The Ruling on Excessive Movement in Prayer
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Q: My problem is that I move a lot during prayer. I have heard that there is a hadith meaning that more than three movements in prayer invalidate it. What is the authenticity of this hadith? And what is the way to get rid of excessive fidgeting in prayer?
A: It is the Sunnah for the believer to focus on his prayer and be humble in it with his heart and body, whether it is an obligatory or voluntary prayer, due to the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Al-Mu'minun 23:1] who are humble in their prayers [Al-Mu’minun: 1-2]. He must also be at rest in it, for this is one of its most important pillars and obligations, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to the one who performed his prayer poorly and did not be at rest in it: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2692Sahih (Darussalam) He did this three times, and the man said: O Messenger of Allah, by Him who sent you with the truth, I do not know how to do anything other than this, so teach me. So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to him: Bulugh al-Maram 2:139 It is agreed upon that it is authentic. In a narration by Abu Dawud, it was said in it: Bulugh al-Maram 2:145.
This authentic hadith indicates that being at rest is a pillar in prayer and a great obligation in it, without which it is not valid. So whoever rattles off his prayer has no prayer. Humility is the essence and spirit of prayer, so it is prescribed for the believer to care for it and strive for it. As for limiting the movements that contradict being at rest and humility to three movements, that is not a hadith from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him); rather, that is from the words of some scholars, and there is no reliable evidence for it.
However, fidgeting in prayer is disliked, such as moving the nose, the beard, or the clothes, and being occupied with them. If the fidgeting becomes excessive and continuous, it invalidates the prayer. But if it is little by custom, or if it is much but not continuous, the prayer is not invalidated by it. However, it is prescribed for the believer to maintain humility and leave off fidgeting, whether little or much, striving for the completeness and perfection of the prayer.
Among the evidence that little work and few movements in prayer do not invalidate it, and likewise scattered, non-continuous work and movements, is what is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he opened the door one day for Aisha while he was praying. And it is established from him (peace and blessings be upon him) from the hadith of Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) :. And success is from Allah.
A: It is the Sunnah for the believer to focus on his prayer and be humble in it with his heart and body, whether it is an obligatory or voluntary prayer, due to the saying of Allah the Exalted:
Certainly will the believers have succeeded:
قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ go back and pray for indeed you have not prayed.
ارجع فصل فإنك لم تصلWhen you get up to pray, perform ablution perfectly, then face the Qiblah and say: 'Allahu Akbar' (Allah is the Most Great). Then recite a convenient portion of the Qur'an; then bow and remain calmly in that position for a moment, then rise up and stand erect; then prostrate and remain calmly in that position for a moment, then rise up and sit calmly, then prostrate and remain calmly in that position for a moment; then do that throughout your prayer.
إذا قمت إلى الصلاة فأسبغ الوضوء ثم استقبل القبلة فكبر، ثم اقرأ ما تيسر معك من القرآن، ثم اركع حتى تطمئن راكعًا، ثم ارفع حتى تعتدل قائمًا، ثم اسجد حتى تطمئن ساجدًا، ثم ارفع حتى تطمئن جالسًا، ثم اسجد حتى تطمئن ساجدًا، ثم افعل ذلك في صلاتك كلهاThen read the Ummul-Qur'an (i.e. Surah al-Fatiha) and what ever Allah wishes
ثم اقرأ بأم القرآن وبما شاء اللهThis authentic hadith indicates that being at rest is a pillar in prayer and a great obligation in it, without which it is not valid. So whoever rattles off his prayer has no prayer. Humility is the essence and spirit of prayer, so it is prescribed for the believer to care for it and strive for it. As for limiting the movements that contradict being at rest and humility to three movements, that is not a hadith from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him); rather, that is from the words of some scholars, and there is no reliable evidence for it.
However, fidgeting in prayer is disliked, such as moving the nose, the beard, or the clothes, and being occupied with them. If the fidgeting becomes excessive and continuous, it invalidates the prayer. But if it is little by custom, or if it is much but not continuous, the prayer is not invalidated by it. However, it is prescribed for the believer to maintain humility and leave off fidgeting, whether little or much, striving for the completeness and perfection of the prayer.
Among the evidence that little work and few movements in prayer do not invalidate it, and likewise scattered, non-continuous work and movements, is what is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he opened the door one day for Aisha while he was praying. And it is established from him (peace and blessings be upon him) from the hadith of Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) :
That he (peace and blessings be upon him) led the people in prayer one day while carrying Amamah, the daughter of his daughter Zaynab. So whenever he prostrated, he would put her down, and whenever he stood up, he would carry her.
أنه صلى ذات يوم بالناس وهو حامل أمامة بنت ابنته زينب فكان إذا سجد وضعها وإذا قام حملها
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.