In prayer

On fidgeting while giving salām

They were waving their hands and he stopped them.

مَا شَأْنُكُمْ تُشِيرُونَ بِأَيْدِيكُمْ كَأَنَّهَا أَذْنَابُ خَيْلٍ شُمُسٍ إِذَا سَلَّمَ أَحَدُكُمْ فَلْيَلْتَفِتْ إِلَى صَاحِبِهِ وَلاَ يُومِئْ بِيَدِهِ

Why do you make gestures with your hands as if they were the tails of restless horses? When one of you gives salutation, let him turn to his companion and not make a gesture.

The full narration

Jabir b. Samura reported:We said our prayer with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and, while pronouncing salutations, we made gestures with our hands (indicating)" Peace be upon you, peace be upon you." The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) looked towards us and said: Why is it that you make gestures with your hands like the tails of headstrong horses? When any one of you pro- nounces salutation (in prayer) he should only turn his face towards his companion and should not make a gesture with his hand

Source

Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim · 971

Ṣaḥīḥ
  • Agreed upon as authentic (al-Bukhārī / Muslim)
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