The ruling on excessive action

Question

What is the ruling on doing something with both hands at the same time while praying? For example, what about adjusting one’s trousers or dhoti (a wrap-around loincloth traditionally worn by Hindu men) with both hands when rising from ruku‘ and when going down into sajda? And if someone does this deliberately, what is the ruling on such a person — will the prayer be valid or not?

Answer

An act that is customarily done with both hands invalidates the prayer, according to some jurists, if it is done during the prayer. If one gives the trousers or dhoti a slight support in the ordinary way, so that it does not hinder the sajda or so that the ‘awra is not exposed, and there is no great movement, then the prayer is not invalidated by this; but moving the hands a…

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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