5/21. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 579b — Tashahhud Finger Position in Prayer
The description of the sitting during the prayer, and how the hands are to be placed on the thighs
Hadith About Tashahhud Finger Position in Prayer
Sahih Muslim : 579b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 579b
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا لَيْثٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَجْلاَنَ، ح قَالَ وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُ - قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو خَالِدٍ الأَحْمَرُ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَجْلاَنَ، عَنْ عَامِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا قَعَدَ يَدْعُو وَضَعَ يَدَهُ الْيُمْنَى عَلَى فَخِذِهِ الْيُمْنَى وَيَدَهُ الْيُسْرَى عَلَى فَخِذِهِ الْيُسْرَى وَأَشَارَ بِإِصْبَعِهِ السَّبَّابَةِ وَوَضَعَ إِبْهَامَهُ عَلَى إِصْبَعِهِ الْوُسْطَى وَيُلْقِمُ كَفَّهُ الْيُسْرَى رُكْبَتَهُ .
'Abdullah bin Az-Zubair Narrated from:
When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sat for supplication, i. e. tashahhud (blessing and supplication), he placed his right hand on his right thigh and his left hand on his left thigh, and pointed with his forefinger, and placed his thumb on his (middle) finger, and covered his knee with the palm of his left hand..
Reference : Sahih Muslim 579bIn-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 146USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1202
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 579b
This hadith about tashahhud finger position shows a clear picture of how the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) sat when making supplication in prayer. He placed his right hand on his right thigh and his left hand on his left thigh. He pointed with his forefinger, placed his thumb on his middle finger, and covered his knee with the palm of his left hand. The main teaching is simple: prayer has a calm and guided manner, even in the sitting position. The hadith focuses on the Prophet’s hand placement in tashahhud and the act of pointing during supplication. It reminds the worshipper to follow the prayer practice shown in the report with care and attention.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) had a specific sitting posture during tashahhud supplication.
- The right forefinger was pointed while sitting for supplication.
- Both hands were placed in a calm and ordered way during prayer.
- Prayer includes outward manners as well as spoken supplications.
