8/23. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 1499 — Point With One Finger
Regarding Supplication (Ad-Du'a)
Hadith About Pointing With One Finger in Supplication
Sunan Abi Dawud : 1499
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 1499
حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ أَبِي وَقَّاصٍ، قَالَ مَرَّ عَلَىَّ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَنَا أَدْعُو بِأُصْبُعَىَّ فَقَالَ " أَحِّدْ أَحِّدْ " . وَأَشَارَ بِالسَّبَّابَةِ .
Narrated Sa'd ibn AbuWaqqas: The Prophet (ﷺ) passed by me while I was supplicating by pointing with two fingers of mine. He said: Point with one finger; point with one finger. He then himself pointed with the forefinger.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1499In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 84English translation : Book 8, Hadith 1494
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 1499
This hadith reports that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) passed by Sa'd ibn Abu Waqqas while Sa'd was supplicating by pointing with two fingers. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) corrected him and said, “Point with one finger; point with one finger.” Then the Prophet himself pointed with the forefinger. The hadith is short and clear. It teaches a specific correction in the manner of pointing during supplication. The word “one” in the instruction gives the core meaning of singling out, and the action shown is the forefinger. The narration is useful for searches like pointing finger in dua, one finger in supplication, and Sa'd ibn Abu Waqqas dua hadith. The explanation should not add details beyond this correction.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) corrected pointing with two fingers in this supplication.
- He instructed Sa'd to point with one finger.
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) himself pointed with the forefinger.
- The hadith teaches careful following even in small outward actions.
