As for his gesturing with the index finger of his right hand while supplicating during the Friday sermon, this is established in the report narrated by Husayn ibn Abd al-Rahmān, who said: “Umārah ibn Ruʾaybah saw Bishr ibn Marwān supplicating on Friday and said, ‘May Allah disfigure those two hands! I saw the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, upon the pulpit doing no more than this’—meaning the index finger.” Another version states: “I saw the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, delivering a sermon from the pulpit. When he supplicated, he gestured like this, raising only his index finger.”1.

As for his gesturing with the index finger of his right hand while supplicating during the tashahhud, this is established in the report narrated by Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, who said: “When the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, sat during prayer, he placed his hands upon his knees, raised his right finger next to the thumb, and supplicated with it, while his left hand rested open upon his left knee.” Another version states: “When he sat during prayer, he placed his right palm upon his right thigh, closed all his fingers, and pointed with the finger next to his thumb; and he placed his left palm upon his left thigh.” Both versions were narrated by Muslim, Ahmad, and others.2 There are several other hadiths on this subject.

As for his raising his gaze toward heaven, Allah Most High says: “Indeed, We see you turning your face toward heaven. We will surely turn you toward a direction of prayer that will please you.” 3 Ibn Abbās, may Allah be pleased with them both, said: “The first Quranic ruling to be abrogated was the direction of prayer. That was because the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him,