CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

KISSING THE THUMBS ON HEARING THE NAME OF THE PROPHETصلی اللہ علیہ وسلم.

I didn't originally intend to include this issue in this book. In the month of Ramadaan, however, 1 had a dream in which a pious person instructed me to incorporate this topic of kissing the two thumbs (Taqbeelul-Ibhaamain] in my book so that it becomes complete. Thus, I have done so.

PROOF OF KISSING THE THUMBS

When hearing the Muazzin proclaim, "Ash'hadu anna Muhammadar­Rasoolullah," it is preferred (Mustahab) to kiss the two thumbs or the shahaadat finger and place them on the eyes. There are many deeni and worldly benefits associated to this, as well as numerous Ahadith documenting its practice. Doing so was even practiced by the Sahaaba, and Muslims everywhere perform it in the belief that it is Mustahab.

Salaate-Mas'oodi states, ''The Noble Messenger is reported to have said, "On the Day of Qiyaamat, I shall search for the person who used to place his thumbs on his eyes when hearing my name during the Azaan. I shall lead him into Jannat, 23.1 - Vol. 2, Chapter 20

Under the ayat, “و اذا نادیتم الی الصلوۃ” 23.2 Allama Ismail Haqqi رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ writes, "Kissing the nails of the thumbs and the shahaadat finger when saying "Muhanunadur-Rasoolullahصلی اللہ علیہ وسلم has been classified as weak (zaeef) because it is not proven from a marfoo Hadith. However, Muhadditheen have agreed that to act upon a zaeef Hadith to incline people towards [good] deeds and instill fear within them is permitted." 23.3 - Tafseer Roohul-Bayaan

Shaami states, "On the testimony (of Prophethood) in Azaan, it is Mustahab to say "Sallallaahu Alaika Ya Rasoolallahصلی اللہ علیہ وسلم on the first and "Quratu Aini bika Ya RasoolAllahعزوجل on the second. Then, place the nails of your thumbs on your eyes and say, "Allahعزوجلumma Matini bis-Sami wal-Basr." The Holy Prophetصلی اللہ علیہ وسلم will lead the person who does this into Jannat. The same has been documented by Kanzul­lbaad, Qohistaani and in Fataawa Soofia. Kitaabul-Firdaus states that the Prophetصلی اللہ علیہ وسلم has said, I shall lead into Jannat the person who kisses his thumbnails when hearing "Ash'hadu anna Muhammadar-Rasoolullah. I will also place him amongst the ranks of the inmates of Janna'." The complete discussion on this has been given in the marginal notes on Bahrur-Raaiq, 'Ramli'. 23.3a - Vol. 1, Baabul­Azaan

This extract has given the reference of 5 books - Kanzul-Ibaad, Fataawa Soofia, Kitaabul-Firdaus, Qohistaani and the marginal notes on Bahrur-Raaiq. All of them have ruled this practice to be Mustahab. Allama Sakhaawi رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ stales, "Dailmi reports that Hadrat Abu Bakr Siddique رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ once said "When I heard the Muazzin say "Ash'hadu anna Muharnrnadar-Rasoolullahصلی اللہ علیہ وسلم," I said the same, kissed the inner-side of my Kalima finger and placed it on my eyes. When the Holy Prophetصلی اللہ علیہ وسلم noticed this, he said. "My intercession becomes obligatory upon he who does the same as my beloved." This Hadith hasn't reached the classification of Sahih." 23.4 - Maqaasid-e-Hasanaa

Quoting the book Moojibaatu-Rahmat, Imam Sakhaawi رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ further writes. "It is reported from Hadrat Khidr علیہ السلام , "If a person says "Marhaban bi-Habibi Quratu Aini Muhammad ibn Abdullah" when hearing the Muazzin say "Ash'hadu anna Muhammadur-Rasoolullah, then kisses his thumbs and places them on his eyes, never will they (the eyes) be sore." 23.5 - Maqaasid-e-Hasanaa

He further writes that Muhammad ibn Baabaa, narrating his personal experience, states. "Once, due to a heavy wind blowing, a pebble hit my eye and refused to come out. I experienced major pain because of it." When Muhammad ibn Baabaa heard the Muazzin say "Ash 'hadu anna Muhammadar-Rasoolullah, " he said this ("Quratu Aini ... 'and, immediately, the pebble fell out." 23.6 ­Maqaasid-e-Hasanaa

Allama Shams Muhammad ibn Saalih Madani علیہ السلام reports Imam Amjad to have said. "If the person who hears the name of the Noble Messenger صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم in the Azaan joins his Kalima finger and his thumbs," "Kisses and places them on his eyes, never will they be sore." 23.7 - Maqaasid-e-Hasanaa

Imam Amjad رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ who was an accomplished scholar in Egypt, further states, "Some non-Arab and Iraqi Mashaaikh have said that by this practice, the eyes will never be sore." "From the time I have brought this into practice even my eyes have not ached." 23.8 - Maqaasid-e-Hasanaa

Ibn Saalih رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ states. "From the time I heard this benefit. I brought this action into practice. Since then, my eyes haven't become sore and it is my hope that, Insha-Allah, they will never be and I will be saved from being blind." 23.9 ­Maqaosid-e-Hasanaa

Imam Hasan رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ states. ''The eyes of he who says "Marhaban bi-Habibi wa Quratu Aini Muhammad ibn Abdullah" when hearing the Muazzin say "Ash'hadu anna Muhammadar-Rasoolullah and kisses and places his thumbs on them will never pain nor will he become blind." - Maqaasid-e-Hasanaa

In short, the book Maqaasid-e-Hasanaa confirms this practice by many Imams of the dcen. Sharah Niqaaya states, "It should be known that it is preferable (Mustahab) to say "Quratu Aini bika Ya Rasoolallah and place the thumbs on the eyes when hearing the first part of the second shahaadat. The Holy Prophetصلی اللہ علیہ وسلم wilt lead the person who does so into Jannat. Kanzul-Ibaad says likewise." 3.10

Maulana Jamaal ibn Abdullah ibn Umar Makki رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ states in his Fataawa, "Taqbeelul-Ibhaamain (kissing and placing the thumbs on the eyes when hearing the blessed name of Rasoolullah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم in Azaan) not just permissible, but Mustahab. Our Mashaaikh have elucidated this.” 23.11

Allama Muhammad Taahir رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ classifying this Hadith as Ghair-Sahih, also states, "There are many reports of this benefit being experienced.,,23.12 - Takmala Majma Bihaarul-Anwaar