The obligatory parts of salah

 The obligatory parts of Salah. 

There are 14 pillars of prayer and there are 8 obligatory parts of prayer. There are many Sunnah acts of prayer, both words and actions. 2. The difference between a pillar and an obligatory part is that a pillar cannot be waived, whether one omits it deliberately or by mistake, rather it must be done. An obligatory part is waived if one forgets, and it can be compensated for by doing the prostration of forgetfulness (sujud as-sahw).

Pillars of prayer

There are 14 pillars of prayer which are as follows:

(1) Standing during obligatory prayers if one is able to do so

(2) The opening takbeer (saying “Allahu akbar”)

(3) Reciting al-Faatihah

(4) Rukoo’ (bowing), the least of which means bending so that the hands can touch the knees, but the most complete form means making the back level and the head parallel with it.

(5) Rising from bowing

(6) Standing up straight

(7) Sujood (prostration), the most perfect form of which is placing the forehead, nose, palms, knees and toes firmly on the ground, and the least of which is placing a part of each of these on the ground.

(8) Rising from prostration

(9) Sitting between the two prostrations. However one sits is good enough, but the Sunnah is to sit muftarishan, which means sitting on the left foot and holding the right foot upright with the toes pointing towards the qiblah.

(10) Being at ease in each of these physical pillars

(11) The final tashahhud

(12) Sitting to recite the final tashahhud and the two salaams

(13) The two salaams. This means saying twice, “al-salaamu ‘alaykum wa rahmat-Allah (Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah).” In naafil prayers it is sufficient to say one salaam; the same also applies to the funeral prayer.

(14) Doing the pillars in the order mentioned here. If a person deliberately prostrates before bowing, for example, the prayer is invalidated; if he does that by mistake, he has to go back and bow, and then prostrate.

(1) Takbeers other than the opening takbeer

(2) Saying “Sami’a Allahu liman hamidah (Allah hears those who praise Him” – for the imam and for the one who is praying alone.

(3) Saying “Rabbana wa laka’l-hamd (Our Lord, to You be praise)”

(4) Saying “Subhaana rabbiy al-‘azeem (Glory be to my Lord Almighty)” once when bowing

(5) Saying “Subhaana rabbiy al-a’laa (Glory be to my Lord most High)” once when prostrating

(6) Saying “Rabb ighfir li (Lord forgive me)” between the two prostrations

(7)The first tashahhud

(8) Sitting for the first tashahhud.