The Saheefah (Hanafi Fiqh Manual)

A summary of the obligatory portion of Fiqh according to the school of Imam Abu Hanifa, in the matters of "salat", "siyam", "zakat", "hajj" , and others. This text is intended to provide the basic obligatory knowledge according the Hanafi school of Fiqh. For proofs and validity of extraction from the Qur’an and Sunnah, refer to Hanafi Fiqh references such as, "Al-Hidaya" , "Rad-Al-Muhtar", and Al-Hashiya by Imam Ibn Abideen, Imam Sarkhasi compilations, and other Hanafi Scholars, may Allah have mercy on them all.

FIQH (JURISPRUDENCE)----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Evolution of Fiqh-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fard-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wajeb---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunnah-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mubah--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Makruh Tanzihi---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Makruh Tahrimi--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Haram--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1.1 Purification (Taharah)-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1.2 General Conditions of Purification------------------------------------------------------------------

CHAPTER TWO (WATER)----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2.1 Suitable Water--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2.2 Unsuitable Water-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2.3 Leftovers----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2.4 Ghusl---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2.4.1 The Obligatory (Fard) Parts of Ghusl--------------------------------------------------------

2.4.2 The Necessitators of Ghusl---------------------------------------------------------------------

2.4.3 The Sunnah Actions of Ghusl-------------------------------------------------------------------

2.4.4 The Sunnah Ghusl---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2.5 Wudu (Ablution)------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2.5.1 The Obligatory (Fard) Parts of Wudu--------------------------------------------------------

2.5.2 The Sunnah Actions of Wudu------------------------------------------------------------------

2.5.3 The Invalidators of Wudu------------------------------------------------------------------------

2.6 Tayammum (Dry Purification i.e. Without Water)-----------------------------------------------

2.6.1 Excuses Permitting Tayammum--------------------------------------------------------------

2.6.2 How To Do Tayammum?-----------------------------------------------------------------------

2.6.3 Invalidators of Tayammum----------------------------------------------------------------------

3.1 Definition--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3.2 Prohibitions of Haydh and Nifas---------------------------------------------------------------------

3.3 Completion of Purity------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3.4 Chronic Bleeding (Istihadah)-------------------------------------------------------------------------

3.5 Postpartum Bleeding (Nifas)--------------------------------------------------------------------------

4.1 Means of Cleansing-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4.2 Regulations of Cleansing------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4.3 Categories of Filth---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CHAPTER FIVE (Istinja`)---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

6.1 Times for Salat-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

6.2 Salatul-Witr------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

6.3 Disliked and Prohibited Times-----------------------------------------------------------------------

6.4 Adhan-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

6.5 Prerequisites of Salat-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

6.6 The Fard (Integrals) of Salat--------------------------------------------------------------------------

6.7 The Wajeb (Obligations) of Salat--------------------------------------------------------------------

* General Rules---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

6.8 Disruptors and Nullifiers of Salat--------------------------------------------------------------------

6.9 Situations which Necessitate or Permit Breaking the Prayer-------------------------------

6.10 Sujud-Assahu (Prostration of Inattentiveness)------------------------------------------------

6.11 Group Prayer (Salatul-Jama’ah)------------------------------------------------------------------

About the Imam of the Salat----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

6.12 Other Kinds of Prayers-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Missed Prayers--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Prayer of the Traveler------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jumu`ah Prayer--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Prayers of the Two Eids---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Salatul Janazah (Funeral Prayer)---------------------------------------------------------------------------

