When raising the hands: level with the shoulders (1), or with the upper parts of the ears (2).

In prostration: level with the shoulders (3), or one may prostrate between them (4).

While sitting: one may place them either upon the thighs or upon the knees. The right hand is placed at the edge of the thigh, while the left hand cups the knee.

“He closes the little finger and ring finger of his right hand, forms a circle with its thumb and middle finger, and points with its index finger during his tashahhud …”

His statement, “He closes the little finger and ring finger of his right hand, and forms a circle with its thumb and middle finger”: the little finger is the smallest finger; the ring finger is the one next to it; and the middle finger is the one next to the ring finger. He forms a circle with the thumb and middle finger, while the index finger remains extended and is not drawn in. This too is an established manner. The author’s confining himself to it does not entail negating the other manner. There is another manner: he brings together the little finger, ring finger, and middle finger, then draws the thumb in with them, while the index finger remains extended. Thus, these are also two manners concerning the positioning of the fingers of the right hand.

His statement, “and points with its index finger,” means that he points upward with his index finger.

The index finger is the finger between the thumb and the middle finger. It is called the sabbābah because a person points with it when reviling someone. It is also called the sabbāḥah, because one glorifies Allah with it, pointing with it when declaring Allah’s transcendence.