The Prayer: Its prerequisites and essentials – I

In Islam, performing the Prayer isthe most important, mandatory act
after the testimony of faith. The Prophetsaid:"The head of the matter
is Islam, its pillar is the Prayer..."]At-Tirmithi[
It is the last thing, the Prophetrecommended to his nation before
hedied, saying:"The Prayer, the Prayer and what your right hands
possessed."]Abu Daawood[ An act of this weight and status is really
worthy of getting all attention and care of Muslims. Because the
prayer which Allaah accepts and rewards plentifully is the prayer
whose conditions, and basic elements are perfected.
But how could one carry out the prayer in the correct manner? One
could attain that goal by learning the way the Prophetpracticed it. By
knowing its prerequisites, essentials and Sunnah acts. Because
botching the prayer is a harmful act that results in the forfeiture of
the reward, either completely or partially, the Prophetwarned
us:"Truly, a man leaves, and noneof his prayer has been recorded for
him except a tenth of it, a ninth of it, eighth of it, seventh ofit,
sixth of it, fifth of it, fourth of it, third of it, a half of
it."]Abu Daawood[
In the following paragraphs, a detailed description of the
prerequisites )Shuroot( and essentials )Arkaan( of the Prayer is
presented.
Prerequisites and essentials of the prayer
There is a difference between theterms "prerequisite" and "essential".
The former is an object, quality, or condition that is required in
order for something else to happen—and if it is missing, the thing is
invalidand unfulfilled. For instance,Wudhoo')ablution( is a
prerequisite for the Prayer, as perthe Prophetic narration:"The prayer
of one without purification is void..."]Abu Daawood and At-Tirmithi[
While"essential"is the property or characteristic of something that
makes it what it is—and if it is missing the thing is null and
void.For instance, the chapter ofAl-Faatihah)the Opening of the Quran(
is an essential for the Prayer because the Prophetsaid:"Anyone who
does not recite the Opening of the Book in one's prayer is not
credited with observing it."]Al-Bukhaari[
The scholars concur that a willful violation of any essential or
prerequisite in Prayer invalidates it. However when an essential actis
unintentionally omitted, two things are required: 1. performing the
missing act and; 2. makingSujoodas-Sahw)prostration of mistake(
beforeTasleem)concluding the prayer with salaam( if it is on account
ofan omission or due to both an omission and an addition; or
afterTasleemif the cause is only an addition. However, if the mistake
is one of involuntary addition—such as an extra bowing—it is atonable
bySujood as-Sahw.
The prerequisites of the Prayer
It is obligatory on the one who wishes to perform the prayer to make
sure thathe/she satisfies the following conditions before he enters
into it:
)1(Islam:One must be a Muslim in order for him/her to obtain
therewards of Islamic acts of worship.
)2(Intention )Niyyah(:The Prophetsaid:"Verily all actions are only by
intentions."]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
Scholars of all of the four schools of jurisprudence are unanimous
that intention takes place in the heart and that it should not be
uttered by the tongue. The Prophetnever instructed us to audibly or
inaudibly state intentions for any act of worship,and the
Companionsdid not do this either. According to a fewof the late
scholars, one is only permitted to utter one's intention in prayer if
one is in a severe case of forgetfulness or always doubting what he
wants to do—the term they coined to describe the state of such a
person is Al-Mustankah.
)3(Sanity and maturity:One must be able to know and appreciate what
he/she is doing. Sanity is mentioned in the narration in which the
Prophetsaid:"The pen )which records one's deeds( is raised from the
account of a person in the following three situations: a sleeper until
he awakes, a child until he matures)reaches age of puberty( and the
insane until he regains sanity."]Abu Daawood[
One must also have a clear mind at the time of making the prayer.
