What is the evidence for the conditionality of facing the qiblah and the pillar status of bowing and prostration in the prayer?

The questioner : Regarding facing the qiblah, we have clarified this.

The Shaykh : ...regarding?

The questioner : Regarding facing the qiblah, it is a condition for the validity of the prayer, as mentioned in the books of Islamic jurisprudence. What is the evidence for this issue?

The Shaykh : We do not have evidence in the technical sense of the principles of jurisprudence, except for something I read thirty or forty years ago: when Allah commands something, that thing is not commanded except in the specific matter of which it is a part. So the evidence for it being a condition is the implication of this statement. Is the meaning of this statement clear to you, or is it ambiguous?

The questioner : Understood.

The Shaykh : I mean, we are not commanded to face the qiblah except in the prayer, do you see? So if we are sitting, we are not commanded to face the qiblah, and so on. So if Allah commands something like this, specifically regarding the command that is a part of it, then this is an indication that this command is one of its parts and a pillar of its pillars. The same is said regarding bowing and prostration. We do not have evidence in the way we understand it, such as "there is no prayer for one who does not bow" or "there is no prayer for one who does not prostrate." We do not have such evidence at all, but these evidences were taken from the commands that are specific to the prayer.

The questioner : I mean, the prayer is not complete except with them?

The Shaykh : Except with them. And there is another thing that can support what was mentioned, which is the continuity of the Muslims and their agreement that this thing is a pillar. This is sufficient as a proof, and it is not necessary for us to have an explicit text that we understand. Please go ahead.

The questioner : A Qur'anic text?

The Shaykh : What is it, my sir? No, no Qur'anic text regarding what?

The questioner : Regarding the qiblah .

The Shaykh : The issue is not about this, may Allah bless you. Be patient. The issue is not that there is a command in the Qur'an to face the qiblah or not, may Allah forgive you. The issue is not whether there is a command to face the qiblah in the prayer or not. The issue is whether this command indicates that it is a pillar or not. I hope I have made this clear to you?

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : Because it appears you were not with us, Abu Maher...
Abu Layla : If you permit me, let...The Shaykh : He is busy now...

The questioner : Let the people know...The Shaykh : Nasser...

The questioner : In some of his tapes...Abu Layla : It is recorded that...The Shaykh : He is playing with one of the children, perhaps the son of his daughter's uncle... and he saw it on the tape.

Another questioner : Abu Layla : He records everything for the Shaykh, meaning what the child wants, so that you know that...The Shaykh : He is affectionate toward children...
Toward...Al-Halabi : This is a gift that he...Abu Layla : Records it.
Abu Layla : May Allah bless your life, our Shaykh.

The Shaykh : May Allah preserve you.
Abu Layla : O my Saudi brothers, when we are in a session of knowledge, then the time for food comes, they ask...The Shaykh : The question while they start eating and finish eating, and the clattering of plates is on the tape, and the poor one...The Shaykh : Does not eat a single bite, and when they say "Alhamdulillah, Alhamdulillah" and stand up...The Shaykh ، ...

The Shaykh : How... but I hope you notice a small difference. You do not need us to apologize to you for the tight schedule, because you know it.

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : Okay, but I feel that you need to remember with me that my presence in Abu Ahmad's house or elsewhere, as Abu 'Abdullah, is not for people we always meet on occasion or not. Rather, it is for people, for example, who came from Kuwait and stayed here with you, may Allah will it, for days, and they are keen to meet with this one whom they think they benefit from in some way. Therefore, we try not to be stingy with these people regarding such a meeting. So you should not expect to be like a stranger, meaning: soon you will be leaving to your other country, so perhaps there is a comparison with a difference... but nevertheless, you may know, and Allah is my witness, we have tried many times to come to you, and I think you are aware of this, but not everything one wishes can be achieved.

The questioner : Yes, may Allah reward you with good.