{The Absolute

Essentials of Islam}
Faith, Worship, and Spirituality
Lesson 11: Disliked & Invalidating Acts of Prayer

Faraz Rabbani

Errors in Worship & their Consequence

Invalidating Not Invalidating

Leaving the obligatory (fard) Leaving the necessary (wajib) Leaving sunna and adab acts

Invalid: Obligatory to make up— Valid but Necessary to Repeat to

Valid, Not Repeated
as if unperformed Rectify

Unless: Forgetfulness prostrations—if

necessary action left forgetfully

Last Class:
Complete Description of the Prayer

What are the obligatory acts?

What are the necessary acts?
The sunna and adab of prayer

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The Disliked and Invalidating Actions

Invalidating Excessive Movement

Interdicted Fidgeting
Actions in
Prayer Leaving Wajib
Prohibitively
Not Invalidating Disliked
Doing the
Prohibitively
Disliked

Slight movement
Somewhat Disliked
without need

Leaving sunna
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Disliked Actions: 1-5

1. Undignified clothes
Somewhat disliked—exception
2. Clothes with images
When prohibitively disliked
3. Yawning or stretching
Without need—when prohibited
4. Hanging clothing
Distraction, fidgeting
5. Closing eyes
Somewhat disliked—exception
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 Disliked Actions: 6-10
6. Men: head uncovered
Somewhat disliked—exception
7. Not pointing toes
Leaving sunna
8. Need to relieve oneself
Prohibitively disliked—ignore waswasa
9. Feet on ground
At least a moment—sunna
10. Reciting behind the imam
Prohibitively disliked
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Disliked Actions: 11-13

11. Prostrating with forehead
covered
Somewhat disliked—caution
12. Raising hands after opening
Somewhat disliked—sunna: stillness
13. Men: Forearms or
shoulders uncovered
Somewhat disliked—sunna
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Invalidating Excessive Movement

Interdicted Fidgeting
Actions in
Prayer Leaving Wajib
Prohibitively
Not Invalidating Disliked
Doing the
Prohibitively
Disliked

Slight movement
Somewhat Disliked
without need

Leaving sunna
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 Invalidating Actions: 1-3
1. Excessive movement
Onlooker criterion
2. Speaking
Any audible sounds—exceptions
3. Moaning
Need—out of control

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Invalidating Actions: 4-7

4. Coughing
Without need—with need
5. Moving chest from Qibla
Accident or necessity
6. Reciting from text of Qur’an
Why?
7. Grave Error in Recitation
Non-deliberate: excused
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Applications
(1) Answering the phone in prayer
(2) Looking at the computer screen—reading?
(3) Listening to headphones
(4) Putting on your cap that fell—wrapping turban?
(5) Fixing your socks—belt?
(6) Kissing—getting kissed?
(7) Greeting—giving salams, shaking hands, lifting
hand?
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 Next Class
The Path of Salvation