What is the ruling on excessive involuntary swaying while standing in prayer, and is the imamate of one who does so valid?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
Swaying during prayer is considered disliked (makrooh), based on the : "When one of you stands for prayer, let him tranquilize his limbs and not sway like the Jews." What is disliked does not invalidate the prayer unless it becomes frequent and continuous. If the swaying becomes so excessive that it invalidates the prayer, then the prayer of the one performing it is invalid, and consequently, his imamate (leading of prayer) is not valid.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/182016
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 182016
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy