What is the authenticity of the hadith regarding cracking one's fingers, and what is the ruling on doing so in the mosque and during prayer? What is the evidence for the answer? May you be blessed.

The questioner : Cracking one's fingers inside the mosque is a religious innovation, and there is a weak hadith regarding it.

The Shaykh : How?

The questioner : Cracking one's fingers inside the mosque.

The Shaykh : By Allah, I did not understand.

Another questioner : Cracking one's fingers.

The Shaykh : What does one do?

The questioner : Cracking one's fingers inside the mosque.

The Shaykh : Cracking?

The questioner : Yes.

The Shaykh : What is cracking?

The questioner : Cracking one's fingers.

The Shaykh : Cracking, then.

The questioner : Cracking or popping.

The Shaykh : Cracking one's fingers, cracking one's fingers in the mosque is not prescribed, and neither is it prescribed in prayer. However, after the prayer, there is nothing wrong with it.

The questioner : Is the hadith authentic?

The Shaykh : No, we do not discuss the hadith; we discuss the legal ruling. The hadith is not authentic, but not everything for which there is no authentic hadith is permissible, because there are general evidences that a Muslim must adhere to. Therefore, cracking one's fingers, cracking one's fingers in prayer is a form of frivolity in it. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), as stated in Sahih Muslim, said: It is not just the cracking sound, but also doing this and this, or looking at the clock to see the time, or the like. This is not permissible.