What is the ruling on movement during prayer, such as taking out a handkerchief, adjusting one’s clothing, or the like?
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The questioner : What is the ruling in the Shari'ah, in your view, O honorable Shaykh, regarding movement during prayer, such as taking out a handkerchief, adjusting one’s clothing, or the like?
The Shaykh : Movement during prayer is divided into categories: some movement is obligatory, some is forbidden, some is a recommended practice, some is disliked, and some is permissible.
The default ruling regarding movement during prayer is that it is disliked, because it involves distraction from the prayer and movements that are incompatible with prayer. This is the default ruling: it is disliked. However, movement may become obligatory. An example of its obligation is if a person is praying in a direction other than the qiblah, and someone comes to him and says, “The qiblah is to your right” or “to your left.” It is then obligatory for him to move to turn toward the qiblah, to face the qiblah.
Also included in this is if he sees ritual impurity on his garment while he is praying. He should remove the garment if there is something underneath it that covers his 'awrah, and he should continue his prayer. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was praying in his sandals when Jibril came to him and informed him that there was something harmful in his sandals. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) removed them and continued his prayer.
Also included in this is if two people pray in congregation and the ma'mum stands to the left of the imam, the imam should move him to his right, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did with 'Abdullah ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both).
This is based on the position that it is not permissible for the ma'mum to pray to the left of the imam while the right side is empty. However, if we say that the ma'mum standing to the right of the imam is a recommended practice, then this falls under recommended movement, not obligatory movement.
Movement becomes forbidden if it is movement to do something forbidden, or if it is excessive movement that is incompatible with continuous prayer, without dire necessity.
Movement becomes a recommended practice if it is for the purpose of achieving something recommended, such as if a person moves to fill a gap in the row in front of him, or if he moves to fill a gap in his own row so that the row contracts and he draws closer to his brother beside him. This is movement, but it is recommended movement because it involves doing something recommended.
Movement becomes disliked, which is the default as we mentioned earlier. This includes what some people do, such as fiddling with their headscarf, their pen, their watch, their cap, or their tie, or with something they have no need for. This is disliked. If it becomes frequent and continuous without dire necessity, it becomes forbidden and invalidates the prayer.
As for permissible movement: it is slight movement if it is for a need, such as the action of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) when he was carrying 'Ammah, the daughter of Zaynab, the daughter of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). This girl was the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) granddaughter through her mother. He (peace and blessings be upon him) would carry her while leading the people in congregational prayer. When he stood, he would carry her, and when he prostrated, he would put her down. An action like this is considered permissible because it is for a need and is not excessive. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you, O honorable Shaykh. The listener Fathi Muhammad, an Egyptian, says in his second question.
The Shaykh : Movement during prayer is divided into categories: some movement is obligatory, some is forbidden, some is a recommended practice, some is disliked, and some is permissible.
The default ruling regarding movement during prayer is that it is disliked, because it involves distraction from the prayer and movements that are incompatible with prayer. This is the default ruling: it is disliked. However, movement may become obligatory. An example of its obligation is if a person is praying in a direction other than the qiblah, and someone comes to him and says, “The qiblah is to your right” or “to your left.” It is then obligatory for him to move to turn toward the qiblah, to face the qiblah.
Also included in this is if he sees ritual impurity on his garment while he is praying. He should remove the garment if there is something underneath it that covers his 'awrah, and he should continue his prayer. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was praying in his sandals when Jibril came to him and informed him that there was something harmful in his sandals. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) removed them and continued his prayer.
Also included in this is if two people pray in congregation and the ma'mum stands to the left of the imam, the imam should move him to his right, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did with 'Abdullah ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both).
This is based on the position that it is not permissible for the ma'mum to pray to the left of the imam while the right side is empty. However, if we say that the ma'mum standing to the right of the imam is a recommended practice, then this falls under recommended movement, not obligatory movement.
Movement becomes forbidden if it is movement to do something forbidden, or if it is excessive movement that is incompatible with continuous prayer, without dire necessity.
Movement becomes a recommended practice if it is for the purpose of achieving something recommended, such as if a person moves to fill a gap in the row in front of him, or if he moves to fill a gap in his own row so that the row contracts and he draws closer to his brother beside him. This is movement, but it is recommended movement because it involves doing something recommended.
Movement becomes disliked, which is the default as we mentioned earlier. This includes what some people do, such as fiddling with their headscarf, their pen, their watch, their cap, or their tie, or with something they have no need for. This is disliked. If it becomes frequent and continuous without dire necessity, it becomes forbidden and invalidates the prayer.
As for permissible movement: it is slight movement if it is for a need, such as the action of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) when he was carrying 'Ammah, the daughter of Zaynab, the daughter of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). This girl was the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) granddaughter through her mother. He (peace and blessings be upon him) would carry her while leading the people in congregational prayer. When he stood, he would carry her, and when he prostrated, he would put her down. An action like this is considered permissible because it is for a need and is not excessive. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you, O honorable Shaykh. The listener Fathi Muhammad, an Egyptian, says in his second question.