Answered by Shaykh Muhammad ibn Adam al-Kawthari
I’m a brother from Afghanistan and I’m getting backlash from my parents because of the way I pray. They say that I shouldn’t raise my finger during tashahhud because “we” don’t do it and that only the Pakistanis do. My parents said that our prophet (saw) only raised his finger once to stop a rock from falling from a cliff on top of him and his companions. They also say that was just a one time thing and that we shouldn’t raise our finger anymore because it’ll invalidate the salaat. My question is, why do most afghans think the raising of the finger is wrong and is this hadith authentic about the prophet stopping a rock falling on him to prove that he only used the finger once to survive a rock- fall?
In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,
The raising of the index finger during Tashahhud when reciting lailaha and lowering it when saying illa Allah is a well established practice in the Hanafi Madhhab. (See the major fiqh references). Thus, you may explain to your parents in a kind and polite manner that, this is not something that only one community practices, rather it is a Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) as understood by the Hanafi Ulama, and is practiced in many different parts of the world.
As far as the Hadith about the “stopping the rock falling from a cliff” is concerned, I have not come across a hadith that mentions this. Also, to say that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give peace) only raised his finger once during his lifetime is incorrect.
Therefore, there is nothing wrong in raising your finger during Salat, and it definitely does not invalidate your prayer. Explain to you parents in a gentle manner, and (insha Allah) they should understand.
And Allah knows best
Muhammad ibn Adam al-Kawthari
Darul Iftaa, Leicester, UK