Prohibition of gathering hair and clothes, tying a knot, covering the private parts, and passing in front of the worshipper during prayer

This excerpt is taken from the Arabic book Al-Awamer wal-Nawahi by Sheikh Hussain bin Mubarak Al-Mawsili, whose Urdu translation has been done by Muhammad Sarwar Gohar Sahib under the title Ahkamat o Mamnooat.

Prohibition of gathering hair and clothes during prayer​

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① Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنهما narrates that the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم commanded us to prostrate on seven parts: the forehead including the nose, both hands, both knees, both feet, and that we should not gather hair or clothes.

Reference: Bukhari, Kitab al-Adhan 809; Muslim, Kitab al-Salat 490/228.

Explanation: The prohibition of gathering clothes and hair is so that we do not protect them from getting dust on them. When we pray, leave them as they are; if they touch the ground, let them touch it and prostrate on the seven parts.

Prohibition of praying with hair tied in a bun​

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① It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنهما that he saw Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Harith رضي الله عنه wearing a turban on his head, so he stood up and began to untie it. When he finished the prayer, Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Harith رضي الله عنه turned to him and said: What concern do you have with my head? He said, I heard the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم say:
إنما مثل هذا مثل الذى يصلي وهو مكتوف
"The example is like a person who is praying and his both hands are tied."

Reference: Muslim, Book of Prayer 492/232. Abu Dawood, Book of Prayer 647. Musnad Ahmad, from the Musnad of Bani Hashim 395/1.

Prohibition of passing in front of a person who is praying​

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① It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما that the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
إذا كان أحدكم يصلي فلا يدع أحدا يمر بين يديه ، وليدراه ما استطاع ، فإن أبى فليقاتله فإنما هو شيطان
"When any one of you is praying, he should not allow anyone to pass in front of him; he should try his best to stop him. If he refuses, then argue with him, for he is Satan."

Reference: Muslim, Book of Prayer 505/258.

② Sayyiduna Abu Juhaym رضي الله عنه reports that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
لو يعلم المار بين يدي المصلي ماذا عليه لكان أن يقف أربعين خير له من أن يمر بين يديه
"If the one passing in front of the person praying knew how much sin he would incur, it would be better for him to stand for forty (units) than to pass in front of him."

Reference: Bukhari, Book of Prayer 510. Muslim 507/261. Abu Dawood, Book of Prayer 701.

Sayyiduna Abu Nasr رضي الله عنه states: I do not know whether these forty are days, months, or years.

Placing Seventeen in Prayer​

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① Sayyiduna Talhah bin Ubaidullah رضي الله عنه narrates, the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
إذا وضع أحدكم بين يديه مثل مؤخرة الرحل، فليصل ولا يبالي من مر وراء ذلك
"When any one of you places the back of a plow in front of him and someone passes behind that plow, he should not be concerned about it."

Reference: Muslim, Kitab al-Salat 499. Abu Dawood, Kitab al-Salat 685.

② Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrates, the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
إذا صلى أحدكم فليجعل تلقاء وجهه شيئا فإن لم يجد فلينصب عصاه، فإن لم يجد فليخط خطا ثم لا يضره ما مر أمامه
"When any one of you prays, he should place something in front of him; if he does not find anything, he should set up his stick, and if he does not find that, then he should draw a line. Then whatever passes in front of him will not harm him."

Reference: Musnad Ahmad 249/2. Abu Dawood, Kitab al-Salat 689.