Source Information
This excerpt is taken from the book Ṣaḥīḥ Ṣalāh al-Nabawī ﷺ, authored by al-Shaykh ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ʿAzīz, published by Maktabah Dār al-Andalus.
Permissible and Impermissible Acts During Prayer
Permissible Acts in Prayer
❀ Spitting into clothing, tissue, etc., or clearing nasal discharge is permissible.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
فلا يبزقن أحدكم قبل قبلته ولكن عن يساره أو تحت قدمه، ثم أخذ طرف ردائه فبصق فيه، ثم رده بعضه على بعض فقال: أو يفعل هكذا
“None of you should spit in front of his qiblah, but rather to his left or beneath his foot.” Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ took the edge of his cloak, spat into it, folded part of it over the other, and said: “Or he may do it like this.”
❀ Coughing during prayer to grant permission for someone to enter the house is permissible.
❀ If Shayṭān whispers during prayer, the worshipper should recite
أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرجيم
and lightly blow to the left side three times (with slight saliva).
❀ It is permissible to greet a person who is praying, and the one praying should respond with a gesture.
Sayyidunā Ṣuhayb رضي الله عنه said: I passed by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ while he was praying, greeted him, and he responded with a gesture.
(Ṣaḥīḥ)
Sayyidunā Bilāl رضي الله عنه described the Prophet’s ﷺ method of responding to salām in prayer by gesturing with his hand.
(Ṣaḥīḥ)
❀ Carrying a child during prayer is permissible.
Sayyidunā Abū Qatādah رضي الله عنه said:
إن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يحمل أمامة بنت زينب وهو يصلي، فإذا سجد وضعها، وإذا قام حملها
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to carry his granddaughter Umāmah bint Zaynab while praying. When he prostrated, he put her down, and when he stood up, he carried her.”
❀ Making a gesture that conveys meaning is permissible.
Sayyidah Asmā’ bint Abī Bakr رضي الله عنها said: I went to ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها while she was praying and people were also praying. I asked, “What is the matter with the people?” She gestured toward the sky with her head. I asked, “Is it a sign?” She gestured, “Yes.”
❀ Correcting a minor mistake of the adjacent worshipper is permissible.
ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ performed wuḍū’ and began praying. I stood on his left, so he took hold of me and placed me on his right.
❀ If something is lying at the place of prostration, or someone is sitting or lying there, it may be moved by hand.
Sayyidah ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها said: I would lie in front of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ with my feet in the direction of his qiblah. When he intended to prostrate, he would gently push me, and I would draw my feet back.
❀ Prayer may be shortened due to an urgent situation.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Sometimes I intend to prolong the prayer, but when I hear a child crying, I shorten the prayer so as not to cause hardship to his mother.”
❀ There is no harm if one weeps during prayer due to a reason.
Sayyidah ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها said: During the illness of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, he said: “Tell Abū Bakr to lead the people in prayer.” I said: “When Abū Bakr stands in your place, he will be unable to make the people hear the recitation due to crying.”
❀ Yawning should be suppressed as much as possible.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
التثاؤب من الشيطان، فإذا تثاءب أحدكم فليكظمه ما استطاع، وفي رواية: فليمسك بيده على فمه
“Yawning is from Shayṭān. When one of you yawns, he should suppress it as much as possible.”
In another narration: “He should place his hand over his mouth.”
❀ Leaning on support during prayer due to necessity is permissible.
Umm Qays bint Miḥṣan رضي الله عنها said: When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ became old and heavy in body, he placed a pillar in his prayer area and would lean on it during prayer.
(Ṣaḥīḥ)
❀ Walking a few steps during prayer for a need, such as opening a door, is permissible.
Sayyidah ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها said: I knocked on the door while the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was praying voluntary prayer, and the door was in the direction of his qiblah. He stepped slightly to the right or left, opened the door, then returned to his place of prayer.
(Ḥasan)
❀ Killing a snake, scorpion, or any dangerous creature during prayer is permissible.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
اقتلوا الأسودين فى الصلاة الحية والعقرب
“Kill the two black ones during prayer: the snake and the scorpion.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ)
❀ When sneezing during prayer, one should lower the sound and cover the face with the hand or cloth.
(Ṣaḥīḥ)
❀ If one sneezes during prayer, it is permissible to say:
الحمد لله حمدا كثيرا طيبا مباركا فيه، مباركا عليه، كما يحب ربنا ويرضى
“All praise is for Allah — abundant, pure, and blessed praise, blessed upon it, as our Lord loves and is pleased with.”
(Ḥasan)
Prohibited Acts in Prayer
❀ Responding verbally to one who sneezes.
❀ Speaking during prayer.
Sayyidunā Muʿāwiyah bin al-Ḥakam al-Sulamī رضي الله عنه said:
بينا أنا أصلي مع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذ عطس رجل من القوم، فقلت: يرحمك الله، فقال: إن هذه الصلاة لا يصلح فيها شيء من كلام الناس
“I was praying with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ when a man sneezed, so I said: ‘May Allah have mercy on you.’ After the prayer, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘This prayer does not allow any worldly speech.’”
❀ Interlocking the fingers.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
ثم خرج عامدًا إلى المسجد فلا يشبكن يديه فإنه فى صلاة
“When one goes out intending to pray, he should not interlock his fingers, for he is considered to be in prayer.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ)
❀ Reciting only in the heart with lips closed is inappropriate; rather, recitation should be with the tongue and open lips. The Companions رضي الله عنهم would recognize the recitation of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ by the movement of his beard, indicating that he recited with his lips moving.
❀ Tying the hair or folding garments during prayer.
Some people infer from this ḥadīth that if trousers extend below the ankles, they should not be raised during prayer. This inference is incorrect, because allowing garments below the ankles is itself prohibited.
❀ Prayer becomes invalid if one is naked, because covering the ʿawrah is a condition. However, if a person has insufficient clothing, prayer will not be invalidated.
(Ṣaḥīḥ)
❀ Looking toward the sky or looking around during prayer.
❀ Unnecessary movements that contradict humility and devotion (khushūʿ).
❀ Spitting to the right or in front during prayer. If there is no fear of soiling the mosque, spitting between the feet or to the left is permissible.
❀ Reciting supplications or Qur’ān loudly.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
لا يجهر بعضكم على بعض بالقراءة فى الصلاة
“None of you should raise his voice over another in recitation during prayer.”
