Parts

A pillar cannot be waived, whether one omits it deliberately or by mistake, rather it must be done.

An obligatory part is waived if one forgets, and it can be compensated for by doing the prostration of forgetfulness (sujud as-sahw).

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Parts of Prayer

There are 14 pillars of prayer

There are 8 obligatory parts of prayer.

There are many Sunnah acts of prayer, both words and actions.

[Some of the fuqaha’ stated that there are seventeen verbal Sunnahs in prayer, and fifty-five actions which are Sunnah]

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Difference Between a Pillar , Obligatory Part & Sunnah

The difference between a pillar and an obligatory part is that a pillar cannot be waived, whether one omits it deliberately or by mistake, rather it must be done.

An obligatory part is waived if one forgets, and it can be compensated for by doing the prostration of forgetfulness (sujud as-sahw).

What is meant by Sunnahs is things other than the pillars (essential parts) and obligatory parts of the prayer.

The prayer is not invalidated if one omits one of these actions, even if that is done deliberately, unlike the pillars and obligatory parts.

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It may be useful here to mention the pillars of prayer and its obligatory parts, followed by some of its Sunnahs, are based on the book Daleel al-Taalib, which is a well known summary used by Hanbali fuqaha’.

There are some differences of opinion among the fuqaha’ regarding some of these issues; what is regarded as obligatory by some is regarded as Sunnah by others. This is discussed in detail in the books of fiqh.