The Arkaan (Pillars) of Salah

The guidance offered by the pillars of Salah

• Salah (prayer) is made up of several pillars that are necessary when performing it. If any one of the pillars are omitted, the Salah is baatil (nullified/invalid).
• If any one of the pillars have been left out in Salah and one realizes it only after the completion of the Salah, then the Salah will be invalid and the person should re-perform the Salah.
• However if the person realizes that he/she has left it out while still in Salah, then he/she has to go back to the point where he/she missed out the pillar and recommence from that particular point onwards. In this case it would be recommended to perform the sujood as-sahw afterwards.

The Arkaan (pillars) of Salah are as follows:

• Qiyaam (standing in Salah), for those who are able to do so during the compulsory prayer, as Allah ﷻ said:

حَـٰفِظُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلصَّلَوَٰتِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِ ٱلْوُسْطَىٰ وَقُومُوا۟ لِلَّهِ قَـٰنِتِينَ (سورة البقرة: ٢٣٨)

“Maintain with care the (obligatory) prayers and (in particular) the middle prayer and stand before Allah, devoutly obedient [Soorat al-Baqarah: 238]

• Takbeerat al-Ihraam – the first takbeer, recited at the commencement of Salah while raising one’s hands, which means saying, “Allah is the Greatest.” The Prophet ﷺ said:

قال عليه الصلاة والسلام مفتاح الصلاة الطهور وتحريمها التكبير وتحليلها التسليم .. (أبو داوود والترمذي)

“The key to the prayer is purity, the (first) takbeer is its start and reciting the tasleem (another word for salaam recited at the end of Salah) is its end.” [Aboo Deawood & al-Tirmidhi]

• Recitation of Soorat al-Faatihah, the first chapter in the Qur’aan, in every rak’ah in the compulsory prayers is required. The Prophet ﷺ said:

عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم أنه قال : لا صلاة لمن لم يقرأ بفاتحة الكتاب (أبوداوود وابن ماجة)

“There is no prayer for whoever does not recite Al-Faatihah (the opener) of the Book.” [Aboo Daawood & Ibn Maajah]

• The Rukoo’ – performing Rukoo’ is also a compulsory part of the prayer. Allah says:

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱرْكَعُوا۟ وَٱسْجُدُوا۟ وَٱعْبُدُوا۟ رَبَّكُمْ وَٱفْعَلُوا۟ ٱلْخَيْرَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ ۩ (سورة الحج: ٧٧)

“O you who have believed, bow and prostrate and worship your Lord and do good – that you may succeed.” [Soorah al-Haj: 77)

• I’tidaal and itmi’naan – taking one’s time, completing every posture completely with ease and comfort and standing up straight after bowing. The Prophet ﷺ said to the man that was not praying properly:

…. حتى تَطْمَئِن…… (البخاري ومسلم)

…until you feel at ease.” [al-Bukhaari & Muslim]

• Sujood (x2) – prostrating twice in every rak’ah (unit of prayer) with seven specific body parts touching the ground, until you feel at ease during the prostration.
• The jalsah/juloos-sitting between the two prostrations.
• The tashahhud in the final sitting. The Prophet ﷺ said:

فإذا قعد أحدكم في الصلاة فليقل: التحيات لله والصلوات والطيبات (البخاري ومسلم)

“When one of you sits down, let him say: ‘All the compliments, the prayers and the good things are due to Allah.” [al-Bukhaari & Muslim]

• The Salawaat in the final sitting. The Prophet ﷺ said:

قال عليه الصلاة والسلام: إذا دعا أحدكم فليبدأ بحمد ربه والثناء عليه ثم على النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم ثم يدعو بما شاء ..(أحمد وأبو داوود)

” Then let him send blessings (Salawaat) upon the Prophet as then supplicate… [Ahmad & Aboo Daawood

• Reciting the salaam or tasleem at the end of the prayer. The Prophet ﷺ said:

وقال عليه الصلاة والسلام: مفتاح الصلاة الطهور وتحريمها التكبير وتحليلها التسليم .. (أبو داوود والترمذي)

The key to the prayer is purity, its start is takbeer and its end is tasleem. [Aboo Daawood & Tirmidhi]

صلوا كما رأيتموني أصلي.. ( البخاري)

“Pray as you have seen me praying.” [al-Bukhaan]

Learning from the lesson

1. The pillars of Salah are important and cannot be omitted.
2. Intention must be made in the heart in order to perform Salah.
3. Each pillar follows the other and its order cannot be changed.
4. The pillars ensure unity in the manner of performing Salah