Is the hadith regarding returning the greeting in prayer by nodding the head abrogated by the hadith regarding returning the greeting with the hand?

The questioner : You mentioned that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) initially nodded his head, and then in the second hadith he gestured with his hand. Do we understand that the nodding of the head is abrogated, or did it remain as the original ruling?

The Shaykh : No, there is no abrogation. As is clear to students of knowledge like us, abrogation occurs when there is a contradiction. However, when there is no contradiction, but rather, as Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "This is a difference of variety, not a difference of contradiction." In fact, I say that this variety which the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) legislated in returning the greeting in prayer has profound wisdom, because nodding the head is gentler and more befitting for the one praying, who has been commanded, as stated in his saying (peace be upon him), as it came in Sahih Muslim from the hadith of Jabir ibn Samurah (may Allah be pleased with him): He said: And in a narration—and this is what concerns us now— The meaning of the narration is that it is sufficient for one of you, when greeting his brother, to turn to the right and say "Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah," and to the left "Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah." But the other narration is the proof: meaning, do not engage in movements in prayer that are not befitting or consistent with the humility and tranquility in prayer. And thus, from the principles of Islamic law, if a Muslim is compelled or has a need to make a movement while standing before Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He), he should make the least amount of movement that achieves his purpose and desire. And I imagine now that a man is praying, and a man approaches him from the qiblah direction and says: "Peace be upon you." There is no need for him to do this with a fan, raising his hand. Rather, a nod of the head, and the matter is done. Similarly, the exact opposite: if a man enters from behind the rows and says "Peace be upon you," it is sufficient for him to raise his hand and do this, raising the signal so that it is understood that the greeting has been received in its proper place, legislated, and we have answered you by raising the expressive and explicit signal. So, each of the two actions, which are the nodding of the head and the gesturing with the hand, has its appropriate place in prayer. Do you have anything else?

The questioner : I have one more question...