
- Islam
A person must be a Muslim for his/her Salah to be accepted by Allah ﷻ. Prophet Muhammad said,
Islam is built upon five (pillars): Testifying that there’s none worthy of worship except Allah ﷻ , and that Muhammad ﷺ is the Messenger of Allah ﷻ , establishing Salah, giving Zakah,Hajj and fasting Ramadaan. [Bukhaari and Muslim].
This hadeeth shows that a person must first accept Islam before Allah accepts his prayers. - Sanity
Salah is obligatory on every sane person. It is not obligatory on one whose unaware of his/her actions. Ibn ‘Abbaas narrated that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said,
Three persons’ actions are not recorded: a person whose mind is deranged till he regains sanity and knows what he is doing, a person who is asleep till waking up and a boy till he reaches puberty [Aboo Daawood] - Knowing right from wrong
A person must be of the age where he/she knows the difference between right and wrong. - Being in a state of purity (a bath from head to toe) or wudoo.
- Removing impurities
A Muslim’s body, clothes and place of prayer must be free from any impurities. - Covering the body properly
A Muslim must be properly covered for Salah. This means that he/she must cover his/her ‘awrah. The ‘awrah for women is everything except the face and hands. Men must cover themselves from the shoulders to below their knees. - Praying on time Muslims must pray the compulsory prayers within the fixed times of Salah.
- Facing the Qiblah Muslims face the direction of the Ka’bah in Makkah in Salah. It was the first place built for the worship of Allah ﷻ .
- Intention
A Muslim must have the correct niyyah (intention) for Salah. He/She must pray on time and the Salah must be performed sincerely for the sake of Allah ﷻ .

Ulama Institute #1
Looking to learn Arabic or memorize the Quran.
Check our Trusted Teachers
Pillars of Salah
Ulama Institute #1
Looking to learn Arabic or memorize the Quran?
Check our Trusted Teachers

There are some acts of Salah that must be done, not doing them nullifies Salah, These actions are called arkaan (pillars) of Salah. There are fourteen pilars of Salah:
- Standing.
Allah ﷻ says: “Maintain with care [the obligatory] and [in particular] the middle [i.c. ‘asr] prayer and stand before Allah, devoutly obedient” [Soorat al-Baqarah: 238] - Takbeerat ul- ihraam (the opening takbeer To say (Allaahu Akbar) at the begining of Salah
- Recitation of Soorat al Faatihah The Prophet ﷺ said:
There is no prayer for the one who does not recite Al- Faatihah of the book [Bukhaari] - Rukoo (Bowing)
- Standing up straight after rukoo
- Sujood (Prostration)
- Rising from sujood
- Sitting between the two prostrations
- Tranquility in all of the actions of Salah
- The final tashahhud
- The two tasleems To say as-Salaamu alaykum wa rahmatullaah, turning the head to the right, and then sating the same to the left.
- Sitting down for the tashahhud.
- Sending peace and blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
- Perforing this in its proper order- The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
“Pray as you have seen me praying.” [Bukhaari]
Discussion questions for comment
What are the Pillars of Salah?