Wajib Acts of Salah

Besides the fardh actions of salah, which we explained as pillars and prerequisites, there are several actions that are necessary (wajib) to perform.  Both fardh and wajib acts are equally required, but there is a difference: The salah does not become invalid when a wajib act is left out accidentally. Performing the sajdah al-sahw (prostration of forgetfulness) at the end of the salah compensates for such a mistake. 

One of the most important wajib acts of salah is ta’dil al-arkan.  It is to perform the pillars of the salah properly, giving each one its due right. Just as Prophet Muhammad (saw) indicated in His saying, “The worst kind of theft is to steal from prayer” (Muwatta’, Qasr as-salah, 23), ta’dil al-arkan is to perform the salah completely. Therefore, a believer is should not hurry and wait for at least a duration in which he can say “subhanallah” during ruku’, the standing after ruku’, in sajdah and during the sitting in between the two sajdahs. 

The wajib acts of salah are to start the salah by saying “Allahu akbar”; to recite an extra surah – or some verses similar in length- after surah al-Fatiha in the first two rak’ah of the fardh prayers; to recite silently in the noon and afternoon prayers, and in all supererogatory prayers during the day; to place the forehead along with the nose on the ground during sajdah; to sit after the second rak’ah in prayers with three or four rak’ah; to say the tashahhud in the first and final sitting.