Fiqh

(Jurisprudence)

Noor-ul-Idha wa Najatul Arwaah

(The light of clarification and the Salvation of Souls)


The Wajib Elements Of Prayer


There are eighteen practices necessary in prayer:

Recitation of the Fatiha

In any two Rak'ahs of an obligatory prayer. It is Wajib to add the Fatiha, a Surah or three verses of the Quran.

Additionally, it is Wajib to recite a Surah with the Fatiha in all the Rak'ahs of the Witr and voluntary prayers.


The recitation of a Surah or the three verses is to be fixed in the first two Rak'ahs of all obligatory prayers.

It is Wajib to recite the Fatiha before the Surah.

It is Wajib to place both the nose and forehead on the ground in prostration.

In every Rak'ah, it is Wajib to perform the second prostration before switching to another action of prayer.


It is necessary to remain motionless for a moment in all the pillars of prayer.

The first sitting and the recitation of the Tashahhud in it, is Wajib; and this is the correct view. It is also Wajib to recite the Tashahhud in the last sitting.

It is Wajib to rise to the third Rak'ah without any delay after reciting Tashahhud.

It is Wajib to utter the words of Salam at the end of prayer, though not the words "A'lykum" (upon you).


The supplication of the Witr and the additional Takbir's of both Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are Wajib.

It is Wajib to specify the words 'Allahu akbar' for the start of all the prayers, not only for the prayers of Eid.

In the second Rak'ahs of the Eid prayers, it is Wajib to say, 'Allahu akbar' for the bowing.


It is Wajib to recite Quran aloud in the dawn prayer as well as in the first two Rak'ahs of the Maghrib and 'Isha prayer even if they are missed prayers. One is also required to recite loudly for the Friday prayer, the Eid prayer, the Tarawih prayers and the Witr prayers in Ramadhan.

It is Wajib to recite Quran silently in all the Rak'ahs of the Zuhr and 'Asr prayers, in the third Rak'ah of the Maghrib prayer, in the third and fourth Rak'ah of the 'Isha prayer and in all the Rak'ahs of voluntary prayer offered in the daytime. The one performing an obligatory prayer alone has an option between reciting Quran aloud or silently. Likewise, the one offering voluntary prayer at night also has an option.


If one omits the recitation of a Surah from one or both of the first two Rak'ahs of the 'Isha prayer, then he is to repeat it aloud in the last two Rak'ahs with the Fatiha aloud aswell.

If the Fatiha is recited in the first two Rak'ahs, one is not to repeat it in the last two Rak'ahs.