The ruling on movement during prayer
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Question:
Your Eminence is asked about the etiquettes of prayer. He says: During my prayer, I sometimes scratch my body, or my hair, or clean my clothes, or look at the clock. What is the ruling on that?
Answer:
Khushu' (humility) in prayer, focusing on it, and tranquility in it until the prayer is completed—khushu' is necessary in it, and movement is to be avoided. However, a small amount is excused; a small amount, slight movement is excused. But tranquility is necessary in his bowing and prostration, between the two prostrations, and in his standing up after bowing. Tranquility and calmness are necessary until every limb returns to its place. But if he looks at the clock sometimes, or wipes his head, or wipes his beard, or similar things, or wipes the place of his prostration, or adjusts his turban without doing it excessively, once or twice without doing it excessively, or scattered movements necessitated by need; there is no blame on him. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed for the people on the pulpit. He ascended the pulpit, and recited on it, and bowed on it, then he descended and prostrated below it, then he ascended, and he carried Amamah, the daughter of Zaynab, and prayed with her. So when he prostrated, he put her down, and when he stood up, he carried her—(peace and blessings be upon him). Yes.
... So the trivial matter is excused, and likewise the scattered matter. If the matter is scattered, not consecutive; it is excused—if Allah wills. But as much as possible, leaving that and striving for stillness is better, more complete, and better.
The presenter : May Allah bless you. So, Your Eminence, the Shaykh calls for discipline during the performance of prayer?
The Shaykh : Yes.
The presenter : Your Eminence calls for discipline during the performance of prayer?
The Shaykh : Yes. Yes, and khushu'; because the little may lead to the much. So if the need calls for the little; there is nothing wrong with it, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did. Yes.
The presenter : May Allah send blessings upon him. May Allah bless you.
Your Eminence is asked about the etiquettes of prayer. He says: During my prayer, I sometimes scratch my body, or my hair, or clean my clothes, or look at the clock. What is the ruling on that?
Answer:
Khushu' (humility) in prayer, focusing on it, and tranquility in it until the prayer is completed—khushu' is necessary in it, and movement is to be avoided. However, a small amount is excused; a small amount, slight movement is excused. But tranquility is necessary in his bowing and prostration, between the two prostrations, and in his standing up after bowing. Tranquility and calmness are necessary until every limb returns to its place. But if he looks at the clock sometimes, or wipes his head, or wipes his beard, or similar things, or wipes the place of his prostration, or adjusts his turban without doing it excessively, once or twice without doing it excessively, or scattered movements necessitated by need; there is no blame on him. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed for the people on the pulpit. He ascended the pulpit, and recited on it, and bowed on it, then he descended and prostrated below it, then he ascended, and he carried Amamah, the daughter of Zaynab, and prayed with her. So when he prostrated, he put her down, and when he stood up, he carried her—(peace and blessings be upon him). Yes.
... So the trivial matter is excused, and likewise the scattered matter. If the matter is scattered, not consecutive; it is excused—if Allah wills. But as much as possible, leaving that and striving for stillness is better, more complete, and better.
The presenter : May Allah bless you. So, Your Eminence, the Shaykh calls for discipline during the performance of prayer?
The Shaykh : Yes.
The presenter : Your Eminence calls for discipline during the performance of prayer?
The Shaykh : Yes. Yes, and khushu'; because the little may lead to the much. So if the need calls for the little; there is nothing wrong with it, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did. Yes.
The presenter : May Allah send blessings upon him. May Allah bless you.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.