Tuesday, September 1, 2026

Grit, Knuckle-Cracking, Tashbīk & Other Makrūĥāt-e-Taḥrīmaĥ of Ṣalāĥ

Removing Grit during Ṣalāĥ

1.     It is Makrūĥ-e-Taḥrīmī to remove grit during Ṣalāĥ.

(Dur-re-Mukhtār, pp. 493, vol. 2) (Rad-dul-Muḥtār, pp. 493, vol. 2)

Ḥaḍrat Sayyidunā Jābir رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ said that when he asked the beloved and blessed Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم about touching grit during Ṣalāĥ, the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied, 'Once, and if you avoid doing so, it is better than a hundred black-eyed she-camels.'

(Ṣaḥīḥ ibn-e-Khuzaīmaĥ, pp. 52, vol. 2, Ḥadīš 897)

However, if Sajdaĥ cannot be performed according to Sunnaĥ due to grit, removing it once is allowed. Further, if any Wājib cannot be performed without removing the grit, removing it is Wājib in this case even if there is the need of removing it more than one time."

(Dur-re-Mukhtār, pp. 493, vol. 2, Rad-dul-Muḥtār, pp. 493, vol. 2)

Cracking Knuckles

2.     It is Makrūĥ-e-Taḥrīmī to crack knuckles during Ṣalāĥ.

(Dur-re-Mukhtār, pp. 493, vol. 2)

Ḥaḍrat Sayyidunā Khātim-ul-Muḥaqqiqīn Ḥaḍrat 'Allāmaĥ Ibn-e-'Abidīn Shāmī رَحْمَۃُاللّٰہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہ has mentioned a narration with the reference of Sunan-e-Ibn-e-Mājaĥ that the beloved and blessed Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, 'Don't crack your knuckles during Ṣalāĥ.' (Sunan Ibn Mājaĥ, pp. 514, vol. 1, Ḥadīš 965) Another narration with the reference of 'Mujtaba' says that the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم prohibited from cracking knuckles at the time of waiting for Ṣalāĥ. One more narration says that knuckle-cracking was forbidden for the one going for offering Ṣalāĥ. On the basis of the foregoing Aḥādīš, the following three rulings were proved:

a)     Cracking knuckles during Ṣalāĥ as well as Tawābi'i (connectors of) Ṣalāĥ such as is going for offering Ṣalāĥ or waiting for Ṣalāĥ is Makrūĥ-e-Taḥrīmī.

(Baĥār-e-Sharī'at, pp. 625, vol. 1)

b)    Cracking knuckles unnecessarily when not offering Ṣalāĥ (nor even during Tawābi'i Ṣalāĥ) is Makrūĥ-e-Tanzīĥī.

c)     When not offering Ṣalāĥ, cracking knuckles out of a need such as giving rest to fingers is Mubāḥ.

(Rad-dul-Muḥtār, pp. 493-494, vol. 2)

3.     Tashbīk, i.e. intermixing the fingers of one hand with those of the other.

(Dur-re-Mukhtār, pp. 493, vol. 2)

The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, 'The one proceeding to Masjid should not do Tashbīk i.e. he should not intermix both hands' fingers with each other, (as) verily, he is in Ṣalāĥ.'

(Jāmi' Tirmiżī, pp. 396, vol. 1, Ḥadīš 386)

Tashbīk is Makrūĥ-e-Taḥrīmī at the time of waiting for Ṣalāĥ as well as going for offering Ṣalāĥ.

(Baĥār-e-Sharī'at, pp. 625, vol. 1, Dur-re-Mukhtār, pp. 493, vol. 2)

Placing Hand on Back

4.     Placing hand on back during Ṣalāĥ is Makrūĥ-e-Taḥrīmī. One should not place hand on the back i.e. at the middle of both the sides without a reason even when not offering Ṣalāĥ.

(Dur-re-Mukhtār, pp. 494, vol. 2)

The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said that placing hand on back is the comfort of those who would be in Hell.

(Sharḥ-us-Sunnaĥ-lil-Baghawī, pp. 313, vol. 2, Ḥadīš 731)

In other words, it is the practice of the Jews who would be in Hell; in reality, there would be no comfort for those who would be in Hell."

(Baĥār-e-Sharī'at, pp. 618, vol. 1)

Looking Towards the Sky

5.     It is Makrūĥ-e-Taḥrīmī to raise the eye-sight towards the sky during Ṣalāĥ.

(Baĥār-e-Sharī'at, pp. 626, vol. 1)

The beloved and blessed Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, 'How are those who raise eyes towards the sky during Ṣalāĥ; they had better refrain from it or else their eyes will be plucked.'

(Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī, pp. 265, vol. 1, Ḥadīš 750)

6.     Seeing here and there by turning the face (whether completely or partially) during Ṣalāĥ is Makrūĥ-e-Taḥrīmī. Seeing here and there unnecessarily just by turning eyes without turning face is Makrūĥ-e-Tanzīĥī; and if it is rarely done out of a need, there is no harm.

(Baĥār-e-Sharī'at, pp. 626, vol. 1)

The Prophet of mankind, the peace of our heart and mind, the most generous and kind صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, 'The mercy of Allāĥ remains attentive to the Muṣallī unless he sees hither and thither; when the Muṣallī turns his face, His (Allāĥ's) mercy also turns.'

(Sunan Abū Dāwūd, pp. 344, vol. 1, Ḥadīš 909)

7.     Men's keeping their forearms laid (on the ground) in Sajdaĥ.

(Dur-re-Mukhtār, pp. 496, vol. 2, Rad-dul-Muḥtār, pp. 496, vol. 2)

Looking Towards the Muṣallī

8.     To offer Ṣalāĥ facing the face of a person is Makrūĥ-e-Taḥrīmī. For the other person, it is impermissible and sin to turn face towards the Muṣallī. If someone starts offering Ṣalāĥ facing the face of a person who was beforehand sitting in that direction, the one starting Ṣalāĥ will be sinner and will be accused, otherwise, the one turning face towards a Muṣallī will be sinner and will be accused.

(Dur-re-Mukhtār, pp. 496-497, vol. 2)

All those who look back after the Salām of Jamā'at is performed, facing the face of the Muṣallī offering Ṣalāĥ just behind them or those who stand facing him and wait for him to perform Salām so that they could go back or those who make announcement, deliver Dars or Speech sitting or standing just in front of the Muṣallī, all should repent.

9.     To cover the nose and the mouth during Ṣalāĥ.

(Dur-re-Mukhtār, pp. 511, vol. 2) (Fatāwa-e-'Ālamgīrī, pp. 106, vol. 1)

10. Clearing throat, i.e. bringing phlegm to the mouth unnecessarily.

(Dur-re-Mukhtār, pp. 511, vol. 2)

11. Yawning deliberately during Ṣalāĥ is Makrūĥ-e-Taḥrīmī;

(Marāqil Falāḥ, pp. 354)

but if it is spontaneous, there is no harm in it; yet it is Mustaḥab to stifle it. The beloved and blessed Prophet of Allāĥ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, 'If someone feels the need of yawning during Ṣalāĥ; he should stifle it as long as possible, because Satan enters the mouth.'

(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, pp. 1597, Ḥadīš 2995)

12. To recite the Holy Qurān in the reverse order (for example, reciting Sūraĥ-e-Laĥab in the first Rak'at and Sūraĥ-e-Nasr in the second)

13. Missing a Wājib. For example, going down for Sajdaĥ without standing erect in Qawmaĥ or going for the second Sajdaĥ without straightening the back in Jalsaĥ is Makrūĥ-e-Taḥrīmī.

(Baĥār-e-Sharī'at, pp. 629, vol. 1)

A large number of Muslims seem involved in this sin. Remember! It is Wājib to repeat all such Ṣalāĥs.

14. Reciting the Holy Qurān in any other unit of Ṣalāĥ except Qiyām.

(Baĥār-e-Sharī'at, pp. 629, vol. 1)

15. Completing Qirā-at having bent for Rukū'.

(ibid)

16. Muqtadī's bending for Rukū' or going down for Sajdaĥ etc. or raising head prior to the Imām, all are Makrūĥ-e-Taḥrīmī.

(ibid)

Ḥaḍrat Sayyidunā Imām Mālik narrates via Ḥaḍrat Sayyidunā Abū Huraīrah رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُthat the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, 'The one who raises and lowers his head before the Imām does, the hair of his forehead are in the hand of Satan.'

(Muwaṭṭan Imām-e-Mālik, pp. 102, vol. 1, Ḥadīš 212)

Similarly, Ḥaḍrat Sayyidunā Abū Huraīraĥ رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُnarrates that the Holy Prophet صَلَّى صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, 'Does the person raising his head before the Imām not fear that Allāĥ عَزَّوَجَلَّ turns his head with the head of a donkey?'

(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, pp. 228, Ḥadīš 427)

No comments:

Post a Comment