Pillars, Obligations, and Voluntary Acts of Salat

From Salat from A to Z by Dr. Mamdouh N. Mohamed

1. A Pillar of Salat is an act if intentionally dropped, the Salat becomes invalid, and if forgotten, the Salat must be redone. This is called Rukn.
2. An Obligation of Salat is an act if intentionally dropped, the Salat becomes invalid, but if forgotten, it can be made up by a special sujuud know as the Sujuud of Forgetfulness. This is Waajib.
3. A Voluntary act which if dropped intentionally, the Salat is still valid, but if forgotten, there is no need to make up the Salat. This is Sunnah.

Rukn – Pillars of Salat

1. Praying while standing facing the Qiblah (although excepting for sitting and laying down are made for the ill).
2. Initial Takbeer
3. Reciting Fatihah
4. Making Rukuu – bowing
5. Rising from Rukuu
6. Performing Sujuud – prostration
7. Sitting after 1st Sujuud
8. Performing 2nd Sujuud
9. Sitting for the 2nd Tashahuud
10. Reciting the 2nd Tashahuud
11. Reciting Salams upon the Prophet, swa
12. Performing first Tasliimah – wishing Salams
13. Performing the steps in order
14. Paying attention to every steps

From this list, you can see most of the Rukn are in regards to the physical motions made during Salat. Except the reciting Fatihah and the 2nd Tashahuud with Salams upon the Prophet. Also Salat does not begin without the initial Takbeer nor ends without the Tasliimah.

Wajib – Obligations in Salat

1. Announcing Takbeer for Rukuu
2. Saying “Subhana rabbiya al’Adheem” once
3. Saying “Sami a’llahu liman hamidah” + “rabbana walaka al’hamd”
4. Announcing Takbeer for Sujuud
5. Saying “Subhana rabiya al’Alaa”
6. Announcing Takbeer to rise from Sujuud
7. Takbeer for the 2nd Sujuud
8. Saying “Subhana rabiya al’Alaa”
9. Performing Takbeer for transition to the 2nd Rak’ah
10. Sitting for the 1st Tashahuud
11. Reciting the Tashahuud

Remember, if any of these acts are missed, the Sujuud of Forgetfulness must be performed for the Salat to be valid.

Sunnah

The Sunnah are too many to be listed here. But the general rule of Sunnah is that: whatever is not a Pillar or an Obligation is considered a Sunnah.