Learn the complete list of things that invalidate Salah according to the Qur’an, Sunnah, and the understanding of the Salaf.
Praise be to Allah, and blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family, and his companions.
What invalidates the prayer?
The things that invalidate the prayer (Mubtilat as-Salah) are well known among the scholars, although there are some differences regarding their exact number and certain details. In general, these are actions or occurrences that contradict the conditions, pillars, obligations, or proper manner of Salah.
A Muslim should learn these invalidators so that he may preserve his prayer and perform it in the manner prescribed by Allah and His Messenger Muhammad ﷺ.
1. Anything That Invalidates Wudu
One of the conditions for the validity of prayer is purification. Therefore, anything that invalidates Wudu also invalidates the prayer.
The Messenger of Allah Muhammad ﷺ said:
Allah does not accept the prayer of one who breaks his purification until he performs Wudu.
Sahih Al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim
Examples include passing wind, urinating, defecating, and other matters that invalidate purification. According to the stronger opinion, eating camel meat also invalidates Wudu.
2. Deliberately Uncovering the ‘Awrah
Covering the ‘Awrah is one of the conditions of prayer.
Allah says:
O children of Adam, take your adornment at every masjid.
Qur'an, Al-A‘raf 7:31
If a person deliberately uncovers his ‘Awrah during prayer, his prayer becomes invalid. However, if it is uncovered unintentionally and he covers it immediately, then the prayer remains valid according to the majority of scholars.
3. Turning Away from the Qiblah
Facing the Qiblah is a condition of prayer.
Allah says:
So turn your face toward Al-Masjid Al-Haram. And wherever you are, turn your faces toward it.
Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:144
If a person deliberately turns away from the Qiblah to a significant extent without a valid excuse, his prayer becomes invalid.
4. Presence of Impurity (Najasah)
The body, clothing, and place of prayer must be free from impurity.
If a person knowingly prays while carrying impurity and does not remove it, his prayer is invalid. However, if he discovers the impurity during prayer and removes it immediately, his prayer remains valid.
Likewise, if he only learns of the impurity after completing the prayer, his prayer is valid according to the stronger scholarly view.
5. Excessive Continuous Movement
Excessive movement that is continuous and unnecessary invalidates the prayer because it contradicts the nature of Salah.
Minor movements, occasional adjustments, carrying a child, or actions done out of necessity do not invalidate the prayer.
6. Omitting One of the Pillars of Prayer
The pillars (Arkan) of prayer are essential acts without which the prayer cannot be valid.
Examples include:
- Standing when able.
- Bowing (Ruku‘).
- Rising from bowing.
- Prostration (Sujud).
- Sitting between the two prostrations.
- The final Tashahhud.
If any pillar is omitted deliberately, the prayer becomes invalid.
7. Deliberately Adding an Extra Pillar
If a person intentionally adds an extra bowing, prostration, or another pillar to the prayer, his prayer becomes invalid because he has deliberately altered the prescribed form of worship.
8. Deliberately Changing the Order of the Pillars
The pillars of prayer must be performed in their prescribed sequence.
For example, if a person deliberately prostrates before bowing, his prayer becomes invalid because he has intentionally changed the order established by the Sunnah.
9. Deliberately Saying Salam Before Completing the Prayer
If a person intentionally ends the prayer by saying the Salam before completing all of its required units, the prayer becomes invalid.
However, if it occurs out of forgetfulness, then the prayer may be completed and corrected with Sujud as-Sahw.
10. Deliberately Changing the Meaning While Reciting
If a person deliberately changes the words of the Qur'an in a manner that alters the meaning, particularly in Surah Al-Fatihah, this invalidates the prayer.
As for unintentional mistakes, the ruling depends on the nature and severity of the mistake.
11. Deliberately Omitting an Obligatory Part of Prayer
The prayer contains obligatory acts (Wajibat) that must be performed.
Examples include:
- Saying "Subhana Rabbiyal-'Azim" in Ruku‘.
- Saying "Subhana Rabbiyal-A‘la" in Sujud.
- The first Tashahhud.
If these are deliberately omitted, the prayer becomes invalid.
If omitted forgetfully, the prayer remains valid but should be completed with Sujud as-Sahw.
12. Intending to End the Prayer
If a person decides in his heart to stop praying, even if he remains physically standing, his prayer becomes invalid because acts of worship are dependent upon intention.
13. Laughing Out Loud
The scholars are agreed that laughing audibly during prayer invalidates the prayer.
As for merely smiling without sound, it does not invalidate the prayer, although it detracts from humility and concentration.
14. Deliberately Speaking During Prayer
Mu‘awiyah ibn Al-Hakam As-Sulami (رضي الله عنه) narrated that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
Indeed, this prayer is not suitable for any human speech. Rather, it is glorification of Allah, Takbir, and recitation of the Qur'an.
Sahih Muslim 537
Deliberate speech unrelated to the prayer invalidates Salah.
If a person speaks due to forgetfulness or ignorance of the ruling, then according to the stronger opinion his prayer remains valid.
15. Eating and Drinking During Prayer
If a person deliberately eats or drinks while praying, his prayer becomes invalid according to scholarly consensus because this action clearly contradicts the nature of Salah.
As for accidental swallowing or matters beyond one's control, these do not carry the same ruling.
Scholarly Explanation
Sheikh Ibn Baz (رحمه الله) included among the invalidators of prayer: losing purification, excessive movement, deliberate speech, laughing, eating, drinking, and neglecting the pillars and obligations of Salah.
Imam Mar‘i ibn Yusuf Al-Hanbali (رحمه الله) likewise mentioned these matters among the recognized nullifiers of prayer in his book Dalil At-Talib li Nayl Al-Matalib.
The scholars emphasized that a Muslim should learn the rulings of prayer thoroughly because Salah is the greatest practical pillar of Islam after the testimony of faith.
Practical Summary
- Anything that invalidates Wudu invalidates the prayer.
- Deliberately uncovering the ‘Awrah invalidates the prayer.
- Turning significantly away from the Qiblah invalidates the prayer.
- Impurity on the body, clothes, or prayer place may invalidate the prayer if not removed.
- Excessive continuous movement invalidates the prayer.
- Omitting a pillar invalidates the prayer.
- Adding an extra pillar intentionally invalidates the prayer.
- Changing the order of pillars intentionally invalidates the prayer.
- Deliberately ending the prayer early invalidates the prayer.
- Deliberately altering Qur'anic recitation in a way that changes meaning may invalidate the prayer.
- Deliberately omitting obligatory acts invalidates the prayer.
- Intending to stop praying invalidates the prayer.
- Laughing out loud invalidates the prayer.
- Deliberate speech invalidates the prayer.
- Deliberate eating and drinking invalidate the prayer.
A Muslim should strive to protect his prayer from anything that may invalidate it and should learn the rulings of Salah so that his worship is performed correctly in accordance with the Qur'an, the authentic Sunnah, and the understanding of the righteous predecessors.
And Allah the Exalted knows best.