Disliked Acts in Prayer (مكروهات الصلاة) Part 1: Physical Actions

Read the bilingual lesson for Disliked Acts in Prayer (مكروهات الصلاة) Part 1: Physical Actions and test your understanding with a focused quiz.

Lesson

1. The Concept of Disliked Acts & Playful Movements (Abath)

وَيُكْرَهُ لِلْمُصَلِّي عَبَثٌ بِثَوْبِهِ وَبَدَنِهِ • Juristic Status of Karahah: This section lists acts described as disliked in prayer; do not infer that every item has identical severity. • Al-'Abath (Playful Movement): It is disliked to play unnecessarily with one's clothing, turban, or any part of the body (such as the beard or fingers). • Levelling Pebbles: Smoothing the dust or pebbles at the place of prostration is disliked, provided they do not physically obstruct prostration. ◦ Exception: If prostration is physically impossible, the worshipper is permitted to level the ground with their hand only once.

2. Cracking Knuckles, Interlacing Fingers, and Resting Hands on Hips

وَفَرْقَعَةُ الْأَصَابِعِ وَتَشْبِيكُهَا وَالتَّخَصُّرُ • Farqa'at al-Asabi' (Knuckle Cracking): Cracking the knuckles of the hands or feet during prayer is classified as legally disliked (Makruh). • Tashbik al-Asabi' (Interlacing Fingers): Interlacing the fingers of one hand with the other while standing or sitting in prayer is disliked, as it contradicts physical tranquility. • Al-Takhasur (Resting Hands on Hips): Resting the hands on the hips or waist during prayer is disliked, as it is a posture associated with arrogance and is specifically prohibited in Prophetic narrations.

3. Turning the Neck and Prohibited Sitting Postures

وَالِالْتِفَاتُ بِعُنُقِهِ وَإِقْعَاءُ الرَّجُلِ • Al-Iltifat (Turning the Neck): Turning the neck to the right or left during prayer without necessity is disliked. • The Rule of Gaze: Moving the eyes to look sideways without turning the neck is not legally disliked, though it is discouraged. ◦ If the chest is turned away from the Qiblah direction, the prayer is immediately invalidated. • Al-Iq'a' (Dog-like Sitting): For men, sitting during sittings or between prostrations by resting the buttocks on the ground, erecting the knees, and leaning the hands on the ground (resembling a dog's posture) is disliked.

4. Rolling Up Sleeves and Trailing Garments (Sadl)

وَتَشْمِيرُ كُمَّيْهِ وَسَدْلُ ثَوْبِهِ • Tashmir al-Kummayn (Rolling Up Sleeves): Performing prayer with the sleeves rolled up above the elbows is disliked, as it indicates carelessness or pride. • Al-Sadl (Trailing Garments): Draping a cloak, coat, or shawl over the shoulders such that its ends hang loose down the sides without putting the arms through the sleeves is severely disliked (Makruh Tahrimi). • Exception: If the sheet or shawl is wrapped around the body such that one end is thrown over the opposite shoulder, it is excluded from the prohibition of Sadl.

5. Yawning, Stretching, Closing Eyes, and Raising Gaze

وَالتَّثَاؤُبُ وَالتَّمَطِّي وَتَغْمِيضُ عَيْنَيْهِ وَرَفْعُ بَصَرِهِ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ • Al-Tatha'ub (Yawning): Yawning during prayer is disliked, as it indicates laziness. ◦ Method: One should suppress it as much as possible; if it cannot be stopped, cover the mouth with the back of the hand or sleeve. • Al-Tamatti (Stretching): Intentionally stretching the limbs and body during prayer is disliked. • Taghmid al-'Aynayn (Closing Eyes): Closing the eyes during prayer is generally disliked. ◦ Exception: If closing the eyes helps the worshipper concentrate and maintain focus (Khushu'), it is not disliked. • Raising Gaze: Raising the eyes towards the sky during recitation or transitions is severely disliked.

6. Forearms Flat in Prostration & Praying in Trousers Only

وَافْتِرَاشُ ذِرَاعَيْهِ وَصَلَاتُهُ فِي سَرَاوِيلَ مَعَ قُدْرَتِهِ عَلَى لُبْسِ الْقَمِيصِ • Iftirash al-Thira'ayn (Forearms Flat): For men, laying the forearms and elbows flat on the ground during prostration (resembling predatory beasts) is disliked. ◦ Sunnah for Men: Men must raise their forearms off the ground and keep them away from their sides. ◦ Sunnah for Women: Women should compress themselves and rest their forearms for concealment. • Praying in Trousers Only: If a worshipper has the financial/physical capability to wear a shirt or tunic, performing prayer in trousers, pajamas, or a sarong alone (leaving the upper body bare) is disliked.

Practice questions

Question 1

Under which condition is a worshipper permitted to level the pebbles at their place of prostration?

  • There is no permission under any circumstances.
  • If prostration is physically impossible, they may level it only once.
  • They can level it as many times as they want in every unit.
  • Only after they have finished the entire prayer.

Question 2

Closing the eyes during prayer is not disliked if it is done to avoid distractions and maintain focus (Khushu').

  • True
  • False

Question 3

Match the physical actions during prayer with their correct juristic descriptions:

Question 4

What is the ruling for a male worshipper who lays his forearms and elbows flat on the ground during prostration?

  • It is a Sunnah act.
  • It is mildly disliked (Makruh Tanzihan).
  • It immediately invalidates the prostration.
  • It is only disliked for women.

Question 5

Moving the eyes to look to the side without turning the neck is legally prohibited and invalidates the prayer.

  • True
  • False

Question 6

What should a worshipper do if they are overwhelmed by a yawn (al-Tatha'ub) during prayer?

  • They must immediately cut their prayer.
  • They should try to suppress it, and if unable, cover their mouth with the back of their hand or sleeve.
  • They must recite the Takbir aloud.
  • They must prostrate immediately.

Question 7

Praying with the sleeves rolled up above the elbows is disliked even if the person was doing manual labor before the prayer.

  • True
  • False

Question 8

Classify the following postures into "Disliked Physical Actions" and "Permissible/Sunnah Physical Actions" in the Hanafi school:

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