The Essential Fard Acts of Salah
Performing the obligatory (fard) acts during salah (Islamic prayer) is of utmost importance, as the omission of any of these can invalidate the entire prayer. According to the information provided, there are a total of 13 fard acts in salah – 7 pre-requisites and 6 performed during the prayer.
The 7 Pre-requisite Fard Acts
Wudu (Ablution)
“Your body has to be completely clean from all types of impurities which can be obtained through Wudu or Ghusl.”
Clean Clothes
“All of the garments that are worn by the individual including gloves, socks, and caps must be made sure to be pure and clean beyond any shadow of even the slightest of doubts.”
Clean Place of Worship
“The bare minimum requirement of this condition is that the exact place that the individual intends to be standing or where the knees, forehead, or hands of the individual would be resting in Sujood, must be kept clean of all impurities, whether it be a portion of plain ground, a mat, floor, etc.”
Covering the Satr
“At all times during prayer, Muslims should ensure that their Satr is covered. Satr refers to the body part that must be covered at all times during Salah. If Satr is uncovered during namaz, it is invalidated.
Correct Timing
“Each of the five daily prayers has to be performed within a given time limit that has been prescribed for it. If any prayer is performed before the actual time of the prayer, then the prayer is invalid.”
Facing the Qibla
“Salah can only be performed facing the Qiblah as mandated in the Holy Quran. ‘So turn your face toward al-Masjid al-haram. And wherever you [believers] are, turn your faces toward it [in prayer].'”
Niyyah (Intention)
“The 7th pre-requisite fard of Salah is the niyyah/intention which can be either verbal or in your mind.”
The 6 Fard Acts During Salah:
Takbeer-e-Tahreema (Opening Takbir)
“The first fard act of Salah is the opening Takbeer to begin your Salah. Every Muslim who says prayer must say Allahu-Akbar by raising his hands to start the prayer.”
Qiyaam (Standing)
“In case of physical illness or restriction, you can sit and say a prayer but if you have no physical illness or restriction then it is obligatory for you to stand and pray.”
Recitation of the Holy Quran
“Recitation of the Holy Quran is an obligatory part of Salah. Recitation of Surah Fatiha followed by some other ayah of the Quran is Wajib acts of Namaz.”
Ruku (Bowing)
“Ruku refers to bowing your head and body in prayer. There is a bit of difference between man and woman’s way of Bowing.”
Sujood (Prostration)
“Sajda or prostration is the position in the prayer to bow down so as to touch the floor with the forehead. There are two prostrations in each Rakaah.”
Qa’dah Akheerah (Final Sitting)
“Qaa’dah Akheerah is the last sitting posture in prayer to recite Tashahudd. It is farz of Namaz to sit in the last rakah of prayer so long that you could recite the whole Tashahudd.”
Conclusion
The article emphasizes that the omission of any of these fard acts, whether intentional or unintentional, will invalidate the entire prayer, and even the Sajda Sahw (prostration of forgetfulness) cannot compensate for such an omission.
