The Virtue of Waiting for a Salaah

Q: Salaah-228: A Hadith states that a person is regarded to be performing salaah for as long as he is waiting for salaah to start. Can one attain this virtue only when one is in the state of wudhu or even when not?

Answer: It is necessary to be in the state of wudhu to attain this virtue. One will not be regarded as being one who is performing salaah if one is not in the state of wudhu. Rasulullaah SAW. stated that amongst the factors that add to the value of salaah is for a person to make a proper wudhu (observing all the etiquette and without talking of worldly affairs) and to then proceed to the Masjid for no other purpose other than performing salaah. In such a case even his walking will be counted as salaah and every step will annul his sins.

Fatawa Rahimiyyah vol.2