Question: What is Amal Katheer? (Excessive movement in Salah)
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Answer:
Amal Katheer is doing something which causes your Salah to become invalid. There are different opinions as to what is regarded as Amal Katheer.
The most valid opinion is that to do such an act in Salah, that if someone who did not know that you were praying Salah, was to see you, and think that you are not in Salah, then this would be classified as Amal Katheer, and would invalidate your Salaah.
ثُمَّ اخْتَلَفُوا فِيمَا يُعَيِّنُ الْكَثْرَةَ وَالْقِلَّةَ عَلَى أَقْوَالٍ أَحَدِهَا مَا اخْتَارَهُ الْعَامَّةُ كَمَا فِي الْخُلَاصَةِ وَالْخَانِيَّةِ أَنَّ كُلَّ عَمَلٍ لَا يَشُكُّ النَّاظِرُ أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ فِي الصَّلَاةِ فَهُوَ كَثِيرٌ وَكُلَّ عَمَلٍ يَشْتَبِهُ عَلَى النَّاظِرِ أَنَّ عَامِلَهُ فِي الصَّلَاةِ فَهُوَ قَلِيلٌ قَالَ فِي الْبَدَائِعِ وَهَذَا أَصَحُّ وَتَابَعَهُ الشَّارِحُ والْوَلْوَالِجِيُّ وَقَالَ فِي الْمُحِيطِ إنَّهُ الْأَحْسَنُ وَقَالَ الصَّدْرُ الشَّهِيدُ إنَّهُ الصَّوَابُ وَذَكَرَ الْعَلَّامَةُ الْحَلَبِيُّ أَنَّ الظَّاهِرَ أَنَّ مُرَادَهُمْ بِالنَّاظِرِ مَنْ لَيْسَ عِنْدَهُ عِلْمٌ بِشُرُوعِ الْمُصَلِّي فِي الصَّلَاةِ فَحِينَئِذٍ إذَا رَآهُ عَلَى هَذَا الْعَمَلِ وَتَيَقَّنَ أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ فِي الصَّلَاةِ فَهُوَ عَمَلٌ كَثِيرٌ وَإِنْ شَكَّ فَهُوَ قَلِيلٌ. (البحر الرائق 2/12)
And Allah is All Knowing