Some people, when they first begin the tashahhud, shake their finger without moving it, and then after half of the tashahhud has passed, they begin to move it. Is this a religious innovation?

Al-Hawini: Some people, O our Shaykh, in moving the finger, when they first begin, they shake their finger without moving it, and then after half of the tashahhud, they begin to move it. Is this a religious innovation or what?

The Shaykh : This is a regulation of the movement, and naturally, it is not prescribed except by a text, and there is no text regarding this except mere opinion. So those who say, for example, to point without moving it, some of them say: he raises it during the negation, and some say during the affirmation, and some say: if he raises it during the negation, he lowers it during the affirmation.
Al-Huwayni: Yes.

The Shaykh : And some of them make it.
The student : On the right, O Shaykh, on the right.

The Shaykh : It is on the right.
The student : On the right.

The Shaykh : Some of them make it like this until the end of the tashahhud.
Al-Hawini: Yes, but the one who extends it without moving it, he innovates, meaning he points with it toward the qiblah.

The Shaykh : It depends.
The student : The first branch on your left hand.

The Shaykh: Yes.
The student : The first branch on your left hand from here.

The Shaykh: It is.
The student: Yes.

The Shaykh : This is according to his opinion and his research regarding the hadith of moving the finger, may Allah reward you.
al-Huwaini: Yes.

The Shaykh : If he interprets it, then he has his independent legal reasoning, but to turn away from it, that is the affair of the innovators.

The questioner : Yes, may Allah reward you with good.
The student : Welcome.

The Shaykh : May Allah keep you and make you well.
The student : May Allah bless you.

The Shaykh : Welcome to you all.
Al-Hawini: Well...

The Shaykh : How...
The student : Praise be to Allah, I am well.