Fatwa ID: 03424

Answered by: Maulana Mujahid Hussain.

Question

Assalamualikum

When performing Salah and in tashahud when raising the finger I used to raise the finger at negation and place it on affirmation, however, I used to completely drop the finger. 
 

However, I then saw an individual whom I regarded as a pious individual raise the finger and slightly drop the finger and not completely drop it and I copied him ever since without asking him as to why. Therefore, is this something wrong that I followed and does this entail minor shirk by copying another individual with regards to my worship without asking properly a qualified scholar. Also then does salah count and have to be repeated if the element of minor shirk is found in acts of worship?

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

May Allah have mercy on you, there is no need to be so difficult upon yourself as you were only doing what you thought was best.

What you did is not minor shirk at all and of course, you do not have to repeat your Salahs. The issue of keeping the finger raised above the thigh or dropping it completely is not a significant issue in the grand scales of things. Whichever opinion you follow is not important, however, the important issue is your devotion and concentration in Salah.

Let us all focus our efforts on that.

Only Allah Knows best.

Written by Maulana Mujahid Hussain.

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah,

Darul Ifta Birmingham