Learning The Prayer

Let’s be honest, it’s hard to pray. At least consistently. Daily. Effectively.

The basics

We know we should pray. We believe we should pray.

But when it comes to the practical reality of actually praying, most of us find prayer difficult.

This short course highlights the need for a simple and concise guide which teaches the basics of prayer for Muslims.

These videos are designed for people who don’t know how to pray yet or those who aren’t sure whether they learned correctly or not.

Summary

Now that our wudu has been properly made we can proceed and begin to pray salah. Here are the steps of the salah:

Standing
Takbir
Fatihah – Recitation
Ruku – Bowing
Sujud – Prostration
Tashahud – Sitting

To understand the steps of the salah it is important to understand that the prayer is made up of rakah, or units of prayer. Every rakah has the same basic steps within it.

There will be a part when you are standing
A part when you recite from the Quran
A part when you bow down
A part where you prostrate (make sujud)

Let us break down how each rakah of the salah is performed, step by step.

Step by step

Step 1 – Make your intention to pray

Step 2 – Raise your hands to your ears and say Allahu Akbar

Step 3 – Place your hands over your chest (right over left)

Step 4 – Keep your eyes focused on the ground

Step 5 – Recite the opening chapter of the Quran (called Surah Fatiha)

The first chapter of the Qur’an is called Surah Fatihah. You will begin by saying this Arabic phrase:

aa ‘u z’u bil laahi mi nash shay Taa nir Rajeem

‘I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytan (devil).’

And then begin to recite the chapter verse by verse in Arabic:

Bis mil laa Hir Rah maa nir Ra heem
al ham du lil laa Hi Rab bil ‘aa la miin
ar Rah maa nir Ra hiim
maa liki yaow mid diin
iyyaa ka na’ budu wa iyyaa ka nas ta ’iin
ih di naS Si Raa Tal mus ta qiim
Si Raa Tal la thii na an ’am ta ‘a lay him
ghay ril magh Doobi ‘a lay him

wa laD Daaaaaal liin

aa miin

This is the meaning of the verses from Surah Fatihah:

In the name of God, the infinitely Compassionate and Merciful.
Praise be to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.
The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Master on the Day of Recompense (Judgement Day).
You alone do we worship, and You alone do we ask for help.
Guide us on the straight path,
The path of those who You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.

Step 6 – Perform the ruku (bowing down)

When you are in this position you will say this sentence three times:

sub haana Rab bi yal ‘a TH eem

‘How perfect is my Lord, the Magnificent’

Step 7 – Return to standing up again

As you are rising up from the ruku position to a standing position you will bring your hands to your ears and will say:

sami ‘al LaaHu li man hamidaH

‘Allah hears those who praise him’

And when you are standing upright then lower your hands to your waist and say:

Rab ba naa wa la kal hamd

‘Our Lord, to You is all praise’

Step 8 – Perform the sujud (prostration)

As you are moving into this position say Allahu Akbar.

And also make sure your forehead, nose, palms of both hands, knees, and both toes are touching the ground.

Step 9 – Say this phrase in sujud

Say this sentence three times:

sub haana Rab bi yal a’ laa

How perfect is my Lord, the Most High

Step 10 – Rise up from sujud and sit for a moment

Say Allahu akbar as you rise from sujud and then sit on your left leg. Your left foot will rest on the floor while your right foot is upright. Place your hands on your knees.

When you are in this position it is recommended to ask Allah for forgiveness. A simple and easy dua you can say is:

Rab bigh fir lii (twice)

O my Lord, forgive me.

Step 11 & 12 – Perform sujud again and then return to a standing position

You will repeat step 9 again and perform a second sujud and say sub haana Rab bi yal a’ laa three times again.

Step 13 – Perform the first tashahud

Perform the tashahud at the end of every two rakah
Instead of standing up after the two sujud, this time around you will sit on your legs and knees again. You will raise your right index finger and say:

at ta hiyyaa tu lil laaHi waS Sala waa tu waT Tayyi baat
as salaa mu ‘alayka ay-yuhan nabiyyu

wa rahmatuL Laahi wa bara kaatuh
as salaamu ‘alay naa wa ’alaa ‘ibaa dil laa hiS Saa li heen

ash Hadu allaa ilaaHa illaLLaaH

wa ash Hadu anna muhammadan ‘ab du Hu wa RasooluH

All compliments, prayers and pure words are due to Allah.
Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allaah and His blessings.
Peace be upon us, and on the righteous slaves of Allaah.
I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger

Now you know how to perform a rakah – one unit of prayer. The next step is to combine 2, 3, or 4 rakah together to complete one salah.

Step 14 – Perform the final tashahud

In the final rakah you read the first tashahud and the final tashahud as follow:

you will sit on your legs and knees. You will raise your right index finger and say: the first tashahud (as stated above)

The you say the final Tashhud (Salutations On The Prophet)

aLLahumma Salli ‘ala muhammad

Oh Allah, send prayers upon Muhammad

wa ‘ala aali muhammad

and upon the family of Muhammad

kamaa Sallyta ‘ala ibRaHeem

as You sent prayers upon Ibrahim

wa ‘ala aali ibRaHeem

and upon the family of Ibrahim

inna ka hameedum majeed

Indeed You are praiseworthy, Most glorious

wa baarik ‘alaa muhammad

and send Your blessings upon Muhammad

wa ‘ala aali muhammad

and upon the family of Muhammad

kamaa baarakta ‘ala ibRaHeem

as You sent your blessings upon Ibrahim

wa ‘ala aali ibRaHeem

and upon the family of Ibrahim

inna ka hameedum majeed

Indeed You are praiseworthy, Most glorious

Step 14- Ending Prayer

as sa laa mu ‘a lai kum wa Rah ma tul Laah

All done

Depending on which prayer you are performing there will be slight differences in how these rakah are performed. Here is a summary of how each of the five daily prayers differ from one another:

Fajr – has two rakah, or two units

Dhur – has four rakah

Asr – has four rakah

Maghrib – has three rakah

Isha – has four rakah