1. There are 14 pillars of prayer and there are 8 obligatory parts of prayer. There are many Sunnah acts of prayer, both words and actions. 2. The difference between a pillar and an obligatory part is that a pillar cannot be waived, whether one omits it deliberately or by mistake, rather it must be done. An obligatory part is waived if one forgets, and it can be compensated for by doing the prostration of forgetfulness (sujud as-sahw). Learn more in the detailed answer.

The conditions of the validity of prayer are nine in all: 1- Being Muslim, 2- Being of sound mind, 3- Discernment, 4- Being free of ritual impurity, 5- Removal of tangible impurity, 6- Covering the ‘awrah, 7- The time for that prayer should have begun, 8- Facing the qiblah and 9- Forming the right intention.

1. There is no du’a to be recited before the adhan. 2. There are no specific words to be recited before the iqamah. 3. Du’a is highly recommended between the adhan and the iqamah. 4. There is no du’a after the iqamah. 5. It is Sunnah to repeat what the muadhdhin is saying. For more, see the detailed answer.

Several versions of the adhan have been narrated in sound reports from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). It is Sunnah to use all the versions that have been narrated from him in order to revive the Sunnah and to put an end to disputes and differences.

1. It is not stipulated that the Adhan should be given by any particular person. So, if a Muslim man gives the call to prayer, the communal obligation is waived from the people of that locality. 2. One of the conditions, without which the Adhan is not valid, is that the Mu'adhdhin should be a male Muslim of sound mind. 3. It is desirable that the Mu'adhdhin should have a beautiful voice, and he should be trustworthy, of good character, knowledgeable about the times of prayer, and an adult.

The times of the prayers were mentioned by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in the hadith: “The time for Zhuhr is from when the sun has passed its zenith and a man’s shadow is equal in length to his height, until the time for ‘Asr comes. The time for ‘Asr lasts until the sun turns yellow. The time for Maghrib lasts until the twilight has faded. The time for ‘Isha’ lasts until midnight. The time for Subh (Fajr) prayer lasts from the beginning of the pre-dawn so long as the sun has not yet started to rise. When the sun starts to rise then stop praying, for it rises between the two horns of the Shaytan.”

1- Prophet Muhammad forbade praying in seven places: garbage dumps, slaughterhouses, graveyards, the middle of the road, bathrooms, camel pens and on top of the Ka`bah. But this Hadith is inauthentic. 2- It is not valid to quote an inauthentic Hadith to prove that it is not allowed to pray in these places. However, some of these places are mentioned in a sound Hadith: “All the earth is a place of prostration, apart from graveyards and bathrooms.”

The status of prayer in Islam is indicated by the following: 1- Prayer is the pillar of the religion, which cannot stand without it; 2- Prayer is second in status to the Shahadatayn; 3- Prayer occupies a special position because of the way in which it was enjoined; 4- Allah erases sins by means of prayer; 5- Prayer is the last part of religion to be lost, and if it is lost, the whole religion is lost; and 6- Prayer is the first thing for which a person will be brought to account on the Day of Resurrection.

Istihadah means abnormal vaginal bleeding outside the time of the monthly period. There are three cases for istihadah. See the detailed answer for these cases and when women should resume prayer after each case.

A menstruating woman is not allowed to: 1. pray both obligatory and nawafil prayers; 2. fast whether it is an obligatory or a nafl fast; 3. circumambulate the Ka’bah. For more, please see the detailed answer.