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A certain Barelwi posted a long article in which he tried to prove that kissing the thumbs on hearing the Prophet's(saws) name during Adhaan is Mustahabb according to Ahl al Sunna. This is a point by point refutation of his misleading post on a prominent Bida'ti forum. Wa salam.
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The black font is the Barelwi.

Kissing the Thumbs on Hearing the Name of the Beloved Prophet:
When hearing the Muazzin proclaim, "Ash'hadu anna Muhammad ar Rasoolullah," it is preferred (Mustahab) to kiss the two thumbs or the shahaadat finger and place them on the eyes. There are many religious and worldly benefits associated to this, as well as numerous Ahadith documenting its practice. Doing so is even practiced by the Sahaaba, and Muslims everywhere perform it in the belief that it is Mustahab.

Comment: The actual statement should be, "It is preferred `according to the people to Bida'’ to kiss the thumbs or the shahaada finger and place them on the eyes. There are many ‘imaginary’ religious and worldly benefits associated with this, as well as numerous ‘exceedingly’ weak and ‘false’ ahadith documenting its practice. Doing so ‘is even claimed’ by some to be practiced by the Sahaba and Mubtadi'in everywhere perform it in ‘the wrong belief’ that it is Mustahab."


It is stated in the book, Salaat al-Mas'oodi:
روي عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم انه قال من سمع اسمي في الاذان ووضع ابھاميه على عينيه فانا طالبه في صفوف القيمه و قائده الى الجنه
''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 Adhaan. I shall lead him into Jannat." [Salat al-Mas'oodi, Vol 2, Chapter 20]

Comment: My dear friend who likes to give the sanad of every hadith that he quotes, where is the sanad of this hadith? For those who have never been introduced to the Islamic sciences(i.e. Barelwis) let me inform you that when "The Noble Messenger is reported to have said" is the way of narration then it means that the hadith is inauthentic.

Allama Ismail Haqqi Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho writes under the verse 58 of Surah al Maidah,
وضعف تقبيل ظفرى ابهاميه مع مسبحتيه والمسح على عينيه عند قوله محمد رسول الله لانه لم يثبت فى الحديث المرفوع لكن المحدثين اتفقوا على ان الحديث الضعيف يجوز العمل به فى الترغيب والترهيب
"Kissing the nails of the thumbs and the shahadat finger when saying "Muhanunadur-Rasoolullah SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam 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." [Tafseer Rooh al-Bayaan, Vol 3, Page 282]

Comment: Tafseer Ruh al Bayaan, one of the most inauthentic and filled with weak narrations tafseer in the world. It is not proven from a hadith marfu'? It is not even proven from a da'eef hadith. It is proven from a fabricated hadith which some scholars have labelled as extremely weak. Such ahadith cannot be used for Fad'ail 'Amal.


Shaami states,
يستحب أن يقال عند سماع الأولى من الشهادة : صلى الله عليك يا رسول الله ، وعند الثانية منها : قرت عيني بك يا رسول الله ، ثم يقول : اللهم متعني بالسمع والبصر بعد وضع ظفري الإبهامين على العينين فإنه عليه السلام يكون قائدا له إلى الجنة ، كذا في كنز العباد . قهستاني ، ونحوه في الفتاوى الصوفية . وفي كتاب الفردوس من قبل ظفري إبهامه عند سماع أشهد أن محمدا رسول الله في الأذان أنا قائده ومدخله في صفوف الجنة وتمامه في حواشي البحر للرملي
"On the testimony (of Prophethood) in Adhaan, it is Mustahab to say "Sallallaahu Alaika Ya Rasoolallah SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam on the first and "Quratu Aini bika Ya RasoolAllah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala on the second. Then, place the nails of your thumbs on your eyes and say, "Allahumma Matti'ni bis-Sam'i wal-Basr." The Holy Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam will lead the person who does this into Jannat. The same has been documented by Kanzul lbaad, Qohistaani and in Fataawa Soofia. Kitaabul-Firdaus states that the Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam has said, I shall lead into Jannat the person who kisses his thumbnails when hearing "Ash'hadu anna Muhammad ar-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 Bahr ar-Raaiq of Ramli." [Radd al Muh'tar, Baab al-Adhan, Vol. 3, Page 233]

Comment: Again books of fiqh where books of hadith have failed you? Where is the daleel?


This extract has given the reference of 5 books Kanz al-Ibaad, Fataawa Soofia, Kitaab al-Firdaus, Qohistaani and the marginal notes on Bahr ar-Raaiq. All of them have ruled this practice to be Mustahab.

Comment: The dua mentioned in Radd Al-Muhtar is mentioned from a book called "Kanzal-'Ibad" about which the great Hanafi scholar Mullah Ali Qari (RA) gives a verdict:وفي هذا الكنز أحاديث سَمْجَة موضوعة، لا يحل سماعها
"This "Kanz" contains disgusting fabricated Ahadith. It is not permissible to even hear them!"

Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Al-Sindhi (RA) states regarding the same "Kanzal-'Ibad":
إنه مملوء بالمسائل الواهية والأحاديث الموضوعة، لا عبرة له لا عند الفقهاء ولا عند المحدثين

It is full of weak Masail (issues) and fabricated Ahadith. Neither do the Fuqaha or the Muhaddithin attach any weight to this book!

Allamah Ibn Abideen (RA) quotes the book "Al-Fatawa Al-Sufiyya" which is classed an unreliable and issues mentioned therein are not be practised upon by Alamah Birgivi (RA), Allamah Khadimi (RA), Allamah Abdul Hai Lukhnawi (RA) and Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Al-Sindhi (RA):
الفتاوى الصوفية ليست من الكتب المعتبرة فلا يجوز العمل بما فيها إلا إذا علم موافقتها للأصول
Water can only flow in one direction.

In the book "al Maqasid al Hasanah Fil Hadisil Atwirah Alas Sunnah". Imam Sakhawi Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho states,

ذكره الديلمي في الفردوس من حديث أبي بكر الصديق أنه لما سمع قول المؤذن ( أشهد أن محمدا رسول الله ) قال هذا وقبل باطن الانملتين السبابتين ومسح عينيه فقال ( من فعل مثل ما فعل خليلي فقد حلت عليه شفاعتي ) ولا يصح


"Dailmi reports that Hadrat Abu Bakr Siddique Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho once said 'When I heard the Muazzin say Ash'hadu anna Muharnrnadar-Rasoolullah SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam, I said the same, kissed the inner-side of my Kalima finger and placed it on my eyes. When the Holy Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam 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." [al Maqasid al Hasanah, Hadit 1021, Dar al Kutb Ilmiyah (Berut - Lebenon), Page 384]


Comment: Your translation is wrong. He is saying, "And this is not sahih". What you are suggesting is that the hadith has reach an authentic grade less than sahih, viz hasan which is absolutely wrong. This is in actuality a fabricated hadith, not even a weak one.


Quoting the book Moojibaat ar-RaHmah, Imam Sakhaawi Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho further writes.
عن الخضر عليه السلام أنه من قال حين يسمع المؤذن يقول أشهد أن محمدا رسول الله مرحبا بحبيبي وقرة عيني محمد بن عبد الله ثم يقبل ابهاميه ويجعلهما على عينيه لم يرمد أبدا
"It is reported from Hadrat Khidr Alaihis Salam , "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."
[al Maqasid al Hasanah, Hadith 1021, Dar al Kutb Ilmiyah (Berut - Lebenon), Page 384]

Comment: Who reported it from Khadir(as)? Your father? Is this your daleel? What nonsense.
Shaykh Ahmad al-Raddad cited it in his book Mu’jibaat al Rahma(wa- ‘Azaaim al maghfira) with a broken chain containing unknown narrators from al-Khadir(as). In fact, everything related on this chapter is inauthentic as attributed to the Prophet(saws). Mulla `Ali al-Qari’s
Al-Asrar al-Marfu’a fil-Akhbar al-Mawdu`at.
Read this: Allamah Muhammad Tahir Hanafi (RA) and Mullah Ali Qari (RA) give a verdict about this narration in Tazkiratul-Mauduaat (page 36) and Al-Mauduatul-Kabeer page 75):
بسند فیھ مجاھیل مع انقطاعھ ۔ ۔ ۔
Its chain contains many narrators who are Majaheel and it is also disconnected.
Imam Baihaqi (RA) states in Kitaab ul Qir'aa (page 127):
فی ھذا الاسناد قوم مجھولون ولم یکلفنا اللہ تعالی ان یاخذ دیننا عمن لا نعرفھ
And in its chain are several narrators who are Majhool and Allah(SWT) has not made us responsible to take our religion from Majhool narrators.

He further writes that Abul Abbas Ahmad said that Muhammad ibn Baabaa, narrating his personal experience, states.
أنه هبت ريح فوقعت منه حصاة في عينه فأعياه خروجها وآلمته أشد الألم وأنه لما سمع المؤذن يقول أشهد أن محمدا رسول الله قال ذلك فخرجت الحصاة من فوره
"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 Muhammad ar-Rasoolullah, " he said this "Quratu Aini ... 'and, immediately, the pebble fell out." [al Maqasid al Hasanah, Hadit 1021, Dar al Kutb Ilmiyah (Berut - Lebenon), Page 384]

Comment: We are interested in Muhammad ibn 'Abdillah (saws) not Mr Bin_Baa_ Baa. Do you have something from Muhammad Rasulullah(saws) or not?


