What is the difference between a pillar (rukn) and an obligation (wajib) in prayer?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
First, the difference between a pillar (rukn) and an obligation () in prayer is that a pillar is not waived whether intentionally, by oversight, or out of ignorance; rather, it must be performed. As for an obligation, it is waived by ignorance and forgetfulness, and is compensated for by the prostration of forgetfulness ( al-sahw). The pillars of prayer are fourteen, and its obligations are eight.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/10681
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 10681
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy