What Are the Nullifiers of Salat?
ما هي مبطلات الصلاة؟
Whatever invalidates purity
Deliberately exposing the awrah
Turning one’s back to the Qiblah (Mecca) while in prayers.
Having impurity on him if he does not remove it immediately.
Much movement that is not of the prayer’s kind, without necessity
Leaning heavily without an excuse, so that one would fall if what one leans on were removed
Going back to the first tashahhud after starting the recitation
Deliberately adding a physical pillar
Deliberately putting some pillars before others
Deliberately saying the salam before completing the prayer
Deliberately changing the meaning of what one is reading.
Cancelling the intention, so as to change the intention of the prayer
Hesitating over cancelling it, or resolving to cancel it
Laughing aloud and speaking, deliberately or by mistake
The follower standing ahead of the imam in place
The follower deliberately saying the salam before the imam
Eating and drinking
ما أبطل الطهارة
كشف العورة عمدًا
استدبار القبلة
اتصال النجاسة به إن لم يزلها في الحال
العمل الكثير الذي هو من غير جنس الصلاة لغير ضرورة
الاستناد قويا لغير عذر بحيث لو رفع عنه ما استند إليه سقط
رجوعه إلى التشهد الأول بعد الشروع في القراءة
تعمد زيادة ركن فعلي
تعمد تقديم بعض الأركان على بعض
تعمد السلام قبل إتمامها
تعمد إحالة المعنى في القراءة
فسخ النية، بحيث يغير نية الصلاة
التردد في الفسخ والعزم عليه
القهقهة والكلام عامدًا أو ساهيًا
تقدم المأموم على الإمام في المكان
سلام المأموم عمدا قبل الإمام
الأكل والشرب
1. Purity Broken | لا تقبل صلاة من أحدث حتى يتوضأ
The scholar’s first nullifier is whatever invalidates purity. The Prophet said: The prayer of one who has broken his wudu is not accepted until he performs wudu; a man from Hadramawt asked Abu Hurayrah what breaking it meant, and he answered: passing wind (Sahih al-Bukhari 135). Purity itself is explained in the difference between wudu and tayammum.
أول المبطلات في الجواب ما أبطل الطهارة، قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: "لا تقبل صلاة من أحدث حتى يتوضأ"، قال رجل من حضرموت: ما الحدث يا أبا هريرة؟ قال: فساء أو ضراط (صحيح البخاري 135).
2. No Talk of People in Prayer | إن هذه الصلاة لا يصلح فيها شيء من كلام الناس
Zayd ibn Arqam said: We used to speak in prayer, one of us talking to his brother about his need, until this verse was revealed: Observe the five obligatory prayers, especially the middle prayer, and stand in true devotion to Allah; and we were commanded to be silent (Sahih al-Bukhari 4534). When Mu’awiyah ibn al-Hakam spoke in prayer, the Prophet taught him gently: This prayer is not fit for any of the talk of people; it is only glorification, magnifying Allah and reciting the Quran (Sahih Muslim 537).
وَقُومُوا لِلَّهِ قَانِتِينَ (سورة البقرة: 238)
قال زيد بن أرقم رضي الله عنه: "كنا نتكلم في الصلاة يكلم أحدنا أخاه في حاجته حتى نزلت هذه الآية: (حافظوا على الصلوات والصلاة الوسطى وقوموا لله قانتين) فأمرنا بالسكوت" (صحيح البخاري 4534)، ولما تكلم معاوية بن الحكم في الصلاة علمه النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم برفق فقال: "إن هذه الصلاة لا يصلح فيها شيء من كلام الناس، إنما هو التسبيح والتكبير وقراءة القرآن" (صحيح مسلم 537).
3. Going Ahead of the Imam | أما يخشى الذي يرفع رأسه قبل الإمام
The scholar counts the follower standing ahead of the imam in place, or deliberately saying the salam before him, among the nullifiers. Moving before the imam is warned against separately: the Prophet said: Does the one who raises his head before the imam not fear that Allah will turn his head into the head of a donkey? (Sahih Muslim 427).
وعدّ الجواب من المبطلات تقدم المأموم على الإمام في المكان وسلامه عمدا قبله، وأما مسابقة الإمام فقد ورد فيها وعيد مستقل، قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: "أما يخشى الذي يرفع رأسه قبل الإمام أن يحول الله رأسه رأس حمار" (صحيح مسلم 427).
4. Go Back and Pray | ارجع فصل فإنك لم تصل
A man prayed and greeted the Prophet, who told him three times: Go back and pray, for you have not prayed; then he taught him: When you stand for prayer, say the takbir, then recite what is easy for you of the Quran, then bow until you are at rest in bowing, then rise until you stand straight, then prostrate until you are at rest in prostration, then rise until you are at rest sitting, then prostrate until you are at rest in prostration, then do that throughout your whole prayer (Sahih al-Bukhari 793). A prayer that leaves out its pillars is not a prayer, and stillness in them is part of humility, as explained in what humility in prayer is.
صلى رجل ثم جاء فسلم على النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، فقال له: "ارجع فصل فإنك لم تصل"، ثلاثا، ثم قال: "إذا قمت إلى الصلاة فكبر، ثم اقرأ ما تيسر معك من القرآن، ثم اركع حتى تطمئن راكعا، ثم ارفع حتى تعتدل قائما، ثم اسجد حتى تطمئن ساجدا، ثم ارفع حتى تطمئن جالسا، ثم اسجد حتى تطمئن ساجدا، ثم افعل ذلك في صلاتك كلها" (صحيح البخاري 793). فالصلاة التي تترك أركانها ليست بصلاة، والطمأنينة فيها من الخشوع.
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
What are the nullifiers of prayer?
Among them: whatever invalidates purity, deliberately exposing the awrah, turning one’s back to the Qiblah, much needless movement, deliberately adding a physical pillar or reordering pillars, cancelling the intention, laughing aloud and speaking, the follower standing ahead of the imam, and eating and drinking.
Does speaking invalidate the prayer?
Yes, the talk of people does: the Prophet said: This prayer is not fit for any of the talk of people; it is only glorification, magnifying Allah and reciting the Quran (Sahih Muslim 537).
Does breaking wudu invalidate the prayer?
Yes. The prayer of one who has broken his wudu is not accepted until he performs wudu (Sahih al-Bukhari 135).
Is it wrong to move before the imam?
Yes. The Prophet warned the one who raises his head before the imam that Allah may turn his head into the head of a donkey (Sahih Muslim 427).