The prayer of the Martyr---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

7.1 The Obligation-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

7.2 The Intention---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

7.3 Actions of the Fasting Person------------------------------------------------------------------------

7.3.1 Actions that Do Not Break the Fast----------------------------------------------------------

7.3.2 Actions that are Disliked but Do Not Break the Fast------------------------------------

7.3.3 Actions that Break the Fast and Require Makeup---------------------------------------

7.3.4 Actions that Break the Fast and Require Makeup and Kaffara (Expiation)------

7.4 Excuses to Postpone, Break, and Makeup Fasting:------------------------------------

7.4.1 Those Who May Postpone Fasting----------------------------------------------------------

7.4.2 Making Up Missed Fasts------------------------------------------------------------------------

7.4.3 Redemption (Fidyah)-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

8.1 Obligation of Hajj----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

8.2 Fard (Obligatory) Acts in Hajj------------------------------------------------------------------------

8.3 Wajeb Acts in Hajj---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

8.4 Entering Ihram-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

8.4.1 Forbidden Acts During Ihram------------------------------------------------------------------

8.4.2 Permissible Deeds During Ihram-------------------------------------------------------------

8.4.3 Recommendations for Ihram-------------------------------------------------------------------

8.5 The Journey of Hajj--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

8.5.1 Components of Hajj (IFRAD)-------------------------------------------------------------------

The Tawaf of Arrival--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Sa`iy----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Going out to Mina-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Arafah--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Muzdalifah---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Throwing Jamrat al-`Aqabah--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Umrah Components-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hajj Components------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

8.5.3 Components of Hajj (TAMATTU`)-------------------------------------------------------------

`Umrah Components-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hajj Components------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

8.6 Transgressions in Hajj---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sexual Transgressions----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Transgressions in Tawaf--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Other Transgressions------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

8.7 `UMRAH--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

8.8 Sacrificial Animal-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Obligation---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Slaughter----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

9.1 Status-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

9.1.1 Obligation--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

9.1.2 Zakat on Silver--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

9.1.3 Zakat on Gold---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

9.1.4 Zakat on Goods------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

9.2 Categories of Zakat Recipients---------------------------------------------------------------

9.2.1 Those Who May Receive Zakat---------------------------------------------------------------

9.2.2 Causes Not Eligible for Receipt of Zakat---------------------------------------------------

9.2.3 Relationships Making One Ineligible to Receive Zakat---------------------------------

9.2.4 Miscellaneous Regulations---------------------------------------------------------------------

9.3 Sadaqat-Al Fitr-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

9.3.1 Obligation--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

9.3.2 Payment----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FIQH (JURISPRUDENCE)

Terminology and Definitions:

Shari`ah The doctrinal, practical and dispositional regulations which Allah has legislated through one of His Messengers.

Fiqh The science of extraction of practical religious regulations from their detailed sources. Fiqh is the practical implementation of Shari`ah through its human understanding.

I. Sources of Fiqh
Primary Sources	Secondary Sources
Qur'an	Consensus (Ijma`)
Sunnah	Analogy (Qiyas)

Evolution of Fiqh

1) Fiqh at the time of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa aalihi wa sallam).

2) Fiqh in the time of the Sahabah (Umar, Ali, Ibn Mas’ood, Ibn Abbas) R.A.

II. Four (4) Imams and their schools
Imam	A.H.
Abu Hanifah an-Nu`man ibn Thabit al-Kufi	80-150
Abu `Abdillah Malik ibn Anas al-Yahsubi	93-179
Abu `Abdillah Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi`i	150-204
Abu `Abdillah Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Hanbal al-Shaybani	164-241

Categories of Individual’s Actions (Hukum Taklifi):

Fard

It is what is required from us as individuals and/or groups (beyond any doubt), based on an Ayah or a Hadeeth Mutawater.

Fard `Ayn: It is the portion of knowledge, deeds, belief, utterance, etc. required from every accountable person (mukallaf).

Fard Kifayah: It is what is required from a group or community of Muslims, as to if one in that group or community performs it/achieves, the rest are no longer accountable for that specific task (i.e. Janazah).

Waajib

It is what is required from us, yet the proof on its requirements is not as strong, i.e. may contain a doubt, usually based on a non-mutawater hadeeth (i.e. ahaad).

Fard and Wajeb is what we are rewarded for if we do it, and are punished for if we don’t.

Sunnah

It is what accountable persons are encouraged to do, they are rewarded if they do, and are NOT punished if they don’t.

Mubah

It is what Shari`ah did not issue a specific sentence on it, neither in reward nor punishment.

Makruh Tanzihi

It is what Shari`ah encouraged us to avoid. The proofs are not as strong to forbid it entirely, yet not as clear to permit it entirely.

