Question Summary
Is it necessary to pause when raising one’s hands for the opening takbir?
In which parts of the prayer must one have a moment of stillness?
Is it permissible to pray the four rak’at sunna prayers in pairs of two?
Is it permissible to make a very short pause between the recitation of Fatiha and a Sura and between the Tashahhud and the prayer on the Prophet – as this greatly helps my constant forgetfulness?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate
It is not necessary to pause when raising one’s hands in the opening takbir.
Stillness in the prayer is necessary (according to the more cautious opinion) when standing from the bowing position when sitting between the two prostrations. [Tahtawi, Shurunbulali; Hashiyat Maraqi al-Falah]
Pausing Between Recitations
If taking slight pauses in the prayer assists you in performing the prayer correctly, it is allowed as long as the pause is not the length of one integral (i.e., the extent of saying SubhanAllah three times.) [Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]
Hope this helps
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch