I would like to know what is the Sunnah way of raising the finger during Tashahhud. I raise it when I say "Ashadu An Laa Ilaha Illa Allah". Is this correct? I have heard you do it every time you make a Du'a. My other question is that when we get up for the second Rak'ah I know that we are not supposed to get up right away but actually sit until all joints have come to their places and then proceed to get up, but will we say Allah Akbar when getting up or not? I am very confused about these issues. And what does "Hamdan Katheeran Tayyiban Mubarakan Feeh" mean?

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Raising the index finger during Tashahhud is proved in the Sunnah as reported on the authority of Ibn ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, that when the Prophet sat for the Tashahhud, he would place his right hand upon his right thigh and he would close that hand and point with his index finger. [Muslim]

As for sitting before standing for the third or fourth Rak'ah, then this is confirmed from the Prophet Muhammad as reported in Saheeh al-Bukhaari and other books of Hadeeth. Imamas-San’aani in his book entitled Subul as-Salaam said: “I did not find anyone from the scholars of the Salaf (righteous predecessors) who believed that it was an obligatory act. On the other hand, the majority of scholars believe that it is not desirable since the Ahadeeth that stated the characteristic of the prayer thoroughly, did not mention it.”

Imam Ibn al-Qayyim wrote in his book Zaad al-Mee’ad that most of those who narrated the detailed characteristics of the prayer did not refer to that sitting. If it were a common practice, they would surely have mentioned it. However, it is mentioned in the Ahadeeth reported by Abu Humayd, and Maalik ibn al-Huwayrith.

As for rising the finger at all times during the supplication, it is mentioned in some Ahadeeth that the Prophet used to move his finger while supplicating in prayer and outside prayers as well. An-Nasaa'i and Abu Daawood reported that from Ibn az-Zubayr.

However, the scholars of Hadeeth cited the above Hadeeth in the chapter of Tashahhud during the prayer.

As for the practice of the Prophet at the time of making the supplication, he sometimes used to raise his both hands and at some other times he did not. It is proved that he raised his finger for supplication during Friday sermon, and raised his hands for supplication during the prayer of al-Istisqaa’ (prayer for asking for rain).

Imam an-Nawawi said, “One should pronounce the Takbeer while moving to the standing position. One should lengthen the pronouncement of Takbeer so that the pronouncement continues during the position of sitting till he reaches the position of standing. The evidence is the Hadeeth of Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, who said, “Twenty two Takbeers in the prayer is the Sunnah of Abul-Qaasim (i.e. the Prophet ).” [Al-Bukhari]

This Hadeeth proves that there is no extra Takbeer for raising after sitting in first and third Rak'ah. The Du'a "Rabbana Wa Lakal-Hamd Hamdan Katheeran Mubarakan Feeh" means ‘Our Lord, for You is all Praise, an abundant beautiful blessed Praise.’

For more benefit on raising the index finger in Tashahhud, please refer to Fataawa 81988, 373378, 326266, and 124820.

Allah knows best.