Question:
Assalamualaikum w.b.t. If the recitation of supplication in places where it is permissible to recite supplication in prayer such as during prostration and before salam is inaccurate or there is a mistake, is the prayer invalid? Hope for an explanation.
Answer:
Waalaikumussalam w.b.t.
Alhamdulillah, praise and gratitude to Allah SWT for His countless blessings for us all. Praise and salutations to our beloved Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his family, companions and all those who follow his footsteps until the Last Day.
Generally, a valid and complete prayer is a prayer that fulfils all its requisites and conditions. The requisites are the basis of a matter. For example, the walls of a room. Hence, the parts of prayer are its requisites. A prayer is incomplete and invalid except after all of its parts are completed following the methodology and arrangements that came from Rasullullah PBUH as conveyed by the angel Gabriel AS. All of the requisites of prayer we summarized into 13 matters. [1]
These requisites can also be further divided into 4 main parts, which are:
- Qauliyyah requisite consists of five matters which are the takbiratul ihram, recitation of al-Fatihah, recitation of the final tasyahhud, praise and salutations on the Prophet PBUH, and his family and giving salam.
- Fi‘liyyah requisite consists of six matters which are standing, bowing (rukuk), iktidal, prostration (sujud), sitting in between the two prostrations and sitting in the final tasyahhud.
- Ma‘nawiyyah requisite is all the requisites are completed in order.
- Qalbiyyah requisite is the intention. [2]
Supplicating in prayer
Regarding this matter, two main places are usually the main focus for most of us to increase our supplication which is at the end of the prayer and in our prostration. Moreover, it is stated that the end of the prayer is the time when it is encouraged to supplicate and that the supplication will be granted. This is based on a hadith narrated by Abu Umamah al-Bahili RA, when Rasullullah PBUH was asked:
يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَىُّ الدُّعَاءِ أَسْمَعُ قَالَ جَوْفُ اللَّيْلِ الآخِرُ وَدُبُرَ الصَّلَوَاتِ الْمَكْتُوبَاتِ
“Which supplication is most readily listened to, and replied, “What is offered in the latter part of the depth of the night and at the end of the prescribed prayers.” [3]
At the end of the prayer means after the tasyahhud and before the salam as cited by Ibn Qayyim al-Jauziyyah that his teacher chose this opinion. [4] al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalani when commenting on these hadiths regarding supplication before giving the salam stated that it is permissible for every person who is praying to supplicate with any supplication he so wishes. [5]
The same goes for supplication during prostration. This is as stated in a hadith from Abu Hurairah RA where Rasullullah PBUH said:
أَقْرَبُ ما يَكونُ العَبْدُ مِن رَبِّهِ وهو ساجِدٌ، فأكْثِرُوا الدُّعاءَ
“The closest that the slave comes to his Lord is when he is prostrating, so invoke Allah much (in prostration).” [6]
Talking in Prayer
Basically, a person’s prayer will be invalidated when a person consciously talks. Talking meant here are words other than the words from al-Quran, dhikr and supplication. This is in accordance with a hadith from Zaid bin Arqam RA, he said:
كُنَّا نَتَكَلَّمُ فِى الصَّلاَةِ يُكَلِّمُ أَحَدُنَا أَخَاهُ فِى حَاجَتِهِ حَتَّى نَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ {حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ وَالصَّلاَةِ الْوُسْطَى وَقُومُوا لِلَّهِ قَانِتِينَ} فَأُمِرْنَا بِالسُّكُوتِ
“We used to speak while in prayer. One of us used to speak to his brother (while in prayer) about his need, till the Verse was revealed: “Guard strictly the (five obligatory) prayers, especially the middle (the Best) (`Asr) Prayer and stand before Allah with obedience (and not to speak to others during the prayers).” Then we were ordered not to speak in the prayers.” [7]
The next hadith from Mu’awiyah bin Hakam al-Sulami RA, Prophet PBUH supplicated for him who supplicated for a person who sneezed while praying:
إِنَّ هَذِهِ الصَّلاَةَ لاَ يَصْلُحُ فِيهَا شَىْءٌ مِنْ كَلاَمِ النَّاسِ إِنَّمَا هُوَ التَّسْبِيحُ وَالتَّكْبِيرُ وَقِرَاءَةُ الْقُرْآنِ
“Talking is not befitting during the Salat (prayer), for it (prayer) consists only of glorifying Allah, declaring His Greatness and the recitation of the Qur’an.” [8]
Talking that invalidates prayer are words spoken that consist of two letters and more even if it doesn’t mean anything. The same for just one letter that has a meaning, for instance, qi (قِ) which means protect, ‘ie (عِ) which means be aware and fi (فِ) which means fulfil. However, if a person talks while he is praying because he forgot or is ignorant of its prohibition because he has just embraced Islam, both are forgiven if the words he uttered are a little, that doesn’t exceed six words. [9]
Conclusion
According to the above discussion, in our opinion, mistakes made in the recitation of supplication in prayer don’t invalidate the prayer because it is not included in the requisites of prayer. Especially when supplication is not included in the definition of words that invalidate prayer if uttered purposefully as stated above.
Although, we would like to take this opportunity to advise everyone to improve and correct each of our supplication recitations following the Arabic grammar and pronunciation so that it can fulfil the meaning of the supplication.
May Allah SWT grant us all a clear understanding in religion. Amin.
Wallahu a’lam.
[1] See al-Fiqh al-Manhaji, 1/141.
[2] See al-Taqrirat al-Sadidah, pg. 208-209.
[3] Narrated by al-Tirmizi (3499)
[4] See Zad al-Ma‘ad, 1/295.
[5] See Fath al-Bari, 2/318.
[6] Narrated by Muslim (482)
[7] Narrated by al-Bukhari (4260); Muslim (539)
[8] Narrated by Muslim (537)
[9] See al-Fiqh al-Manhaji, 1/167-168.
