Compulsory (wajibat) acts of salah

If a person misses any of the following fifteen points,

• unknowingly, his Saläh will be deficient and the deficiency can be compensated for by two prostrations of forgetfulness
• intentionally, repeating the Saläh will be Compulsory for him. If he does not repeat, he will be a sinner.

1. Takbir - start by the specific words ‘Allahu akbar’
2. Fatiha - recitation of the entire fatiha
   • in the first two rakat of the obligatory prayers (sunnah in the next two)
   • all the rakat of wajib and nawafil units
3. Additional chapter -
   • In the first two rakats of Obligatory Salähs
     • recitation of a small Quränic chapter or
     • three small Quränic verses after Fätihah
   • Additional chapter in all the Saläh-units of wajib and nawafil Salähs
4. Ordered recitation -
   • Reciting the additional chapter after Fätihah
     • if one starts recitaion of the surah, that is equivalent of three tasbihat (1 rukn), then they must recite al-fatiha + surah and perform the prostration of (sajda sahw) forgetfulness
5. Prostrations without gap -
   • Performing the second prostration after the first prostration without any interference
     • sequence between the two sajdas, two required for each sajdah in salah, if one misses on one rakat they and they add one in the next, then they must pray sajda sahw.
6. Temperance -
   • Performing all the mandatory acts with temperance and tranquility
     • all the joints rest in their place and is still, for the duration of 1 tasbiha (recommended three tasbihat)
7. First sitting
   • sitting in between the two sujood, one must sit for 1 tasbih (subahanallah)
8. Reciting tashahhud
   • Recite the entiure tashahhud in the first and final sitting of the salat
     • there are a few tashahhud
       • the ahnaf take the one narrated ibn Masud
9. Standing up for the third salat unit
   • To rise and to stand for the third rakaat immediately after completing of tashahhud
   • sajdah sahw must be performed, if one delays the standing i.e. if one sits for longer than 3 tasbih
10. Salam
    • to exit the salah with salam twice
      • recommend to wa rahmatullahi wa… In addition the following wajibat, relate to specific prayers:
11. Qunut of Witr
    • recite in the third rakat of witr
    • also, to say Allahuakbar
    • minimum to say ‘Allahumma maghfirli’
12. Extra takbirs
    • in the Id salah (six additional takbirat)
13. Takbir of bowing
    • salying Allahu akbar at the 2nd rakaat of Id
14. Audible recitation
    • imam
      • Audible recitation in
        • Fajr,
        • Friday-Saläh,
        • the two Ïd-Salähs;
        • the first two Saläh-units of
          • Maghrib and
          • Ishä;
        • all the Saläh-units
          • Taräwïh and
          • Witr
    • individual
      • A single Saläh-performer has the option of reciting audibly in these Salähs or reciting inaudibly (one can hear oneself).
      • However, reciting audibly is preferable for him in the above mentioned Saläh-units.
15. Inaudible recitation:
    • Inaudible recitation by Imäm and single Saläh-performer in all Saläh-units of
      • Zuhr and
      • Asr, the
      • third Saläh-unit of Maghrib,
      • the last two Saläh-units of Ishä,
      • and all Saläh-units of supererogatory Salähs performed during the day.
    If one does the opposite in terms of audible and inaudible recitation for more than a rukn (3 tasbih), then they must perform sajdah sawh

Additional points to notes

• If a person misses reciting the additional chapters in the first two Saläh-units of Ishä,
  • he should recite them in the last two after Fätihah audibly and
  • • then perform the prostrations of forgetfulness.
• If a person misses Fätihah in the first two Saläh-units,
  • he should not repeat them in the last two.
  • Instead, he should perform the prostrations of forgetfulness to compensate for the omission.

Related topic(s)

Essentials (Arkan) of salat

Additional resources

• Book(s): Al Fiqh al Muyassar 1 (Simple fiqh 1)
• Video(s): Necessary Acts of Salaat | Al Fiqh Al Muyassar | Shaykh Khazen Zaoud