سورة المزمل

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): وَ تَبَتَّلْ إِلَیْهِ تَبْتِیلًا [And devote yourself to Him with (exclusive) devotion]; supplication is pointing with one finger.

Imam Baqir and Imam Sadiq (peace be upon them): al-Tabattul here means raising the two hands for prayer.

Imam Baqir and Imam Sadiq (peace be upon them): al-Tabattul is raising your two hands towards Allah and your humble entreaty and imploring of Him.

Ali ibn Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him): تَبَتَّلْ إِلَیْهِ تَبْتِیلًا [devote yourself to Him with (exclusive) devotion] means raising the two hands and moving the two index fingers.

Ali ibn Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him): وَ تَبَتَّلْ إِلَیْهِ تَبْتِیلًا [And devote yourself to Him with (exclusive) devotion]; that is, make yourself sincerely devoted to Him.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Abu Ishaq narrates from Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) that he said: وَ تَبَتَّلْ إِلَیْهِ تَبْتِیلًا [And devote yourself to Him with (exclusive) devotion] is to supplicate with one finger, with which you point.

Imam Kazim (peace be upon him): al-Tabattul in وَ اذْکُرِ اسْمَ رَبِّکَ وَ تَبَتَّلْ إِلَیْهِ تَبْتِیلًا [And remember the name of your Lord and devote yourself to Him with (exclusive) devotion] is the turning of the palms in supplication, at the time of reciting the supplication.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): And al-Tabattul means that he raises his fingers and lowers them.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): al-Tabattul is the moving of the index finger, in such a way that you raise it towards the sky and lower it.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): As for al-Tabattul, it is pointing with your index finger.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): التَّبَتُّلُ [tabattul] is pointing with the finger.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Muhammad ibn Muslim said: I heard Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) say: "A man came to me while I was in prayer and was supplicating with my left hand." He said: "O Aba Abdillah (peace be upon him)! Supplicate with the right hand." I said: "O servant of Allah! Just as Allah has a right upon the right hand, He also has a right upon the left hand." And he said: "Raghbah (desire) is opening the two hands with their palms facing the sky; rahbah (fear) is opening the two hands with their backs facing the sky; tadarru' (humble entreaty) is moving the index finger of the right hand to the right and left; tabattul is gently moving the index finger of the left hand up and down; and ibtihal (earnest supplication) is opening one's hands toward the sky at the moment when you feel within yourself a reason to shed tears."

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Abu Basir said: I asked Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) about supplication and raising the hands. He said: "It is of four forms: ta'awwudh (seeking refuge) is that you place the palms of your two hands facing the qiblah. As for supplication for sustenance: you open your two hands and turn their palms toward the sky. Tabattul is pointing with the index finger. Ibtihal is raising the hands until they go above your head. And as for tadarru' (entreaty): it is moving the index finger up to near the face. Tadarru' is the supplication of fear."

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Muhammad ibn Muslim and Zurarah said: We said to Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): "How is asking of Allah the Exalted?" He said: "You open the palms of your two hands." We said: "How is isti'adhah (seeking refuge)?" He said: "You stretch out your two hands; and tabattul is pointing with the finger; and tadarru' is moving the finger; and ibtihal is that you stretch out both of your hands fully."