Section. A woman differs from a man in five matters:

1. During bowing and prostration a man spreads his elbows away from his sides and lifts his belly clear of his thighs, whereas a woman keeps her limbs close together.
2. A man recites aloud in the places where audible recitation is prescribed, whereas a woman lowers her voice in the presence of unrelated men.
3. If something demands attention while praying, a man says subḥān Allāh, whereas a woman signals by clapping.
4. The ʿawrah (parts that must be covered) of a man is what lies between his navel and his knees, while the entire body of a free woman is ʿawrah except for her face and hands.
5. In this regard a bond-woman is treated like a man.

Section. The prayer is nullified by eleven things: 1) deliberate speech; 2) excessive movement; 3) losing one’s state of ritual purity; 4) the occurrence of ritual impurity (najāsah); 5) exposure of the ʿawrah; 6) changing one’s intention; 7) turning one’s back on the qiblah; 8) eating; 9) drinking; 10) loud laughter; and 11) apostasy.

Section. The obligatory prayers consist of 17 rakʿahs (cycles), containing 34 prostrations, 94 takbīrs, 9 tashahhuds, 10 taslīms (salutations), and 153 tasbīḥs. Altogether there are 126 pillars within the prayers: 30 pillars in Fajr, 42 in Maghrib, and 54 in each four-rakʿah prayer. Whoever is unable to stand in an obligatory prayer performs it sitting, and whoever is unable to sit performs it lying on his side.

Section. What may be omitted from the prayer falls into three categories: an obligatory element, a Sunnah element, and a posture (hayʾah). An obligatory element is not made up for by the prostration of forgetfulness; rather, if he remembers it and only a short time has elapsed—