The 'Asr prayer in three rak'ahs
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The second question of Fatwa No. ( 21206 )
Q 2: They pray the 'Asr prayer in three rak'ahs and at times they pray without the closing salam. What is the ruling on their prayer?
A 2 : First : The number of rak'ahs for the five obligatory prayers in the day and night is known and fixed by the consensus of the Muslims, their scholars and the general public. The 'Asr prayer is four rak'ahs, and nothing is added to it or subtracted from it. Whoever adds to it or subtracts from it has altered the religion of Islam. It is obligatory to advise him and teach him if he is ignorant. If he persists in his ignorance or if he is aware of the ruling, he is considered an apostate from the religion of Islam, and it is obligatory to refer his case to the competent authority to look into his situation. Second : The closing salam is a pillar of the prayer, and one does not validly turn away from the prayer except with it; due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding the prayer:Sunan Abi Dawud 61Hasan Sahih (Al-Albani) So whoever turns away from his prayer without the closing salam, his prayer is invalid. If he is ignorant, it is obligatory to teach him. It is obligatory for all Muslims in every place to learn the obligatory matters of the Shari'ah for which no one is excused by ignorance, and among these is the manner of prayer, which is a pillar of Islam. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said regarding it:
Sahih al-Bukhari 6008 Narrated by al-Bukhari . And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q 2: They pray the 'Asr prayer in three rak'ahs and at times they pray without the closing salam. What is the ruling on their prayer?
A 2 : First : The number of rak'ahs for the five obligatory prayers in the day and night is known and fixed by the consensus of the Muslims, their scholars and the general public. The 'Asr prayer is four rak'ahs, and nothing is added to it or subtracted from it. Whoever adds to it or subtracts from it has altered the religion of Islam. It is obligatory to advise him and teach him if he is ignorant. If he persists in his ignorance or if he is aware of the ruling, he is considered an apostate from the religion of Islam, and it is obligatory to refer his case to the competent authority to look into his situation. Second : The closing salam is a pillar of the prayer, and one does not validly turn away from the prayer except with it; due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding the prayer:
its beginning is takbir and its end is taslim
تحريمها التكبير وتحليلها التسليمoffer your prayers in the way you saw me offering my prayers
صلوا كما رأيتموني أصلي
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.