Makruh Tahrimi

It is what is deemed forbidden for us to do, say, and believe, etc. based on a Sunnah that is NOT mutawater (i.e. hadeeth ahaad).

Haram

It is what is deemed forbidden (beyond any doubt), based on an Ayah, or a hadeeth mutawater.

CHAPTER ONE
(PURITY AND ABLUTION)

1.1 Purification (Taharah)

Purification from hadath is necessary to perform prayer and some other acts of worship. Hadath is divided into two kinds. Hadath Akbar (big filth) and Hadath As’gar (small hadath). Hadath Akbar is what necessitates Ghusl. Hadath As’gar is what necessitates wudu.

1.2 General Conditions of Purification

1) to be Muslim;

2) to remove anything which prevents water from reaching the part to be washed;

3) to let the water flow on the part to be washed; and

4) to use purifying water.

CHAPTER TWO
(WATER)

2.1 Suitable Water

1) from the sky;

2) from the lakes;

3) from the valleys;

4) from the springs;

5) from the wells;

6) from the oceans; and

7) which has been admixed with something clean such that it changed one of its properties, such as flood water; or water with which stalwart, soap or saffron has been mixed, as long as the water’s fluidity and viscosity remains unchanged.

As for flowing water, if filth falls in it, wudu is permissible with it, provided no trace of the filth is seen, because the filth does not remain stationary with the flowing of the water. For a large pond, of which one end does not move immediately with the movement of the other side, if filth falls in one end of it, wudu is permissible from the other end, because the apparent impression is that the filth does not reach it.

The death in water of anything without flowing blood, such as bugs, flies, hornets or scorpions, does not render it filthy. The death of that which lives in water, such as fish, aquatic frogs and aquatic crabs, does not spoil it.

2.2 Unsuitable Water

1) liquid squeezed out of trees or fruits;

2) if the water changes because of its mixing with something in such a way that it is not called water anymore such as drinks, rose-water, pea-water, gravy, infusion of safflower;

3) used water i.e. the water with which hadath has been removed, or which has been used on the body by way of worship; and

4) wudu is not permissible with any small quantity of still water in which filth has fallen, whether the filth is little or large.

2.3 Leftovers

1) the leftover of humans, and of those animals whose meat may be eaten, is clean;

2) the leftover of dogs, pigs and carnivorous beasts is filthy; and

3) the leftover of cats, free-roaming chickens, carnivorous birds, and domestic animals such as snakes and rats, is disliked.

2.4 Ghusl

2.4.1 The Obligatory (Fard) Parts of Ghusl

1) rinsing the mouth;

2) inhaling water; and

3) washing the rest of the body.

2.4.2 The Necessitators of Ghusl

1) emission of semen, accompanied by spurting and excitement, from a man or a woman;

2) contact of the two sexual organ members, even without ejaculation;

3) termination of menses (haydh); and

4) termination of postpartum bleeding (nifas).

2.4.3 The Sunnah Actions of Ghusl

1) begin with washing his hands and genitals;

2) remove filth, if it is on the body;

3) perform wudu, like the wudu for salah, except for the feet;

4) pour water over the rest of the body thrice; and

5) step aside from the place where the above are performed and wash the feet.

Women are not obligated to undo their braids in ghusl if the water reaches the roots of the hair. There is no ghusl required for emission of prostatic fluid and wady, but wudu is needed.

2.4.4 The Sunnah Ghusl

Performing the ghusl is Sunnah on Jumu`ah, the two Eids, and before putting on Ihram.

2.5 Wudu (Ablution)

2.5.1 The Obligatory (Fard) Parts of Wudu

1) to wash the whole face, from the normal hairline to the chin and from one ear to the other including the hair and skin, but not the inner part of the man's beard when the hair therein is thick;

2) to wash the hands and the forearms up to and including the elbows and what is on them;

3) to wet wipe one-quarter (¼) of the head; and

4) to wash the feet with the ankles included, or else to wet wipe the footgear (khuff) when the conditions of the footgear are fulfilled.

2.5.2 The Sunnah Actions of Wudu

1) to make an intention*;

2) *according to Imam Shafi’iy it is a Fard of wudu and must accompany the water touching the face.

