Obligatory Acts of Salah – Comprehensive Guide to the Seven Fard of Prayer (Hanafi Fiqh)

Obligatory Acts of Salah – Seven Fard in Hanafi Fiqh

Fard of Salah – Detailed Guide on Obligatory Acts of Prayer in Hanafi Fiqh

Salah is the foundational pillar of Islam, and knowing its obligatory acts is essential for its correct performance. If any of the obligatory acts are omitted knowingly or by mistake, the prayer is not valid.

Seven Obligatory Acts of Salah

• Takbeer-e-Tahreema
• Qiyam (Standing)
• Qiraat (Recitation)
• Ruku (Bowing)
• Sajdah (Prostration)
• Qa'dah Akhira (Final Sitting)
• Khurooj bis-sunnah (Ending the Prayer Properly)

1. Takbeer-e-Tahreema

Takbeer-e-Tahreema is essentially one of the prerequisites of Salah. Since it is closely tied with the prayer itself, it is counted among the obligatory acts. All conditions of prayer, including purification, facing the Qibla, covering of Awrah, time, and intention, are required for Takbeer-e-Tahreema. If Allahu Akbar is said without fulfilling these, the prayer does not start.

Issue: If "Allah" is pronounced incorrectly as “Alla” or "Akbar" as “Akhbar”, the prayer is invalid.

2. Qiyam (Standing)

Qiyam refers to standing during Salah. The minimum is standing enough that the hands do not reach the knees when extended; full Qiyam is standing upright.

Issue: Standing is obligatory in Fard, Witr, and Sunnah of Fajr. Without a valid excuse, sitting invalidates these prayers.

Nafl prayers: If able to stand, one may sit, but standing is preferred. Hadith: "The prayer of the one who sits is half that of the one who stands."

Qiyam is not obligatory if one cannot stand, cannot perform Sajdah, standing increases illness, causes extreme difficulty, or when on a moving ship/boat with risk of dizziness.

If one can lean on a wall to say Allahu Akbar, that is sufficient to fulfill the obligation.

Note: People often sit due to slight fatigue or mild fever while capable of standing. Such prayers should be repeated.

3. Qiraat (Recitation)

Qiraat means reciting the Quran with correct pronunciation so that every letter is distinct.

Issue: Must recite loudly enough to hear oneself; too soft makes prayer invalid. Recitation is obligatory in the first two Rak’ahs of Fard, and in every Rak’ah of Witr, Sunnah, and Nafl prayers. Reciting behind an Imam is not permitted, even Surah Fatiha.

4. Ruku (Bowing)

Ruku is bending until hands reach the knees. For women, keeping the back straight is Sunnah.

Issue: If the back is already bent, indicate Ruku with a nod of the head.

5. Sajdah (Prostration)

Sajdah is placing the forehead on the ground, including the nasal bone.

Key points:

• Two Sajdahs in each Rak’ah are obligatory.
• Missing one Sajdah invalidates the prayer.
• Sajdah Sahw does not compensate for a missed Sajdah.
• Prostration on soft surfaces (grass, carpet, mattress) is valid if the forehead is pressed enough to prevent further pressing.
• On certain sleeper compartments (railway berths), one should descend to pray properly.
• If the prostration place is more than 12 inches higher than the feet, Sajdah is invalid.

6. Qa'dah Akhira (Final Sitting)

Sitting in the last Rak’ah until the full Tashahhud (At-Tahiyyat) is recited is obligatory.

Issue: If missed during sleep, upon waking, sit to recite the Tashahhud. If standing, recitation must be completed after waking. In four Rak’ah prayers, if Qa'dah is skipped in the fourth Rak’ah, sit after the fifth Rak’ah’s Sajdah and complete Sajdah Sahw before Salam.

7. Khurooj bis-sunnah (Ending the Prayer Properly)

After Qa'dah Akhira, end the prayer by deliberately giving Salam. Any intentional act other than Salam requires repeating the prayer. Unintentional acts not allowed in prayer invalidate it.

Conclusion

The seven Fard of Salah form the foundation of prayer. Missing even one invalidates the Salah. Every Muslim, male and female, must learn these acts properly and perform Salah correctly. May Allah grant us knowledge and ability to act upon it. Ameen 🤲

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How many Fard acts are there in Salah?

According to Hanafi Fiqh, there are seven obligatory (Fard) acts of Salah: Takbeer-e-Tahreema, Qiyam, Qiraat, Ruku, Sajdah, Qa'dah Akhira, and Khurooj bis-sunnah.

2. What happens if a Fard act is missed in Salah?

If any Fard act is missed intentionally or unintentionally, the Salah becomes invalid and must be repeated.

3. Is Qiyam (standing) compulsory in every prayer?

Qiyam is obligatory in Fard prayers, Witr, and the Sunnah of Fajr for those who are able to stand.

4. Can Salah be performed while sitting?

Yes, but only if there is a valid excuse such as illness or weakness. Otherwise, standing is required.

5. Is reciting behind the Imam allowed in Hanafi Fiqh?

According to Hanafi Fiqh, reciting behind the Imam, even Surah Al-Fatiha, is not allowed.

6. What is required in Sajdah (prostration)?

In Sajdah, placing the forehead along with the nasal bone on the ground is obligatory for the prostration to be valid.

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