Salaah

Holding a hanky in one's hand and performing Salaah

Q: If a person is holding a handkerchief in his hand and performing salaah due to his nose running, his postures in salaah will be slightly changed, e.g. in sajdah he will hold his hand sideways or upside down so the hanky doesn't touch the floor, and in qadah his hand will be slightly lifted off his thigh with the hanky in between. Is it permissible to do so? What other options are there?

Making verbal niyyah before salaah

Q: My question is related to making the verbal niyyah before salah. Is it a bida'h? I have gone through a lot of articles regarding this matter. Some people say that it is bida'h. Some say that it is okay to say it verbally whereas some say that it is not from the sunnah, that our prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) did not use to do this. He would rather make intention in the heart and start the salaah with Allah Akbar. I am confused with it and don't want to fall in doing something wrong. So if you can guide me to the right path Insha Allah. I also want to know if the intention is to be made in the heart only then what are things that should be said in the heart.