Obligatory Components Of The Prayer

There are eleven obligatory components of the prayer:

1. intention (niyyah);

2. standing (qiyām);

3. takbīrat al-iḥrām, i.e. saying ‘allāhu akbar’ at the beginning of the prayer;

4. bowing (rukūʿ);

5. prostrating (sujūd);

6. recitation (qirāʾah);

7. declaring in rukūʿ and sujūd that Allah is free from imperfections (dhikr);

8. testifying (tashahhud);

9. salutation (salām);

10. sequence (tartīb);

11. close succession (muwālāh).

Ruling 928. Some of the obligatory components of the prayer are elemental (rukn), i.e. if one does not perform them – whether intentionally or mistakenly – the prayer is invalid. Some other obligatory components are not elemental, i.e. if they are omitted mistakenly, the prayer is not invalid. There are five rukns of the prayer:

1. intention;

2. takbīrat al-iḥrām while standing;

3. standing that is joined to rukūʿ, i.e. standing before rukūʿ;

4. rukūʿ;

5. two sajdahs in one rakʿah.

If a rukn is intentionally performed more than the prescribed number of times, the prayer is invalid. If it is done mistakenly, and if the additional act is a rukūʿ or two sajdahs in one rakʿah, then based on obligatory precaution, the prayer is invalid; otherwise [i.e. if the additional act is not a rukūʿ or two sajdahs in one rakʿah], it is not invalid.