5Prayers

Conditions for prayer to be correct

The person must be Muslim, because the Prophet (May Allāh praise him and Peace be upon him) said, “Islam is built upon five things: testifying that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allāh and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allāh, praying, paying Zakāt…..” [Reported by Bukhārī and Muslim].
The person must be sane, because the Prophet (May Allāh praise him and Peace be upon him) said, “The pen is lifted for three categories of people: somebody who is asleep until he wakes up, a child until he comes of age and an insane person until he becomes sane” [Reported by Imam Aḥmad in Al Musnad].
Coming of age: Therefore, prayer is not obligatory for children until they come of age. The evidence for this is the ḥadīth (narration) wherein the Prophet (May Allāh praise him and Peace be upon him) said, “Tell your children to pray once they reach the age of seven, and strike them if they do not pray from the age of ten and separate them in their beds” [Authenticated by Sheikh Al Albānī in Al Irwā`: 247].
Being in a state of purity with no urine, faeces or the like on one’s person. The evidence for this is the ḥadīth (narration) of Ibn ‘Umar (may Allāh be pleased with him) in which he said that he heard the Messenger of Allāh (may Allāh be pleased with him) say “Ṣalāt is not accepted if one is not in a state of purity” [Narrated by Imam Muslim: 224].
That the time has begun for those prayers that have a specified and restricted time, because Allāh, Exalted is He, says, “Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times” [[Sūrat Al Nisā, Āyah No. 103]. There is also the ḥadīth (narration) wherein Jibreel led the Prophet (May Allāh praise him and Peace be upon him) for the five prayers, then said, “It is in the period between these two times” [Authenticated by Sheikh Al Albānī in Al Irwā: 250].
Covering one’s private region. This is because Allāh, Exalted is He, says, “O children of Adam, take your adornment at every masjid.” [[Sūrat Al A’rāf Āyah no. 31] and also because the Prophet (May Allāh praise him and Peace be upon him) said, “The prayer of a woman who has reached the age of menstruation is not accepted unless she is wearing something that covers her head” [Authenticated by Sheikh Al Albānī in Al Irwā`: 196]. What is meant here buy a woman who has reached the age of menstruation is a female who has reached the age where she is accountable for her actions. [Al-Fiqh Al-Muyassar (Fiqh Made Easy)].
Having no impurities on one’s body, clothes or the place where one is praying. This is because Allāh, Exalted is He, says “And your garments purify” [Sūrat Al Mudaththir Āyah no. 4] and the Prophet (May Allāh praise him and Peace be upon him) said, “Have no urine on yourselves, because most of the punishment of the grave is due to urine” [Authenticated by Sheikh Al Albānī in Al Irwā`: 280].
Facing the qiblah (prayer direction). This is because Allāh, Exalted is He, says, “So turn your face toward Al Masjid Al Ḥarām” [Sūrat Al Baqarah Āyah no. 144] and because the Prophet (May Allāh praise him and Peace be upon him) said, “When you intend to pray, perform wuḍū` well, then face the qiblah) [Reported by Imam Bukhārī: 6251].
Intention: This is always a condition, regardless of the circumstances, and it is to be made in one’s heart. Its true meaning is that one has a firm will to do something. Pronouncing it with the tongue is not correct and there is no evidence that any of the Ṣaḥābah (Companions) did it. Allāh, Exalted is He, says, “And they were not commanded except to worship Allāh, [being] sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth” [Sūrat Al Bayyinah Āyah no. 5].