Obligatory elements of Salaat
A Salaat has fourteen obligatory elements. Missing any element will make Salaat invalid. They are as follows:
- The Intention (النية).
In Fard prayer three things should be included in the intention.
Intending the action of Salaat
intending the exact name of the prayer
Intending that the prayer is Fard.
For example, one should intend as follows:
أُصَلِّي فَرْضَ الظهْر
(I do pray Fard prayer Dhuhr) - Takbeeratul Ihram (the opening recitation: Allahu Akbar/الله أَكْبَر).
One should say two words Allahu Akbar without missing any letter. Takbeeratul Ihram and Niyyat should be offered in the same time. - Qiyaam (القِيَام) – Standing in the obligatory Salaat. This condition is applied to one who is able to stand.
In Sunnah prayer, it is allowed to pray sitting. - Recitation (قِرَاءَة) of Surah Al Fatiha except for one who is Masbook (مسْبُوق).
Surah Al Fatiha must be recited while standing straight. The exit points of letters (مَخْرَج) and double consonant marker (شَدَّة) of the letters of Fatiha must be pronounced correctly and carefully. There should not be any kind of error that changes the meaning. All the verses of Fatiha must be recited in their order without any delay between the verses. - Rukū/bowing (رُكُوع).
While bowing, one should bow to the extent that his palms reach the knee. - I’tidal /returning to straightening position (الاِعْتِدَال).
In I’tidal, he is returning back to his last position (القِيَام). - Two Sujoods/prostrations (سَجْدَتَان) in each Rak’a (رَكْعَة).
Sujood should not be performed on an object that he carries like his clothes. The back should be higher than the head. A part of the naked forehead, the two knees, inside of the both palms and leg fingers should be placed on the earth. - Sitting (الجُلُوس) between two Sujoods.
- Tuma’neenah (الطمَأْنِينَة): It is to remain motionless for a moment in the above said last four Arkaan.
- Reciting the Tashahhud (التحيات/ التشَهُّد الأخِير) at the end of Salaat.
The perfect form of Tashahhud is to say:
التحِيَّاتُ المُبَارَكَاتُ الصَّلَوَاتُ الطَّيِّبَاتُ لِلهِ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللهِ الصَّالِحِينَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ الله.
All compliments, prayers and pure words are due to Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous slaves of Allah. I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. - صَلاَة upon our Prophet after last Tashahhud.
The minimum is to say:
(اللهمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ) - Sitting for Tashahhud, Salaat and Salaam
- The first Salam
At least one has to say: السلام عليكم. While saying Salaam, one should not turn his chest from Qiblah side. - Tarteeb: الترْتِيب is to do Arkaan in above said sequence
This is excerpts from the book Salaat (Brief rulings of Prayer in Shafi Madh’hab) by Abdu Shaheed Azhary. To download the full chapter click the below link. To support us, please consider acquiring the digital copy of the book from Amazon