Details on excessive action

Question

Is scratching three times in any pillar (rukn) of the prayer an invalidator of the prayer? Nowadays a certain scholar frequently states in his sermons that doing so renders the prayer void, and he cites Fatawa ‘Alamgiri as his reference. Presumably the said fatwa is given on the assumption that this is an excessive action (‘amal kathir), whereas there are several views about excessive action; there are three views in Fatawa ‘Alamgiri too.

Answer

Excessive action (‘amal kathir) invalidates the prayer. There are five views on its definition; they are set out in detail in Kabiri, the commentary on Munyat al-Musalli (p. 418). In al-Durr al-Mukhtar (p. 419)

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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