Prohibition of spreading the arms during prostration, completing bowing and prostration, and the rulings on concentration in prayer

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

Prohibition of Spreading the Arms in Prostration​

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① It is narrated from Sayyiduna Anas رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
اعتدلوا فى السجود ولا يبسطن أحدكم ذراعيه انبساط الكلب
"Maintain moderation and calmness in prostrations, and none of you should spread his arms like a dog."

Reference: Bukhari, Book of Prayer Times 532. Muslim, Book of Prayer 493/233.

Completing Ruku and Sujood and Its Commands​

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① It is narrated from Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik رضي الله عنه that the Noble Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
أتموا الركوع والسجود
"Complete the bowing and prostration."

Reference: Muslim, Book of Prayer 425/111.

② It is also narrated from Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik رضي الله عنه that he heard the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم say:
أتموا الركوع والسجود فوالذي نفسي بيده إني أراكم من بعد ظهري إذا ما ركعتم وإذا ما سجدتم
"Complete the bowing and prostration. By the One in Whose Hand is my soul! When you bow and prostrate, I see you from behind my back."

Reference: Bukhari, Book of Oaths and Vows, Hadith 6644.

Removing Anything That Distracts from Prayer and the Related Rulings​

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① It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنهما that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم had a ring made and wore it. He said:
شغلني هذا عنكم منذ اليوم، إليه نظرة وإليكم نظرة
"Today it distracted my attention from you; sometimes I looked at it and sometimes at you." Then the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم threw it away.

Reference: An-Nasa’i, Kitab al-Zinah, Hadith 5291, the narration is Hasan. Musnad Ahmad 322/1.

② Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik رضي الله عنه reports that Sayyida Aisha رضي الله عنها had an embroidered curtain with which she had covered one side of her house. The Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said to her:
أميطي عني، فإنه لا تزال تصاويره تعرض لي فى صلاتي
"Remove it from me, for during my prayer its images kept appearing before me."

Reference: Bukhari, Kitab al-Libas, Hadith 5959.

Drawing Closer to Allah through Obligatory Acts​

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① Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrates, the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
إن الله تعالى قال: من عادى لي وليا فقد آذنته بالحرب، وما تقرب إلى عبدي بشيء أحب إلى مما افترضته عليه، ولا يزال عبدي يتقرب إلى بالنوافل حتى أحبه، فإذا أحببته كنت سمعه الذى يسمع به، وبصره الذى يبصر به، ويده التى يبطش بها، ورجله التى يمشي بها، وإن سألني لأعطينه، ولئن استعاذني لأعيذنه
"Allah Almighty says: Whoever shows enmity to My friend (wali), I declare war against him. My servant draws near to Me through what I have made obligatory upon him. My servant continues to draw near to Me through voluntary acts (nawafil) until I love him. When I love him, I become his hearing with which he hears, his sight with which he sees, his hand with which he grasps, and his foot with which he walks. If he asks Me, I give him, and if he seeks refuge with Me, I grant him refuge."

Reference: Bukhari, Book of Al-Riqaq, Chapter on Humility 6502.