Jurisprudential Rulings and Issues of Prayer in the Light of the Qur’an and Hadith
Rulings and Issues of Ṣalāh
Volume 01 – Page 109
What are the rulings regarding the pillars (arkān), obligations (wājibāt), and Sunnahs of prayer?
All praise is for Allah, and blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
Ṣalāh is a great act of worship that consists of specific statements and actions. The scholars have defined prayer as follows:
① Pillars (Arkān)
② Obligations (Wājibāt)
③ Sunnahs (Sunan)
Each is explained below.
﴿وَقُومُوا لِلَّهِ قَانِتِينَ﴾
Translation: “And stand before Allah with humility and devotion.”
ʿImrān ibn Ḥuṣayn رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«صَلِّ قَائِمًا، فَإِنْ لَمْ تَسْتَطِعْ فَقَاعِدًا، فَإِنْ لَمْ تَسْتَطِعْ فَعَلَى جَنْبٍ»
Translation:
“Pray standing; if you are unable, then sitting; and if you are unable, then on your side.”
This shows that standing is obligatory in obligatory prayers when one has the ability. However, due to illness, fear, lack of clothing, inability to stand under a roof, or inability to endure the imam’s lengthy recitation, prayer may be offered while sitting.
If the imam begins the prayer while sitting, the followers must also pray sitting, as stated by the Prophet ﷺ.
Voluntary prayer is valid both standing and sitting, though standing is more virtuous.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«ثُمَّ اسْتَقْبِلِ الْقِبْلَةَ فَكَبِّرْ»
Translation: “Then face the Qiblah and say the takbīr.”
Another narration states:
«وَتَحْرِيمُهَا التَّكْبِيرُ»
Translation: “Its consecration is the takbīr.”
Note: It is not authentically established from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ that he ever began prayer with any wording other than “Allāhu Akbar.”
«لَا صَلَاةَ لِمَنْ لَمْ يَقْرَأْ بِفَاتِحَةِ الْكِتَابِ»
Translation:
“There is no prayer for the one who does not recite Sūrat al-Fātiḥah.”
This is a pillar in every rakʿah. In the ḥadīth of the one who prayed incorrectly, the Prophet ﷺ also instructed the recitation of al-Fātiḥah.
Regarding the follower (muqtadī), the cautious opinion is that he should recite Sūrat al-Fātiḥah in silent prayers and during the pauses of the imam in audible prayers.
﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ارْكَعُوا وَاسْجُدُوا﴾
Translation: “O you who believe! Bow and prostrate.”
The obligation of rukūʿ is established by the Qur’an, Sunnah, and consensus.
«صَلُّوا كَمَا رَأَيْتُمُونِي أُصَلِّي»
Translation: “Pray as you have seen me praying.”
◈ Forehead (including the nose)
◈ Both hands
◈ Both knees
◈ Both feet
Prostration brings the servant closest to Allah.
«وَكَانَ إِذَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ السَّجْدَةِ لَمْ يَسْجُدْ حَتَّى يَسْتَوِيَ جَالِسًا»
Translation:
“When the Prophet ﷺ raised his head from prostration, he would not go into the next prostration until he sat upright.”
«التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ…»
ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd رضي الله عنه said:
«كُنَّا نَقُولُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُفْرَضَ عَلَيْنَا التَّشَهُّدُ»
“Allāhumma ṣalli ʿalā Muḥammad” is obligatory.
«وَتَحْلِيلُهَا التَّسْلِيمُ»
Translation:
“The conclusion of the prayer is the salām.”
◈ Saying “Samiʿa Allāhu liman ḥamidah” for the imam and the one praying alone
◈ Saying “Rabbanā wa laka al-ḥamd”
◈ Saying “Subḥāna Rabbī al-ʿAẓīm” once in rukūʿ
◈ Saying “Subḥāna Rabbī al-Aʿlā” in sujūd
◈ Saying “Rabbi’ghfir lī” between the two prostrations
◈ The first tashahhud and sitting for it
These Sunnahs are neither obligatory nor required, but acting upon them completes the prayer and makes it conform fully to the Sunnah.
In conclusion, we supplicate that Allah Almighty grants us the ability to perform prayer in accordance with the Sunnah of the Noble Prophet ﷺ.
This is what I have, and Allah knows best what is correct.
Rulings and Issues of Ṣalāh
Volume 01 – Page 109
Question
As-salāmu ʿalaykum wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuhWhat are the rulings regarding the pillars (arkān), obligations (wājibāt), and Sunnahs of prayer?
Answer
Wa ʿalaykum as-salām wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuh!All praise is for Allah, and blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
Ṣalāh is a great act of worship that consists of specific statements and actions. The scholars have defined prayer as follows:
The statements and actions included in prayer are divided into three categories:“Prayer is the name given to specific and prescribed statements and actions, which begin with the opening takbīr and conclude with the salām.”
① Pillars (Arkān)
② Obligations (Wājibāt)
③ Sunnahs (Sunan)
Each is explained below.
The Pillars of Prayer (Arkān al-Ṣalāh)
A pillar is such that if it is omitted intentionally or unintentionally, the entire prayer becomes invalid, or the rakʿah in which it was omitted becomes invalid and the following rakʿah takes its place.① Standing (Qiyām) in Obligatory Prayer
Allah Almighty says:﴿وَقُومُوا لِلَّهِ قَانِتِينَ﴾
Translation: “And stand before Allah with humility and devotion.”
Reference: al-Baqarah: 2:238
ʿImrān ibn Ḥuṣayn رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«صَلِّ قَائِمًا، فَإِنْ لَمْ تَسْتَطِعْ فَقَاعِدًا، فَإِنْ لَمْ تَسْتَطِعْ فَعَلَى جَنْبٍ»
Translation:
“Pray standing; if you are unable, then sitting; and if you are unable, then on your side.”
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1117; Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 952; Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī: 372
This shows that standing is obligatory in obligatory prayers when one has the ability. However, due to illness, fear, lack of clothing, inability to stand under a roof, or inability to endure the imam’s lengthy recitation, prayer may be offered while sitting.
If the imam begins the prayer while sitting, the followers must also pray sitting, as stated by the Prophet ﷺ.
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 688, 689; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 411, 414
Voluntary prayer is valid both standing and sitting, though standing is more virtuous.
② The Opening Takbīr (Takbīr al-Taḥrīmah)
Saying “Allāhu Akbar” is a pillar of prayer.The Prophet ﷺ said:
«ثُمَّ اسْتَقْبِلِ الْقِبْلَةَ فَكَبِّرْ»
Translation: “Then face the Qiblah and say the takbīr.”
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 6251; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 397
Another narration states:
«وَتَحْرِيمُهَا التَّكْبِيرُ»
Translation: “Its consecration is the takbīr.”
Reference: Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 61; Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī: 3
Note: It is not authentically established from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ that he ever began prayer with any wording other than “Allāhu Akbar.”
③ Recitation of Sūrat al-Fātiḥah
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:«لَا صَلَاةَ لِمَنْ لَمْ يَقْرَأْ بِفَاتِحَةِ الْكِتَابِ»
Translation:
“There is no prayer for the one who does not recite Sūrat al-Fātiḥah.”
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 756; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 394
This is a pillar in every rakʿah. In the ḥadīth of the one who prayed incorrectly, the Prophet ﷺ also instructed the recitation of al-Fātiḥah.
Reference: Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 859
Regarding the follower (muqtadī), the cautious opinion is that he should recite Sūrat al-Fātiḥah in silent prayers and during the pauses of the imam in audible prayers.
④ Bowing (Rukūʿ) in Every Rakʿah
Allah Almighty says:﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ارْكَعُوا وَاسْجُدُوا﴾
Translation: “O you who believe! Bow and prostrate.”
Reference: al-Ḥajj: 22:77
The obligation of rukūʿ is established by the Qur’an, Sunnah, and consensus.
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 828; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 498
⑤ Standing Upright After Rukūʿ
This is also a pillar, as the Prophet ﷺ consistently practiced it and said:«صَلُّوا كَمَا رَأَيْتُمُونِي أُصَلِّي»
Translation: “Pray as you have seen me praying.”
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 631
⑥ Prostration (Sujūd)
There are two prostrations in every rakʿah, and they must be performed on seven body parts:◈ Forehead (including the nose)
◈ Both hands
◈ Both knees
◈ Both feet
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 812; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 490
Prostration brings the servant closest to Allah.
⑦ Sitting Between the Two Prostrations
ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها said:«وَكَانَ إِذَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ السَّجْدَةِ لَمْ يَسْجُدْ حَتَّى يَسْتَوِيَ جَالِسًا»
Translation:
“When the Prophet ﷺ raised his head from prostration, he would not go into the next prostration until he sat upright.”
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 498
⑧ Tranquility and Calmness in the Pillars
Tranquility in every pillar is obligatory. Whoever prays without calmness, his prayer is not valid.
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 757; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 397
⑨ The Final Tashahhud and Sitting for It
The words of tashahhud are:«التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ…»
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 831; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 402
ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd رضي الله عنه said:
«كُنَّا نَقُولُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُفْرَضَ عَلَيْنَا التَّشَهُّدُ»
Reference: Sunan al-Nasāʾī: 1278
⑩ Sending Ṣalāh upon the Prophet ﷺ in the Final Tashahhud
At minimum, saying:“Allāhumma ṣalli ʿalā Muḥammad” is obligatory.
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 588
⑪ Observing the Order of the Pillars
All pillars must be performed in proper sequence.
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 631
⑫ Ending the Prayer with Salām
The Prophet ﷺ said:«وَتَحْلِيلُهَا التَّسْلِيمُ»
Translation:
“The conclusion of the prayer is the salām.”
Reference: Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 61; Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī: 3
The Obligations of Prayer (Wājibāt al-Ṣalāh)
◈ All takbīrs other than the opening takbīr◈ Saying “Samiʿa Allāhu liman ḥamidah” for the imam and the one praying alone
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 796; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 409
◈ Saying “Rabbanā wa laka al-ḥamd”
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 796; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 409
◈ Saying “Subḥāna Rabbī al-ʿAẓīm” once in rukūʿ
Reference: Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 870
◈ Saying “Subḥāna Rabbī al-Aʿlā” in sujūd
Reference: Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 871
◈ Saying “Rabbi’ghfir lī” between the two prostrations
Reference: Sunan Ibn Mājah: 897
◈ The first tashahhud and sitting for it
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 831; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 402
The Sunnahs of Prayer (Sunan al-Ṣalāh)
① Sunnah Statements
The opening supplication (duʿāʾ al-istiftāḥ), seeking refuge (taʿawwudh), saying bismillāh, saying āmīn, additional recitation after al-Fātiḥah, extra glorifications in rukūʿ and sujūd, and supplications in the final tashahhud.
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 471; Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 832; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 588
② Sunnah Actions
Raising the hands (rafʿ al-yadayn), placing the right hand over the left, keeping the gaze at the place of prostration, keeping the back straight in rukūʿ, and placing the limbs firmly on the ground in sujūd.
Reference: Detailed in books of fiqh
These Sunnahs are neither obligatory nor required, but acting upon them completes the prayer and makes it conform fully to the Sunnah.
In conclusion, we supplicate that Allah Almighty grants us the ability to perform prayer in accordance with the Sunnah of the Noble Prophet ﷺ.
This is what I have, and Allah knows best what is correct.
