There are many other quotations besides these that can also be presented. For the sake of conciseness. we make do with only these. My teacher, Murshid and master, Hadrat gadrul-Afaadil, Maulana Sayyed Muhammad Naeemuddin Muraadabaai states that a very ancient copy of the Injeel (New Testament) has been discovered. It is known as the Gospel of Barnabas and has been translated into almost every language. The majority of its rulings and laws resemble Islamic commands. It's written inside that when Hadrat Adam علیہ السلام wished to see the Noor of the Beloved Mustapha صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم (Roohul-Quds). The Noor was made bright on the nails of his thumbs. Hadrat Adam علیہ السلام then kissed and placed them on his eyes out of love and appreciation.

The Holy Prophetصلی اللہ علیہ وسلم was famously known as Roohul-Quds in the time of Hadrat Esa علیہ السلام This is why I have translated Roohul-Quds to mean "the Noor of Rasoolullahصلی اللہ علیہ وسلم Refer to my book. Shaan-e-Habibur-Rabman for a complete discussion on this. Besides the Ulama of the Hanafi muzhab, Ulama from the Shafee and Maaliki muzhabs have also ruled the kissing of the thumbs (Taqbeelul-Ibhaamain) to be Mustahab. A famous Shafee book of Fiqh, I'aanatut-Taalibeen alaa Hali alfaazi Fat'hil-Mueen, states. "Then kiss and place your thumbs on your eyes. By doing so, never will you become blind nor will your eyes be sore,'·23.13 -Pg. 247, Egyptian Edition

"When I (Hadrat Abu Bakr Siddique رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ ) heard the Muazzin say "Ash'hadu anna Muhammadar-Rasoolullah," 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."

Another famous book of the Maaliki muzhab, Kifaayatut- Taalibir­Rabbani Ii Risaalatibni Abi Zaid Qeerwaani رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ, after saying much about this practice, states, "Never will the eyes of the person who does so pain, nor will he become blind." - Vol. I. Pg. 169, Egyptian Edition

Shaikh Ali Saeed! Adawi رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ writes in his commentary of this extract, "The writer didn't mention when the thumbs should be kissed. However, it is reported that some people met Allama Mufassir Nooruddin Khorasaani رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ at the time of Azaan. When he heard the Muazzin say "Ash'hadu anna Muhammadar-Rasoolullah he kissed and placed his thumbs on the eyelashes and comer of his eyes, right until the temples. He did this on every shahaadat. . When the people asked him about this practice of his, he replied, "I used to kiss my thumbs but stopped after a while. My eyes later became sore. I then saw the Holy Prophetصلی اللہ علیہ وسلم in a dream and he said to me, "Why did you stop kissing your thumbs and placing them on the eyes during the Azaan? If you want your eyes to stop paining, resume this practice." Thus, from then on, I continued this action and gained comfort. The pain didn't return from the time I recommenced this." 23.15 -Pg. 177; Extractedfrom Nahjul-Istamia

This entire discussion establishes that kissing and placing the thumbs during the Azaan, etc. is Mustahab. It is found as the Sunnat of' Hadrat Adam علیہ السلام, Abu Bakr Siddique رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ and Imam Hasan رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ. Even Imams of the Shafee and Maaliki muzhabs have ruled it to be Mustahab. In every era, Muslim deemed this practice to have this very ruling, along with the following benefits,

The eyes of a person who does this are saved from being sore.

1. Insha-Allah, he will never become blind.

2. It is an excellent cure to remove something problematic to the eyes. These benefits have been experienced several times.

3. The Prophetصلی اللہ علیہ وسلم will intercede for the one who practices this.

4. Sayyiduna Rasoolullahصلی اللہ علیہ وسلم will also search for the person who used to perform it and lead him into Jannat.

Calling this practice Haraam is sheer ignorance. As long as no explicit proof of its prohibition is found, It cannot be stopped. Muslims deeming something preferable (Mustahab) is sufficient proof for it being so. However, for certification of Karaahat (i.e. to deem something Makrooh), a specific proof is needed. We have already explained and established this in the discussion of Innovation (Bidat).

Note - Direct narrations and Ahadith have been presented regarding this practice in Azaan. Takbeer (lqaamat) is in the likeness of Azaan, and it has even been called Azaan in the Ahadith. Therefore, kissing and placing the thumbs during the Takbeer is also beneficial and a means of blessings. Besides these two circumstances, if a person kisses and places his thumbs on his eyes when hearing the blessed name of the Holy Prophetصلی اللہ علیہ وسلم S, there is no disagreement. Rather, if there is goodness intended. the action will be a means of reward. Without a proof of prohibition, this practice cannot be censored. Whichever permissible way the Prophetصلی اللہ علیہ وسلم. is respected is a means of reward.

OBJECTIONS & ANSWERS TO KISSING THE THUMBS

OBJECTION 1: All the Ahaditb that have been presented in proof of kissing the thumbs are weak (zaeef), and a rule of Shariah cannot be established based on a weak Hadith. Imam Sakhaawi, Imam Mulla Ali Qaari and even Imam Shaami رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ have written in Maqaasid-e-Hasanaa, Mauzuaate-Kabeer and Raddul-Mukhtaar respectively that all of the Ahadith narrated regarding this practice are not Sahib and Marfoo. The author of Tafseer Roohul-Bayaan further rejects them being Sahib. Thus, presenting them is futile.

Answer - There are a few replies to this.

1. All of these scholars refute these Ahadith being Marfoo (i.e. they are not Marfoo Sahih), proving that they are Mauqoof Sahih (an acceptable category of Hadith). As a result, after writing that these Ahadith are not Marfoo, Mulla Ali Qaari رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ states, "I say that when this Hadith's attribution (rafaa) is proven through Hadrat Siddique-Akbar رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ it is sufficient for practice because Rasoolullahصلی اللہ علیہ وسلم has said) "My Sunnah, as well as that of my Khulafaa, is necessary on you." 2 .16 - Mauzuaate­Kabeer