is One.” This plainly establishes that the pointing is directed towards Allah, for he told him, “Make it one, make it one,” meaning: make the gesture with a single finger. Had the pointing been directed towards anyone other than Allah, it would have made no difference whether it was done with one finger or more. Thus, it is clear that, because the pointing was directed towards Allah, who is one God, he instructed him to point with one finger, not two.

Likewise, numerous reports in the Sunnah establish the practice of pointing with one finger when supplicating during prayer, from the pulpits on Fridays, and on other occasions. Ibn ‘Umar reported: “When the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) sat during prayer, he placed his hands on his knees and raised his right index finger, gesturing with it as he supplicated, while his left hand lay flat on his knee.”

Another version states: “When he sat during prayer, he placed his right palm on his right thigh, closed all his fingers, and pointed with his index finger. He placed his left palm on his left thigh.”