How to Pray in Islam: 12 Steps (with Pictures)

2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 09:13

Prayer is one of the 5 pillars of Islam and a fundamental act to be performed correctly. It is believed that communication with Allah will fulfill prayers and give them courage. If you are just curious about how Muslims pray or if you are looking to learn on your own, read this article.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: Prepare for prayer

Step 1. Make sure the area is clean and free of impurities

This includes your body, clothing, and the place of prayer itself.

• Do ablutions if necessary. You must be ritually pure before you go to pray. If you are not, you should do Wudu first. If since your last prayer you have urinated, defecated, flatulent, bled excessively, fell asleep lying down, leaned on something, threw up or passed out, go wash.
• Make sure all necessary parts are covered. Nudity for a man is considered to be between the navel and the knees, for a woman her entire body except her face and hands.
• If you are praying in a "masjid" (mosque), which is preferable, enter quietly; other Muslim brothers may still be in prayer and you must not disturb them. Put yourself in a free space away from the entrance or exit.
• If you are unsure about the cleanliness of your area, spread a mat or cloth on the floor to be safe. This mat (or prayer rug) is very important in Islamic culture.

Step 2. Face the Qibla

This is the direction to which all Muslims must turn to pray towards the Kabah.

The Sacred Mosque of Mecca is the most revered place of worship for Muslims around the world. In the center of the mosque is the Kabah. All Muslims are required to turn to the Kabah five times a day when they pray

Step 3. Pray at the right time

The five prayers each day take place at very specific times. For each, there is a short period of time in which it can be performed, determined by the rising and falling of the sun. Each salah lasts from 5 to 10 minutes from start to finish.

• The five prayers are Fajr, Zuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha. They are respectively at dawn, immediately after noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and night. They are not at the same time every day as they are regulated by the sun, which changes its course in all seasons.

• This is the number of rakats (cycles) for each of the 5 salah:

  • Fajr - 2
  • Zuhr - 4
  • Asr - 4
  • Maghrib - 3
  • Isha - 4

  Method 2 of 2: Performing Muslim Prayers

  

  Step 1. Know the intention in your heart

  Before starting the salah, it is important that you know and understand your intention. Not necessarily out loud, but from the bottom of the heart.

  You may be thinking about how many rakats you are going to do and for what purpose. Whatever it is, make sure you really mean it

  

  Step 2. Raise your hands to ear height and say in a moderate tone:

  "Allah - Akbar (الله أكبر)" (if you are a woman, raise your hands to shoulder height, palms facing up). This translates: "Allah is the greatest". Do this while standing.

  

  Step 3. Place your right hand over your left on your navel (if you are a woman, on your chest) and keep your eyes fixed on where you are

  Don't 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

  • Continue with the opening chapter of the Quran, the Al-Fatiha sura (this sura is recited at each Rak'ah):

    al-hamdu lilac

    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 part of the Quran, such as:

    Bis-millaahir rahmaanir raheem

    Qul huwal-lahu ahad alluhus-samad

    Lam yalid wa lam yulad

    Wa lam yakul-lahu kuhuwan ahad

  

  Step 4. Bow down

  As you bow, repeat "Allah - Akbar". Bend your body so that your back and neck are straight at floor level, keeping your gaze there. The back and head must form a 90 degree angle with the legs. This position is called "ruku".

  After bowing correctly, recite: "Subhanna - Rabbeyal - Azzem - wal - Bi - haamdee" three or more odd times. This translates: "Glorified be my Lord, the greatest"

  

  Step 5. Get back to your feet (lift off the ruku)

  As you do this, raise your hands to ear level and say: "Samey - Allahu - leman - Hameda".

  As you speak, put your hands down. This means: "Allah hears those who praise him. O our Lord, all praise is for you."

  

  Step 6. Lower yourself and rest your head, knees and hands on the floor

  This is the position called "sajdah". As you do this, repeat: "Allah - Akbar".

  When fully in position, recite: "Subhanna - Rabbeyal - Alla - wal - Bi - haamdee" three or more odd times

  

  Step 7. Raise yourself from the sajdah and sit on your knees

  Place your left foot, from the forefoot to the heel, on the floor. Your right foot should only have toes on the floor. Put your hands on your knees. Recites: "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 the sajda and say as before: "Subhanna - Rabbeyal - Alla - wal - Bi - haamdee", three or more odd times

  

  Step 8. Rise from the sajdah

  Stand up and repeat: "Allah - Akbar". You completed a rakat. Depending on the time, it may be necessary to complete three more.

  • At every second rakat, after the second sajdah, sit on your lap again and say "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"

  

  Step 9. End prayers with as-salaam

  After the tashahhud, pray to Allah before concluding 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 on this side.
  • Turn your head to the left and say: "As Salam Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu." The angel who records your bad deeds is on this side. The prayer is over!

  Warnings

  • Never speak aloud in a mosque; it could disturb those in prayer.
  • Do not be intoxicated with alcohol or drugs during the salah.
  • Always pray 5 times a day, even when you are in school.
  • Do not disturb others who are praying.
  • Always try to use your time efficiently in the mosque, reading the Quran or doing Thikr.
  • Don't talk during your salah and always stay focused.