Nullifiers of Salah

• There are eight actions that are mubtilaat (nullifiers) of Salah:

1. Speaking:
   (a) a person is conscious that he is in prayer
   (b) when one has knowledge of what he is doing
   (c) a person speaks on purpose. When one speaks due to forgetfulness or ignorance, then his prayer is not nullified.
2. Laughing
3. Eating
4. Drinking
5. Part of the ‘awrah is exposed
6. Turning away from the direction of the qiblah
7. Unnecessary movement and fidgeting during Salah
8. When a person ceases to be in a state of purity

Discussion questions for comment

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Which actions nullify Salah?

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Disliked Actions During Salah

• Allah ﷻ describes the believers as,

And they who carefully maintain their prayers [Soorat al-Mu’minoon:9]

• Muslims should maintain Salah in all aspects such as the conditions, pillars and obligations. They must not nullify their Salah by talking, laughing or moving about without need during Salah. Muslims want to gain the reward from Allah ﷻ for Salah and they fear Allah’s punishment for being lazy in Salah.
• The actions that lessen the reward for Salah, are known as makroohaat (disliked actions). Some of them are:

1. To turn the head slightly, or to move the whole body without any reason; (However, if there is a reason for moving the head, then it is permissible).
2. Looking upwards;
3. Closing the eyes;
4. Laying the arms on the ground during prostration;
5. Actions that take away tranquility and humility from the Salah, such as playing, fidgeting with the fingers, hands, legs, clothes,watches, mobile phones or anything else.
6. To pray while being in need to use the toilet;
7. To pray when food and drink has been served. In this case, one should delay the prayer;
8. To pray towards a picture or fire;
9. To pray without a sutrah, such as a wall, bag or anything similar that is available. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:

“When one of you prays, he should use a sutrah.” [Bukhaari]

Discussion questions for comment

Which actions are disliked in Salah?