Raising the forefinger

[DanyalSAC]

Asalaamu alaikum -

I've seen many new Muslim videos where the person taking shahadah is instructed to lift the forefinger. Now, I'm not anywhere near a scholar but I can't find any hadith that says that our Prophet salallahu alayhi wa salaam said "Now, raise your right forefinger....". Several of the brothers I hang out with will lift their finger when their photo is being taken.

The reason this disturbs me is for decades here in America that was a Christian hand gesture (called "the John Gesture" named after John the Baptist, pbuh), signifying their belief in the "One Way" to Heaven (Jesus, pbuh). I remember in the early 70s the "Jesus Freaks" hippies used that gesture frequently (and before anyone gets all indignant, that is the actual name of the Christian hippy subculture).

So is this just an affectation, borrowing from another religion like the beads, or is there something behind it?

Thanks in advance!
D.

 

[ShahnazZ]

This pertains to wudu as well. I know many Muslims (from the Subcontinent) who, upon finishing their wudu, exit the bathroom, raise the forefinger and say the Shahadah. I too, could find no evidence of this.

From my observations, it's just another cultural addition from Muslims from the Subcontinent. If there is any Islamic basis to this, I'd love to hear it.

 

[ShahnazZ]

The basis for it is in Tashahhud. As narrated by Ibn Umar (RA) and reported by Muslim, the Prophet (PBUH) used to point with the forefinger of his right hand while reciting the Tashahhud in every prayer.

JazakAllah khair but I was questioning the basis for it outside of prayer, not inside of it...

 

[DanyalSAC]

JazakAllah khair but I was questioning the basis for it outside of prayer, not inside of it...

As was I. I raise it in prayer myself.