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How to Pray in Islam

 

 

 

CLICK HERE For a flash Presentation on how to pray

 

 

 

Each Prayer must be made in arabic and in the direction of the Ka'bah

 

 

1- Intention

The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: 

"Actions are (judged) by motives (niyyah), so each man will have what he intended."
 

Note: You shouldn't say the intention of the prayer by mouth because it is an Innovation.
Insha'Allah, make the intention in your heart.

 

2- Takbeer

The First step to enter the prayer is the Takbeer
The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) used to say:
 
Allahu Akbar
This means: Allah is the greatest
 

Notes :

1- You should raise your hands with the takbeer. See the picture above.
2- Then you should place your right arm on you left arm and place it over your chest.
3- You should place the right arm on the back of your  left palm, wrist and forearm
4- Then you should incline your head during prayer and fix your sight towards the ground.

 
 
 
 
 
 
3- Opening Supplication
 
 
Hands on the Chest; Right hand over the left.
 
 
 
 
The Prophet (SAW) used to say one of these opening Supplications,
You can choose the easiest one for you:
 
 Subhana Kallah humma wabi hamdika watabara kasmuka wata 'ala jad-duka wala ilaha ghayruk
audio
 
Allah humma ba'id baynee wa bayna khatayana kama ba'adta baynal   mashriqi  wal maghribi, Allah humma naq-qinee  min khatayaya kama yunaq-qath thuwabul abyadu minad  danasi , Allah hum maghsilnee min khatayaya bil maee wath thalji wal bardi
audio
 
 
 
4- Recitation of Surat Al-Fatiha:
 
 
 
 
The recitation of Al-Fatihah: audio
 
 
 
 
The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) used to say:

 

 

 - A'uzu bil-llahi minash shayta nir-rajeem
 

This means: I seek refuge with Allah from the Evil One, the Rejected

1

 Bisimllah hir-rahman nir-raheem

This means: In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy

2

 Alhamdu lil-lahi rab-bil 'alameen

This means: Praise is only for Allah, Lord

3

 Ar-Rahma nir-raheem

This means: The Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy

4

 Maliki yawmid-deen

This means: Master of the Day of Judgment

5

 Iyyaka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'een

This means: You alone we worship and u to you alone we pray for help 

6

 Ihdinas siratal mostaqeem

This means: Show us the straight way

7

 Siratal lazeena an'amta 'alayhim ghayril maghdubi 'alayhim walad dal-leen

This means: The way of those whom you have blessed .. Who have not desrved your anger, Nor gone astray

-

 Ameeen

This means: Oooh Allah please accept

 
 
 

Notes:

1- The Prophet (SAW) said : "No prayer is acceptable without the recitation of  Al-Fathiha"

2- While prayering the dhuhr (noon prayer) and the Asr (afternoon prayer) you must recite Al-Fatiha quitly as Jaabir (ra) said : We used to recite surah Al-Fatihah and another surah behind the imaam during the Zuhr and the 'Asr, and surah Al-Fatihah alone with no addtional surah in the last two rak'ahs."

3- If you are praying in a group (Jama'a) then you should raise your voice when you are saying "Ameen "

4- Be careful: "The Prophet (SAW) finished a prayer in which he was reciting loudly (in one narration: it was the dawn prayer) and said: Were any of you reciting with me just now?! A man said: "Yes, I was, O Messenger of Allaah". He said: I say, why am I contended with? "... This  means don't recite when the Imaam is reciting.
 
 
 4- Recitation after Surat Al-Fatiha:
 

The Prophet (SAW) would recite another surah after Al-Fatihah, making it long at times, and on other occasions making it short because of travel, cough, illness or the crying of infants.

Surat: Al-Ikhlas audio

  
Bismi Allāhi Ar-Raĥmāni Ar-Raĥīmi  In the Name of Allāh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
  
Qul Huwa Allāhu 'Aĥadun  Say (O Muhammad (Peace be upon him)): "He is Allāh, (the) One.
 
Allāhu Aş-Şamadu  "Allāh-us-Samad (The Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need, He neither eats nor drinks).
 
Lam Yalid Wa Lam Yūlad  "He begets not, nor was He begotten;
 
Walam Yakun Lahu Kufūan 'Aĥadun  "And there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him."
 

Notes :

1- You have to read a Sura after the Fatiha only in the first two Rak'a in the Zuhr or Asr,  but for Fajr, Maghrib, and ish'a you just hear the Imam and you should't say it with him.

2- If you tried to memorize ta small Sura but failed, then it is permission to read Al-Fatiha only and insha'Allah your prayer is accepted by Allah (swt).

 
 
 

6- Bowing (Rukoo')

 

After completing his recitation, the Prophet (SAW) would pause for a moment, then raise his hands in the way described earlier and say,

Allahu Akbar

Allah is the greatest

 

 

Then you make Ruku' and say:

Subhana Rabbi yal azim (3 times)audio
 
Far removed from every imperfection is my Rabb (Lord), the Great.  (3 times).
 
The Position of Ruku'
 
Note:

 

In bowing posture, put the hands on the knees and grab them with your elbows away from your sides, and your back straightened with the head leveled with your back.

 

 

7-Standing Erect (Qiyaam) after Rukoo'

 

Rise from bowing, raising you hands to the levels of the shoulders, or earlobes, saying:

Sami' Allah hu liman hamidahaudio
Allah hears the one who praises Him.

