The ruling on pointing with the index finger in the tashahhud

Question:
Is raising the index finger in the tashahhud a recommended practice (sunnah) or a religious innovation (bid'ah)? And what is the evidence for that?
May Allah reward you.

Answer:
The recommended practice (sunnah) is to point with the index finger in the tashahhud, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to do. He would point with his index finger in the authentic hadiths in his first and last tashahhud, pointing to the oneness of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). He would curl all his fingers and point with the index finger in the first and last tashahhud, and it would remain raised until he said the closing salam (taslim) from the last tashahhud (peace and blessings be upon him). Sometimes he would curl his thumb and middle finger, curl his ring and little fingers, and point with the index finger; at other times he would curl all his fingers and point with the index finger; and at other times he would curl his thumb with the middle finger, curl the ring and little fingers, and point with the index finger. This is the recommended practice (sunnah), pointing to the oneness of Allah. He would place his right hand on his right thigh and his left hand on his left thigh while sitting for the tashahhud, or sometimes he would place both hands on his knees. Between the two prostrations, he would place them on his knees, or sometimes on his thighs. In the tashahhud, he would place his left hand on his left thigh or on his left knee, and his right hand on his right thigh, curling his thumb with the middle finger and pointing with the index finger. Sometimes he would curl all his fingers and point with the index finger during his tashahhud (peace and blessings be upon him). Yes.