Moving the Finger in Tashahhud:

• "He (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would spread his left palm on his left knee, clench all the fingers of his right hand, point with the finger adjacent to the thumb towards the qiblah, and fix his sight on it (i.e. the finger)." (185)
• Also, "when he pointed with his finger, he would put his thumb on his middle finger" (186), and sometimes "he would make a circle with these two." (187)
• "When he raised his finger, he would move it, supplicating with it" (188), and he used to say, "It is surely more powerful against the devil than iron, meaning the forefinger." (189)
• Also, "the Companions of the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) used to remind each other, that is, about pointing with the finger when supplicating." (190)
• Once, "he saw a man supplicating with two fingers, so he said, "Make it one, [make it one,]" and indicated with his forefinger." (191)
• "He (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would do this in both tashahhuds." (192)

The Obligation of the First Tashahhud, & theValidity of Supplication during it:

• "He (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would recite the Tahiyyah after every two rak'ahs" (193); "the first thing he would say in this sitting would be: All compliments be to Allaah." (194)
• "When he forgot to perform the tashahhud after the first two rak'ahs, he would prostrate (twice) for forgetfulness." (195)
• He used to order them to perform tashahhud, saying, When you sit after every two rak'ahs, then say: All compliments ... and then each of you should select the supplication he likes best and supplicate Allaah, Mighty and Sublime, [with it] (196);
• In another version: Say, All compliments ... in every sitting (197), and he also ordered "the one who prayed badly" to do so, as has been mentioned. "He (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would teach them the tashahhud the way he taught them Soorahs of the Qur'aan" (198), and "the Sunnah is to say it quietly." (199)

The prophet (SAW) taught several ways of tashahhud:

• The tashahhud of Ibn Mas'ood, who said, "The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam) taught me the tashahhud, [with] my palm between his palms, the way he taught me Soorahs of the Qur'aan:

All compliments (200), prayers (201) and pure words (202) are due to Allaah. Peace (203) be on you, O Prophet, and also the mercy of Allaah and His blessings (204). Peace be on us, and on the righteous slaves of Allaah. [For when one says that, it includes every righteous slave in the heaven and the earth.] I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and messenger. [This was while he was among us, but after he was taken, we would say: [Peace be on the Prophet] (205)

• The tashahhud of Ibn 'Abbaas:

"The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) used to teach us the tashahhud the way he taught us [soorahs of] the Qur'aan; he used to say, All compliments, blessed words, prayers, pure words are due to Allaah. Peace be on you, O Prophet, and also the mercy of Allaah and His blessings. Peace be on us and on the righteous slaves of Allaah. I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah, and [I bear witness] that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah (in one narration: ... is His slave and messenger)." (206)

• The tashahhud of Ibn 'Umar, who reported the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) as saying in the tashahhud:

All compliments, prayers and good words are due to Allaah. Peace be on you, O Prophet,and also the mercy of Allaah -Ibn 'Umar said, "I add:" (207) ... and His blessings. Peace be on us and on the righteous slaves of Allaah. I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah -Ibn 'Umar said, "I add:" (208)... alone, He has no partner, - and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and messenger. (209)

• The tashahhud of Abu Moosaa al-Ash'ari, who said that

The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, ... when you are sitting, the first thing each of you says should be: All compliments, good words and prayers are due to Allaah. Peace be on you, O Prophet, and also the mercy of Allaah and His blessings. Peace be on us, and on the righteous slaves of Allaah. I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah [alone, He has no partner], and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and messenger - seven phrases, and they are the greetings in the prayer." (210)

• The tashahhud of 'Umar ibn al-Khattaab,

He would teach the people the tashahhud while on the pulpit, saying, "Say: All compliments are due to Allaah; all pure titles are due to Allaah; all good words [are due to Allaah]; all prayers are due to Allaah. Peace be on you, O Prophet, and also the mercy of Allaah and His blessings. Peace be on us and on the righteous slaves of Allaah. I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and messenger. (211)

