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HOW TO PRAY

Since you are now a Muslim as you have said the shahadah. After having done your ghusl (bathing). you should try to pray a two rakkah (unit) prayer.

The words recited should be in Arabic. Learning to pray when your language is not Arabic can seem to be a very difficult task. However it is not as difficult as it may appear to you.

Allah does not put a burden on anyone that they cannot bare. Therefore the Prophet peace be upon him instructed new Muslims to learn a short supplication (Subhaan-Allaah wa’l-hamdu Lillaah wa laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wa Allaahu akbar wa laa hawla wa la quwwata illa Billaah) which they can recite in heir prayers.

Try to memorize the following

1 Allahu Akbar

2 Subhaan-Allaah wa’l-hamdu Lillaah wa laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wa Allaahu akbar wa laa hawla wa la quwwata illa Billaah

3 Sami Allaahu liman hamidah

4 Rabbana wa lakaal hamd

5 Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah

If you are more confidant then you can also memorize the following

6 Subhana rab-bi yal atheem

7 Subhana rubbiyal a'ala

8 Rabbi eghfir lee

So memorize the above and incorporate into the prayers as shown in the diagrams below.

Now lets look at how to pray

The prayer consists of a number of Units called rakah's. The best way to possibly explain this is by using the Track event in Athletics.

If the track is 400 metres. Then to run 800 metres you Start form point A and then walk round the track and when you reach point A again you have completed your first lap but not finished and as soon as you cross point A. You begin your secound Lap and when you go round the track once again and you reach point A, you complete the secound Lap and with it the race. So if you think of each Rakah being similar to a lap on a running track. Then you will grasp the idea easier

The Fajr Prayer consists of 2 rakahs,

The Dhuhr , Asr and Isha prayers consist of 4 rakahs each

The Maghrib prayer consist of 3 rakahs.

The diagram below will help illustrate the starring and end points of each rakah and the leangth of each rakah a 4 rakah prayer

RAKAH

(Bowing or Raku)

(Prostration or Sajud)

Sitting for Tashahud

Final Sitting

Start

Now stand up and start 2nd rakah

Finish Prayer

In each block a portion of text is recited and certain movements are made. Let us not worry about what exactly is recited and which movements are made in each block at this stage.

Notice how block A is skipped in all 2nd rakah. Therefore Text from block A will not be recited in the 2nd, rakah.

START OF 2 Rakah Prayer

Establish the Sutrah by placing anything (about the height of a saddle) just beyond the place of prostration. Things that can be used are: a wall, chair, bed, tall pillow, tall purse, tall stick, tree, etc

Then Stand facing the Kabah in Makka in Saudi Arabia (Qibla).

Your feet should be shoulder width apart and your feet should be pointing straight.

Your eyes should be looking at the place on the ground were you will prostrate your forehead later on in the prayer

Make intention as to which prayer you are about to perform (e.g. Fajr -Morning prayer).

Note!
Intention should be in mind not verbal.
That is one should be thinking of which prayer one is about to perform.

Saying
"Allahu Akbar"
(Allah is Great)

Raise both your hands (with palms of hands facing Kabah ) with fingers apart (not spaced out) level with shoulders or level with top of the ears .

Place right hand on the back of the left palm, wrist, and forearm

or Grasp the left arm with the right hand

Place the arms on the chest

Whilst in this position and looking at place of prostration say the following supplication: (DUA)

"Subhaan-Allaah wa’l-hamdu Lillaah wa laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wa Allaahu akbar wa laa hawla wa la quwwata illa Billaah "

(Glory be to Allaah, praise be to Allaah, there is no god except Allaah, Allaah is Most great and there is no power and no strength except with Allaah)

After completing the recitation pause for a moment,
then saying
"Allahu Akbar"
(Allah is Great)

raise both your hands (with palms of hands facing Kabah ) with fingers apart (not spaced out) level with shoulders or level with top of the ears go down to raku. Position below

Ruku

Place hands firmly on the knees as if grasping them, and space the fingers out
Keep elbows away from the side and arms straight.
Spread the back and make it level (In Ruku your back should be flat so much so much that if someone place a glass of water on it the water is not likely to spill. )
Do not droop head or raise it higher than the level of the back; keep it in between the two
In ruku recite the Dua
:

"Subhaan-Allaah wa’l-hamdu Lillaah wa laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wa Allaahu akbar wa laa hawla wa la quwwata illa Billaah "

(Glory be to Allaah, praise be to Allaah, there is no god except Allaah, Allaah is Most great and there is no power and no strength except with Allaah)

Or if you are confident enough to learn more say the following instead of the Dua say the following in ruku

"Subhana rab-bi yal adheem"

"Subhana rab-bi yal atheem"

"Subhana rab-bi yal atheem"

("Glory be to my Lord who is the very greatest" )(i.e. three times).