3) *according to Imam Malik, intention should be either at the beginning of wudu or slightly before.

4) washing the two hands;

5) saying Bismillah arrahman arrahim at the start of the wudu;

6) Siwak;

7) rinsing the mouth;

8) inhaling water;

9) wiping the ears;

10) combing (khilaal) the beard;

11) repeating the washing of each organ three (3) times; and

12) performing the wudu in order*.

13) *a fard according to Imam Shafi’iy.

2.5.3 The Invalidators of Wudu

1) anything which exits from the two pathways;

2) blood, pus or serum when they exit from its location to a place which it is incumbent to purify;

3) vomit, if it was a mouthful;

4) touching the male and/or female genital organs or anus with the inside part of the bare hand;

5) losing consciousness, which includes insanity, drunkenness, coma, and sleep, except if one is sleeping with his buttocks firmly seated;

6) laughter in any prayer containing ruku` and sujud (i.e. salatul Janazah is not included, yet the prayer is invalidated and must be repeated).

2.6 Tayammum (Dry Purification i.e. Without Water)

According to Imam Abu Hanifa and Muhammad bin Al-Hasan (r.a.), tayammum is permissible with anything that is of the category of earth, such as soil, sand, stone, gypsum, lime, antimony and arsenic. Al-Qadi Abu Yusuf (r.a.) said: it is not permissible except with soil and sand specifically.

2.6.1 Excuses Permitting Tayammum

Tayammum may be performed in the following cases with pure and clean earth surface:

1) one who can not find water while traveling; or

2) one who is outside the developed land with approximately one mile or more between him and the water; or

3) one who can find water, but is sick, and is afraid that if he uses the water, his sickness will be intensified; or

4) if one in janabah and fears that if he makes ghusl with the water, the cold will kill him or make him ill.

It is recommended for one who does not find water, but is hopeful of finding it at the end of the prayer time, to delay the prayer to the last part of the time. Then, if he finds water, he performs wudu with it and prays, otherwise he performs tayammum and prays.

If a traveler does not believe that there is water close to him then he is not obligated to search for it and can perform tayammum, however, if he believes that there is water close by, then he cannot perform tayammum until he searches for it.

2.6.2 How To Do Tayammum?

Tayammum is two strikes: one wipes one’s face with one of them, and one’s arms to the elbows with the other. Tayammum from hadath and janabah are the same.
Intention is obligatory in tayammum, but recommended in wudu.

2.6.3 Invalidators of Tayammum

1) by everything which invalidates wudu;

2) by seeing water, if one is capable of using it.

One may pray with his tayammum whatever he wishes of obligatory and optional prayers.

CHAPTER THREE
(Menstruation)

3.1 Definition

The minimum menstrual bleeding is three days and nights, so anything which falls short of that is not menstrual blood (haydh) but chronic bleeding (istihadah). The maximum menstrual bleeding is ten days and nights, so anything which exceeds that is istihadah.

3.2 Prohibitions of Haydh and Nifas

1) salah is waived, and need not be made up later;

2) fasting is prohibited, however, it has to be made up later;

3) entering a mosque is prohibited;

4) circumambulating the House (i.e. the Ka`bah) is prohibited;

5) her husband is prohibited from approaching her for intercourse;

1) may not recite the Qur'an;

2) they, as well as one with hadath, may not touch the Qur'an, unless they hold it with its case.

3.3 Completion of Purity

1) For menstrual bleeding ceasing in less than ten (10) days.
It is not permissible for her and her husband to have intercourse until:

b) the time of a salah enters with enough time for her to perform ghusl and salah (taharah hukmiyyah, because as of that time she is accountable for her salah).

2) For menstrual bleeding ceasing after ten (10) days.

It is permissible but not recommended to have intercourse with her even before the ghusl, yet it is recommended that she do the ghusl first.

3) If purity interrupts two (2) bleedings within the period of menstruation.

3.4 Chronic Bleeding (Istihadah)

The blood of istihadah is that which a female sees for less than three (3) days or more than ten (10) days in menstruation, or more than forty (40) days after childbirth. It includes the blood that a pregnant woman sees, and that which a woman sees during childbirth but before the emergence of the child.

