Amal-e-Kasir, Swallowing & the Thirty-Two Makruhat-e-Tahrimaĥ of Ṣalah

Definition of 'Amal-e-Kašīr

1.     'Amal-e-Kašīr invalidates Ṣalāĥ provided it is neither from the acts of Ṣalāĥ nor it is aimed at rectifying Ṣalāĥ. Doing the act seeing which from distance seems as if the doer of that act is not offering Ṣalāĥ or if there is strong likelihood that he is not offering Ṣalāĥ, that act is 'Amal-e-Kašīr. If the one watching from distance is in doubt as to whether or not the doer of that act is offering Ṣalāĥ, the act will be 'Amal-e-Qalīl that does not invalidate Ṣalāĥ.

(Dur-re-Mukhtār, pp. 464, vol. 2)

Wearing Clothes during Ṣalāĥ

2.     Wearing a kurta, pyjama or Taĥband during Ṣalāĥ.

(Ghunyaĥ, pp. 452)

3.     Undressing of Sitr during the Ṣalāĥ and, in the same condition, offering any act (of Ṣalāĥ) or the passing of the amount of time in which سُبْحٰنَاللّٰہ can be uttered thrice.

(Dur-re-Mukhtār, pp. 467, vol. 2)

Swallowing during Ṣalāĥ

4.     During Ṣalāĥ, if someone eats or drinks something even in the least amount such as swallowing a sesame seed without chewing or swallowing a drop that fell into the mouth, his Ṣalāĥ will become invalid.

(Dur-re-Mukhtār, pp. 462, vol. 2) (Rad-dul-Muḥtār, pp. 462, vol. 2)

5.     If something was embedded among teeth prior to the beginning of Ṣalāĥ, and the Muṣallī swallowed it, his Ṣalāĥ would become invalid provided the swallowed thing was equal or bigger than chick-pea. If it was smaller, the Ṣalāĥ will not become invalid but it would be Makrūĥ.

(Dur-re-Mukhtār, pp. 462, vol. 2) (Fatāwa-e-'Ālamgīrī, pp. 102, vol. 1)

6.     Before Ṣalāĥ, someone ate a sweet thing whose crumbs were not in the mouth; just a little sweetness remained in saliva, swallowing it will not invalidate the Ṣalāĥ.

(Fatāwa-e-'Ālamgīrī, pp. 102, vol. 1)

7.     If there is sugar etc. in the mouth that dissolves and reaches the throat, the Ṣalāĥ will become invalid.

(ibid)

8.     If gums bleed and the amount of saliva dominates that of blood, swallowing it will not invalidate the Ṣalāĥ, otherwise it will.

(Fatāwa-e-'Ālamgīrī, pp. 102, vol. 1)

The sign of blood's domination is that if its taste is felt in throat, the Ṣalāĥ will become invalid. The invalidation of Ṣalāĥ depends upon taste while that of Wuḍū depends upon colour. Therefore, Wuḍū will become invalid when saliva turns red; if it is yellow, it will not become invalid.

Deviating from the Qiblaĥ during Ṣalāĥ

9.     Turning chest from the direction of Qiblaĥ at or beyond the angle of 45 degree without a valid reason will invalidate the Ṣalāĥ. If there is a valid reason, the Ṣalāĥ will not become invalid. For example, someone suspected Ḥadaš (the invalidation of Wuḍū) and as soon as he turned his face, he realized the mistake of suspecting; in this case, if he has not yet exited the Masjid, his Ṣalāĥ will not become invalid.

(Baĥār-e-Sharī'at, pp. 611, vol. 1) (Dur-re-Mukhtār, pp. 468, vol. 2)

Killing a Snake during Ṣalāĥ

10. Killing a snake or scorpion does not invalidate the Ṣalāĥ provided that the Muṣallī does not have to walk three steps, nor is the need of three strikes, otherwise the Ṣalāĥ will become invalid.

(Fatāwa-e-'Ālamgīrī, pp. 103, vol. 1)

Killing a snake or scorpion is permissible when it is passing in front of the Muṣallī and there is fear of harm; if there is no fear of harm, killing it is Makrūĥ.

