Answer: It is Sunnah to place the right palm over the left palm and clasp them on the chest while standing in the prayer. This practice is authentically transmitted from the Prophet ﷺ for both the standing that precedes bowing and the standing that follows it. Thus it is recommended for the worshipper, in every standing position of the prayer—whether before bowing or after—to clasp his hands and rest them on his chest, for both situations constitute standing. It is established that whenever the Prophet ﷺ stood in prayer he did so, and he said, “Pray as you have seen me pray.” Consequently, this is one of the confirmed Sunnah acts of the prayer.
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Moving the forefinger during the tashahhud
Question: What is the ruling on moving the forefinger in the tashahhud of the prayer? Are there particular words at which it is to be moved, and what is the wisdom behind that?
Answer: Moving the forefinger during the tashahhud is a Sunnah. It is done whenever the Divine Name, “Allah,” is pronounced; when the worshipper utters the Name of Allah he moves his forefinger. The wisdom behind this is that the motion signals tawhid (the affirmation of Allah’s oneness). For example, when he says, “Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah,” he moves his forefinger upon mentioning the Name of Allah as an indication of tawhid. Therefore, moving the forefinger is a Sunnah and not an obligation.