Istihadah is viewed the same as perpetual nose bleeding; it does not prevent fasting, nor salah, nor the intercourse.

The female with istihadah, and anyone with a constant drip of urine, or a perpetual nose bleeding, or a wound which does not stop, performs wudu for the time of each salah, and then they may perform with that wudu whatever they wish of fard and nafl.

3.5 Postpartum Bleeding (Nifas)

Nifas is the blood that exits following the childbirth. There is no limit for the minimum duration of nifas, but its maximum time is forty (40) days. Whatever exceeds that, is istihadah.

CHAPTER FOUR
(FILTH – NAJAS)

Purification of filth in the body, clothes, and place is obligatory for a salah to be valid. The shari`ah considers alcohol, alcohol containing perfumes, etc. as filth.

4.1 Means of Cleansing

1) cleansing of filth with water, and with any pure liquid with which it can be removed, such as vinegar and rose-water;

2) rubbing a filth contaminated khuff with the ground, if the filth has become dry.

Semen is unclean (differing from Imam Shafi’iy who considers it to be clean), and it is obligatory to wash it, but if it has dried on a garment it is sufficient to scrape it off.

If the ground is contaminated by filth, it may be considered pure if the sun dries it and if the trace of filth disappears, then, salah is permissible in that place, but tayammum is not.

4.2 Regulations of Cleansing

Whoever is contaminated by severe filth, such as blood, urine, stool, or wine, to the extent of a dirham or less, salah is permissible with it, but if it is more than a Dirham it is not permissible. The size of dirham is estimated as the width of a palm (some scholars estimate the size as the kneecap). Imam Shafi’iy and Imam Zufar do not discriminate in filth whether little or large.

If one is contaminated with light filth, such as the urine of those animals whose flesh may be eaten, salah is permissible with it as long as it does not reach one quarter (1/4) of the garment.

4.3 Categories of Filth

1) Filth that has a visible essence.

2) It is cleaned by removing its substance, unless some trace of it persists which is extremely hard to remove.

3) Filth which does not have a visible essence.

4) It is cleaned by washing it until the washer is satisfied that the filth has been cleansed.

Najasah Kalbiyyah (filth from a dog) should be washed three (3) times to be cleaned. Imam Shafi’iy recommends washing it seven (7) times one of which is mixed with pure soil.

CHAPTER FIVE
(Istinja`)

Istinja` can be performed with stones, and that which take their place (things that are pure, not smooth surfaced, and not honorable). One wipes the area until it is clean, even if water is available. There is no specific recommended number of wipings (3 times, according to Imam Shafi’iy).

One should not perform istinja` with a bone, nor with dung, nor with food, nor with the right hand.

CHAPTER SIX
SALAT (PRAYER)

6.1 Times for Salat

1) the noon prayer (Dhuhr) [four (4) rak’ahs].

2) Its time begins when the sun has declined westward from the middle of the sky and remains until the length of the shadow of an object becomes equal to that of the object per se, in addition to the length of the shadow of that object when the sun was at its zenith (mid-day) [according to Imams Muhammad and Abu Yusuf (r.a.)]. According to Imam Abu Hanifa, it is when the shadow of an object is twice its length in addition to the shadow of it at zenith;

3) the mid-afternoon prayer (Asr) [four (4) rak’ahs].

4) Its time begins after Dhuhr ends, and remains until sunset;

5) the sunset prayer (Maghrib) [three (3) rak’ahs].

6) Its time begins after sunset and remains until the disappearance of the redness in the western horizon according to Imams Muhammad and Abu Yusuf, and the whiteness following the redness according to Imam Abu Hanifa;

7) the nightfall prayer (Isha') [four (4) rak’ahs].

8) Its time begins when Maghrib time ends and remains until the appearance of the true dawn (Fajr Sadiq); and

9) the dawn prayer (Fajr) [two (2) rak’ahs].

10) Its time begins when the second dawn (fajr sadiq) rises (i.e. the lateral whiteness on the horizon) and remains until sunrise (Shuruq).

