Pillars of the Prayer
The obligations of the prayer (also called its pillars) in the school of Imam Malik
Core Principle
In the Maliki school the prayer has obligations called its pillars; they are: the intention, the opening takbir, standing for it in the obligatory prayer, al-Fatiha for the imam and the one praying alone, standing for it, the bowing, rising from it, prostration on the forehead, sitting between the two prostrations, the salutation, sitting for the salutation, uprightness, tranquility, and the order of the obligations.
Why It Matters
Because these are the obligations of the prayer (also called its pillars) in the Maliki school.
Lesson
The pillars of the prayer, also called the obligations (farāʾiḍ), in the Maliki school:
1. The intention (i.e. the intention of the specific prayer). 2. The opening takbir (takbirat al-ihram). 3. Standing for it (when able). 4. Al-Fatiha for the imam and the one praying alone. 5. And standing for it. 6. The bowing (rukūʿ). 7. And the rising from it. 8. The prostration (sujūd) on the forehead. 9. Sitting between the two prostrations. 10. The salutation (salām). 11. Sitting for the salutation. 12. The uprightness (iʿtidāl). 13. The tranquility (ṭumaʾnīna). 14. The order of the obligations.
Key Points
- 1
The pillars of the prayer in the Maliki school are called the obligations, and their number is fourteen.
- 2
The first pillar is the intention (the intention of the specific prayer), and the last is the order of the obligations.
- 3
Standing for al-Fatiha, the bowing, rising from it, prostration on the forehead, and sitting between the two prostrations are among the pillars.
- 4
The salutation and sitting for the salutation are among the pillars.
- 5
Uprightness and tranquility are among the pillars.
Evidence
“The obligations of the prayer (also called its pillars) in the Maliki school: 1- The intention (i.e. the intention of the specific prayer). 2- The opening takbir (takbirat al-ihram). 3- Standing for it in the obligatory prayer. 4- Al-Fatiha for the imam and the one praying alone. 5- And standing for it. 6- The bowing (rukūʿ). 7- And the rising from it. 8- The prostration (sujūd) on the forehead. 9- Sitting between the two prostrations. 10- The salutation (salām). 11- Sitting for the salutation. 12- The uprightness (iʿtidāl). 13- The tranquility (ṭumaʾnīna). 14- The order of the obligations.”
Islamweb fatwa 78703, Wajibat wa sunan al-salat fi madhhab Malik
Glossary
الأركان / الفرائض
al-arkān / al-farāʾiḍ
the obligations of the prayer, also called its pillars
النية
al-niyya
the intention of the specific prayer
تكبيرة الإحرام
takbīrat al-iḥrām
the opening takbir that begins the prayer
الاعتدال
al-iʿtidāl
a pillar among the obligations
الطمأنينة
al-ṭumaʾnīna
a pillar among the obligations
ترتيب الفرائض
tartīb al-farāʾiḍ
performing the obligations in their order; it is one of the pillars
Learn with quizzes, audio & progress tracking — Sign up free
Get Started