Over 100 mistakes made in Salaah

[Yusuf.McNulty.al.Irlandee]

Mistakes made before the Salaah:

1- Rushing to the masjid; and from that is walking extremely fast in order to catch the rukoo` with the Imaam.

2- Not making the du`aa for entering /exiting the masjid.

3- Sitting down without performing Tahiyyatul-Masjid (two rak`ah made before sitting within the masjid).

4- Reserving a space in the masjid by using a prayer rug or something similar, due to the prohibition narrated in that regard.

5- Attending the masjid with a foul stench such as garlic, onions, cigarettes, or something else.

6- The worshipper failing to bring to mind that he is performing an act of worship for Allaah, so instead he prays because he’s merely in the habit of praying.

7- To verbally pronounce the niyyah (intention), Sh Ibn Baaz said about this, “Pronouncing the intention is a bid`ah (innovation), and to do so loudly is even more severe in sin.”

8- Not being diligent in praying in the first row.

9- Not straightening the rows (before salaah), and being lazy in closing any gaps (between the worshippers in the rows).

10- Rushing to make a new row before the row in front is complete.

11- To keep continuously praying (two rak`ah) between the Adhaan and Iqaamah of Fajr. Rather what is established in the Sunnah is to suffice with two rak`ah Sunnah before the obligatory Fajr prayer.

12- To only make du`aa before the Iqaamah (upon entering the masjid) and not pray Tahiyyatul-Masjid . What’s correct is to pray Tahiyyatul-Masjid immediately upon entering the masjid (rather than to make du`aa and wait for the Salaah).

13- Supplicating with various du`aas that are not authentic from the Prophet – sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam, such as saying ‘aqaamahallaahu wa adaamahaa’ when the Mu’adh-dhin says ‘qad qaamatis-salaah’. Or like what some say ‘mustaweena mu`tadeen!’ during the Iqaamah, or making du`aa before the Takbeeratul-Ihraam with ‘Allaahumma ahsin wuqoofanaa bayna yadayk’, or saying the Ta`awwudh (a`oodhu billaahi minash-shaytaanir-rajeem) and Basmalah (bismillaahir-rahmaanir-raheem) before the Takbeeratul-Ihraam. Ibnul-Qayyim said, “When he (the Prophet – sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) stood to pray, he would say ‘Allaahu Akbar’, and he would not say anything else before it.”

14- Not repeating the words of the Iqaamah along with the Muqeem (one who calls the Iqaamah – who is usually the Mu’adh-dhin also), for it has been narrated that the Iqaamah is a type of Adhaan [1]. And it is best to repeat after the Muqeem, thereafter sending salaah upon the Prophet – sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam. Another error is to suffice with only repeating the final part of the Iqaamah: ‘Laa ilaaha illallaah’ after the Muqeem, Sh al-Albaanee held this act to be a bid`ah (innovation).

15- Saying ‘haqqan!’ after the Iqaamah has finished.

16- To pray a supererogatory prayer after the Iqaamah, or to continue praying one if still in the first rak`ah. What’s correct is to hasten/lighten the prayer if one is in the last rak`ah, otherwise to cut if off by ending one’s intention, and this does not require any Tasleem.


[And Allaah knows best…]

- Translated by Yusuf McNulty
- Ak-thar min Mi`ah Khata’ fis-Salaah
- Pages 8-11


[1] Translator’s Note:

It’s fitting to mention that this is an affair of ikhtilaaf, as some scholars hold that only the Adhaan should be repeated after, not the Iqaamah, as said by Sh Muhammad Ibn `Alee Firkoos – hafidhahullaah.