Humility (khushu)

It is narrated from Muhammad bin Ibrahim bin al-Harith that a man narrated to him that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, continues to turn towards His servant while he is in the prayer, as long as he (the servant) does not turn (his attention elsewhere) (that is, does not look away)." Muhammad bin Ibrahim said: The elder who narrated this hadith to me was such that when he stood for the prayer, (because of his perfect stillness and humility) he looked like a peg or a motionless stake driven into the ground.
Imam al-Harith bin Abi Usamah recorded this narration in his Musnad. The narrator in its chain, Abd al-Aziz bin Aban al-Umawi, is matruk (abandoned) according to the hadith scholars; however, the basic subject concerning looking away in the prayer is established by other reliable supporting narrations and hadith.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) saw a man playing with the pebbles (that is, moving them from their place) while he was in the prayer. When he (peace and blessings be upon him) had finished the prayer, he said to that man: "This (pointless action) is your lot and share of your prayer."
Imam Abu Ya'la recorded this hadith in his Musnad (488). Its chain contains a narrator named Yusuf bin Khalid al-Samti, who is matruk (abandoned) and a liar, because of which this narration is severely weak and cannot be used as proof.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Amr bin Hurayth (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: "The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would sometimes touch his blessed beard with his hand while in the prayer (whilst attentive in it)."
In the chain of this narration, Mu'ammal bin Isma'il is a narrator who made many mistakes; however, such a slight movement in the prayer, which is called a minor action ('amal qalil), is permissible on the basis of other supporting narrations, and the prayer is not invalidated by it.

It is narrated from Hasan al-Basri (may Allah have mercy on him) that "Indeed, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would touch his blessed head and his blessed beard while in the prayer."

This narration is also reported in the same way from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) (through another chain), except that he did not mention the beard in his narration.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When one of you is praying and feels in his stomach a sound, a rumbling from the movement of wind, or something like that (giving the sense that his ablution has been broken), let him place his hand on his nose (giving the impression of a nosebleed, to avoid embarrassment and for the sake of concealment), and break off the prayer and go out."
The chain of this narration contains a narrator named Ishaq bin Abi Farwah, who is da'if (weak) and matruk (abandoned) according to the hadith scholars, because of which this chain is technically weak; however, the jurists have considered such an action commendable for the sake of modesty and concealment.

It is narrated from Qatadah (may Allah have mercy on him) that Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "In the prayer, never resist (by holding back) the discomfort caused by (the urge for) urine or stool."
Imam al-Harith recorded it in his Musnad (Bughyat al-Bahith: 493). Its chain contains a narrator named Dawud bin al-Muhabbar, who is weak; however, the meaning of this statement is fully in accordance with other authentic marfu' hadith in which praying while overcome by the call of nature is forbidden, so that humility and devotion in the prayer are not impaired.