The conditions of prayer

Prayer is the second pillar of Islam and the first deed for which the servant will be held accountable. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said:

The first matter for which the servant will be called to account on the Day of Resurrection is prayer: if it is sound, he has succeeded and attained salvation.at-Tirmidhi 413

Conditions of obligation

Four conditions make prayer obligatory upon a person:

• being Muslim;
• having reached puberty;
• being of sound mind;
• being free from menstrual and post-natal bleeding.

The child is encouraged to pray from age seven to learn it, and gently prompted at ten.

Conditions of validity

Six conditions for the prayer to be accepted:

• the entry of the prayer time;
• bodily purity from the two impurities;
• pure clothing;
• a pure place of prayer;
• covering the 'awra;
• facing the qibla, and the intention.

Each rests on a clear text:

So turn your face toward the Sacred Mosque.sura al-Baqara 144

Actions are but by intentions.al-Bukhari 1 ; Muslim 1907

Useful differences

• A woman's feet: Malikis and Hanbalis include them in the prayer 'awra; Shafi'is do not.
• The khimar slipping: Hanafis, uncovering a quarter of a limb invalidates the prayer; the other schools, only if it lasts longer than a tasbih.

In case of doubt, follow the cautious view without falling into hardship:

He has not placed upon you in the religion any difficulty.sura al-Hajj 78