What to do if one’s waist-cloth comes undone during prayer

Question

If, while in prayer, one’s waist-cloth comes undone and it is difficult to tie it with one hand, may one tie it with both hands and pray, or will one have to make the takbir al-tahrima (opening takbir) anew? Also: if, while in prayer, the drawstring breaks and one sits down immediately, will the prayer be valid if performed sitting, or should one tie the drawstring of one’s trousers and begin the prayer anew? This case has been written with regard to a fard prayer.

Answer

If he can hold [the waist-cloth] with one hand and complete the prayer, let him do so; otherwise let him fix [it] with both hands and perform [the prayer] anew. In a nafl prayer there is latitude to the extent that he may complete the prayer sitting. Editor’s note: fixing the waist-cloth with both hands is an excessive action (‘amal kathir)

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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