the Ḥanbalīs, while extending the forefinger so that the gesture can be made. In the old numerical notation, this posture corresponded to the number fifty-three.

Their proof is the ḥadith of Ibn ʿUmar—the very report under discussion.

The differing opinions among the jurists as to whether the fingers should be folded or left outstretched stem from the variant narrations on the matter. Ibn al-Qayyim—may Allah have mercy on him—showed how they may be reconciled, saying:

“All of the reports describe a single act. Whoever said ‘he folded three of his fingers’ meant that the middle finger was bent in and not left extended like the index finger. And whoever said ‘he folded two’ meant that the middle finger was not bent in together with the ring and little fingers; rather, the ring and little fingers were folded equally, to the exclusion of the middle.”

The imams and their followers also disagreed over the precise moment at which it is recommended to gesture with the index finger.

• The Ḥanafīs hold that one points with it when, in the tashahhud, one says: “lā ilāha illā Allāh” (there is no deity but Allah). At that point divinity is affirmed for Allah and denied of all besides Him. Their evidence is the ḥadith of Ibn al-Zubayr in Muslim, which confines itself to mention of the index-finger gesture.

• The Mālikīs, by contrast, consider it preferable to keep the forefinger moving—moderately—from the very beginning of the tashahhud until its end. Their evidence is the ḥadith of Wāʾil ibn Ḥujr, who said: “I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ fold two of his fingers, form a ring, then raise his finger; I observed him moving it as he supplicated with it.” [Reported by Aḥmad (18391) and al-Nasāʾī (889).]

Al-Bayhaqī commented on this opinion, saying: “It is possible that what is meant by ‘moving it’ is merely pointing with it, not continuously shaking it, so that it does not contradict the ḥadith of ʿAbdullāh ibn al-Zubayr recorded by Abū Dāwūd (989) in the wording: ‘he would point with the index finger and not…’”