Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
As salamu aleykum
Does a Muslim in the Hanafi Madhhab raise his index finger while sitting in namaz?
This is an answer to this question by Imam Rabbani taken from his book Makbuat (Volume 1 312th letter)
13 – FIRST VOLUME, 312th LETTER
This letter, written to answer the questions asked by Mir Muhammad Numan ‘quddisa sirruh’, informs that it is not good to raise one’s finger when sitting in namaz….
Walaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,
I pray that this finds you well, and in the best of health and spirits. May Allah grant you all good and success in this life and the next.
Imam Rabbani (Allah be pleased with him) was a great Sufi master and scholar. But he isn’t a “reference authority” in the Hanafi madhhab.
Ibn Abidin makes clear that the transmitted position of the Hanafi school is to raise one’s index finger, while clasping the other fingers, during the beginning of the statement of faith (Ashhadu al-la ilaha illa Allah) and to put it down at the end of it. [ Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]
Please search SunniPath Answers (http://qa.sunnipath.com) for related answers.
And Allah alone gives success.
Wassalam,
Faraz Rabbani