Q: Some people claim that it is mustahab to kiss the thumbs and place them on the eyes at the time of hearing the blessed name of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) in the Azaan. They substantiate and prove their claim through narrations mentioned in the following kitaabs; Musnadul Firdous, Kanzul Ibaad and Fataawa Soofiyah. What is the correct shari ruling in this regard?
A: Kissing the thumbs at the time of the Azaan, when hearing the blessed name of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), is not an established practice in Deen. Hence this practice should be omitted. Below we will present the Fatwa of Hazrat Mufti Mahmood (rahimahullah) in this regard:
Question:
What is the ruling regarding kissing the thumbs at the time of hearing the blessed name of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) called out in the azaan? Is the Hadith which is presented in substantiation of this practice a fabricated Hadith? Also, what is meant by a ‘fabricated Hadith’?
Answer:
To respond to the azaan is a sunnah-e-mu’akkadah which is close to waajib (i.e. to respond by going to the musjid to perform salaah with jamaat). To kiss the thumbs at the time of hearing the blessed name of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) in the azaan is not substantiated and proven through any authentic narration of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).
The narration which mentions kissing the thumbs is found in the kitaab “Musnadul Firdous”. However, Hazrat Shah ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Muhaddith Dehlawi (rahimahullah) has written that there are many fabricated narrations found in this kitaab.
A fabricated narration is that narration which is not from Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). Rather, some person fabricated it and falsely attributed it to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).
The narration of kissing the thumbs is also found in the kitaab “Kanzul ‘Ibaad” and the kitaab “Fataawa Soofiyah”. However, ‘Allaamah Shaami (rahimahullah) has mentioned that “Fataawa Soofiyah” is an unreliable kitaab due to which it is not correct to pass fatwa based on anything found in it. After discussing this narration, ‘Allaamah Shaami (rahimahullah) has written:
وذكر ذلك الجراحى وأطال ثم قال ولم يصح فى المرفوع من كل هذا شيء (شامي)
Jaraahi (rahimahullah), after discussing this mas’alah at great length, eventually stated, “There is no authentic narration from Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) based on which kissing the thumbs at the time of hearing the blessed name of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) can be established as a sunnah or mustahab practice.”
(Fataawa Mahmoodiyah 5/356)
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
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