Allaah Says )what means(:"Oyou who have believed, do not approach
prayer while you are intoxicated until you know what you are
saying…"]Quran 4: 43[ In addition, the Prophetalso said:"If one feels
drowsy while performing the prayer, one should go to sleep until his
slumber is over, because if one perform the prayer while drowsy one
would not know whether he is asking for forgiveness or for a bad thing
for himself."]Al-Bukhaari[
)4(Knowing the prayer's proper time:Allaah Says )what means(:"…Indeed,
the prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified
times."]Quran 4: 103[ The Prophetsaid:"Jibreel led me in prayer at the
Ka'bah. He led me in the earlyafternoon prayer )Thuhr( when the sun
had passed the meridian to the extent of the throng of a sandal; he
led me in the mid-afternoon prayer )'Asr( whenthe shadow of a thing
was as long as itself; he led me in the sundown prayer )Maghrib( when
the one who fasts breaks the fast; he led me in the night prayer
)'Ishaa'( when the twilight)redness from the horizon at sunset(
disappears; he led me in the dawn prayer )Fajr( when foodand drink
becomes forbidden for the faster. On the following day, he led me in
the early afternoon prayer )Thuhr( when the shadow of a thing was as
long as itself; he led me in the mid-afternoon prayer )'Asr( when the
shadow ofa thing was twice as long as itself; he led me in the sundown
prayer )Maghrib( when the one who fasts breaks the fast; he led me in
the night prayer )'Ishaa'( when the first half of the night had
passed; he led me in the dawn prayer )Fajr( when there was a fair
amount of daylight. Then turning to me Jibreel said, 'Muhammad, this
is the time observed by the prophets before you and the difference in
time foreach prayer we made on both days is anywhere between the two
times.'"]Abu Daawood[
)5(Purification:One must make sure that the following three things are
clear from all kinds of impurity before he starts the prayer:
A. Purity of the body from Major and Minor impurities:
A minor impurity is one that may be removed by the performance of
ablution )Wudhoo'(. A state of minor impurity results after defecation
or urination. A major impurity requires the performance of Ghusl or
ritual bathing. A state of major impurity results after sexual
intercourse or sexual discharge for both men and women.
If one is not in the necessary state of purification then one must
attain it for Allaah Says)what means(:"Oyou who have believed, when
you rise to]perform[ the prayer, wash your faces and your forearms to
the elbows and wipe over your headsand wash your feet to the ankles
And if you are in a state of janaabah )major impurity(, then purify
yourselves…"]Quran 5: 6[ And the Prophetsaid:"When you stand for
prayer, perfect yourablution,"]Al-Bukhaari and Abu Daawood[ and"the
prayer is not accepted from anyone who nullifies one's ablution until
she/he regains another one nor ischarity from stolen
property."]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
The Prophetalso said:"Allaahdoes not accept any prayer that was not
performed while in a state of purity, nor does he accept charity from
what has been stolen from booty."]Al-Bukhaari & Muslim[
Post-natal bleeding and menstrual bleeding are also considered forms
of major impurity. Both postnatal bleedingand menstrual bleeding
waives the prayer from a woman. In those cases, after such
conditionscome to an end, women are required to makeGhuslbefore
praying.
B. Clothes:if the clothes are contaminated with impurities one should
wash them for Allaah Says )what means(:"Andyour clothing
purify."]Quran 74: 4[ andthe Prophetsaid:"If menstrual blood is on
one's clothes she must wash it out andthen make Prayer."]Al-Bukhaari[
C. Place:If the ground is filthy, one can pour water over the
impurity: A Bedouin entered the Masjid )mosque( and urinated. The
people grabbed him and the Prophetordered his release, told them to
pour a tumbler of water over the soiled area, and said:"You have been
sent to make things easy and not make them difficult."]Al-Bukhari[ It
is prohibited to offer prayer in graveyards ]Muslim[, camel pens]Abu
Daawood[, churches and synagogues with images]Al-Bukhari[, public
baths/bathrooms and dunghills]Abu Daawood[, the roof of the Ka'bah,
slaughterhouses, and themiddle of the road.
)6(Covering the private parts:Allaah Says )what means(:"O children of
Aadam, take your adornment at every Masjid"]Quran 7: 31[ The meaning
of "adornment" here is the covering of the'Awrah. The meaning of
"mosque" is "prayer."Therefore, it means "Cover your'Awrahfor every
prayer."
The 'Awrahfor a man, in general,is from his navel to his knees;
however, inside prayer one should be dressed in a proper manner and
the shoulders shouldnot be left uncovered since it is greatly
disliked. The 'Awrahof a woman )for prayer purposes( is her entire
body except her face and hands.
)7(Facing the Qiblah:Allaah Says)what means(:"Turn your face in the
direction of Al-Masjid Al-Haraam)Sacred Mosque(, and wherever you are
turn your faces)in prayer( in that direction."]Quran 2: 144[ The
Prophetsaid:"When you stand for prayer face the qiblah, make takbeer,
utter glorification and praise for Allaah, recite the Mother of the
Book )Al-Faatihah(..."]Al-Bukhaariand Abu Daawood[
There are many ways to decide theQiblah. And when one is ignorant of
the right direction, one should inquire and strive to determine its
exact or approximate direction, and in case neither of the two is
possible one should follow his best judgement.