Salah: Prayer as Established by the Prophet

The chapter on salah in Al-Wajiz fi Fiqh as-Sunnah is guided by the Prophet's well-known instruction: 'Pray as you have seen me pray' (Sahih al-Bukhari). This hadith establishes the Prophetic demonstration (fi'l) as the primary source for the method of prayer, alongside the Quranic commands and the verbal hadiths that describe or explain specific elements. The chapter presents the prayer as the Prophet performed it, drawing from the most authentic narrations.

Prayer was made obligatory during the Night Journey (Isra' and Mi'raj) at the rate of five prayers per day. The Quran commands prayer repeatedly: 'Establish prayer' (aqimu as-salah) appears dozens of times in various forms, and the specific times are established by the verse: 'Establish prayer at the decline of the sun until the darkness of the night, and the recitation of dawn — indeed, the recitation of dawn is ever witnessed' (al-Isra 17:78). The five prayers and their times are further detailed in numerous authenticated hadiths.

The opening takbir (Allahu Akbar) begins the prayer. The Prophet placed his hands at shoulder or ear level when saying it. He then recited the opening supplication (istiftah) quietly. Multiple authentic supplications are reported — Al-Wajiz notes the main ones so the reader knows any of them is valid. He then sought refuge from Shaytan (isti'adhah) and recited the basmala quietly, followed by Surah al-Fatiha. The hadith 'There is no prayer for one who does not recite the Fatiha' (al-Bukhari, Muslim) establishes al-Fatiha as an obligatory pillar of prayer.

After al-Fatiha, the Prophet recited an additional surah or passage from the Quran in the first two rak'ahs. The length varied: in Fajr he recited long surahs; in Dhuhr and Asr moderate-length ones; in Maghrib shorter ones; in Isha intermediate ones. This guidance from the Sunnah helps worshippers choose appropriate recitation lengths for each prayer.

Ruku (bowing) is performed until the back is level, with the hands gripping the knees. The Prophet said in ruku: 'Subhana Rabbiya al-Adheem' (Glory be to my Lord the Magnificent) — at least three times by sunnah. Rising from ruku, he said 'Sami'a Allahu liman hamidah' (Allah hears those who praise Him) and, upon standing: 'Rabbana wa laka al-hamd' (Our Lord, and to You is all praise).

Sujud (prostration) is performed on seven limbs: the forehead and nose, both hands, both knees, and the tips of both feet. This is established by the hadith in al-Bukhari: 'I have been commanded to prostrate on seven bones.' The Prophet said in sujud: 'Subhana Rabbiya al-A'la' (Glory be to my Lord the Most High) — at least three times. Between the two prostrations he sat and said: 'Rabbighfir li' (My Lord, forgive me).

The tashahhud is recited in the sitting position between rak'ahs and at the end. The most widely transmitted version, from Ibn Mas'ud reported in Bukhari and Muslim, is the standard reference. The Prophet then sent salawat upon himself and upon the family of Ibrahim. He concluded by turning his face to the right and then to the left, saying 'As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah' each time.

Al-Wajiz notes the main scholarly differences regarding specific elements — such as the position of the hands during prayer, the details of the sitting posture, and the precise formulation of various supplications — while pointing the reader to the authenticated hadiths and encouraging them to follow the path of the Prophet's demonstrated Sunnah.