Allama Shams Muhammad ibn Saalih Madani Alaihis Salam reports Imam Amjad to have said.
من صلى على النبي إذا سمع ذكره في الاذان وجمع أصبعيه المسبحة والابهام وقبلهما ومسح بهما عينيه لم يرمد أبدا
"If the person who hears the name of the Noble Messenger SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam in the Adhaan joins his Kalima finger and his thumbs," "Kisses and places them on his eyes, never will they be sore." [al Maqasid al Hasanah, Hadit 1021, Dar al Kutb Ilmiyah (Berut - Lebenon), Page 384]
Imam Amjad Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho who was an accomplished scholar in Egypt, further states,
بعض شيوخ العراق أو العجم أنه يقول عندما يمسح عينيه صلى لله عليك يا سيدي يا رسول الله يا حبيب قلبي ويا نور بصري ويا قرة عيني وقال لي كل منهما منذ فعله لم ترمد عيني

"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." [al Maqasid al Hasanah, Hadit 1021, Dar al Kutb Ilmiyah (Berut - Lebenon), Page 384]
Ibn Saalih Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho states,
وأنا ولله الحمد والشكر منذ سمعته منهما استعملته فلم ترمد عيني وأرجو أن عافيتهما تدوم وأني أسلم من العمى إن شاء لله
"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." [al Maqasid al Hasanah, Hadit 1021, Dar al Kutb Ilmiyah (Berut - Lebenon), Page 385]
Imam Hasan Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho states, من قال حين يسمع المؤذن يقول أشهد أن محمدا رسول الله مرحبا بحبيبي وقرة عيني محمد بن عبد الله ويقبل إبهاميه ويجعلهما على عينيه لم يعم ولم يرمد
''The eyes of he who says 'Marhaban bi-Habibi wa Quratu Aini Muhammad ibn Abdullah' when hearing the Muazzin say "Ash'hadu anna Muhammad ar-Rasoolullah and kisses and places his thumbs on them will never pain nor will he become blind." [al Maqasid al Hasanah, Hadit 1021, Dar al Kutb Ilmiyah (Berut - Lebenon), Page 385] In short, the book alMaqaasid al Hasanah confirms this practice by many Imams of the deen.

Comment: These are all stories. The book confirms this practice by some 'ulama of the Khalaf and that too as a nuskha not a sunnah and not a single one of the Salaf. So the decisions are worthless from a Shari'i point of view.

Sharah Niqaaya states,
واعلم انه يستحب أن يقال عند سماع الأولى من الشهادة : صلى الله عليك يا رسول الله ، وعند الثانية منها : قرت عيني بك يا رسول الله ، وضع ظفري الإبهامين على العينين فإنه عليه السلام يكون قائدا له إلى الجنة ، كذا في كنز العباد
"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 Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam wilt lead the person who does so into Jannat. Kanz al-Ibaad says likewise." [Jami' ar-Rumooz, Fasl al Adhan, Maktaba Islamiya (Iran), Vol 1, Page 125]
Maulana Jamaal ibn Abdullah ibn Umar Makki Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho states in his Fataawa,
تقبيل الابھامين ووضعھما على العينين عند ذكر اسمه عليه السلام في الاذان جائز بل مستحب صرح به مشائخنا
"Taqbeelul-Ibhaamain (kissing and placing the thumbs on the eyes when hearing the blessed name of Rasoolullah SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam in Adhaan) not just permissible, but Mustahab. Our Mashaaikh have elucidated this.” [Fatawa Jamal Ibn Abdullah Ibn Umar Makki]
Allama Muhammad Taahir Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho classifying this Hadith as Ghair-Sahih, also states,
وروي تجربة عن كثيرين "There are many reports of this benefit being experienced." [Khatima Majma' BiHar al-Anwaar, Vol 3, Page 511]
There are many other quotations besides these that can also be presented.

Comment: The stories of story tellers are indeed endless but we are interested in the Qur'an and Sunna. Do you have anything to do with them?

For the sake of conciseness. we make do with only these. Hadrat Sadr al-Afadhil, 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.

Comment: The Gospel of Barnabas is a forgery and is as fabricated as the Juz' al Mafqud of 'Abd al Razzaq.

It's written inside that when Hadrat Adam Alaihis Salam wished to see the Noor of the Beloved Mustapha SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam (Rooh al-Quds). The Noor was made bright on the nails of his thumbs. Hadrat Adam Alaihis Salam then kissed and placed them on his eyes out of love and appreciation.

Comment: Sounds like a TV serial in India. So nowadays you take your dala'il from the New Testament?

