hands straight in prayer, or practicing Rafayadain in the movements other than the beginning of the prayer are not termed obligatory acts of prayer. Some peoples’ arguments and discussions are centered on these small matters of jurisprudence, whereas the Messenger of Allah (saws) has been reported to have done either. We must be mindful of not taking a small thing in Islam and giving it more importance than it deserves. When there is available evidence that the Messenger of Allah (saws) is reported to have done either of the two, and the intention of the believer is to follow the Sunnah of the Noble Prophet (saws) in all his acts and rites of worship; it is expected that Allah Subhanah will accept their worship, Insha Allah.

Your Question: and also raising finger while sitting in "Tashood"

Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 1.157

Ibn 'Umar reported that when the Prophet (saws) sat for the tashahud, he (saws) would place his left hand on his left knee and his right hand upon his right knee, and he would form a ring like (fifty-three) and point with his index finger. In another narration it is reported, "He would close his hand and point with his index finger." (Related by Muslim.)

Wa'il ibn Hajr reported that the Prophet (saws) would place his left palm on his left thigh and knee. He would place the end of his right elbow upon his right thigh and would then close his right hand, forming a circle. When reciting the ‘shahaadah’, he (saws) would make a circle with his middle finger and thumb and point with his index finger.

(Related by Ahmad.)

Reported az-Zubair, "When the Prophet (saws) sat for tashahud, he would place his right hand on his right thigh and his left hand on his left thigh. He would point with his middle finger, and would not look beyond his pointing."

(Related by Ahmad, Muslim and anNasa'i.)

In light of the above evidence from the authentic traditions of the Messenger of Allah (saws), all the major schools of thought in Islam are unanimous in their opinion that it is a Sunnah to raise one’s index finger when reciting the first part of the ‘Shahaadah’ during the recitation of tashahud in prayer.

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

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan