The Obligatory Actions of Salah
📜 The Fiqh of Prayer
📖 Obligatory Actions of Prayer and the Prostration of Forgetfulness
All praise be to Allah who perfected the religion for us. May peace and blessings be upon the one who taught the Ummah the rulings of prayer in detail. After learning the pillars, we now move to the obligatory actions (wajibat) which are compensated by the prostration of forgetfulness if left out of negligence, and which invalidate the prayer if deliberately omitted.
Imam Ahmad said: "The obligations are below the pillars, but it is not befitting for a Muslim to neglect them."
📜 Scene: Forgetting the Tashahhud
At the neighborhood mosque, Ahmed finishes his second rak'a...
Instead of sitting for the first tashahhud, he stands up directly for the third rak'a.
The imam (next to him): [clearing his throat slightly] "Subhan'Allah..."
Ahmed: [realizing his mistake mid-way] "Oh no, I forgot the tashahhud! Should I go back down?"
He continues standing since he's closer to the standing position...
At the end of the prayer, before the salam...
Ahmed: [performs two additional prostrations]
A brother after the prayer: "Why did you do those two extra prostrations?"
Ahmed: "It's the prostration of forgetfulness. I forgot the first tashahhud, and since I was closer to the standing position when I realized, I continued and compensated with two prostrations before the salam, just as the Prophet ﷺ did."
📍 Reference: Hadith of Abdullah ibn Buhayna — Al-Bukhari (829)
📜 Scene: The Difference Between Pillar and Obligation
A father teaches his son the nuances of fiqh...
Yusuf (12 years old): "Dad, if I forget something in my prayer, is it still valid?"
Father: "It depends on what you forget. Imagine the prayer like a house."
Yusuf: "A house?"
Father: "Yes. The pillars are like the walls and roof — without them, the house collapses. You can't compensate for them otherwise."
Yusuf: "And the obligations?"
Father: "The obligations are like the windows and doors. The house stands without them, but it's not complete. If you forget them, you can compensate with the prostration of forgetfulness."
Yusuf: "And the sunnas?"
Father: "Those are the decorations and furniture. Your house is valid without them, but it's much more beautiful with them!"
🔍 The Difference Between a Pillar and an Obligation
- Pillar (Rukn): An essential part of the prayer; the act is not valid without it, and it cannot be compensated by the prostration of forgetfulness.
- Obligation (Wajib): What is commanded in prayer; its forgetful omission is compensated by the prostration of forgetfulness, but its deliberate omission invalidates the prayer according to the correct opinion.
- Sunnah: What the one who does it is rewarded for and the one who leaves it is not punished, but it increases reward and khushu' (humility).
📚 The Eight Obligations in Prayer (According to the Relied-Upon View Among Hanbalis)
| No. | Obligation | Authentic Proof | Practical Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | All takbirs other than the opening takbir | Hadith of Wa'il ibn Hujr: "The Prophet ﷺ, when he stood for prayer, would say: Allahu Akbar..." — Abu Dawud (734) | Includes transitions between pillars |
| 2 | Saying: Sami'a Allahu liman hamidah for the imam and one praying alone | Hadith of Abu Hurayra on the description of prayer — Al-Bukhari (789) | The follower says: Rabbana wa laka al-hamd |
| 3 | Saying: Rabbana wa laka al-hamd for everyone | Agreed upon — Al-Bukhari (795) | Additional reported phrases are permissible |
| 4 | Tasbih of bowing (once) | "As for bowing, glorify the Lord in it" — Muslim (479) | Minimum: Subhana rabbi al-'azim |
| 5 | Tasbih of prostration (once) | "As for prostration, strive in supplication" — Muslim (479) and the meaning of tasbih is established in multiple hadiths | Minimum: Subhana rabbi al-a'la |
| 6 | Saying: Rabbi ghfir li between the two prostrations | Hadith of Hudhayfa: "And he would say between the two prostrations: Rabbi ghfir li, Rabbi ghfir li" — Abu Dawud (874) | Additional reported phrases like: warhamni are permissible |
| 7 | The first tashahhud | Hadith of Ibn Mas'ud: "We used to say before the tashahhud was obligated upon us..." — Muslim (402) | Its forgetful omission is compensated by the prostration of forgetfulness |
| 8 | Sitting for the first tashahhud | It follows from the tashahhud itself, so it takes its ruling | Sit with slight tranquility |
Note: Some schools differ in number and details, but this list is chosen for what suits youth while adhering to evidence.
🔷 The Prostration of Forgetfulness in Brief
- When is it legislated? Upon omitting an obligation, adding a pillar out of forgetfulness, or doubting the number of rak'at.
- How to perform it? Two prostrations, with the usual prostration dhikr.
- Its placement:
- After the salam: when there is an addition in prayer or doubt where addition predominates.
- Before the salam: when an obligation is omitted or the doubt is equal.
- The proof: Hadith of Abdullah ibn Buhayna about the Prophet's ﷺ prostration before salam when omitting the first tashahhud — Al-Bukhari (829), and hadith of Dhu al-Yadayn about prostration after salam — Muslim (573).
🎓 Comparison of Schools on Obligations
📌 Schools' Positions on the Number of Obligations
| School | Number of Obligations | Main Obligations According to Them |
|---|---|---|
| 🟡 Maliki | Called emphasized sunan | Takbirs, tasmi' and tahmid, tasbih, first tashahhud |
| 🟢 Hanafi | 14 obligations | Recitation of Al-Fatiha, specifying the obligatory prayer, moderation, the last sitting for the duration of tashahhud |
| 🔵 Shafi'i | No distinction between pillar and obligation | Everything other than pillars is sunnah for them |
| 🟣 Hanbali | 8 obligations | As mentioned in the table above |
📌 Note: Malikis use the term "emphasized sunnah" instead of "obligation", but the practical application is similar.
📌 Placement of Prostration of Forgetfulness According to Schools
| School | Placement of Prostration | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| 🟡 Maliki | Before salam for omission, after for addition | If both combine, before salam takes priority |
| 🟢 Hanafi | After salam in all cases | Make salam then prostrate twice then make salam |
| 🔵 Shafi'i | Before salam in all cases | Preferable to do it before salam in all situations |
| 🟣 Hanbali | Varies according to cause | Before salam for omission, after for addition or doubt |
📌 Preferred view: The view of Malikis and Hanbalis is most conforming to the hadiths: prostrate before salam for omission, and after for addition.
📌 Ruling on Deliberately Omitting an Obligation
| School | Ruling |
|---|---|
| 🟡 Maliki | Prayer is not invalid, but he is sinful and must prostrate for forgetfulness |
| 🟢 Hanafi | Prayer is invalid if obligation is omitted deliberately |
| 🔵 Shafi'i | No obligations for them other than pillars, so no invalidation |
| 🟣 Hanbali | Prayer is invalid if obligation is omitted deliberately according to the recognized view |
📌 Prostration of Forgetfulness for the Follower
| School | Ruling |
|---|---|
| 🟡 Maliki | Imam bears the follower's forgetfulness except for omission that imam cannot bear |
| 🟢 Hanafi | No prostration for follower, imam bears his forgetfulness |
| 🔵 Shafi'i | Follower follows his imam, prostrates with him even if he didn't forget |
| 🟣 Hanbali | Imam bears the follower's forgetfulness in most cases |
📌 Consensus: Scholars agree that the follower follows his imam in the prostration of forgetfulness.
🗺️ Summarized Mind Map
- Obligations Branch: Takbirs → Tasmi' and Tahmid → Tasbih of bowing and prostration → Supplication of sitting → First tashahhud and its sitting.
- Prostration of Forgetfulness Branch: Causes → Timing before/after salam → Intention of prostration → Its adhkar.
🎯 Contemporary Cases
📱 Case 1: Distracted by a Notification
Situation: You hear a notification from your phone during prayer and it makes you forget to say "Subhana rabbi al-a'la" in your prostration.
❓ What should you do?
📜 View the answer
Case analysis:
| Element | Ruling |
|---|---|
| 📊 Tasbih of prostration | Obligation (wajib) |
| 🔔 You realize before salam | Prostrate for forgetfulness before salam |
| ⏰ You realize after salam | Prostrate for forgetfulness after salam |
💡 Advice: Put your phone on silent before prayer to avoid these distractions.
🕌 Case 2: The Imam Forgets the Tashahhud
Situation: The imam forgets the first tashahhud. You realize it and say "Subhan'Allah," but he doesn't return.
❓ What should you do as a follower (ma'mum)?
📜 View the answer
The follower follows his imam:
| Rule | Application |
|---|---|
| 🔄 You stand with the imam | You don't stay sitting alone |
| 🙇 Prostration of forgetfulness | You do it with the imam at the end |
| ⚠️ If you stay sitting | You contradict the imam and your prayer may be affected |
💡 The Prophet ﷺ said: "The imam is appointed to be followed" — Al-Bukhari
⏰ Case 3: Forgetting "Sami'a Allahu liman hamidah"
Situation: You are praying alone and you rise from bowing without saying "Sami'a Allahu liman hamidah."
❓ Is your prayer valid? What should you do?
📜 View the answer
Tasmi' is an obligation:
| Situation | Solution |
|---|---|
| 🔔 You realize immediately | You say it and continue |
| 📊 You completely forgot it | Prostration of forgetfulness before salam |
| ❌ You omit it deliberately | Your prayer is invalid according to the preferred view |
💡 Note: The follower says "Rabbana wa laka al-hamd" but not "Sami'a Allahu liman hamidah."
🤔 Case 4: Doubt About "Rabbi ghfir li"
Situation: Between the two prostrations, you're not sure if you said "Rabbi ghfir li" or not.
❓ Should you prostrate for forgetfulness?
📜 View the answer
Doubt does not equal certainty:
| Rule | Application |
|---|---|
| 📊 Mere doubt | Does not obligate prostration of forgetfulness |
| ✅ If you're certain you omitted it | Prostration of forgetfulness before salam |
| 💡 As a precaution | You may prostrate for forgetfulness |
💡 Advice: Focus on each position and its adhkar to avoid doubt.
🕐 Case 5: The Latecomer and the Missed Tashahhud
Situation: You join the congregational prayer at the 3rd rak'a. When you stand to complete your missed rak'at, you forget the first tashahhud.
❓ Should you prostrate for forgetfulness? When?
📜 View the answer
You complete your prayer then compensate:
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1️⃣ Complete your rak'at | Normally after the imam's salam |
| 2️⃣ Prostration of forgetfulness | Before your final salam |
| 📊 Placement | Before salam because it's an omission |
💡 Rule: The imam does not bear the latecomer's forgetfulness for what he makes up alone.
💭 Reflection
"The difference between pillar and obligation is a mercy from Allah. He permitted compensating some forgetfulness with the prostration of forgetfulness, so that the servant is not burdened by his unintentional errors in prayer."
— From the teachings of the scholars
�� Practical Workshop
- Vocal Exercise: Repeat the obligations aloud during a practice prayer.
- Worksheet: Write a real situation (forgetting the first tashahhud) and determine the correct procedure.
- Group Review: Discuss with your peers the differences between obligation and sunnah at each position.
❓ Review Questions
- What do you do if you forget to say "Rabbi ghfir li"?
- What is the ruling on someone who deliberately omits the tasbih in bowing?
- Mention a hadith that proves the legitimacy of the prostration of forgetfulness.
O Allah, grant us success in establishing prayer as You have commanded, teach us what benefits us, and make us among the humble who perform the obligations and sunan in the best manner.