What is the evidence of the Shafi’i school for raising our finger when saying ‘illa Allah’ during the tashahud?

Evidence for raising the index finger during the tashahud [testification of faith]

It was recorded in the Sahih of Muslim that Ibn 'Umar (may God be pleased with them both) narrated that whenever the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) sat in prayer to recite the tashahud, he would put his left hand on his left knee and his right hand on his right knee. He would also join the ends of his thumb and middle finger (thereby forming a circle) and lift his index finger.

Evidence for raising the index finger when saying ‘Illa Allah’ [except God]

The great scholar and imam, Al-Bayhaqi, reported in Al-Sunan Al-Kubra that a man from the people of Madina said: "Once I preformed prayer next to Khifaf Ibn Imaa' Ibn Rukhsa. When he saw me extend my index finger, he said: "O brother! Why do you do this?" I said, "I saw the best of people and scholars do this." He replied: "You are right. I saw the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) lift his index finger when sitting for tashahud in prayer. The disbelievers accused him of casting a spell on them, but it signified monotheism." In another phrasing of the hadith reported by Al-Bayhaqi, he says: "You are right. The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) used to extend his finger when he said tashahud in prayer. And the disbelievers used to say that he was casting a spell on them. They lied; the Messenger of God did this to testify to the Oneness of God the Almighty. "

The hadith demonstrates that:

- Raising one's index finger in tashahud signifies tawheed [monotheism].
- The index finger must be raised when saying ‘illa Allah’.
-The phrase ‘La illaha’ [there is no deity] refutes shirk [associating partners with God].
- ‘Illa Allah’ demonstrates tawheed.

• Al-Bayhaqi reported in Al-Sunan Al-Kubra through Ibn 'Abbas (may God be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: " 'This,” and he pointed to his index finger “signifies ikhlas [sincerity of faith] and this,” and he raised his hands to his shoulders “signifies du’a` [supplication] and this,” and he raised his hands high “signifies ibtihal [invocation].’”
• In another phrasing of the hadith, Imam Abu Bakr Ibn Abu Shaybah and Al-Bayhaqi in Al-Sunan Al-Kubra reported through Ibn 'Abass (may God be pleased with them both) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "It is ikhlas" i.e. lifting the index finger when saying ‘illa Allah’.
• Ibn Shaybah reported through Ibrahim Al-Nakh'i who said: "It is recommended to point with one's finger when saying ‘illa Allah’ because it is tawheed. But it is disliked to point with two fingers.”
- Imam Al-Baghawi reported in Sharh Al-Sunna (3/177) that the predecessors used to lift their index fingers when they said 'illah Allah'. He said: "Most of the people of knowledge including the Companions, their followers, and the Successors used to point with the index finger when saying ‘illa Allah’ in tashahud."

And God the Almighty knows best.