Next, straighten up the back from the ruku saying:
Sami Allaahu liman hamidah,
( Allah hears the one who praises Him )

and raise both your hands (with palms of hands facing Kabah ) with fingers apart (not spaced out) level with shoulders or level with top of the ears .
And straighten your back

In the standing position you should be erect so that the joints of your body go back in place. Whilst in this standing position say the following

"Rabbanaa wa lak al-hamd"

(Our Lord, [and] to you be all Praise)

Then Saying "Allahu Akbar" (Allah is Great), separate hands from the side go down for sajdah in picture below

Sajdah

This position is called sujood or sajdah. Place your hands on the ground before your knees Support yourself on the palms, put the fingers together, and point them towards the qiblah Either put the palms level to the shoulders or Level with the ears Place nose and forehead firmly on the ground Put the knees and toes on the ground firmly, and point the front of the toes towards the qiblah Put the heels together, and keep feet upright Raise forearms above the ground and keep them away from the side enough for someone too see your arm pits from behind Straighten the spine in sujuud Once in this position, recite:

"Subhaan-Allaah wa’l-hamdu Lillaah wa laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wa Allaahu akbar wa laa hawla wa la quwwata illa Billaah "

(Glory be to Allaah, praise be to Allaah, there is no god except Allaah, Allaah is Most great and there is no power and no strength except with Allaah)

Or if you are confident enough to learn more say the following instead of the Dua say the following in Sajdah

"Subhana rubbiyal a'ala"
"Subhana rubbiyal a'ala"
"Subhana rubbiyal a'ala"

( "How perfect is my Lord, the Most High" )(three times).

Next, raise the head from prostration while saying
"Allahu Akbar"
("Allah is Great")
Then assume the sitting position

While sitting between the two sajdahs, place your left foot along the ground and sit on it, and keep the right foot upright, with the point of the toes towards the qiblah or You can also practice iq’aa (resting on both heels, and all the toes). You should also be relaxed such that every bone is in its proper position. Whilst in this position one should say:

"'Rabb ighfir lee "

("O my Lord, forgive me " )

Note. the hands should be close to the knees and fingers spread out. one should look at the site were one will prostrate.

Next, saying

"Allahu Akbar"
(Allah is Great)

prostrate for the second time.

Perform the sajdah exactly the same way as described in the first sajdah And again whilst in Sajdah say:

"Subhaan-Allaah wa’l-hamdu Lillaah wa laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wa Allaahu akbar wa laa hawla wa la quwwata illa Billaah "

(Glory be to Allaah, praise be to Allaah, there is no god except Allaah, Allaah is Most great and there is no power and no strength except with Allaah)

Or if you are confident enough to learn more say the following instead of the Dua say the following in Sajdah

"Subhana rubbiyal a'ala"
"Subhana rubbiyal a'ala"
"Subhana rubbiyal a'ala"

( "How perfect is my Lord, the Most High" )(three times).

Next, raise the head from prostration while saying
"Allahu Akbar"
("Allah is Great")

Then assume the sitting position.

While sitting place your left foot along the ground and sit on it, and keep the right foot upright, with the point of the toes towards the qiblah

or You can also practice iq’aa (resting on both heels, and all the toes). You should also be relaxed such that every bone is in its proper position.

This concludes the First Rakah

Next, get up for the second rakah, supporting yourself off the ground. You can also clench your fist, meaning, supporting yourself with your hands when getting off the ground

End of First Rakah

Start of Second Rakah

2.1

Place right hand on the back of the left palm, wrist, and forearm

or Grasp the left arm with the right hand

Place the arms on the chest

Whilst in this position and looking at place of prostration say the following supplication: (DUA)

2.2

After completing the recitation pause for a moment, then saying

"Allahu Akbar"
(Allah is Great)

raise both your hands (with palms of hands facing Kabah ) with fingers apart (not spaced out) level with shoulders or level with top of the ears go down to ruku. Position below

2.3

Ruku

Place hands firmly on the knees as if grasping them, and space the fingers out
Keep elbows away from the side and arms straight.
Spread the back and make it level (In Ruku your back should be flat so much so much that if someone place a glass of water on it the water is not likely to spill. )
Do not droop head or raise it higher than the level of the back; keep it in between the two In ruku recite the dua
:

"Subhaan-Allaah wa’l-hamdu Lillaah wa laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wa Allaahu akbar wa laa hawla wa la quwwata illa Billaah "

(Glory be to Allaah, praise be to Allaah, there is no god except Allaah, Allaah is Most great and there is no power and no strength except with Allaah)

Or if you are confident enough to learn more say the following instead of the Dua say the following in ruku

"Subhana rab-bi yal adheem"

"Subhana rab-bi yal atheem"

"Subhana rab-bi yal atheem"

("Glory be to my Lord who is the very greatest" )(i.e. three times).