As-Salaah 'alaa an-Nabiyy (Sending Prayers on the Prophet) Its Place & Manner:

He (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) used to send prayers on himself in the first tashahhud as well as the other. (212) He also established it for his ummah, ordering them to send prayers on him (213) after sending peace on him, and he taught them several ways of doing so:

1. O Allaah! send prayers on Muhammad (214), and on his household, and on his wives and progeny, as you sent prayers on the family of Ibraaheem; You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory. And send blessings on Muhammad (215), and his household, and his wives and progeny, as you sent blessings on the family of Ibraaheem; You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory. This supplication he would use himself (216)

2. O Allaah! send prayers on Muhammad, and on the family of Muhammad, as you sent
   prayers on [Ibraaheem, and on] (217) the family of Ibraaheem; You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory. O Allaah! send blessings on Muhammad, and on the family of Muhammad, as you sent blessings on [Ibraaheem, and on] (218) the family of Ibraaheem; You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory. (219)

3. O Allaah! send prayers on Muhammad, and on the family of Muhammad, as you sent
   prayers on Ibraaheem, [and the family of Ibraaheem]; You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory. And send blessings on Muhammad, and on the family of Muhammad, as you sent blessings on [Ibraaheem, and] the family of Ibraaheem; You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory. (220)

4. O Allaah! send prayers on Muhammad [the Unlettered Prophet], and on the family of Muhammad, as you sent prayers on [the family of] Ibraaheem; and send blessings on Muhammad [the Unlettered Prophet] and the family of Muhammad, as you sent blessings on [the family of] Ibraaheem among the nations; You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory. (221)
5. O Allaah! send prayers on Muhammad, Your slave and messenger, as You sent prayers on [the family of] Ibraaheem. And send blessings on Muhammad [Your slave and messenger], [and the family of Muhammad,] as you sent blessings on Ibraaheem [and on the famly of Ibraaheem]. (222)

6. O Allaah! send prayers on Muhammad and [on] his wives and progeny, as You sent prayerson [the family of Ibraaheem]. And send blessings on Muhammad, and [on] his wives and progeny, as You sent blessings on [the family of] Ibraaheem; You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory. (223)

7. O Allaah! send prayers on Muhammad, and on the family of Muhammad, and send
   blessings on Muhammad, and on the family of Muhammad, as you sent prayers and sent blessings on Ibraaheem and the family of Ibraaheem; You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory. (224)

He (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) also set the guidance of du'aa in this tashahhud as well, saying, When you sit after every two rak'ahs, then say: All compliments are due to Allaah ... (till the end of that supplication, and then said:) ... then he should select of the supplications what is most pleasing to him. (228)

The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would get up for the third rak'ah with takbeer (229), and he ordered "the one who prayed badly" to do so: Then do that in every rak'ah, as before. "When he (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) stood from the sitting position, he would say takbeer, and then stand up" (230); and "he (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would raise his hands" (231) with this takbeer sometimes.

"When he wanted to stand up for the fourth rak'ah, he would say: Allaah is the Greatest" (232), and he ordered "the one who prayed badly" likewise, as before, and "he (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) wouldraise his hands" (233) with this takbeer sometimes.

"When he wanted to stand up for the fourth rak'ah, he would say: Allaah is the Greatest" (232), and he ordered "the one who prayed badly" likewise, as before, and "he (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) wouldraise his hands" (233) with this takbeer sometimes.

"He would sit up straight on his left foot, at ease, until every bone returned to its proper place, then stand up, supporting himself on the ground; and he would clench his fists (234): supporting himself with his hands when standing up." (235) He would recite al-Faatihah in both these rak'ahs, and he ordered "the one who prayed badly" to dothat. In Zuhr prayer, he would sometimes add a few aayaat to this, as has been explained under "Recitation in Zuhr Prayer".