Ordinary spoken greetings during prayer are human speech. A minimal gesture is a different juristic case: it is discouraged here but not intrinsically identical to a spoken reply; excessive movement is separately assessed.
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Speech and gesture have different effects
Disliked Acts in Prayer: Movement, Dress, Turning and Validity
Ordinary spoken greetings during prayer are human speech. A minimal gesture is a different juristic case: it is discouraged here but not intrinsically identical to a spoken reply; excessive movement is separately assessed.