Learn How to Prepare and Performing the Muslim Prayers

Prayer is one of the 5 pillars of Islam and a fundamental act to perform correctly. It is believed that communication with Allah will bring to the prayerful's life and bring them courage. Whether you're just curious as to how Muslims pray or if you're looking to learn yourself, read on.

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   Ensure the area is clean and free of impurities. This includes your body, your clothes, and the place of prayer itself.
   • Perform Ablution if necessary. You must be ritually pure before you go about praying. If you're not, it's good to perform Wudu before you do. If since your last prayer you have urinated, defecated, passed gas, bled excessively, fallen asleep lying down, leaned against something, projectile vomited, or fainted, off to the bathroom you go.^[1]
   • Make sure all of your necessary parts are covered. The nakedness of a man is considered to be between the navel and the knees; for a women, her entire body except the face and palms.
   • If you are praying in a masjid (mosque), which is preferred, enter quietly--other fellow Muslims might still be praying and you don't want to disturb them. Stand in a free space away from the entrance/exit.
     • If you are unsure of the cleanliness of your area, spread a mat or cloth on the floor for good measure. This mator prayer rug) is very important to islamic culture.
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   Face the Qibla. This is the direction all Muslims face to turn in prayer toward Kabah.
   • The Holy Mosque in Mecca is the most revered place of worship for Muslims around the entire world. At the center of the mosque is the Kabah. All Muslims are required to face the Kabah five times every day when offering their prayers.
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   Pray at the proper time. The five prayers of each day take place at very specific times. For each one, there is a brief period of time it can be performed, determined by the rising and falling of the sun. Each salah takes about 5 to 10 minutes from start to finish.^[1]
   • The five prayers are Fajr, Zuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha. They are at dawn, immediately after noon, in the mid-afternoon, at sunset, and at night, respectively. They are not at the same time each day as they are timed by the sun, which changes path throughout the seasons.
   • These are the amount of rakat (rounds, more or less) for each of the 5 salah:
     • Fajr - i) First two rakat Sunnat Mokadda, ii) Two rakat Fard
     • Zuhr - i) Four rakat Sunnat Mokadda, ii) Four rakat Fard, iii) Two rakat sunnat Mokadda, iv) Two rakat Nafl (Optional but spiritually beneficial)
     • Asr - i) Four rakat sunhat ghair mokadda (Optional but spiritually beneficial), ii) Four rakat Fard
     • Maghrib - i) Three rakat Fard, ii) Two rakat Sunnat Mokadda, iii) Two rakat nafl (Optional but spiritually beneficial)Isha - i) Four rakat sunhat e Ghair Mokadda (Optional but spiritually beneficial), ii) Four rakat Fard, iii) Two Rakat Sunnat Mokadda, iv) Two rakat Nafil (Optional but spiritually beneficial), v) Three rakat Wajib, vi) Two rakat Nafil (Optional but spiritually beneficial)                                                                          
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       Make your intention known in your heart. Before initiating the salat, it is important that your intention be known and understood. Not necessarily aloud, but from within.
       • You may think about how many rakats you are going to do and for what purpose. Whatever it is, be sure you mean it.
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       Raise your hands up to your ears and say in a moderate tone "Allah - Akbar (الله أَكْبَر)." This translates to, "Allah is the greatest." Do this while standing.
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       Place your right hand over your left hand on your navel and keep your eyes focused on the place you are standing. Do not let your eyes wander.
       • Recite Isteftah Dua (opening prayer):
         
         subhanakal-lahumma
         wabihamdika watabarakas-muka wataaaala
         judduka wala ilaha ghayruk.
         a’auodu billaahi minash-shaytaanir rajeem
         bis-millaahir rahmaanir raheem
       • Follow it with the opening chapter of the Qu'ran, the Surah Al- Fatiha (this Surah is recited in each Rak'ah):
         
         al-hamdu lillaahi
         rabbil’aalameen
         arrahmaanir raheem maaliki yawmideen
         iyyaaka na-budo wa-iyyaaka nasta’een
         ihdinassiraatalmustaqeem
         siraatalladheena an’amta alayhim
         ghayril maghduobi’alayhim
         waladduaaalleen
         ameen
         • You can also recite any other surah or any part of Qu'ran such as:
           
           Bis-millaahir rahmaanir raheem
           Qul huwal-lahu ahad alluhus-samad
           Lam yalid wa lam yulad
           Wa lam yakul-lahu kuhuwan ahad
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       4
       Bend down. While bending, say "Allah - Akbar." Bend your body so that your back and neck are straight and level with the ground, keeping your eyes there. Your back and head should be in a 90 degree angle with your legs. This position is called "ruku'."
       • Once you are bent to the proper angle, say, "Subhanna - Rabbeyal - Azzem - wal - Bi - haamdee" three or more odd times. This translates to, "Glorified is my Lord, the most great."
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       5
       Stand back up (raise from ruku'). In the process raise your hands to your ear and recite "Samey - Allahu - leman - Hameda."
       • While speaking, lower your hands. This means, "Allah hears those who praise Him. O our Lord, and all praise is to you."
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       6
       Go down and place your head, knees and hands on the floor. This is the position called "sajdah." Whilst doing that say, "Allah - Akbar."
       • When you are positioned fully, say "Subhanna - Rabbeyal - Alla - wal - Bi - haamdee" three or more odd times.
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       7
       Rise from sajdah and sit on your knees. Place your left foot from ball to heel on the floor. Your right foot should be toes on the floor only. Place your hands flat on your knees. Recite "Rabig - Figr - Nee, Waar - haam - ni, Waj - bur - nii, Waar - faa - nii, Waar - zuq - nii, Wah - dee - nee, Waa - Aafee - nii, Waa - fuu - annii." This means "Lord, forgive me."
       • Return to sajda and, just as before, say "Subhanna - Rabbeyal - Alla - wal - Bi - haamdee" three or more odd times.
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       Arise from sajda. Stand up and say, ""Allah - Akbar." You have completed 1 Rakat. Depending on the time of day, you may need to complete up to three more.
       • In every second rakaat, after second sajda, sit on your knee again and recite "Atta - hiyyatul - Muba - rakaatush - shola - waa - tuth thaa - yi - batu - lillaah, Assa - laamu - alaika - ayyuhan - nabiyyu warah - matullaahi - wabaa - rakaatuh, Assaa - laamu - alaina - wa alaa - ibaadil - laahish - sho - le - heen. Asyhadu - allaa - ilaaha - illallaah, Wa - asyhadu - anna - Muhammadan rasuul - lullaah. Allah - humma - sholli - alaa - Muhammad - wa - ala - aali - Muhammad.”
         • This is called "tashahhud."
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       Terminate the prayers with as-salaam. After the tashahhud, pray to Allah before signing off with these movements and words:
       • Turn your head to the right and say, "As Salam Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu'." The angel who records your good deeds is to this side.
       • Turn your head to the left and say, "As Salam Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu'." The angel who records your wrongful deeds is to this side. The prayers have ended!