Does Wiping Face in Prayer Invalidate My Prayer?

Answered by Shaykh Yusuf Weltch

Question

While praying, I would sometimes spit lightly to the left and wipe my face with my sleeve or finger for 20–30 seconds, occasionally in multiple rak‘as. Does this invalidate the prayer?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

Consider if an onlooker who did not have previous knowledge that you were engaged in prayer were to see you doing what you described in your question, would they be reasonably sure that you were not engaged in prayer? [Tahtawi/Shurunbulali, Hashiyat Maraqi al-Falah]

If the answer is yes, then your prayer is invalid according to the relied-upon position in the Hanafi school, in which case, you must repeat the prayer. If the answer is no, then your prayer remains valid. [Ibid.]

Hope this helps
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch is a teacher of Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he went on to study at Darul Uloom Seminary in New York and completed his studies at Darul Mustafa in Tarim, Yemen.

There, he completed the memorization of the Quran and his study of Islamic Sciences. Throughout his years of study, he was blessed to learn from many great scholars: Habib Umar bin Hafiz, Habib Kazhim al-Saqqaf, Shaykh ‘Umar bin Husayn al-Khatib, and others.

Upon returning, he joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.