6.2 Salatul-Witr

Witr is wajeb according to Imam Abu Hanifa, and is a sunnah prayer according to the two companions and Imam Shafi’iy (may Allah be pleased with them all). Witr consists of three rak’ahs uninterrupted (differing from Imam Shafi’iy) with a supplication (Qunoot) before the last ruku` with elevating the hands while doing takbeer for the qunoot. The time for Salatul-Witr is the same as that of the Isha`. Witr should not be performed with a group in other than the month of Ramadan.

6.3 Disliked and Prohibited Times

1) salat is not permissible at the rising of the sun, nor at its stationary point at midday, nor at its setting;

2) if the sun is setting, one does not perform Janazah prayer, nor make the sajdah of recitation, nor perform any other prayer except the `asr of that day;

3) it is disliked to perform voluntary prayers after fajr salat until the sun rises, and after `asr salat until the sun sets. There is no harm in praying missed prayers during these two times, and similarly performing prostrations of recitation, and praying Janazah. One does not perform the two rak`ah of circumambulation (tawaf); and

4) it is disliked to perform any optional prayers after dawn and before fajr other than the two sunnah rak`ah of fajr.

6.4 Adhan

6.5 Prerequisites of Salat

1) purity from hadath (one who absolutely can not find any means to remove the filth, prays on his state, and is not obligated to repeat his prayer);

2) purity from filth (one who absolutely has no means of purification from filth, prays on his state, and is not obligated to repeat his prayer);

3) to cover the nakedness:

· the nakedness of a man is that which is beneath the navel down to and including the knee.

· the body of a free woman is all nakedness, except for her face, her hands and her feet.

· One who absolutely has nothing to cover the nakedness with, prays on his naked state preferably sitting, but if he wants to stand it is permissible to intend the specific salat into which one is entering, with an intention not separated from its Takbeer with any action;

4) to face the qiblah. If someone does not know where the qiblah is, and there is no one around him/her who knows, one exercises his/her best judgment and prays. Then, if someone finds out that he/she was mistaken, by being informed after he/she had prayed, one is not obligated to repeat. If someone finds that out while he/her is engaged in the salat, one must turn to the qiblah direction and continue;

5) conviction that the time has entered.

6.6 The Fard (Integrals) of Salat

1) the takbeer (takbiratul-ihram).

2) If one says, instead of takbir, Allahu ajall, or Allahu a`zam, or Ar-Rahman akbar, it suffices him according to the Imam and Imam Muhammad. Al-Qadi said: wording of takbeer must be uttered;

3) standing;

4) recitation.

· The minimum recitation that suffices in salat, according to the Imam, is at least one Ayah of the Qur’an. Abu Yusuf and Muhammad said: no less than three short verses or one long verse is sufficient;

· recitation is obligatory in the first two rak`ah of fard, but one has the choice in the last two. If one wishes, he can recite, if he wishes he can make tasbih, and if he wishes he can remain silent;

· recitation is obligatory in every rak`ah of nafl, and in all rak`ahs of witr;

5) ruku`;

6) sujud.

7) If he restricted himself to one of the nose and forehead it is permissible according to the Imam. Imam Abu Yusuf and Muhammad said: it is not permissible to restrict oneself to the nose without a valid excuse.

8) If he prostrated on the winding of his turban or the end of a garment it is disliked. One should make sujud on his clear forehead and nose;

9) vi) the final sitting, for the measure of the tashahhud.

6.7 The Wajeb (Obligations) of Salat

1) recitation of al-Fatihah in every rak`ah;

2) adding a surah (or three verses) in the first two rak`ahs of fard, and in every rak`ah of witr and nafl;

3) standing up after ruku`;

4) making sujud on the forehead and nose;

5) tranquility in each position (ruku`, standing after it, sujud, sitting between the two sajdah);

6) the middle sitting;

7) recitation of the tashahhud in the every sitting;

8) The tashahhud is that one say, At-tahiyyatu lillahi was-salawatu wat-tayyibatu. as-salamu `alayka ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa-rahmatullahi wa-barakatuh. as-salamu `alayna wa-`ala `ibadillahis-salihin. ash-hadu an la ilaha illallahu wa-ash-hadu anna muhammadan `abduhu wa-rasuluh;

9) standing up for the third rak`ah without delay after the tashahhud;

10) the words of salam;

11) vocalizing the vocal rak`ahs for the salat-leading imam, and subduing the subdued ones for all;

12) the qunut of witr;

13) the takbirs of the two Eids;

14) maintaining the sequence.

