Book of Prayer
Introduction
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Book of Prayer
The prayer is obligatory for every legally accountable Muslim, with the exception of a menstruating woman or one in post-partum bleeding.
It is, however, valid when performed by a discerning child—defined as one who has reached seven years of age—and the reward is recorded for him.
His guardian must instruct him to pray at the age of seven and discipline him for neglecting it when he reaches ten.
Whoever abandons it out of denial has committed apostasy, and the rulings governing apostates apply to him.
The pillars of the prayer1 are fourteen; they are never waived—whether deliberately, through forgetfulness, or out of ignorance.
The first: standing, in an obligatory prayer, for one who is able, upright. If he stands hunched or leaning so much that he is no longer considered “standing,” without a valid excuse, the prayer is invalid. Merely lowering the head does no harm, and it is disliked for him to stand on one foot without excuse.
The second: the opening takbīr (takbīrat al-iḥrām), namely the words “Allāhu akbar.” Nothing else suffices. He must utter it while standing; if he begins it or completes it while not standing, the prayer counts only as voluntary. The takbīr is valid if he elongates the letter lām, but not if he elongates the hamzah of “Allāh” or the hamzah of “akbar,” nor if he says “akbār” or “al-akbar.”
Pronouncing it aloud2—and likewise every other pillar and obligatory component—at a volume3 that enables him to hear himself is compulsory.