عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ
قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: إِذَا قَعَدَ فِي التَّشَهُّدِ وَضَعَ يَدَهُ الْيُسْرَى عَلَى رُكْبَتِهِ الْيُسْرَى وَوَضَعَ يَدَهُ الْيُمْنَى عَلَى رُكْبَتِهِ الْيُمْنَى وَعَقَدَ ثَلَاثًا وَخمسين وَأَشَارَ بالسبابة وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ: كَانَ إِذَا جَلَسَ فِي الصَّلَاةِ وَضَعَ يَدَيْهِ عَلَى رُكْبَتَيْهِ وَرَفَعَ أُصْبُعَهُ الْيُمْنَى الَّتِي تلِي الْإِبْهَام يَدْعُو بِهَا وَيَدَهُ الْيُسْرَى عَلَى رُكْبَتِهِ بَاسِطَهَا عَلَيْهَا
When God’s Messenger sat at the tashahhud1 he placed his left hand on his left knee and his right hand on his right knee, counted fifty-three on his knuckles,2 and pointed with the forefinger.
A version says that when he sat during the prayer he placed his hands on his knees and raised his right finger which is next to the thumb making supplication in this way, while keeping his left hand spread out on his left knee. 1. Tashahhud means to say the words in the prayers beginning with at-tahiyat lillah. Cf. Chapter 9a 2.
This refers to a method of counting on the fingers. In the position indicated the forefinger is full out and the thumb and other fingers are clenched.