(ibid)

11. Plucking three hairs consecutively or killing three lice or beating one louse thrice – all of these acts will invalidate Ṣalāĥ. If the Muṣallī did not beat consecutively, the Ṣalāĥ will not become invalid but it would be Makrūĥ.

(Fatāwa-e-'Ālamgīrī, pp. 103, vol. 1, Ghunyaĥ, pp. 448)

Itching in Ṣalāĥ

12. Scratching thrice in one unit (of Ṣalāĥ) will invalidate Ṣalāĥ; i.e. scratching once and then lifting hand, then scratching and lifting hand once again; it is twice-scratching. If the act of scratching is repeated for the third time, Ṣalāĥ will become invalid. Placing the hand once (at an organ) and moving it several times will be considered scratching once only.

(Fatāwa-e-'Ālamgīrī, pp. 104, vol. 1, Ghunyaĥ, pp. 448)

Mistakes in Reciting اَللّٰہُ اَکْبَر

13. While uttering Takbīrs of Intiqāl (transitions), if the word "Allāĥ" is read with a stretched الف (Alif) (Āllāĥ) or the word اَکْبَر (Akbar) is read with a stretched الف (Alif) اکبار (Ākbar) or with a stretched ب (bā) اکبار (Akbār), the Ṣalāĥ will be invalid. If this mistake was committed while uttering Takbīr-e-Taḥrīmaĥ, the Ṣalāĥ would not start at all.

(Dur-re-Mukhtār, pp. 473, vol. 2)

Most of the Mukabbirs, conveying the voice of Takbīr to those offering Ṣalāĥ at the back side, often commit these mistakes. As a result of this mispronunciation, the Ṣalāĥ of such Mukabbirs as well as that of those offering Ṣalāĥ following their Takbīrs becomes invalid. Therefore, one should refrain from uttering Takbīr without learning necessary rulings.

14. While doing Qirā-at or reciting Ażkār (invocations) in Ṣalāĥ, the mistake that makes the meaning Fāsid (wrong) will result in the invalidation of the Ṣalāĥ.

(Baĥār-e-Sharī'at, pp. 614, vol. 1)

Thirty-two Makrūĥāt-e-Taḥrīmaĥ of Ṣalāĥ

1.     Fidgeting with beard, body or clothes.

(Fatāwa-e-'Ālamgīrī, pp. 105, vol. 1)

2.     Folding cloth (ibid), as these days, some people lift their trousers etc. from front or rear side while going down for Sajdaĥ. However, if the cloth sticks to the body, there is no harm in un-sticking it with one hand.

Hanging Shawl over Shoulders

3.     Sadal, i.e. hanging cloth; for example, keeping a shawl or handkerchief on head or shoulder in such a way that its both ends are hanging. However, if one end is on a shoulder and the other is hanging, there is no harm in it.

4.     These days, some people keep their handkerchief on one shoulder in such a way that its one end is hanging at their belly while the other at their back, offering Ṣalāĥ in this state is Makrūĥ-e-Taḥrīmī.

(Baĥār-e-Sharī'at, pp. 624, vol. 1)

5.     Likewise, if either of the sleeves is folded higher than a half forearm, the Ṣalāĥ will become Makrūĥ-e-Taḥrīmī.

(Dur-re-Mukhtār, pp. 490, vol. 2)

Intense Excretory Requirement

6.     Being in the intense need of urinating, defecating or breaking wind etc. If there is intensity before starting the Ṣalāĥ, starting Ṣalāĥ in this case is a sin provided there is sufficient time available (for Ṣalāĥ). However, if the time for Ṣalāĥ will elapse in case of making Wuḍū having urinated or defecated, offer Ṣalāĥ in the same condition. If this state occurred during Ṣalāĥ, it is Wājib to cancel Ṣalāĥ provided there is sufficient time available (for the Ṣalāĥ). If someone offered Ṣalāĥ in the same state, he would be a sinner.

(Rad-dul-Muḥtār, pp. 492, vol. 2)