Etiquettes of Prayer: Finger Gesture, Supplications, and Other Adab
Read the bilingual lesson for Etiquettes of Prayer: Finger Gesture, Supplications, and Other Adab and test your understanding with a focused quiz.
Lesson
1. Index Finger Mechanics & Prescribed Supplications
يَرْفَعُهَا عِنْدَ النَّفْيِ وَيَضَعُهَا عِنْدَ الإِثْبَاتِ، وَالدُّعَاءُ بِمَا يُشْبِهَ أَلْفَاظَ الْقُرْآنِ وَالسُّنَّةِ • Index Finger Mechanics: During Tashahhud, the raising and lowering of the index finger is governed by a strict legal pattern: ◦ Negation: Raise the index finger upon uttering "La ilaha" (there is no god). ◦ Affirmation: Lower the index finger upon uttering "illa Allah" (except Allah). • Language of Supplications: Worshippers are legally restricted to using supplications whose wordings resemble the Quran or the Sunnah. • Prohibition: Supplicating with wordings that resemble common human conversation (e.g., "O Allah, give me a coin") invalidates the prayer.
2. Intention Rules for the Salaam
وَنِيَّةُ الإِمَامِ الرِّجَالِ وَالْحَفَظَةَ وَصَالِحَ الْجِنِّ فِي التَّسْلِيمَتَيْنِ • Rule for the Imam: When turning his head to the right and left for both Salaams, the Imam should intend in his heart to salute the male worshippers on his sides, the guardian angels (al-Hafathah), and the righteous jinn. • Rule for the Follower: The follower should intend to salute the worshippers, angels, and jinn, and specifically include their Imam in the intention of the Salaam that corresponds to the Imam's direction. • Rule for the Individual (Munfarid): A person performing their prayer alone should intend to salute the angels only during both Salaams.
3. Physical Execution of the Concluding Salaams
وَخَفْضُ الثَّانِيَةِ عَنِ الأُولَى، وَمُقَارَنَتُهُ لِسَلَامِ الإِمَامِ • Volume Levels: It is Sunnah to pronounce the second Salaam (to the left) in a noticeably softer and lower voice compared to the first Salaam (to the right). • Follower's Connection: The follower's Salaam should closely align and follow the Imam's Salaam; as soon as the Imam finishes his first Salaam, the follower performs theirs. • Starting to the Right: Commencing the Salaam sequence to the right first is Sunnah. • Latecomer's Wait (Masbuq): Worshippers who missed early units must wait for the Imam to fully concluded both Salaams before standing up to complete their missed units.
4. Etiquettes: Sleeve Releases & Gaze Placements
• Sleeve Release: For men, releasing his hands from his sleeves (Ikhraj al-rajul kaffayhi min kummayhi) when pronouncing the Opening Takbir is an etiquette (Adab). (This applies typically when wearing cloaks or wraps). • Gaze Placements: Keeping the eyes focused on specific physical coordinates during standing, bowing, prostrating, and sitting is an etiquette (Adab): ◦ While Standing: Focus the gaze on the spot of prostration (mowdi' sujudihi). ◦ While Bowing: Focus the gaze on the tops of the feet (thahir al-qadam). ◦ While Prostrating: Focus the gaze on the tip of the nose (arnabat anfihi). ◦ While Sitting: Focus the gaze on the lap and thighs (hijrihi).
5. Key Rulings to Remember
Review these key rulings from this level: • The text establishes pointing the finger at the negation ("يرفعها عند النفي") and lowering it at the affirmation ("ويضعه عند الإثبات"). • Supplications must resemble the words of the Quran or Sunnah ("والدعاء بما يشبه ألفاظ القرآن والسنة"). Supplicating in common human speech invalidates the prayer. • The individual praying alone is legally prescribed to intend saluting the angels only ("ونية المنفرد الملائكة فقط"). • The text establishes lowering the volume for the second Salaam as a Sunnah ("وخفض الثانية عن الأولى").
Practice questions
Question 1
At which verbal phrases during the Tashahhud is the raising and lowering of the index finger legally prescribed?
Raise it at "Attahiyyat" and lower it at "al-mubarakatu".
Raise it at the negation "La ilaha" and lower it at the affirmation "illa Allah".
Keep it raised during the entire sitting.
Pointing the finger is prohibited in the Hanafi school.
Question 2
Supplicating at the end of prayer using words that resemble common human conversation (like "O Allah, give me bread") is fully valid and does not break the prayer.
True
False
Question 3
Who should a person praying completely alone (Munfarid) intend to salute when turning their head for the concluding Salaams?
The Imam.
Worshippers in the congregation.
The angels only.
No intention is required during Salaam.
Question 4
When performing the second Salaam to the left, the worshipper should pronounce it in a softer, lower voice compared to the first Salaam.
True
False
Question 5
What is the latecomer (Masbuq) legally required to do regarding the concluding Salaams of the Imam?
Stand up as soon as the Imam starts his first Salaam.
Wait for the Imam to fully conclude both Salaams before standing up to complete the missed units.
Perform Salaam along with the Imam and then repeat their entire prayer.
Go directly into prostration.
Question 6
Releasing the hands from the sleeves during the Opening Takbir is an etiquette (Adab) prescribed for both men and women.
True
False
Question 7
Match the physical postures during prayer with their correct Sunnah gaze placements (Nathar):
Question 8
What should the follower (Ma'mum) intend to salute during the concluding Salaams according to the Hanafi school?
Worshippers, angels, jinn, and specifically include their Imam in the direction corresponding to him.
The angels only.
The Imam only, completely ignoring the other worshippers.