What Are the Obligatory Parts of Salat?
ما هي فرائض الصلاة؟
Initiating or the first Takbeer
Standing in the obligatory Salat (with ability to do that)
Recitation of Al-Fatihah
Bowing
Rising upright from bowing
Prostrating twice
Sitting for the final at-Tashahud
At-Tasleem (the saying of as-Salaamu’alaykum which marks the end of Salat)
Performing all of the above-mentioned essential parts in sequence.
تكبيرة الإحرام
القيام لمن قدر عليه في صلاة الفريضة
قراءة الفاتحة
الركوع
الرفع من الركوع
السجود مرتين
القعود الأخير
السلام
الترتيب وفق ما تقدم
1. Go Back and Pray, for You Have Not Prayed | 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. The man said: I do not know better, so teach me. He said: When you stand for prayer, say Allahu akbar, 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 sit up until you are at rest sitting; and do that in all of your prayer (Sahih al-Bukhari 757). One who cannot stand prays as he can, as explained in which Muslim adults are not obliged to pray.
قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم للذي أساء صلاته: "ارجع فصل فإنك لم تصل"، فقال: والذي بعثك بالحق ما أحسن غيره فعلمني، فقال: "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، وافعل ذلك في صلاتك كلها" (صحيح البخاري 757).
2. Opened by Takbir, Closed by Taslim | تحريمها التكبير وتحليلها التسليم
The Prophet said: The key to prayer is purification; it is entered by the takbir and left by the taslim (Sunan Abi Dawud 61, graded hasan sahih by al-Albani). These are the first and the last of the scholar’s obligatory parts.
قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: "مفتاح الصلاة الطهور وتحريمها التكبير وتحليلها التسليم" (سنن أبي داود 61، وحسنه الألباني).
3. No Prayer Without al-Fatihah | لا صلاة لمن لم يقرأ بفاتحة الكتاب
The Prophet said: There is no prayer for one who does not recite the Opening of the Book (Sahih al-Bukhari 756). Who must recite it behind an imam is set out in the pillars of salat without which it is invalid.
قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: "لا صلاة لمن لم يقرأ بفاتحة الكتاب" (صحيح البخاري 756).
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
What are the obligatory parts of prayer?
The opening takbir, standing for one who is able, al-Fatihah, bowing, rising from bowing, two prostrations, sitting for the final tashahhud, the taslim, and their order; his list of the pillars adds sitting between the prostrations, serenity, the final tashahhud and the blessings on the Prophet.
Is a prayer valid without al-Fatihah?
Not for the imam or one praying alone: There is no prayer for one who does not recite the Opening of the Book (Sahih al-Bukhari 756); the scholar counts it a pillar for the follower in the silent prayers.
How is the prayer begun and ended?
It is entered by the takbir and left by the taslim (Sunan Abi Dawud 61, graded hasan sahih by al-Albani).
Must one be at rest in bowing and prostration?
Yes. The Prophet told the man who prayed badly: bow until you are at rest in bowing, and prostrate until you are at rest in prostration (Sahih al-Bukhari 757).