Question
Peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you
Explanation of the conditions of Salah
Answer with the help of Al-Wahhab, provided the question is correct
And peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you!
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
Meaning of Condition and Definition of the Conditions of Salah
❀ The literal meaning of condition is a sign.
❀ Technically, a condition is that thing without which an act does not occur, but its presence does not necessarily guarantee the occurrence of the act.
❀ By the conditions of Salah is meant those matters which, if possible to obtain, the Salah is not valid without them; rather, if even one of these conditions is missing, the Salah is not valid.
① The time of Salah must be present
Allah Almighty says: ﴿إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَابًا مَوْقُوتًا﴾
Translation: Indeed, Salah is prescribed for the believers at fixed times.
❀ The people of Islam unanimously agree that the times for the five obligatory prayers are fixed and limited by Shariah, and prayers are not valid if performed before their time without excuse.
❀ The Commander of the Faithful, Sayyiduna Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), said:
“Every prayer has a time which Allah has made a condition, and the correct prayer is the one performed within its prescribed time.”
Allah Almighty says: ﴿أَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ لِدُلُوكِ الشَّمْسِ إِلَىٰ غَسَقِ اللَّيْلِ﴾
Translation: Establish prayer from the decline of the sun until the darkness of the night.
❀ The scholars unanimously agree that performing prayer at its earliest time is preferable.
Allah Almighty says: ﴿فَاسْتَبِقُوا الْخَيْرَاتِ﴾
Translation: Race towards forgiveness.
﴿وَسَارِعُوا إِلَىٰ مَغْفِرَةٍ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ﴾
Translation: Race towards your Lord’s forgiveness.
﴿وَالسَّابِقُونَ السَّابِقُونَ أُولَٰئِكَ الْمُقَرَّبُونَ﴾
Translation: The forerunners, the forerunners – those are the ones brought near to Allah.
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was asked: Which deed is most beloved to Allah?
He (peace be upon him) replied: “الصَّلَاةُ عَلَى وَقْتِهَا”
Translation: To perform prayer at its appointed time.
② Covering the Body (Covering the ‘Awrah)
Allah Almighty says: ﴿يَا بَنِي آدَمَ خُذُوا زِينَتَكُمْ عِنْدَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ﴾
Translation: O children of Adam! Wear your clothing at every prayer.
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: “لَا يَقْبَلُ اللَّهُ صَلَاةَ حَائِضٍ إِلَّا بِخِمَارٍ”
Translation: Allah does not accept the prayer of an adult woman without a veil.
❀ For men, the ‘awrah is from the navel to the knees.
The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said: “غَطِّ فَخِذَكَ فَإِنَّهَا مِنَ الْعَوْرَةِ”
Translation: Cover your thigh because it is part of the ‘awrah.
❀ For women, the entire body is ‘awrah.
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: “الْمَرْأَةُ عَوْرَةٌ”
Translation: The entire body of a woman is ‘awrah.
③ Purification from Impurity
Allah Almighty commands: ﴿وَثِيَابَكَ فَطَهِّرْ﴾
Translation: Keep your garments clean.
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: “اسْتَنْزِهُوا مِنَ الْبَوْلِ فَإِنَّ عَامَّةَ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ مِنْهُ”
Translation: Avoid urine, for most of the punishment in the grave is because of it.
❀ It is a condition that the body, clothes, and place of prayer be pure.
❀ Prayer is not permissible in cemeteries, bathrooms, latrines, and camel pens.
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: “الأَرْضُ كُلُّهَا مَسْجِدٌ إِلَّا الْمَقْبَرَةَ وَالْحَمَّامَ”
Translation: The whole earth is a mosque except for graveyards and bathrooms.
④ Facing the Qiblah
Allah Almighty says: ﴿فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ﴾
Translation: Turn your face towards the Sacred Mosque.
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: “مَا بَيْنَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ قِبْلَةٌ”
Translation: The Qiblah is between the east and the west.
❀ For a weak person, turning as much as possible in the direction is sufficient.
⑤ Making Intention
❀ The place of intention is the heart; saying it with the tongue is an innovation.
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: “إِنَّمَا الأَعْمَالُ بِالنِّيَّاتِ”
Translation: Actions are judged by intentions.
❀ The intention should be in the heart along with or before the Takbir al-Tahrimah.
❀ Breaking the intention during prayer invalidates the prayer.
