Prayer is the greatest obligation of the religion of Islam and the manifestation of faith. It is the worship that directly connects the servant to his Lord. That is why the obligation of other acts of worship was revealed on earth, but the obligation of prayer was directly granted by Allah Almighty to His beloved Muhammad ﷺ during the night of Isra and Mi’raj in the heavens.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said that on the Day of Judgment, the first thing for which a servant will be held accountable is his prayer. If the prayer is correct, then the rest of the deeds will also be accepted, and if there is a defect in the prayer, then the other deeds will also be rejected.
This is why a believer should be most concerned about his prayer, whether it is according to the way of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ or has merely become a ritual. Because the Prophet ﷺ said:
“صلوا كما رأيتموني أصلي”
“Pray as you have seen me praying.”
The Holy Quran has also declared following the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ as a means of salvation:
﴿ لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ ﴾
“There is indeed in the Messenger of Allah ﷺ an excellent example for you.”
Therefore, in this article, we will mention the common mistakes found in the prayers of many worshippers today, so that the Ummah can correct their prayers according to the Sunnah of the Prophet.
❀ Common Mistakes in Worshippers’ Clothing ❀
① Praying in Tight Clothing
Some people pray in tight pants or clothing which makes prostration difficult and exposes parts of the body. This act involves two faults:
Resembling the disbelievers, because this style of clothing was not prevalent among Muslims.
The fault of exposing the ‘awrah (parts that must be covered), whereas Islam commands covering the ‘awrah.
If the pants are loose and there is a long shirt or kurta above that covers from the navel to the knees, then the prayer is valid; otherwise, the prayer becomes invalid.
② Praying in Thin or Transparent Clothes
In summers, some people wear such thin clothes that the color of the body or the limbs become visible.
The jurists say:
(يُشْتَرَطُ فِي السَّاتِرِ أَنْ يَكُونَ كَثِيفًا…)
“It is a condition for covering that the cloth should be thick; thin cloth through which the skin is visible is not sufficient.”
For women, wearing thin clothes is prohibited even in normal circumstances, let alone during prayer.
③ Praying in dirty or sleepwear
Allah Almighty said:
﴿ يَا بَنِي آدَمَ خُذُوا زِينَتَكُمْ عِندَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ ﴾
“O children of Adam! Wear your adornment at every time of prayer.”
Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
“Allah has more right that beauty should be adopted in front of Him.”
Therefore, praying in dirty or sleeping clothes is disrespectful.
④ Praying with bare shoulders
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“لَا يُصَلِّيَنَّ أَحَدُكُمْ فِي الثَّوْبِ الْوَاحِدِ لَيْسَ عَلَى عَاتِقَيْهِ مِنْهُ شَيْءٌ”
“None of you should pray in a single garment without having something on his shoulders.”
According to the jurists, covering the shoulders is obligatory.
⑤ Letting the cloth hang below the ankles
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“لَا يَنْظُرُ اللّٰهُ إِلَى صَلَاةِ رَجُلٍ يَجُرُّ إِزَارَهُ بَطَرًا”
“Allah does not look at the prayer of the one who drags his garment out of arrogance.”
He also said:
“Allah does not accept the prayer of the person who lets his lower garment hang down.”
Therefore, letting the garment hang below the ankles is a major sin, whether during prayer or in general circumstances.
⑥ Women uncovering their head or hair during prayer
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“لَا يَقْبَلُ اللّٰهُ صَلَاةَ حَائِضٍ إِلَّا بِخِمَارٍ”
“Allah does not accept the prayer of a mature woman until she covers her head.”
Therefore, if a woman prays without a dupatta or shawl, her prayer is not accepted.
Mistakes related to the place of prayer
❀ Mistakes of worshippers regarding the place of prayer ❀
① Praying in a place where there are pictures
Hazrat Anas bin Malik (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said regarding the colorful curtain in the house of Hazrat Aisha (RA):
(أَمِیْطِی عَنِّی ، فَإِنَّہُ لَا یَزَالُ تَصَاوِیْرُہُ تُعْرَضُ لِی فِی صَلَاتِی)
Translation: “Remove it from me, its pictures keep appearing before me during my prayer.”
For this reason, one should avoid praying in a place where pictures distract attention. Furthermore:
(لَا تَدْخُلُ الْمَلَائِکَۃُ بَیْتًا فِیْہِ صُورَۃٌ) [مسلم: ۲۱۰۶]
Translation: “Angels do not enter a house in which there is a picture.”
② Praying facing or towards a grave
It is narrated from Jundub bin Abdullah (RA) that the Prophet ﷺ said five days before his death:
(أَلَا وَإِنَّ مَنْ کَانَ قَبْلَکُمْ کَانُوا یَتَّخِذُونَ قُبُورَ أَنْبِیَائِہِمْ مَّسَاجِدَ، أَلَا فَلَا تَتَّخِذُوا الْقُبُورَ مَسَاجِدَ، فَإِنِّی أَنْہَاکُمْ عَنْ ذَلِکَ) [مسلم: ۵۳۲]
Translation: “Beware! People before you used to make the graves of their Prophets places of prostration. Beware! Do not make graves places of prostration; I forbid you from that.”
Another saying:
(وَلَا تَجْلِسُوا عَلَی الْقُبُورِ، وَلَا تُصَلُّوْا إِلَیْہَا) [مسلم: ۹۷۲]
Translation: “Do not sit on graves nor pray facing them.”
③ Reserving a specific place for oneself in the mosque
Some people always choose the same spot in the mosque. The Prophet ﷺ forbade this:
(نَہَی رَسُولُ اللّٰہِ ﷺ عَن نَّقْرَۃِ الْغُرَابِ، وَافْتِرَاشِ السَّبُعِ، وَأَن یُّوَطِّنَ الرَّجُلُ الْمَکَانَ فِی الْمَسْجِدِ کَمَا یُوَطِّنُ الْبَعِیْرُ) [ابوداؤد: ۸۶۲، ابن ماجہ: ۱۴۲۹]
Translation: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ forbade pecking like a crow (quick prostration), spreading elbows like a beast, and securing a place in the mosque like a camel.”
④ Praying without a Sutrah
It is Sunnah to keep a wall, pillar, lectern, or chair in front in the mosque. It is narrated from Ibn Umar رضي الله عنه:
(لَا تُصَلِّ إِلَّا إِلٰی سُتْرَۃٍ، وَلَا تَدَعْ أَحَدًا یَّمُرُّ بَیْنَ یَدَیْکَ، فَإِنْ أَبٰی فَلْتُقَاتِلْہُ فَإِنَّ مَعَہُ الْقَرِیْنَ) [مسلم: ۲۶۰]
Translation: “Pray towards the Sutrah, and do not let anyone pass in front of you; if they do not stop, then stop them, for Satan is with them.”
Narrated from Abu Saeed رضي الله عنه:
(إِذَا صَلّٰی أَحَدُکُمْ فَلْیُصَلِّ إِلٰی سُتْرَۃٍ وَلْیَدْنُ مِنْہَا …)
Translation: “When any of you prays, let him pray towards the Sutrah and be close to it…”
Some important issues regarding the Sutrah:
Minimum height:
(إِذَا وَضَعَ أَحَدُکُمْ بَیْنَ یَدَیْہِ مِثْلَ مُؤَخِّرَۃِ الرَّحْلِ فَلْیُصَلِّ …)
Translation: “If someone places something about the size of the back of a saddle (approximately one cubit/handbreadth), then he should pray.”
The imam is the seventeenth of the seventeen followers; therefore, it is permissible to pass in front of the rows of the congregation (between the rows). Abdullah bin Abbas رضي الله عنهما narrates: He participated in the prayer of the Prophet ﷺ in Mina by passing in front of the row at the time of prayer, and no one forbade him.
The care of the Companions: Qurrat bin Iyas رضي الله عنه says that Umar رضي الله عنه saw me praying between two pillars, so he took me by the shoulder and stood me near the seventeenth and said: (صَلِّ إِلَیْہَا) — “Pray facing this direction.”
❀ Common Mistakes of Worshippers in the Quality of Prayer ❀
① Making the intention verbally
Some people utter the words of intention verbally before prayer, such as:
“I intend to pray two rak’ahs of obligatory prayer for Allah, facing the Qiblah…”
Whereas there is no such teaching in Shariah. Intention is the resolve of the heart; uttering it verbally is an innovation.
The four Imams agree that intention is in the heart, not on the tongue.
Imam Ibn Abi al-Izz al-Hanafi رحمه الله says:
“لَمْ یَقُلْ أَحَدٌ مِّنَ الْأَئِمَّۃِ الْأَرْبَعَۃِ… بِاشْتِرَاطِ التَّلَفُّظِ بِالنِّیَّۃِ، وَإِنَّمَا النِّیَّۃُ مَحَلُّہَا الْقَلْبُ بِاتِّفَاقِہِمْ”
The Prophet ﷺ always began the prayer with Takbeer; he ﷺ never made the intention verbally. Hazrat Aisha رضي الله عنها says:
“کَانَ رَسُولُ اللّٰہِ ﷺ یَسْتَفْتِحُ الصَّلَاۃَ بِالتَّکْبِیْرِ”
And when a companion prayed incorrectly, the Prophet ﷺ ordered him to pray again and said:
(إِذَا قُمْتَ إِلَی الصَّلَاۃِ فَأَسْبِغِ الْوُضُوْئَ ثُمَّ اسْتَقْبِلِ الْقِبْلَۃَ فَکَبِّرْ…)
In this hadith, the words of intention are not taught, which is clear evidence that intention is not from the tongue but from the heart.
② Not folding the hands below the chest
Some people fold their hands below the navel or on the stomach, whereas the practice of the Prophet ﷺ was to fold the hands on the chest.
Wail bin Hujr رضي الله عنه says:
(فَوَضَعَ یَدَہُ الْیُمْنٰی عَلٰی یَدِہِ الْیُسْرٰی عَلٰی صَدْرِہِ) [صحیح ابن خزیمہ ۱/۲۴۴]
Translation: “The Prophet ﷺ placed his right hand over the left and folded both on the chest.”
Tawus رحمه الله says:
(کَانَ رَسُولُ اللّٰہِ ﷺ یَضَعُ یَدَہُ الْیُمْنٰی عَلٰی یَدِہِ الْیُسْرَی ثُمَّ یَشُدُّ بَیْنَہُمَا عَلٰی صَدْرِہِ) [ابوداؤد: ۷۵۹]
This is the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.
③ Raising the gaze towards the sky during prayer
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(مَا بَالُ أَقْوَامٍ یَرْفَعُونَ أَبْصَارَہُمْ إِلَی السَّمَاءِ فِی صَلَاتِہِمْ؟ لَیَنْتَہُنَّ عَنْ ذَلِکَ أَوْ لَتُخْطَفَنَّ أَبْصَارُہُمْ) [بخاری: ۷۵۰]
Translation: “Why do people raise their gaze towards the sky during their prayers? Stop it, otherwise their eyesight will be taken away!”
Therefore, it is Sunnah to keep the gaze on the place of prostration during prayer.
④ Unnecessary Movements
Some people repeatedly scratch, stroke their beard, adjust their clothes, crack their fingers, or look at their watch during prayer.
Such people do not attain humility (khushu).
Allah Almighty said:
﴿ قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِینَ ہُمْ فِی صَلَاتِہِمْ خَاشِعُونَ ﴾ [المؤمنون: ۱-۲]
“Successful indeed are the believers who are humble in their prayers.”
The Prophet ﷺ said:
(أُسْکُنُوا فِی الصَّلَاۃِ)
“Maintain calmness in prayer.”
⑤ Not Saying the Takbirs of Transition Behind the Imam
Some followers remain silent behind the Imam, even though the Prophet ﷺ said:
(إِنَّمَا جُعِلَ الْإِمَامُ لِیُؤْتَمَّ بِہِ، فَإِذَا کَبَّرَ فَکَبِّرُوْا…)
“The Imam is appointed so that he may be followed; when he says Takbir, you should also say it.”
Therefore, with every movement, the follower should also say the Takbir along with the Imam’s Takbir.
⑥ Lack of Moderation and Hastiness in the Pillars of Prayer
This is the most common and dangerous mistake.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
(لَا تُجْزِیُٔ صَلَاۃُ الرَّجُلِ حَتّٰی یُقِیْمَ ظَہْرَہُ فِی الرُّکُوعِ وَالسُّجُودِ)
“Prayer is not complete until a person straightens his back in bowing and prostration.”
The companions to whom the Prophet ﷺ said: “Return and pray again, for you have not prayed” – these were the ones who were hasty. (Bukhari 757)
The Prophet ﷺ taught moderation in bowing, calmness in prostration, and tranquility in the pillars. Whoever does not do this, their prayer is defective.
⑦ Not making complete prostration with all seven parts
The Prophet ﷺ said:
(أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَسْجُدَ عَلٰی سَبْعَۃِ أَعْظُمٍ…) [بخاری: ۸۱۲، مسلم: ۴۹۰]
Meaning: “The forehead (and nose), both hands, both knees, and the toes of both feet.”
Some people only place the forehead, do not touch the nose to the ground, or keep the toes of the feet raised — all of these are wrong, and the prostration remains incomplete.
⑧ Spreading the arms on the ground during prostration
The Prophet ﷺ said:
(اعْتَدِلُوا فِی السُّجُودِ وَلَا یَبْسُطْ أَحَدُکُمْ ذِرَاعَیْہِ انْبِسَاطَ الْکَلْبِ)
“Be moderate in prostration and do not spread your arms on the ground like a dog spreads them.”
⑨ Pointing the finger only once during Tashahhud
The Prophet ﷺ used to move his finger throughout the entire Tashahhud and supplicate.
Wail bin Hujr رضي الله عنه says:
(ثُمَّ رَفَعَ إِصْبَعَہُ وَرَأَیْتُہُ یُحَرِّکُہَا یَدْعُوْ بِہَا) [نسائی: ۱۲۶۸]
Therefore, raising the finger for only a moment and then lowering it is against the Sunnah.
❀ Common mistakes of worshippers in congregational prayer ❀
① Running to join the congregation
Many people, upon hearing the Iqamah, rush into the mosque to catch the Ruku or the first Takbir.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
(إِذَا سَمِعْتُمُ الْإِقَامَۃَ فَامْشُوا إِلَی الصَّلَاۃِ، وَعَلَیْکُم بِالسَّکِیْنَۃِ وَالْوَقَارِ، وَلَا تُسْرِعُوا، فَمَا أَدْرَکْتُمْ فَصَلُّوا، وَمَا فَاتَکُمْ فَأَتِمُّوا) [بخاری: ۶۳۶]
Translation: “When you hear the Iqamah, proceed to the prayer calmly and with dignity; do not hurry. Join the prayer where you can, and complete what you miss.”
Therefore, running for prayer is prohibited because it goes against dignity and humility.
② Starting Sunnah prayers after the Iqamah has begun
Some people start or continue Sunnah prayers after the Iqamah has begun, whereas the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(إِذَا أُقِیْمَتِ الصَّلَاۃُ فَلَا صَلَاۃَ إِلَّا الْمَکْتُوبَۃَ)
“When the Iqamah for the obligatory prayer is called, there is no prayer except the obligatory one.”
However, if the Sunnah prayers of Fajr remain, they can be prayed after the obligatory prayer, as the Prophet ﷺ told Qais رضي الله عنه:
(فَلَا إِذًا) meaning “There is no harm.”
③ Not straightening the rows or leaving empty spaces
It is also a common mistake that worshippers do not align the rows properly or leave gaps between shoulders and feet.
The Prophet ﷺ used to say:
(سَوُّوا صُفُوفَکُمْ فَإِنَّ تَسْوِیَۃَ الصُّفُوفِ مِنْ إِقَامَۃِ الصَّلَاۃِ) [بخاری: ۷۲۳]
“Straighten the rows, for straightening the rows is part of establishing the prayer.”
And he said:
(اسْتَوُوْا وَلَا تَخْتَلِفُوْا فَتَخْتَلِفَ قُلُوبُکُمْ)
“Align yourselves properly, do not be ahead or behind, otherwise discord will arise in your hearts.”
The Companions used to join shoulder to shoulder, knee to knee, and ankle to ankle in the row.
Hazrat Anas رضي الله عنه said:
(کَانَ أَحَدُنَا یُلْزِقُ مَنْکِبَہُ بِمَنْکِبِ صَاحِبِہِ وَقَدَمَہُ بِقَدَمِہِ)
And the Prophet ﷺ said:
(مَنْ سَدَّ فُرْجَۃً رَفَعَہُ اللّٰہُ بِہَا دَرَجَۃً وَبَنَی لَہُ بَیْتًا فِی الْجَنَّۃِ) [الطبرانی، صحیح الترغیب: ۵۰۵]
“Whoever fills the gaps in the row, Allah will elevate his rank and build a house for him in Paradise.”
④ Overtaking the Imam
Some people move before the Imam in bowing, prostration, or salam, whereas the Prophet ﷺ said:
(إِنِّی إِمَامُکُمْ، فَلَا تَسْبِقُونِی بِالرُّکُوعِ، وَلَا بِالسُّجُودِ، وَلَا بِالْقِیَامِ، وَلَا بِالْإِنْصِرَافِ)
“I am your Imam, so do not precede me in bowing, prostration, standing, or salam.”
He further said:
(أَمَا یَخْشَی الَّذِی یَرْفَعُ رَأْسَہُ قَبْلَ الْإِمَامِ أَنْ یُحَوِّلَ اللّٰہُ رَأْسَہُ رَأْسَ حِمَارٍ)
“Whoever raises his head before the Imam, does he not fear that Allah will change his head into that of a donkey?”
During the time of the Prophet ﷺ, the companions would not raise their heads after bowing (ruku) until the Prophet ﷺ went into prostration (sajdah).
⑤ Coming to the mosque after eating onions, garlic, or foul-smelling things
The Prophet ﷺ said:
(مَنْ أَکَلَ ثَوْمًا أَوْ بَصَلًا فَلْیَعْتَزِلْنَا، أَوْ لِیَعْتَزِلْ مَسْجِدَنَا، وَلْیَقْعُدْ فِی بَیْتِہِ) [بخاری: ۸۵۵، مسلم: ۵۶۴]
“Whoever eats garlic or onion should keep away from our mosque and stay in his house.”
He further said:
(فَإِنَّ الْمَلَائِکَۃَ تَتَأَذَّی مِمَّا یَتَأَذَّی مِنْہُ بَنُو آدَمَ)
“Angels are also harmed by the same things that harm humans.”
Therefore, entering the mosque with bad breath or smelling of such things is strictly prohibited.
❀ Common Mistakes After Prayer ❀
① Reciting supplications and remembrance aloud
Some worshippers recite dhikr or supplications after the salam in such a loud voice that it disturbs others’ prayer or remembrance.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
(أَلَا إِنَّ کُلَّکُمْ مُنَاجٍ رَبَّہُ، فَلَا یُؤْذِیَنَّ بَعْضُکُمْ بَعْضًا، وَلَا یَرْفَعَنَّ بَعْضُکُمْ عَلَی بَعْضٍ بِالْقِرَاءَ ۃِ)
“Each one of you whispers to his Lord, so do not trouble one another, and no one should raise his voice above others in recitation.”
② Leaving the mobile phone on
The tranquility of the mosque is disturbed when a phone rings during prayer; sometimes music or songs can be heard.
It is necessary to turn off or silence the phone before prayer, and if it rings during prayer, it is better to turn it off.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“إنَّ المسجدَ لِذِكرِ اللهِ، ولقراءةِ القرآنِ” — The mosque is for remembrance and Quran, not for noise and negligence.
③ Getting up immediately after Salam
Getting up or changing place immediately after the prayer ends causes loss, because the Prophet ﷺ said:
(وَالْمَلَائِکَۃُ یُصَلُّونَ عَلَی أَحَدِکُمْ مَا دَامَ فِی مَجْلِسِہِ الَّذِی صَلَّی فِیہِ، یَقُولُونَ: اللّٰہُمَّ ارْحَمْہُ، اللّٰہُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَہُ، اللّٰہُمَّ تُبْ عَلَیْہِ، مَا لَمْ یُؤْذِ فِیہِ، مَا لَمْ یُحْدِثْ فِیہِ)
“As long as the worshipper remains seated in his place, the angels continue to pray for him: O Allah! Have mercy on him, forgive him, and accept his repentance. As long as he does not harm anyone or break his ablution.”
🌿 Summary of the Discourse
Prayer is the pillar of Islam and the manifestation of faith. Its preservation is not only by performing it on time but also by praying according to the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ. The worshipper should observe all etiquettes regarding clothing, place of prayer, movements, lining up, and following the Imam.
🌿 Conclusion
Prayer is the act of worship that, if accepted, leads to the acceptance of other deeds as well.
Performing prayer according to the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ is obligatory.
Humility, tranquility, and dignity are essential in prayer.
Any movement or habit contrary to the Sunnah harms the prayer.
May Allah Almighty grant us the ability to improve our prayers, perform them with humility and devotion, and follow the method of the Noble Prophet ﷺ. آمین۔
