A Shart (Precondition) is a fard act that must be performed or satisfied before the salaah can be started and must also be maintained for the whole of the prayer for it (the prayer) to be validly completed. There are 6 Shuroot (Preconditions):
- Tahaarah - cleanliness of the body, clothing, and place of worship.
- Satr al-Awrah - covering the body.
- Istiqbaal al-Qiblah - to face the Qiblah.
- Waqt - praying a salaah at its prescribed time.
- Niyyah - intention.
- Takbeer al-Tahreemah - saying the takbeer of prohibtion.
Click on the tabs above for further details for each one.
Tahaarah means cleanliness of:
- The body: the person must be in a state where Ghusl is not obligatory on him/her and he/she must have peformed wudoo'.
- The clothes: the clothes of the person must be free from impurities which would necessitate cleaning them.
- The place: the place where the person intends to offer the Salaah must be free from impurities that would necessitate cleaning.
Satr al 'Awrah refers to those parts of the body that must be covered at all times for the salaah to be valid.
For males: from just below the navel to just below the knees. The knees must be covered.
For females: the entire body except for the face, palms, and feet.
Istiqbaal al-Qiblah (to face the Qiblah) means that at least some portion of the face must be facing the direction of the Ka'bah.
If a person is in doubt regarding the direction of the Qiblah, and there is no one present whom he/she may ask, he/she needs to try to work out the direction of Qiblah before praying.
If a person comes to know of the correct direction of Qiblah (for example by someone informing him/her of it) whilst in the prayer, he/she must turn to face this direction and perform the remainder of the prayer in this direction.
If a person comes to know of the correct direction of Qiblah after completing the prayer then there is no need for him/her to repeat the Salaah
Waqt (Time) means to the pray each salaah at its prescribed time. The prescribed time for each salaah is as follows:
It is Makrooh Tahreem to perform any salaah at the following times:
- At the time of sunrise.
- At the time when the sun is at its peak (zenith).
- When the sun is so close to setting that one is able to look directly at the sun until sunset.
Further, it is prohibited to offer any nafl during the following times:
- From the commencement of the time of Fajr until sunrise.
- After praying 'Asr until sunset.
- After sunset until one has prayed the fard of Maghrib
During the times in which only nafl Salaah is prohibited, one can offer qada' (making up for missed salaah) and perform sajdah al-tilaawah.
Niyyah is to make a firm intention of the heart - it is not sufficient to merely utter words. Articulating the intention with words is desirable (Mustahab)
The Niyyah should include:
- the exact Salaah that is be prayed (for example, two Rak'at sunnah of Fajr),
- that you are performing the Salaah as an act of worship of Allah,
- that you are facing the Qiblah, and
- if one is praying in Jama'at (Congregation) that they are following the Imam.
It is necessary (Waajib) to specify the exact Salaah in the Fard and Waajib prayers. For the Sunnah and Nafl prayers, a general intention for prayer is sufficient.
To say, “Allahu Akbar” to commence the salaah.
Takbeer e Tahreemah is also classified as one of the Integrals or Pillars of salaah as it has also been classified as an action within salaah.