* General Rules

1) Fards (integrals of Salat are compulsory for its validity).

2) Wajebs (obligations) of Salat are obligatory. If one leaves out one wajeb purposely, it is considered “Makruh Tahrimi” and he must repeat it and sujudu-assahu is not sufficient to make it up. If one simply forgot one of the wajebs of Salat without the intention of doing so, he may perform sujudu-assahu after the salam, and does not have to repeat it.

6.8 Disruptors and Nullifiers of Salat

1) one should not eat or drink, nor commit any other significant act;

2) if hadath overtakes him, he turns away, and if he was imam, he appoints a replacement;

3) if he slept and had an erotic dream, or became insane, or lost consciousness, or laughed out loud, he re-starts the wudu and salat;

4) if he spoke in his salat, intentionally or by mistake, his salat is nullified;

5) exposure of the nakedness, or presence of filth greater than the excusable amount, for the duration of three (3) tasbih, nullifies the salat;

6) if one who had performed tayammum saw water while in his salat, his salat is nullified;

7) if he had wiped on his khuffs and the time-limit for his wiping expired; or

8) if he took off his khuffs with a gentle motion;

9) if he had been illiterate and then learned a surah while in prayer; or

10) if he had been naked, and then found a garment while in prayer; or

11) if he had been gesturing, and then became capable or performing ruku` and sujud; or

12) he remembered that there is a salat due upon him before this salat; or

13) if he had been an excused person, and then his excuse ceased.

6.9 Situations which Necessitate or Permit Breaking the Prayer

1) to save life;

2) to prevent injury to others; and

3) it is permissible to break salat upon the threat of theft or harm of his own or someone else’s property.

6.10 Sujud-Assahu (Prostration of Inattentiveness)

1) The prostration of inattentiveness is wajeb, for excess or deficiency, and it is preferred after salam. Then, he performs two sajdah, then he sits, performs tashahhud and then performs salam.

2) Sujud Assahu is due if one added to the salat an action which is of its manner but not part of it, or by abandoning a wajeb, such as in abandoning the recitation of the Opening of the Book, or the qunoot, or the tashahhud, or the takbeers of the two Eids, or the imam’s raising his voice in that which should be subdued, or subduing it in that which should be audible.

3) The inattentiveness of the imam makes the sujud obligatory on the follower, but if the imam does not make the sujud, the follower does not make the sujud either. If the follower commits an act of (sahu) inattentiveness, then sujud assahu is not due on the imam or on the follower.

4) Someone who inattentively omitted the first sitting, and then remembered while he was still closer to the sitting position, should sit down and recite the tashahhud. But, if he was closer to the standing position, he should not go back, but should prostrate for inattentiveness at the end.

5) Someone who inattentively missed the last sitting and thus stood up for a fifth rak`ah should return to the sitting as long as he has not performed sajdah (for the fifth). He cancels the fifth rak`ah and performs the prostrations of inattentiveness. If he bound the fifth rak`ah with a prostration, his fard is invalidated, and his salah turns into nafl, and he must add a sixth rak`ah to it.

6) If he sat in the fourth rak`ah for the measure of the tashahhud, and then stood up without performing salam, thinking it to be the first sitting, he goes back to sitting as long as he has not prostrated for the fifth rak`ah, and then he performs salam. If he bound the fifth with a sajdah, he adds another rak`ah to it, and his salat has been performed. The two extra rak`ah are nafl for him. He should perform the Prostrations of Inattentiveness.

7) Someone who has a doubt in his salat, such that he does not know whether he prayed three or four rak`ah, then:

o if he is in doubt often during salat, then he builds upon his strong inclination if he has an inclination. If he does not have an idea, he builds upon certainty.