It is recommended that the worshipper’s gaze in standing be towards his prostration place, in bowing towards his toes, in prostration towards the tip of his nose, in sitting towards his lap, at the first salām towards his right shoulder, at the second towards his left shoulder.
تحفة الملوكZayn al-Dīn al-Rāzīفصل [فيما يستحب وما يفسد وما لا يفسد]
Chapter: what is recommended, what invalidates, and what does not invalidate
He does not turn his head about.
He does not fidget with his garment or his limb.
ويكره تغميض عينيه.
Closing the eyes tightly is disliked.
ويكره سبق الإمام بالأفعال، وعدّ الآي والتسبيح،وحمل شيء في يده أو فمه.
It is disliked to beat the imām in actions, count verses and tasbīḥs, or carry something in hand or mouth.
وتطويل الإمامِ الركوعَ لداخلٍ يعرفه إلا القراءة.
The imām lengthening bowing for someone inside whom he knows [is waiting]—except recitation—is [disliked].
ويكره افتتاح الصلاة وبه حاجة إلى الخلاء.
Beginning prayer while needing the lavatory is disliked.
وتكره الصّلاة خلفَ الصف وحدَه مهما وجد فرجة.
Praying alone behind the row is disliked however much space he finds.
ولو صلَّى في مكانٍ طاهرٍ من الحمام لا صورةَ فيه، لا يكره.
If he prays in a pure place of a bathhouse with no [living] image in it, it is not disliked.
وتكره القراءة في الحمام جهراً لا سرّاً.
Recitation in the bathhouse aloud is disliked, not quietly.
وتكره صورة ذي الرّوح في كلِّ جهاتِ المصلِّي، إلا ممحوة الرأس، والصغيرة جداً.
An image of a living being in any direction of the worshipper is disliked except effaced of head or very small.
ولو استقبل تنوراً يتوقَّد، أو كانوناً فيه نار، يكره، بخلاف الشمع والسراج والمصحف والسيف ونحوها.
If he faces a heating oven or a brazier with fire, it is disliked—unlike a candle, lamp, muṣḥaf, sword, and the like.
والعمل الكثير يقطع الصلاة: وهو ما لا يوجد إلا باليدين، وقيل: هو ما يجزم الناظر إليه أنَّه ليس في الصلاة، وهو المختار.
Much action breaks prayer: what cannot be done without two hands; the chosen view is what lets an observer judge he is not in prayer.
ومَن صلَّى في الصحراء نصب بين يديه سترة قدرَ ذراع فصاعداً في غلظ الإصبع فما زاد، ويقرب منها ويجعلها بحذاء أحد حاجبيه، ولا عبرة بالإلقاء ولا بالخطّ.
Whoever prays in open land sets before him a screen at least a forearm thick upward from finger thickness; he draws near and aligns it with one eyebrow; throwing [a line] or drawing is not considered.
ويأثم المارّ في موضع سجوده في الصحراء والمسجد الجامع، ويدرأ المارَّ إن لم يكن له ستْرَةٌ، أو مَرَّ بينه وبينها بإشارةٍ أو تسبيح، ولا يدرأ بهما.
Passing through his prostration place in open land and the large congregational mosque is sinful; the passer is warded off if he has no screen, or if someone passes between him and it with a gesture or tasbīḥ—and not warded off with those two alone.
وإن تنحنح بغير عذر فحصلت به حروف، بطلت، وإن كان بعذر، فلا: كالعطاس والجشاء ولو حصلت بهما حروف.
If he clears his throat without excuse and articulated letters, [the prayer] is void; with excuse—no: like sneezing and yawning even if letters occur.