Prayer if performed well with due regard to its conditions, pillars, duties and preferred acts, truly illuminates the heart and purifies the soul. It is the means by which man communicates with Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) and therefore, one should keep it free from anything which would render it invalid. In Arabic Language, the acts which invalidate the prayer are known as "Mubdillatu-Salaah" and we now list them here below:
- Speaking or talking in the course of the prayer.
- Laughing in the course of the prayer.
- Eating while praying, even though what is eaten maybe as small as a piece of dates.
- Drinking while praying, even though what is drank maybe as small as taking only a mouthful.
- If someone in the course of the prayer remembers that he/she did not actually perform the ablution (wudhu), then, such a person is required to break the prayer and get out to perform Wudhu.
- If a person's ablution (wudhu) gets invalidated in the course of the prayer, then the prayer becomes invalid.
- The prayer is also invalidated by carrying out the Rukuu and Sujuud postures with haste and without ease. While in prostration, bobbing (jerking) up and down like chicken pecking food from the ground is not allowed.
- Turning oneself away from the direction of the Qiblah also invalidates the prayer.
