He should therefore keep his forearms away from his sides and raise them off the ground. However, the jurists said: if the prostration becomes prolonged and this causes him difficulty, he may rest his elbows on his knees (1), because this affords ease to the legally responsible person, and the Lawgiver intends ease for us. For this reason, the sitting of rest was legislated for one who finds it difficult to rise without first sitting.

Fidgeting during the prayer, …

His statement, “Fidgeting during the prayer,” means that it is disliked for a worshipper to fidget, that is, to occupy himself with something for which there is no need. This is because fidgeting entails several harms:

The first harm is that it distracts the heart. Bodily movement follows the movement of the heart; bodily movement cannot occur without the heart also moving. Thus, when the body moves, the heart must also be in motion, and this distracts one from the prayer. When the Prophet ﷺ glanced once at the patterned garment, he said: “Take this garment of mine to Abu Jahm, and bring me Abu Jahm’s plain garment, for it distracted me just now from my prayer.” (2) This hadith shows that everything which distracts from the prayer should be avoided.

The second harm is that, true to its name, it is frivolous and idle conduct, which is contrary to the seriousness required of a person while praying.

The third harm is that it consists of bodily movements extraneous to the prayer, for the prayer has prescribed movements: standing, sitting, bowing, and prostrating.

As for what the author of al-Rawd (3), may Allah have mercy on him, mentioned in his statement: “Because it…”