Ruku’ (Bowing)

1031. In every Rak’at, a person offering prayers should, after reciting the Surahs (Qira'at), bow to an extent that he is able to rest his hands on his knees. This act is called Ruku’.

1032. If a person bows down in the posture of Ruku’ but does not place his hands on his knees, his Ruku’ is in order, however, as per recommended precaution, one should place his hands on his knees.

Qira'at (reciting the Surah Al - Hamd and other Surah)

987. In the daily obligatory prayers, one should recite Surah Al - Hamd and other complete Surah in the first and second Rak’ats. The Surah Az – Zuha and Surah Inshirah are treated as one Surah in Namaz, and so are the Surah Al – Fil and Quraysh.

988. If the time left for Namaz is little, or if a person has to helplessly abandon the Surah because of fear that a thief, a beast, or anything else may do him harm, he should not recite the other Surah.

Qiyam (To Stand)

967. To stand erect while saying Takbiratul Ihram, and to stand before the Ruku’ – which is called Qiyam muttasil ba Ruku’ – is the Rukn of the prayers. But, standing while reciting Surah Al - Hamd and the other Surah and standing after performing the Ruku’, is not Rukn and if a person omits it inadvertently, his prayers are in order.

968. It is obligatory for a person to stand awhile before and after pronouncing Takbir, so as to ensure that he has pronounced the Takbir while standing.

Takbiratul Ihram

957. To say Allahu Akbar in the beginning of every prayer is obligatory, and one of its Rukns, and it is necessary that every letter of Allahu and Akbar, and the two words are uttered in proper succession. It is also necessary that these two words should be pronounced in correct Arabic. If a person pronounces these words incorrectly, or utters their translation, it will not be valid.

Intention (Niyyat)

952. A person should offer prayers with the intention of Qurbat, i.e. complying with the orders of the Almighty Allah. It is not, however, necessary that he should make the Niyyat pass through his mind, or should, for example, utter: "I am offering four Rak’ats of Zuhr prayers Qurbatan ila – llah. Rather, while offering Namaz – e – Ihtiyat, as per obligatory precaution, one should not utter the Niyyat.

Obligatory acts of Namaz

There are eleven obligatory acts for prayers:

1. Niyyat (Intention)
2. Qiyam (Standing erect)
3. Takbiratul Ihram (Saying Allahu Akbar while commencing the prayers)

Translation of Adhaan and Iqamah

Allahu Akbar

(Allah is greater than any description)

Ash Hadu An La ilaha illallah

(I testify that there is no God but Allah)

Ash hadu anna Mohammadan Rasoolullah

(I testify that Mohammad is Allah's Messenger)

Ash Hadu Anna ‘Aliyyan Amiral Mo’mineena Waliyyullah

(I testify that the Commander of the faithful, Imam Ali (AS) is the vicegerent of Allah)

Adhaan and Iqamah

925. It is Mustahab for man and woman to say Adhaan and Iqamah before offering daily obligatory prayers, but for other than that like Namaz – e –Ayaat and Mustahab prayers “As – Salah” should be said three times.

926. It is Mustahab that Adhaan be pronounced in the right ear of the child, and Iqamah in its left ear, on the day it is born or before the umbilical cord is cast off.

927. Adhaan consists of the following 18 sentences:

Allahu Akbar - four times

Rules regarding a Masjid

909. It is Haraam to make the floor, roof, ceiling and inner walls of a Masjid Najis, and as and when a person comes to know that any of these parts has become Najis, he should immediately make it Pak. And the recommended precaution is that the outer part of the wall of a Masjid, too, should not be made Najis.
And if it becomes Najis, it is not obligatory to remove the Najasat. But if someone makes it Najis to violate its sanctity, that act is Haraam, and the Najasat should be removed.

Places where offering prayers is Makrooh

907. There are a number of places where it is Makrooh to offer prayers. Some of them are the following: