is simply pointing with it, not vibrating it over and over, and in this way it accords with the report of Ibn al-Zubayr.

I say: The reconciliatory reading of all these narrations is that “moving it” means pointing with it, and that the pointing is done without repeated motion.

It is stated in al-Rawḍ and its marginal commentary: “One should not make two consecutive movements while pointing, for that resembles idle fidgeting, and because of the ḥadith of Ibn al-Zubayr: ‘He would point with his index finger and not move it.’ ”

Ibn al-Qayyim said: “He neither held it bolt-upright nor let it droop; rather, he bent it slightly.”

Fourth: The variations reported from the leading imams concerning how to place the hands on the thighs and how to point with the index finger are subsidiary matters. Each imam spoke according to the conclusion his ijtihād reached in understanding the texts. A mujtahid receives two rewards, or at least one, and all of them—may Allah have mercy on them—agree that these acts are among the virtues of the prayer; whether the worshipper does or omits them, his prayer is not invalid, nor should disagreement over them cause division.

Accordingly, I advise our young brothers and sisters who seek goodness not to let these secondary differences become a cause of debate and enmity among them. Let them study the issue so as to arrive at what is correct, but for one group to declare another in error and to show hostility is contrary to Islam. Allah alone guides to the straight path.