Thanks again for this reminder as for the narration! I realise that we actually quoted and addressed it in an
earlier post
.
My original point is that for this hadith to be applied, one would have to consult other works outside of the
madhhab to clarify it. Furthermore, if this were to be applied, there should have been more information provided by the source rather than having to refer to the respected scholars of the Hanafi
madhhab.
This practice (raising the finger in
tashahhud) has not been transmitted from our imams in their works, as far as I know. And a lone narration in a compilation of
ahadith is therefore insufficient to establish this practice. Also, the compiler of this
Amaali, Imam Abu Taalib Ahmed b. al-Hussein al-Haruuni (as) had not included the lifting of the finger in the
sunan of the prayers in his
Kitaab at-Tajriid. Furthermore, he says very explicitly in the same work that 'pointing' is among the discouraged actions of the prayer. Perhaps, he meant pointing to something while praying, but it nonetheless emphasises that such action is not established--whether in the standing, sitting or any place else. Otherwise, he would have stated the exception.
As for the imams' view of Wa'il b. Hujr, he is considered unreliable due to his actions against Imam 'Ali, upon him be peace. Imam Ahmed b. Suleiman, upon him be peace. said: "It is narrated that Wā`il b. Hujr used to transmit the secrets of ‘Ali, upon him be peace, to Mu’awiya."
And Allah knows best!
IRS
