Is all forms of fidgeting ('abath') during prayer disliked?
Chapter on what invalidates the prayer if omitted intentionally or forgetfully
Al-Mughni
Book of Prayer
Primary text
All fidgeting that distracts from the prayer and removes its reverence is disliked. It is narrated that the Prophet, peace be upon him, saw a man fidgeting and said, 'If his heart were reverent, his limbs would be reverent.' There is no known difference of opinion among scholars regarding the dislike of all these actions. Al-Shafi'i disliked them, and this dislike was reported from Ibn Abbas, Aisha, Mujahid, An-Nukha'i, Abu Mijlaz, Malik, Al-Awza'i, Ishaq, and the People of Opinion (Ashab ar-Ra'y).