 

Stand upright until one's very parts take their positions and say:
 
Rab-bana wa lakal hamdaudio
O our Rabb (Lord)! All the praise is due to You.
 
 

8-Prostration (The sujud)

 

 Reach the ground with the hand's first and then the knees while saying ALLAHU AKBAR  (Allah is the Greater), and rest on your palm's and place your forehead, nose, knees, and feet on the floor with your belly away from your thighs. Toes should be erected and directed to the Qiblah. Your arms should be away from the ground, as bellow, saying:

Subhana Rabbi yal a'la (3 Times)
Far removed is my Rabb, the Most High, from any Imperfection
 

Then you raise your head while saying: ALLAHU AKBAR (sometimes raising one's hands), sit on your left leg while keeping your right foot upright. Put your hands on your knees [see below], and supplicate saying:

 

9-Rising from Prostration (Sujud)

 

Say Allahu Akbar and sit as shown in the pictures below, while sitting say,

Rabb ighfirlee wa irhamnee

O my Lord! Forgive me, and have mercy on me
 
Sit on your left leg while keeping your right foot upright.

 

10-The second Sajdah

 

Reach the ground with the hand's first and then the knees while saying ALLAHU AKBAR  (Allah is the Greater), and rest on your palm's and place your forehead, nose, knees, and feet on the floor with your belly away from your thighs. Toes should be erected and directed to the Qiblah. Your arms should be away from the ground, as bellow, saying:
 
Subhana Rabbi yal a'la (3 Times)audio
Far removed is my Rabb, the Most High, from any Imperfection.
 
 
 
12- The First Tashahud (Testification of Faith)
 
 
 
 
Once you finish the second Rak'ah, follow the same way of sitting as above. Hold your right hand closed with its thumb and middle finger touching each other like in a circle while pointing the index finger straight in the direction of the Qiblah and moving it through the recitation of the Tashahhud.
 
audio

At-Tahiy-yatu lil-lahi was-salawatu wat-tay yibatu, As-Salamy 'alika ay-yuhan-nabiy-yu wa rahma tullahi wa barakatu, As salamu 'alayna wa 'ala 'ibadil-la his-saliheen , Ash hadu  al la ilaha illal lahu, wa ash hadu an-na Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasuluh

All compliments [Allaah is free of all imperfection, His is the dominion, Magnificence, Endless existence belongs to Him], prayers, and pure words and deeds, are due to Allaah. May Allaah grant the Prophet safety from all defects and imperfections and keep his message safe from all evil; [may Allaah grant him] mercy and honor. May safety and security be granted to us and to all the righteous slaves of Allaah. I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

 

 

13- The Second and full Tashahud

 
Sit in the same manner as described above and hold your right hand closed with its thumb and middle finger touching each other like in a circle while pointing the index finger straight in the direction of the Qiblah and moving it through the recitation of the Tashahhud. At the end of the last Rak'ah, recite the first Tashahhud and follow it with the following recitation known as As-Salaatul Ibraaheemiyyah:
 
 
audio

Allah humma sal-li 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala aali Muhammadin, Kama sal-layta 'ala Ibraheema wa 'ala aali ibraheema innaka hameedum majeed, wa barik 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala aali Muhammadin, Kama barakta 'ala Ibraheema wa 'ala aali ibraheema innaka hameedum majeed

 O Allaah! Praise Muhammad, and on the family of Muhammad, as You Praised Ibraaheem, and the family of Ibraaheem; You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory. And send blessings on Muhammad, and on the family of Muhammad, as you sent blessings on Ibraaheem, and the family of Ibraaheem; You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory.

 

What to do when going for the final Rak'ah in Salah?
In the prayers of the three or four Rak'ah type, after finishing the second Rak'ah and the first Tashahhud, stand up raising your hands (as described earlier) and say: ALLAAHU AKBAR. When you reach the straight standing position, recite the Fatiha and go for the prostrations as done earlier. If you are praying the three Rak'ah prayer of Maghrib sit with your body resting on your left thigh, your left leg under your right, while keeping your right foot upright. This position is called Tawarruk:

 
For the four Rak'ah prayers, stand up at the end of the third Rak'ah and bring fourth the fourth and final Rak'ah. Recite full Tashahhud in the Tawarruk position. After recitation of the Tashahhud, you can supplicate Allaah with the following invocation (du'aa):
 
 Allaahumma Inni a'oodthu bika min adthabil qabr, wa a'oodthu bika min fitnatil-Maseeh ad-Dajjal, wa a'oodthu bika min fitnatil mahya wal mamat. Allaahumma inni a'oodthu bika minal-ma'tham walmaghram.
 
O Allah! I seek refuge with You from the Punishment of the grave and from the Fitnah (trail or affliction) of Ad-Dajjaal [pseudo Messiah], and from the Fitnah of life and Fitnah of death. O Allah! I seek refuge with You from the sins and from being in debt. You may also ask Allah to bestow upon you from the good things for this life and for the hereafter.
 

14-Salution of Peace (The Tasleem)

 

After you recite the Tashahhud and make the supplications, turn your head to the right and say:

As-Salamu 'alikum wa Rahmatul lah

May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon you

 
Then turn your head left and say: 
 
As-Salamu 'alikum wa Rahmatul lah
 

 

 

Some references and illustrations adapted from www.understand-islam.net and www.islamway.com

 

 
 

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