26- Important Lessons – Chapter 7 – Pillars of Salaat
From the works of Imam Abdul-‘Aziz Bin Baz Rahimahulah Ta’ala
Presented by Sheikh Saleh As-Saleh Hafithahulah Ta’ala
Bismilah, Al-Rahman Al-Raheem. Alhamdulilahi Rab Al-‘Alameen wa salla Allahu ‘ala Muhammedan wa ‘ala aalahi wasahbihi wassalam.
In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all that exists. I testify there is no true God worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammed is Allah’s true Slave and Messenger. May Allah’s salah and Salam be upon the Prophet, his pure family and his noble companions and those that follow on their path until the day of resurrection. May Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala make us from them. Wal-hamdulilah Rab Al-‘Alameen.
Important Lessons for the Muslim Ummah – Chapter 7: Pillars of Salaat
The author states that the rukn (pillar) of Salaat are 14. The meaning of the term rukn entails those acts of Salaat which cannot be left out whether it is left out due to ignorance, forgetfulness, or whether the act is left out intentionally. The rak’aa in which the rukn was dropped is invalid.
The 14 Pillars of Salaat are:
1) Al-Qiyaamu ma’a Al-Qudra: Standing upright for those who are able. Allah ta’ala says:
Al-Baqqarah (2)-238: And stand before Allâh with obedience
Also, the Prophet sallah Allahu ‘alayhi wassalam said to ‘Umran bil Hussain radi Allahu ta’ala ‘anhu:
Stand praying upright, and in case you are not able to do so then pray while sitting, and incase you are not able to do so, then (pray) while on your side (Collected in Bukhari).
This Qiyaam is a pillar in the fard (obligatory) prayers for those who are able. As for the non-obligatory prayers then it is not a rukn (pillar).
In the hadith of ‘Umrayn bil Hussain radi Allahu ta’ala ‘anhu who asked the Prophet sallah Allahu ‘alayhi wassalam concerning the salaat of the person sitting, he said:
Whoever prays standing upright it is better, and whoever prays sitting then he will receive half the reward of the one who stands up. And who ever prays on his side, he will have half the reward of the sitting person.
This refers to the naafila, and we know that the Prophet sallah Allahu ‘alayhi wassalam prayed the naafila on his mount. Had this been a rukn on the naafila, he would not have done so but he would have performed the prayer normally standing on the ground.
2) Takbeerat Al-Ihram-to say Allahu Akbar which means Allah is Greater. It is called takbeerat al-ihram because it prohibits the person in salat from saying or doing anything extraneous to the prayer.
3) Qiraatu Al-Fatiha-the recitation of surah Al-Fatiha. The Prophet sallah Allahu ‘alayhi wassalam said:
Whoever does not recited Al-Fatiha in his prayer then his salat is invalid.
The Fatiha is a rukn for every rak’aa whether it is for the Imaam, or the one praying alone, or the one being led in the prayer (the Imaam, the Munfarid, and the Ma’mum).
As to the one who arrives late (known as Al-Masbook) in the prayer; then if he attains the ruku’ with the imam then it is dropped.
If the person is unable to recite Surah Al-Fatiha it becomes an obligation for him or her to learn it. If he or she is unable to learn it right away then it is sufficient to make takbir and saying la ilaaha illah lah, or saying alhamdulilah until he learns al-Fatiha.
The Prophet sallah Allahu ‘alayhi wassalam said to the one who did not perform his salat properly:
If you know of the Qur’an, then recite. Otherwise, make takbir, or say La illaah illa Lah then bow.
4) Ar-Ruku’– bowing. Allah ta’ala says:
Al-Hajj (22)-77: O you who believe! Bow down, and prostrate yourselves.
The Prophet sallah Allahu ‘alayhi wassalam said to the person who did not pray properly:
Then bow until you feel calmness throughout your ruku’.
It should be mentioned here for further clarification to go in the folder of Salat Described with the title of Pillars of Salaat.
5) Ar-Rafu’ Minhu or Qiyraam Ar-Ruku’ – standing upright after bowing with intention (rising from the bowing position until the person is standing straight).
6) Al-I’tidaalu min Al-Ruku’ – standing upright after bowing.
In the hadith of Abi Humaid who described the salat of the Prophet sallah Allah ‘alayhi wassalam, he said:
And when he lifted his head, he went into an upright position until each bone returns to its place.
And in the hadith of ‘Aisha radi Allahu ta’ala ‘anha who said:
When he raised his head from the ruku’, he did not go to the prostration until he stood upright (collected in Sahih Muslim).
7) As-Sujudu ‘ala a’daa’ as-Saba’ – prostration on the seven body parts. The Prophet sallah Allahu ‘alayhi wassalam said:
I have been commanded to prostrate on seven bones (Reported in Al-Bukhari and Muslim).
The seven bones are:
1) Al-Jabhatu – the forehead
2) Al-Anf – tip of the nose
3 & 4) Al-Kafay – both hands
5 & 6) Al-Rukbatay – both knees
7) Atraafu Asaba’ee Qadamay – toes of both feet
8) Raf’u Minhu – rising from it (the sujuud). This is because of the hadith of ‘Aisha radi Allahu ta’ala ‘anha who said:
When the Prophet sallah Allahu wassalam lifted his head from the sujuud, he did not go for the second sujuud until he sat straight (this is an agreed upon hadith).
9) Wal Jalsatu Bayna Sajdatain or al-Juluus – meaning the sitting position between the 2 prostrations. This is because of the hadith of ‘Aisha radi Allahu ta’ala ‘anha who said:
When the Prophet sallah Allahu wassalam lifted his head from the sujuud, he did not go for the second sujuud until he sat straight (this is an agreed upon hadith).
10) At-Tuma’ninatu fi Jamee’ Al-Arkan – feeling at ease and calmness throughout the salat such that each bone in each rukn, the one praying returns to his former position and each bone would return to its position. The one who does not establish this calmness, then there is no salat for him because the Prophet sallah Allahu ‘alayhi wassalam informed the person who did not perform the salat properly:
Return and redo your salat for in fact you did not make your salat (because there was a lack of calmness known as at-tuma’nina).
11) At-Tashahud Al-Akhir – the final tashahhud. This is because of the saying of Ibn Mas’ud radi Allahu ta’ala ‘anhu:
We used to say before tashahhud was made obligatory upon us, as-salam to Allah from His slaves, as-salam to Jibril, as-salam to Mikael. So the Prophet sallah Allahu ‘alayhi wassalam said: Don’t say salam upon Allah, rather say at-Tahiyaatu Lilah (greetings and salutations to Allah).
This is the evidence for the final tashahhud.
12) Wal Julusu Lahu – the sitting for the final tashahhud. This is due to the hadith that is reported in Bukhari and Muslim that the Prophet sallah Allahu ‘alayhi wassalam said:
When one of you sits in the salat (for the tashahhud), then let him say at-tahiyaatu lilah.
13) As-Salatu ‘ala Nabi – the recitation of As-Salatu Ibrahimiya upon the Prophet sallah Allahu ‘alayhi wassalam. This is known as a pillar and being famous with some schools of thought. Imam As-Shaf’i considered this to be a pillar same with Imam Ahmed and their schools of though may Allah be pleased with them both. There were scholars before them who also considered this to be a pillar.
The other opinion of the salaat upon the Prophet sallah Allahu ‘alayhi wassalam is a wajib as opposed to a rukn because of the saying in the hadith when the companions asked how to make prayers upon him sallah Allah ‘alayhi wassalam, the Prophet said:
Say: Oh Allah, make your salaat upon Your Prophet sallah Allah ‘alayhi wassalam.
So it is possible therefore, that this could have been intended as a means to teaching and guidance; not necessarily an obligation. This is the second opinion.
The third opinion as to the salat upon the Prophet sallah Allahu ‘alayhi wassalam is that it is neither a rukn nor a waajibaat, but rather a Sunnah. The evidence for it being a pillar or obligatory are not apparent and Muhammed bin Saleh Al-‘Uthaimeen rahimahulah took this opinion and said the musalli is free of this responsibility. He also cited that the aforementioned hadith was for guidance and teaching and that there is no evidence other than this as to further clarify whether or not this prayer upon the Prophet sallah Allahu ‘alayhi wassalam is a rukn or a waajibaat.
14) At-Tasleematain – this is the saying of the musalli: Assalamu ‘Alaikum wa Rahmatulah. This is due to the hadith:
And then ending it (the salat) is the tasleem.
With respect to the order, some of the scholars considered the orderly performance of the salat as a pillar.
Again the sheikh urges the people to go to the Salat Described section on his site understand-islam.net
taken from understand-islamnet
Islaambasics's Blog 