Prayer: Conditions, Pillars, and Obligatory Acts
Authored by Shaykh al-Islam, the erudite scholar, Imam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhāb (may Allah have mercy upon him)
Praise be to Allah, we praise Him, seek His help, and ask Him for forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allah from the evil of our selves and from our bad deeds. Whoever Allah guides, none can lead him astray, and whoever He sends astray, none can guide him. I testify that there is no god truly worthy of worship but Allah alone, without any partner, and I testify that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. May Allah’s peace and abundant blessings be upon him, his family, and Companions.
This book entitled "Prayer’s Conditions, Pillars, and Obligatory acts" by Imam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhāb is one of the most beneficial books, especially for the beginners and common people. In fact, Allah has made it of benefit for both the knowledgeable and common people as He has made all his other writings of benefit for people all over the world. This is actually from Allah’s favor upon him and upon the people.
His Eminence Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Azīz ibn ‘Abdullah ibn Bāz (may Allah have mercy upon him) explained this blessed book in his mosque that was located near his house in 1410 AH. Shaykh Muhammad Ilyās ‘Abdul-Qādir, the Imam of the mosque, read the book upon him, and the Shaykh explained it to the worshipers in five lectures between the Adhān (call to prayer) and Iqāmah (second call to prayer) of ‘Ishā’ prayer throughout five days. The explanation was unique, verified, brief, and provided much benefit. The duration of those five lessons amounted to ninety minutes and they were audio-recorded on a tape, which I have had for about twenty five years. Then, in Muharram 1435 AH, Allah facilitated for me to have the tape transcribed. My work on the book went as follows: 1. I made an accurate word-to-word comparison between the audio version of the Shaykh’s words and the transcribed one, that included both the text and explanation. 2. I compared the text of the book "Prayer’s Conditions, Pillars, and Obligatory Acts" with four copies, making the original copy the one that was read upon the Shaykh.
This second copy was transcribed in 1338 AH by an anonymous scribe in a clear and nice handwriting, but there is a missing part in it starting from the author saying: “The proof is the statement of Allah Almighty: {Anyone who seeks a religion other than Islam, never will it be...}” up to his saying: “peace and blessings be upon him in the two times...” I compared this copy with the other ones. The fourth copy is the edition issued by Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University. It was corrected and edited according to the manuscript 86/269 by Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Azīz ibn Zayd Ar-Rūmi and Shaykh Sālih ibn Muhammad al-Hasan.
6. I made an index for the verses, Hadīths, and traditions. 7. I named the explanatory book "Ash-Sharh al-Mumtāz li Samāhat Ash-Shaykh Ibn Bāz". After having completed and published the explanatory book, I found it something good to make a separate copy of the part about the prayer’s conditions, pillars, and obligatory acts, and put it along with all the efforts exerted in it, in an independent book, in the hope that Allah would benefit the people with it,
and is kept in the library of ‘Unayzah Grand Mosque in Al-Qasīm. [The author, Shaykh al-Islam, the erudite scholar, Imam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhāb (may Allah have mercy upon him) said]:
First condition: Islam, and its opposite is Kufr (disbelief). The actions of a disbeliever, whatsoever, are rejected [1], [2]. The proof lies in the verses where Allah Almighty says: {It is not for the polytheists to maintain Allah’s mosques while openly displaying their disbelief. Their deeds have become worthless, and they will abide in the Fire forever.} [3]