Does cracking one’s fingers invalidate prayer and wudu?

- If cracking one’s fingers invalidates prayer, does it also invalidate wudu?

Dear Brother / Sister,

It is makruh to crack one’s fingers in the mosque while forming the ranks for the prayer, starting the prayer and in the prayer but it does not invalidate prayer or wudu.

It is sunnah for a Muslim to act in accordance with good manners everywhere, especially in the mosque. For, a Muslim is solemn since he is enlightened with the light of belief and since he has a spiritual jewel that is invaluable in his heart; but he is humble and lenient.

Mosques are places where Allah Almighty is worshipped and where religious sciences are studied. It is makruh to act lightheartedly in the mosque. It is necessary for a Muslim who starts to perform a prayer to act very solemnly and respectfully. 

Cracking one’s fingers in the mosque is regarded among lighthearted acts in the mosque; so is intertwining one’s fingers.

The hadiths about cracking and intertwining one’s fingers in the mosque and while performing prayers are as follows:

"When one of you is in the mosque, he should not intertwine his fingers because it is of Satan to do like that. When you are in the mosque, you are regarded to be in prayer unless you leave the mosque." (Musnad, 3/43, 54)

"When one of you makes wudu and leaves home intending to go to the mosque, he should not intertwine his fingers because he is regarded in prayer." (Tirmidhi, Mawaqit 167; Abu Dawud, Salah 50)

"The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) saw a man who had intertwined his fingers during the prayer; he stood up and separated his fingers." (Ibn Majah, Iqamah 42)

"Do not crack your fingers during the prayer." (Ibn Majah, Iqamah 42, 43)

The decrees and ijtihads of mujtahid imams based on the hadiths:

a) According to Hanafis,

it is makruh to intertwine or to crack one’s fingers in prayer; it is contrary to the Sunnah. For, when someone does so, he abandons awe, which indicates respect. In addition, when he does so, he abandons the sunnah of placing the right hand on the left hand while standing and placing the hands on the knees while sitting in prayer. (Qasani, Badayi'us-Sanayi', 1/215, Majmaul-Anhur, 1/123)

b) According to the other three madhhabs, it is makruh to both intertwine and crack one’s fingers in prayer. (see Ibn Qudama, al-Mughni, 1/661, 662)

Summary:

- It is makruh tanzihi for a Muslim to crack his fingers or to intertwine his fingers in the community and while walking in the street.

- It is makruh to crack and to intertwine one’s fingers in the mosque and while performing prayers.

- It is not makruh in obligatory states.

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