2.4

Next, straighten up the back from the ruku saying:

Sami Allaahu liman hamidah,

( Allah hears the one who praises Him )

and raise both your hands (with palms of hands facing Kabah ) with fingers apart (not spaced out) level with shoulders or level with top of the ears .

And straighten your back

2.5

In the standing position you should be erect so that the joints of your body go back in place. Whilst in this standing position say the following

"Rabbanaa wa lak al-hamd"

(Our Lord, [and] to you be all Praise)

2.6

Then Saying

"Allahu Akbar"
(Allah is Great),

separate hands from the side go down for sajdah in picture below

2.7

This position is called sujood or sajdah.

Place your hands on the ground before your knees

Support yourself on the palms, put the fingers together, and point them towards the qiblah

Either put the palms level to the shoulders or Level with the ears

Place nose and forehead firmly on the ground

Put the knees and toes on the ground firmly, and point the front of the toes towards the qiblah

Put the heels together, and keep feet upright

Raise forearms above the ground and keep them away from the side enough for someone too see your arm pits from behind

Straighten the spine in sujuud

Whilst in Sajdah one should say

Or if you are confident enough to learn more say the following instead of the Dua say the following in Sajdah

"Subhana rubbiyal a'ala"
"Subhana rubbiyal a'ala"
"Subhana rubbiyal a'ala"

( "How perfect is my Lord, the Most High" )(three times).

2.8

Next, raise the head from prostration while saying

: "Allahu Akbar"

("Allah is Great")

Then assume the sitting position
While sitting between the two sajdahs, place your left foot along the ground and sit on it, and keep the right foot upright, with the point of the toes towards the qiblah or You can also practice iq’aa (resting on both heels, and all the toes).
You should also be relaxed such that every bone is in its proper position.

Whilst in this position one should say::

"Rabb ighfir lee "

("O my Lord, forgive me " )

Note. the hands should be close to the knees and fingers spread out. one should look at the site were one will prostrate.

2.9

Sajdah

Next, saying

"Allahu Akbar"

(Allah is Great)
Prostrate for the second time. Perform the sajdah exactly the same way as described in the first sajdah

Whilst in Sajdah one should say

Or if you are confident enough to learn more say the following instead of the Dua say the following in Sajdah

"Subhana rubbiyal a'ala"
"Subhana rubbiyal a'ala"
"Subhana rubbiyal a'ala"

( "How perfect is my Lord, the Most High" )(three times).

2.10

Next, raise the head from prostration while saying

"Allah u Akbar"

("Allah is Great")

Then assume the sitting position
Your Left buttocks should be on the floor. Your left leg should be bent. Outside of Left Femur should also be on the floor and your inside of your Left Tibia and foot should be protruding underneath the front of your Right Tibia (shin area).

Also the right foot can be placed upright with the toes pointing towards the qiblah or it can be placed on the ground. In this position, you will be leaning heavily on the left hand (but make sure that your left hand is placed on your thigh/knee and not the floor).

Place right palm on right thigh/knee and left palm on the left thigh/knee, and place the end of the right elbow on the right thigh. Spread left palm on left knee, clench all fingers of the right hand, point the finger adjacent (index finger) to the thumb towards qiblah, and fix sight on it.

Also when pointing with the RIGHT HAND INDEX FINGER, u can place the thumb on the middle finger

Or you can make a circle with the two fingers Move the RIGHT HAND INDEX FINGER as you supplicate with it from the start till the end of the Tashahud

Then Recite

"Subhaan-Allaah wa’l-hamdu Lillaah wa laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wa Allaahu akbar wa laa hawla wa laquwwata illa Billaah "

(Glory be to Allaah, praise be to Allaah, there is no god except Allaah, Allaah is Most great and there is no power and no strength except with Allaah)

(end of Tashahud.)

2.11

Having said the above mentioned prayers, turning the face to the right. This following prayer is recited:

"Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah "

(Peace and mercy of Allah be on you).

2.12

Then turning the face to the left, the prayer above is said again:

"Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah "

(Peace and mercy of Allah be on you).

This completes the 2 rakah voluntary prayer


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