Conditions For validity of SALAH

The beginning of prayer

time

This is the most important condition. A

prayer offered before its time has begun is

not valid, according to scholarly consensus,

because Allah says in the Quran:

"Verily, As-Salah (the prayer) is enjoined

on the believers at fixed hours."

lal-Nisa 4:103]

Covering the "awrah

If a person prays with his 'awrah

uncovered, his prayer is not valid, because

Allah says in the Quran:

"O Children of Adam! Take your

adornment (by wearing your clean

clothes) while praying"

lal-A'raf7:31]

Taharah (purity)

Taharah (purity), which is of two types:

purity from ritual impurity (hadath) & purity

from tangible impurity (najas).

1. Purity from major and minor ritual impurity

(hadath). If a person prays when he is in a

state of ritual impurity, then his prayer is

invalid according to scholarly consensus,

because of the report narrated by al-Bukhari

(6954) from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be

pleased with him) from the Prophet (peace

and blessings of Allah be upon him) who said:

"Allah does not accept the prayer of one of

you if he becomes ritually impure, unless he

does wudu."

2. Purity from najasah or tangible impurity.

If a person prays with some impurity on him,

and he is aware of that and remembers it is

there, then his prayer is not valid,

The worshipper should avoid

najasah in 3 places:

Purity from najasah or tangible impurity. If

a person prays with some impurity on him,

and he is aware of that and remembers it

is there, then his prayer is not valid.

1. The body

2. The clothing

3. The place in which prayer

is offered,

Facing towards the qiblah

If a person offers an obligatory prayer

facing anywhere other than the qiblah,

when he is able to face it, then his prayer

is invalid according to scholarly consensus,

because Allah says in the Quran:

"'so turn your face in the direction of

Al-Masjid Al-Haram (at Makkah). And

wheresoever you people are, turn your

faces (in prayer) in that direction."

lal-Baqarah 2:1441

Intention (niyyah)

If a person prays without forming the

proper intention then his prayer is invalid,

because of the report narrated by

al-Bukhari from

"Umar ibn al-Khattab (may

Allah be pleased with him) who said: I

heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and

blessings of Allah be upon him) say:

"Actions are but by intentions and each

person will have but that which he

intended"

"Allah does not accept any deed

unless it is accompanied by the right

intention.

The six conditions mentioned above apply

only to prayer. To them may be added the

general conditions that apply to all acts of

worship: one should be a Muslim, of

sound mind, and of the age of

discernment