Скачать или смотреть Kissing the thumbs A BID’AH

It is narrated that Sayyiduna Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (رضي الله عنه) would, upon hearing the Mu’azzin say “Ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasoolullah,” kiss his thumbs (or according to another narration, the tips of his forefingers) and rub them over his eyes.

Imam al-Sakhawi (رحمه الله) states:

أَنَّهُ لَمَّا سَمِعَ قول المؤذن أشهد أن محمد رَسُولُ اللَّه قَالَ هَذَا، وَقَبَّلَ بَاطِنَ الأُنْمُلَتَيْنِ السَّبَّابَتَيْنِ وَمَسَحَ عَيْنَيْهِ، فَقَالَ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: مَنْ فَعَلَ مِثْلَ مَا فَعَلَ خَلِيلِي فَقَدْ حَلَّتْ عَلَيْهِ شَفَاعَتِي

“When Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) heard the Mu’azzin say ‘Ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasoolullah,’ he did this — kissed the inside of his forefingers and rubbed them over his eyes. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Whoever does as my beloved friend did, my intercession will become incumbent upon him.”

Although Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) initiated this act voluntarily, the Prophet ﷺ approved of it, making it a marfu‘ hadith (traceable to the Prophet). Thus, it is established both from the action of Abu Bakr and the endorsement of the Prophet ﷺ.

The Prophet ﷺ also said:

عَلَيْكُمْ بِسُنَّتِي وَسُنَّةِ الْخُلَفَاءِ الرَّاشِدِينَ الْمَهْدِيِّينَ مِنْ بَعْدِي وَعَضُّوا عَلَيْهَا بِالنَّوَاجِذِ
“Hold firmly to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the Rightly Guided Caliphs after me; cling to them with your molar teeth.”

Therefore, the act of the first Khalifah, Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (رضي الله عنه), which the Prophet ﷺ approved, is recommended and rewardable.

Opinions of the Ulama

Imam Ibn ‘Abidin (رحمه الله) in Radd al-Muhtar ‘ala al-Durr al-Mukhtar writes:

“It is mustahabb, upon hearing the Mu’azzin say Ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasoolullah, to say: Sallallahu ‘alayka ya Rasoolullah the first time, and Qurratu ‘ayni bika ya Rasoolullah the second time. Then place the thumbnails upon the eyes and say: Allahumma matti‘ni bis-sam‘i wal-basar. Whoever does so, the Prophet ﷺ will lead him to Jannah.”

Imam ‘Abd al-‘Ali al-Burjandi (رحمه الله) in Jam‘ al-Rumuz affirms the same mustahabb practice.

Shaykh Jamal bin ‘Abdullah al-Makki (رحمه الله) gave a fatwa:

“Kissing the thumbs and rubbing them on the eyes upon hearing the name of the Prophet ﷺ in the Azan is permissible, rather it is mustahabb, as explicitly stated by our scholars in many books.”

Mulla ‘Ali al-Qari (رحمه الله) in al-Mawdu‘at al-Kubra writes:

“Since this narration is traced back to al-Siddiq (رضي الله عنه), it is sufficient for practice, as the Prophet ﷺ commanded us to follow his Sunnah and that of the Rightly Guided Caliphs.”

Imam Abu al-Hasan (Maliki scholar) mentions from Khidr (عليه السلام):

“Whoever, upon hearing Ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasoolullah, says Marhaban bi habibi wa qurratu ‘ayni Muhammad ibn ‘Abdillah ﷺ, then kisses his thumbs and rubs them over his eyes, will never go blind nor suffer eye disease.”

Al-‘Allamah ‘Ali ibn Ahmad al-Adabi reports an incident of a scholar who stopped this practice, developed eye illness, and then saw the Prophet ﷺ in a dream commanding him to resume it. Upon resuming, his eyes were cured.

Imam Abu Bakr ‘Uthman al-Dimyati (Shafi‘i faqih) writes:

“Whoever kisses his thumbs and rubs them over his eyes upon hearing the name of the Prophet ﷺ in the Azan, he will never go blind or suffer eye disease.”

Analysis

From the above:

This practice is established by hadith (though some classify the narrations as weak), by the action of Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه), and approved by the Prophet ﷺ.

It has been endorsed by great scholars across Hanafi, Maliki, and Shafi‘i schools.

A weak hadith (da‘if) is still acceptable for virtuous deeds (fada’il al-a‘mal), as agreed upon by scholars like Imam Nawawi, Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalani, al-Suyuti, and others.

Since there is no prohibition in Qur’an or Sunnah against it, and it does not contradict established principles, it cannot be called bid‘ah sayyi’ah. Rather, it is a mustahabb practice.

Conclusion

The act of kissing the thumbs and rubbing the eyes at the mention of the Prophet ﷺ’s name in the Azan is:
✅ Established through narrations,
✅ Practiced by Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (رضي الله عنه),
✅ Endorsed by classical scholars,
✅ Considered mustahabb and rewardable.

Thus, labeling it a reprehensible innovation is baseless.

📚 References:

Imam al-Sakhawi, al-Maqasid al-Hasanah

Imam al-Tahawi, Sharh Ma‘ani al-Athar

Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar

‘Abd al-‘Ali al-Burjandi, Jam‘ al-Rumuz

Mulla ‘Ali al-Qari, al-Mawdu‘at al-Kubra

Abu al-Hasan, Kifayat al-Talib

Abu Bakr al-Dimyati, I‘anat al-Talibin

Imam Ahmad Raza, al-Fatawa al-Ridawiyyah