شُرُوطُ الصَّلَاةِ وَأَرْكَانُهَا

Prayer (aṣ-ṣalaat) is the second pillar of Islam and the first deed the servant will be asked about (Abu Dawud 864, Tirmidhi 413) [À VÉRIFIER : numéros]. To do it well, the scholars distinguish three levels: the conditions (before the prayer), the pillars (within the prayer), and the sunnas (what beautifies it).

The conditions (shuruuṭ): to be met before starting 1. Being Muslim, of sound mind, and of the age of discernment (prayer becomes obligatory at puberty; children are taught it from age 7: Abu Dawud 495 [À VÉRIFIER : numéro]). 2. The time: "Prayer is prescribed for the believers at fixed times" (meaning of verse 4:103). 3. Purity of state: having wudu (or ghusl, or tayammum). 4. Cleanliness of body, clothes and place. 5. Covering one's 'awra: for a man, at least from the navel to the knees; for a woman, the whole body except the face and hands (and the feet, according to some views) [À VÉRIFIER : les écoles diffèrent, l'imam tranche]. "O children of Adam, take your adornment at every place of prayer" (meaning of part of verse 7:31). 6. Facing the qibla, the Kaaba in Makkah (meaning of verse 2:144). If the direction is unknown, make a reasonable effort (compass, app, asking) and the prayer is valid. 7. The intention (niyya), in the heart: knowing which prayer you are making. It does not need to be spoken; saying it quietly [À VÉRIFIER : les écoles diffèrent, l'imam tranche].

The times of the five prayers • Fajr: from true dawn until sunrise. • Dhuhr: from when the sun begins to decline after midday, until an object's shadow equals its length. • 'Asr: from the end of Dhuhr until sunset; it should not be delayed until the sun turns yellow (Muslim 612). 'Asr begins later for the Hanafis [À VÉRIFIER : les écoles diffèrent, l'imam tranche]. • Maghrib: from sunset until the red glow disappears. • 'Ishaa': from the disappearance of the glow until the middle of the night (Muslim 612); some extend it until dawn when needed [À VÉRIFIER : les écoles diffèrent, l'imam tranche]. The exact times for each day are on the prayer times page of the centre's website. Praying at the start of the time is best (Bukhari 527, Muslim 85).

The pillars (arkaan): without them, the prayer is not valid A common presentation (close to the Shafi'i and Hanbali schools): 1. Standing for the obligatory prayer, if able. 2. The opening takbiir: "Allaahu akbar". 3. Reciting Al-Faatiḥa in every rak'a. 4. Bowing (rukuu'). 5. Rising from the bow. 6. The two prostrations (sujuud), on seven parts of the body. 7. Sitting between the two prostrations. 8. The final tashahhud, sitting. 9. The final salaam. 10. Calm (ṭuma'niina) in each position, and the order. The Hanafi school classifies differently: a few "obligations" (faraa'iḍ) and a series of "duties" (waajibaat), such as Al-Faatiḥa or the salaam [À VÉRIFIER : les écoles diffèrent, l'imam tranche].

Duties and sunnas Between the pillars and the sunnas, several schools place "duties": the other takbiirs, the formulas of bowing and prostration, the first tashahhud. Forgotten by mistake, they are repaired by the prostration of forgetfulness (lesson 10). The sunnas (opening supplication, surah after Al-Faatiḥa, raising the hands, etc.) beautify the prayer; forgetting them does not invalidate it.

What invalidates the prayer • Speaking deliberately outside the prayer: "In this prayer, nothing of people's speech is fitting" (Muslim 537). • Eating or drinking deliberately. • A lot of unnecessary, continuous movement. • Losing wudu. • Deliberately leaving out a pillar or a condition (turning away from the qibla, uncovering the 'awra for a long time). • Laughing out loud.

Exercise: open the prayer times page of the website and note today's five times. Which ones fall during your work or classes? Plan where and when you will pray.

Understanding the lesson

Explanation Why so many distinctions? To know what to do when we make a mistake. If you forget a sunna, the prayer remains fully valid; if you forget a duty, you repair it with the prostration of forgetfulness; if you forget a pillar, it must be done again. Knowing these levels frees you from worry: you know what is serious and what is not. The hadith of "the man who prayed badly" is the basis of this lesson: he prayed quickly, and the Prophet ﷺ told him three times "Go back and pray, for you have not prayed", then taught him: the takbiir, the recitation, bowing until still, rising, prostrating until still, sitting until still (Bukhari 757, Muslim 397). Prayer is not a series of quick movements, but a presence. Time is the most neglected condition: praying before the time is not valid; delaying it past its time without excuse is a serious sin. Allah says: "Woe to those who pray, who are heedless of their prayer" (meaning of verses 107:4-5). At work or school, you can often pray discreetly in a few minutes, on a jacket or a folding mat; travel and illness have their concessions (lesson 12). Points where the schools differ: the 'awra (a woman's feet, a man's knees); the start of 'Asr and the end of 'Ishaa'; the classification of pillars / duties / sunnas; speaking the intention [À VÉRIFIER : les écoles diffèrent, l'imam tranche].

Lessons to draw from it • Check the seven conditions before starting, like a checklist. • Take your time in each position: calm is part of the prayer. • Pray at the start of the time when possible, never letting the time pass. • Do not worry about a lapse: the religion has provided a repair.

Key points to remember • Conditions: Islam and sound mind, time, wudu, cleanliness, 'awra covered, qibla, intention. • Pillars: standing, takbiir, Faatiḥa, rukuu', rising, two sujuud, sitting, final tashahhud, salaam, calm and order. • Invalidate the prayer: speaking, eating, much movement, losing wudu, leaving out a pillar. • Hadith of the man who prayed badly: Bukhari 757, Muslim 397.

The main message Prayer has a clear framework: conditions before, pillars during, sunnas that beautify it. Knowing it lets you pray with confidence, at the right time and with calm.