Besides the Ulama of the Hanafi Mad'hab, Ulama from the Shafee and Maaliki Mad'habs have also ruled the kissing of the thumbs (Taqbeel al-Ibhaamain) to be Mustahab. A famous Shafa'ee book of Fiqh, I'aanatut-Taalibeen 'Alaa Hali alfaazi Fat'hil-Mu'een, states,
ثم يقبل ابھاميه و يجعلھما على عينيه لم يعم ولم يرمد ابدا
"Then kiss and place your thumbs on your eyes. By doing so, never will you become blind nor will your eyes be sore,' [I'aanatut-Taalibeen, Page 247, Egyptian Edition]
Another famous book of the Maaliki Mad'hab, Kifaayat at-Taalib ar Rabbani Ii Risaalati Ibn Abi Zaid Qeerwaani Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho, after saying much about this practice, states,
عينيه لم يعم ولم يرمد ابدا "Never will the eyes of the person who does so pain, nor will he become blind." [Kifaayat at-Taalib ar Rabbani, Vol 1, Page 169, Egyptian Edition]
Shaikh Ali Saeed Adawi Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho writes in his commentary of this extract,
لم يبين موضع التقبيل من ابھامين الا انه نقل عن الشيخ العالم المفسر نور الدين الخراساني قال بعضهم لقيته وقت الاذان فلما سمع الموذن يقول اشھد ان محمدا رسول الله قبل ابھامي نفسه و مسح بالظفرين اجفان عينيه من الماق الي ناحيه الصدع ثم فعل ذلك عند كل تشھد مرة فسالته عن ذلك ففقال كنت افعله ثم تركته فمرضت عيناي فرئيته صلى الله عليه وسلم مناما فقال لما تركت مسح عينيك عند الاذان ان اردت ان تبرء عيناك فعد في المسح فاستيقظت و مسحت فبرئت ولم يعاود في مرضھا الي الان
"The writer didn't mention when the thumbs should be kissed. However, it is reported that some people met Allama Mufassir Nooruddin Khorasaani Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho at the time of Adhaan. When he heard the Muazzin say "Ash'hadu anna Muhammad ar-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 Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam in a dream and he said to me, "Why did you stop kissing your thumbs and placing them on the eyes during the Adhaan? 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." [Nahjul-Istamia, Page 177]


Comment: One fake hadith and one dream. That is the extent of your daleel in this long, tedious, nonsensical post.

Important Note: Direct narrations and Ahadith have been presented regarding this practice in Adhaan. Takbeer (lqaamat) is in the likeness of Adhaan, and it has even been called Adhaan in the Ahadith. Therefore, kissing and placing the thumbs during the Takbeer is also beneficial and a means of blessings but during Salah or a Khutba or whilst listening to the Qur’an it should not be done!

Comment: Direct FORGED narrations and MAWDU`ahadith have been presented for this practice in Adhaan. Take the same for Iqaama. Ek pe Ek free.


Not performing it during salah is evident and the impermissibility during listening to the khutba or the Qur’an is because one should have utmost attention at these times and refrain from any unnecessary movements. When the verse Maa kaana muhammadun abaa ahadim mir rijalikum is recited, so many people kiss their thumbs, it is as if birds have gathered to sing and they do it to such an extent that people from afar cannot even hear some words of the holy Qur’an. Even if there is no harm to place the thumbs on the lips and then place them on the eyes at this time; there is no ruling to make a sound during the kiss of reverence – like when one kisses the black stone, the ka’aba, the Qur’an or the hands and feet of the pious. There is no rule to make the noises like a flock of birds.
Conclusion:This entire discussion establishes that kissing and placing the thumbs during the Adhaan, etc. is Mustahab. It is found as the Sunnat of' Hadrat Adam Alaihis Salam, Abu Bakr Siddique Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho and Imam Hasan Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho.

Comment: Very true. It is proven from false ahadith.

Even Imams of the Shafa'ee and Maaliki Mad'habs have ruled it to be Mustahab. In every era, Muslim deemed this practice to have this very ruling, along with the following benefits,

Comment: So the world of Bida' is not populated by you Barelwis alone! Lovely.


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.

Comment: What is the use of seeing with the eyes when the heart is blind? By the way are you writing a book on medicine or an article on fiqh?

3. The Prophet SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam will intercede for the one who practices this.

4. Sayyiduna Rasoolullah SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam will also search for the person who used to perform it and lead him into Jannah.

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! So, Calling this practice Haraam is sheer ignorance and an act of prejudice and strait-mindedness of a person afflicted with the blindness of Faith (Eiman). May Allah protect us from falling to this depth of depravity and deviation from the right path... Aameen!!

Comment: Yes. Very right. Doing things according the the Sharia' and asking for evidence is sheer ignorance and an act of prejudice. Letting every Bida' grow like grass under your feet is actually Sunna. Mashallah. Kya baat hai.

والله سبحانه وتعالى اعلم ورسوله اعلم بالصواب
Almighty Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala and His Beloved Rasool Sallallaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam knows the best!

Comment: Allah knows Best.