[Q 506] Unfastening Button During Salah

QUESTION:

What is the shar’i ruling on unknotting a button during salah?

ANSWER:

If Amal-e-Kaseer (Amal-e-Kaseer – excessive action) is performed during Salah, meaning such an action that if a person were seen from a distance, it would appear that he is not in Salah, then the Salah becomes invalid. Therefore, if a button is opened in such a manner that it is regarded as Amal-e-Kaseer, then the Salah will become invalid. However, if it is done with a slight movement, then the Salah will not be invalidated.

Regarding the definition and ruling of Amal-e-Kaseer (excessive action), it is stated in Durr-e-Mukhtar:
“(And) it invalidates it (every excessive action) which is neither from its actions nor for its correction, and regarding it there are five opinions; the most authentic of them is (that action) due to which (a person who looks) from a distance (does not doubt) about the doer that he is not in prayer; and if he doubts whether he is in prayer or not, then it is minor.”

(Durr-e-Mukhtar, Kitab-us-Salah, Volume 2, Pages 464–465, Quetta edition)

Answered by: Mubashir Attari (AskMufti Scholar)
Verified by: Mufti Sajid Attari
Translated answer
Date: 14th December 2025