Praise be to Allaah.
The things
that invalidate the prayer are well known, but the number differs according
to differences among the fuqaha’. They are as follows:
1 – That
which invalidates wudoo’, such as breaking wind or eating camel meat.
2 –
Uncovering the ‘awrah deliberately. But if it is uncovered by accident and
what is uncovered is only a little, or if a lot becomes uncovered but he
covers it immediately, then the prayer is not invalidated.
3 – Turning
away from the qiblah to a large extent.
4 – Presence
of najaasah (impurity) on one's body or clothes, or in the place where one
is praying. If he notices it or remembers it during the prayer and removes
it immediately, then his prayer is valid. Similarly, if he does not find out
about it until after the prayer is over, his prayer is still valid.
5 –
Excessive continuous movement during the prayer for no essential reason.
6 –Omitting
one of the pillars (essential parts) of the prayer, such as bowing and
prostration.
7 –
Deliberately doing an extra pillar, such as bowing.
8 –
Deliberately doing some pillars before others.
9 –
Deliberately saying the salaam before completing the prayer.
10 –
Deliberately changing the meaning whilst reciting.
11-
Deliberately omitting one of the obligatory parts of prayer, such as the
first tashahhud. But if a person forgets, his prayer is valid but he must do
the prostration of forgetfulness (sujood al-sahw).
12 –
Deciding to stop praying.
13 –
Laughing out loud. Merely smiling does not invalidate the prayer.
14 –
Deliberately speaking. If one speaks by mistake or out of ignorance of the
ruling, the prayer is not invalidated.
15 –Eating
and drinking.
See:
Daleel al-Taalib li Nayl al-Mataalib by Shaykh Mar’i ibn Yoosuf
al-Hanbali (p. 34). And Duroos Muhimmah by Shaykh Ibn Baaz.
And Allaah
knows best.