Abu Qatadah reported that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, would pray while carrying Umamah, the daughter of Zaynab, the daughter of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. When he stood, he would carry her, and when he prostrated, he would put her down (1).

All of these acts involve more than three movements.

His statement, “without necessity,” indicates that if the movements are numerous due to necessity, the prayer is not invalidated, and there is nothing wrong with this.

The evidence for this is the saying of Allah, Most High:

“Maintain with care the prayers, and the middle prayer, and stand before Allah devoutly obedient. But if you are in fear, then pray on foot or while riding.” [al-Baqarah 2:238–239]

“On foot” means walking—that is, pray while you are walking. “Or while riding” means upon mounts.

It is well known that one who is walking moves a great deal. Thus, if we suppose that, after beginning his prayer, a person sensed that a predatory beast was behind him and seeking to attack him, while he had nothing with which to defend himself, and so he fled while praying, his prayer would be valid. This is because he is under necessity, and there is no blame upon him if he turns away from the direction of the qiblah.

His statement, “and without separation,” means that, for numerous movements to have this effect, they must be continuous according to customary practice. If they are separated, the prayer is not invalidated. So, if a person moves three times in the first rak'ah, three times in the second, three times in the third, and three times in the fourth, then, if they were added together, they would be many; but since they are separated, they are slight when each rak'ah is considered on its own. This too does not invalidate the prayer.

His statement, “even if done forgetfully,” means that the prayer is invalidated by this act, even if