By Asma Bint Shameem
Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen said:
“The basic ruling on moving whilst praying is that it is makrooh unless it is done for a reason.
However it may be divided into five categories:
1-Obligatory movements
2-Forbidden movements
3-Makrooh movements
4-Mustahabb movements
5-Permissible movements
1.*The obligatory movements* are those on which the validity of the prayer depends.
For example if a person notices something impure on his ghutrah (head gear), he has to move to remove it and take off his ghutrah.
That is because Jibreel came to the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam when he was leading the people in prayer and told him that there was something dirty on his shoe. So the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam took it off whilst he was praying and carried on praying. (Narrated by Abu Dawood, 650; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in al-Irwa’, 284)
Or if someone tells him that he is not facing the qiblah, he should move to face the qiblah.
2. *The forbidden movements* are continuous movements done for no reason, because this kind of movement invalidates the prayer, and whatever invalidates the prayer is not permissible, because it is like mocking the signs of Allaah.
3. *The mustahabb movements* are those done in order to do things that are mustahabb in prayer, such as if a person moves to make the row straight, or if he sees a gap in the row in front, so he moves forward whilst praying, or if there is a gap in his row and he moves to fill the gap and other such movements which allow one to do a deed that is mustahabb in prayer, because that makes the prayer more perfect and complete.
Hence when Ibn ‘Abbaas radhi Allaahu anhu prayed with the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam and stood to his left, the Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam took hold of his head from behind and made him stand on his right. (Agreed upon).
4. *The permissible movements* are
-small movements done when there is a reason, or
-large movements done in cases of necessity.
a) *Small movements* done for a reason are like what the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam did when he was praying and he carried Umaamah, the daughter of Zaynab the daughter of the Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam, whose maternal grandfather he was. When he stood up he picked her up, and when he prostrated he put her down.
(Al-Bukhaari, 5996; Muslim, 543)
b) *Large movements* in cases of necessity include praying whilst fighting.
Allaah says:
“Guard strictly (five obligatory) As‑Salawaat (the prayers) especially the middle Salaah (i.e. the best prayer ‑ ‘Asr).
And stand before Allaah with obedience [and do not speak to others during the Salaah (prayers)].
And if you fear (an enemy), perform Salaah on foot or riding.
And when you are in safety, offer the Salaah in the manner He has taught you, which you knew not (before)”
[al-Baqarah 2:238-239]
If a person prays whilst walking he is undoubtedly moving a great deal, but in cases of *necessity* that is permitted and does not invalidate the prayer.
5. *The makrooh movements* are all movements OTHER THAN those mentioned above.
This is the basic principle concerning movements whilst praying.
Based on this, we say to those who move whilst praying that their action is makrooh and detracts from their prayer.
This is something that is seen in many cases, so you may see a person fiddling with his watch or pen or ghutrah or nose or beard and so on.
All of that comes under the heading of makrooh, unless it is done a great deal and is continuous, in which case it is haraam and invalidates the prayer.”
He also said
“There is no specific number of movements that invalidates the prayer, rather it is any movement that contradicts the idea of prayer in the sense that if anyone saw this man doing that it would look as if he were not praying.
This is the kind of movement that invalidates the prayer.
Hence the scholars defined it as something based on custom (al-‘urf) and said:
If movements are many and are continuous then they invalidate the prayer, without mentioning a specific number.
Some scholars defined “three” such movements but that requires evidence because everyone who sets a certain limit or number or manner should produce evidence, otherwise he is introducing new ideas.”
(Majmoo’ Fataawa al-Shaykh, 13/309-311)
And Allaah knows best
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