Sharh Risalat Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab fi Shurut al-Salah wa Arkaniha wa Wajibatiha
- Author died
- 1420 AH
- Editions
- Sharh Risalat Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab fi Shurut al-Salah wa Arkaniha wa Wajibatiha
Sharh Risalat Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab fi Shurut al-Salah wa Arkaniha wa Wajibatiha (Commentary on Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab's Treatise on the Conditions, Pillars, and Requirements of Prayer) is a legal commentary by Ibn Baz (d. 1420 AH / 1999 CE) explaining the introductory juristic manual authored by Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab (d. 1206 AH / 1792 CE) on ritual purification and prayer.
Background and Scope
The base text, Shurut al-Salah wa Arkaniha wa Wajibatiha, is an elementary treatise traditionally taught in mosques alongside al-Usul al-Thalathah to instruct Muslims in the fundamental principles of their religion and the performance and legal requirements of prayer. Ibn Baz delivered his commentary in a recorded lesson aimed at explaining the juristic points and underpinning each ruling with proof from the Quran and Sunnah.
The work encompasses the primary legal components of prayer and ablution:
- The nine conditions (shurut) of prayer: Islam, sanity ('aql), discernment (tamyiz), removal of ritual impurity (raf' al-hadath), removal of physical impurity (izalat al-najasah), covering the 'awrah (satr al-'awrah), the entrance of the prayer time (dukhul al-waqt), facing the Qiblah (istiqbal al-qiblah), and intention (niyyah).
- Matters of ablution (wudu'): Expounded under the fourth condition of prayer, detailing the ten conditions of wudu', its six obligatory acts (furud), its required invocation (tasmiyah), and the nullifiers of ablution (nawaqid al-wudu').
- The fourteen pillars (arkan) of prayer: Including standing when able, the opening takbir, the recitation of Surat al-Fatihah, the bowings and prostrations, tranquility (tuma'ninah), the final tashahhud, invoking blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ, and the closing salutations (taslim). It also includes explanations of the opening supplication (du'a' al-istiftah) and a concise tafsir of Surat al-Fatihah.
- The obligatory acts (wajibāt) and distinctions: Clarifying the legal distinction between pillars, obligations, and recommended acts, specifically regarding what invalidates prayer when omitted deliberately or mistakenly.
Method and Characteristics
The commentary is characterized by brevity and straightforward exposition, avoiding dense juristic jargon and extraneous digressions. Ibn Baz highlights scriptural evidence for legal rulings and incorporates his personal juristic preferences (ikhtiyarat) on various subsidiary issues, such as the rulings on performing ablution using prohibited vessels, substances that form barriers on the skin, praying over carpet laid on impure ground, and the recitation of Surat al-Fatihah by congregants behind an imam.
Transmission and Publication
The commentary was transcribed from an audio cassette recording released by Tasjilat al-Bardayn al-Islamiyyah in Riyadh. It was edited and prepared for publication by Abu al-Qasim al-Mihmadi, who collated the matn against the printed edition of the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Da'wah and Guidance. In formatting the work, the editor placed Ibn Baz's commentary beneath the matn, added section headings, documented Quranic verses, integrated relevant student questions directly into the text under topical problem headings (Mas'alah), and relegated questions unrelated to the core text to an appendix at the end.
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