The 9 Conditions of the Prayer (Shuroot), its 14 Pillars (Arkān), its 8 Obligations (Wājibāt) and the Sunan.

The 9 Conditions of the Prayer:

1. Islam: The person must be a Muslim.
2. Sane: He must have mental capacity.
3. Discernment, which is adulthood.
4. In a state of purification.
5. Clothes and body are free of impurities (najāsah).
6. The ʿawrah (certain parts of the body) must be covered.
7. Entry of the time for Prayer.
8. Facing the Qiblah.
9. Intention for the act.

The 14 Pillars of the Prayer:

1. Standing for the Prayer (for the one who is able).
2. Opening Takbeer of the Prayer.
3. Recitation of Soorat Al-Fātihah.
4. The Rukooʿ.
5. Rising from the Rukooʿ to the complete standing position.
6. Making Sajdah (Prostration) upon the seven limbs.
7. Rising from Sajdah.
8. Stting between the two Sajdahs.
9. Remaining steady at each of the pillars throughout the Prayer.
10. Maintaining the sequence for each action of the Prayer.
11. The final Tashahhud.
12. Sitting in the final Tashahhud.
13. Sending peace and blessings upon the Prophet (ﷺ) and asking Allah to extol him (i.e., salāt and salām).
14. The Tasleem to end the Prayer.

The 8 Obligations of the Prayer:

1. All of the takbeers, except for the opening Takbeer.
2. To say: subhāna rabbiy al-ʿadheem in the Rukooʿ.
3. To say: samiʿ allāhuliman hamidah when coming up from the Rukooʿ – for the imām, and when praying alone.
4. To say: rabbanā wa lakal-hamd once one is upright after the Rukooʿ.
5. To say: subhāna rabbiy al-‘aʿlā in the Sajdah.
6. To say: rabbigh firlee between the two Sajdahs.
7. The first Tashahhud.
8. Sitting for the first Tashahhud.

The Sunnahs of the Prayer are many, among them:

1.  The opening duʿā.
2. Placing the right hand over the left while standing.
3. Raising the hands to the height of the shoulders or ears for the opening Takbeer, then at the Takbeer for the Rukooʿ, then when rising from the Rukooʿ, then when standing from the first Tashahhud for the third Rakʿah.
4. To increase in the Tasbeeh (glorification) beyond one in the Rukooʿ and Sajdah.
5. To increase in the saying of rabbigh firlee beyond one in the sitting between the two Sajdahs.
6. Making the head level with the back during the Rukooʿ.
7. Keeping the arms away from the sides in Sajdah, and keeping the stomach away from the thighs in Sajdah.
8. Keeping the forearms off the ground during the Sajdah.
9. Laying the left foot flat underneath him (sitting on it), while keeping his right foot upright with the toes pointing to the Qiblah during the first Tashuhhud, between the two Sajdahs, and in the final Tashahhud of a two-Rakʿah Prayer. This is called: Al-Iftirāsh.
10. Sitting in Tawarruk in the last Tashahhud of a four-Rakʿah Prayer and in Maghrib: sitting with the left buttock touching the ground – his left foot settles under his right shin, and his right foot is upright, next to his right hip, with his toes pointing to the Qiblah.
11. Supplicating at the end of the final Tashahhud.
12. Reciting so it is heard for Fajr, Maghrib and ʿIshā.
13. Reciting quietly in Dhuhr, ʿAsr, in the final Rakʿah of Maghrib, and the final two of ʿIshā.
14. Reciting verses of the Qur’ān after Soorat al-Fātihah.

The Difference Between a Pillar, an Obligation and a Sunnah in the Prayer

Missing a pillar invalidates the Prayer, whether it is done deliberately or out of forgetfulness. Missing an obligation invalidates the Prayer if it is missed deliberately – but if it is missed forgetfully, a person must make two prostrations of forgetfulness at the end of the Prayer. As for the Sunan, they are recommended and emphasised, and perfect the Prayer. If the worshipper misses them, there is nothing upon him.

(See: Irshād al-Anām ilā Usooli wa Muhimmāti Deenil-Islām with introductions from Shaikh ʿAbdul-ʿAzeez Aalush-Shaikh and Shaikh Sālih al-Fawzān, pp. 46-51)

Abu Khadeejah ʿAbdul-Wāhid.

Read: The Prophet’s Prayer Described.

Read: The Daily Prayers