The second most important pillar of Islam (testimony of faith), after the shahada, is a specific kind of devotion known as salah. It is a kind of prayer that is required five times a day and is found in the Quran al Kareem. Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) taught us to pray in this manner. The salah connects you with Allah SWT through a range of bodily movements, including standing, bowing, prostrating, and sitting. It also involves chanting several dua, or prayers, in Arabic along with readings from the Holy Quran. Every time Muslims pray, they face the direction of the Kaaba, Allah's Sacred House in Makkah, to begin salah. The purpose of all these bodily motions, incantations, and prayers is to show humility and submission to Allah SWT.
Muslims pray because we believe that worshiping Allah SWT alone is the ultimate goal of life.
One of the first instructions that Allah gave to Prophet Muhammad soon after he became a prophet was to observe salah (worship). The Holy Quran informs us that the sole purpose of human creation, according to Allah Almighty, was for mankind to worship Him.
“And I (Allah) created not the jinns and humans except they should worship Me (Alone).”
(Surah Ad-Dhariyat)
There are five prayers that must be offered throughout the day in Islam. If a Muslim skips these prayers without a good reason, they are regarded as sinners.
Our beloved Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) said:
“Between a man and polytheism and disbelief, there stands his neglect of the prayer.”
These prayers are:
- Fajr: the dawn prayer. It is a two Rakat Salah.
- Dhuhr: the early afternoon prayer. It is a four Rakat Salah.
- Asr: the late afternoon prayer. It is a four Rakat Salah.
- Maghrib: the sunset prayer. It is a three Rakat Salah.
- Isha: the night prayer. It is a four Rakat Salah.
After making wudu, it’s time to perform salah. Here are the steps simplified so you can use as a guide to help you learn to pray:
(1) Clear your mind
(2) Make intention (niyya) to pray
Make a heartfelt intention to pray to Allah SWT.
(3) Raise your hands to your ears and say ‘Allahu Akbar’ (Takbir)
Saying "Allahu Akbar" will start the prayer. From now on, focus only on the prayer and make every effort to ignore other distractions.
(4) place your hand over your naval
After Takbir, you place your right hand on your left hand both over your naval and start reciting surah Fatiha and then any other surah from the Holy Quran after.
Your eyes should be fixed on one spot, which is the very front of you where you’ll prostrate.
(6) Make Ruku (bow down)
Say "Allahu Akbar" while bending over. Keep your back straight, your hands on your knees, and your eyes focused on the floor in front of you as you bow. Say this:
سُبحانَ رَبِّيَ العَظيم
Transliteration: Subhanna Rabbiyal 'Adheem (3 times)
Translation: Far removed from every imperfection is my Rabb (Lord), the Great. [3 times]
(7) Stand up again
Say this while raising your hands to your ears as you move from the ruku to the standing position.
سَمِعَ اللهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ
Transliteration: Sami'Allahu li man hamdidah
Translation: Allah hears whoever praises Him.
Stand upright until every part takes its postion and say:
رَبَّنَا ولكَ الحَمد
Transliteration: Rabbana walakal-hamd
Translation: O our Rabb (Lord)! All the praise is due to You.
(8) Make Sujud (prostrate)
After saying ‘Allahu Akbar’ again before prostrating, make sure your forehead, nose, palms of both hands, knees, and both toes are touching the ground and say:
سُبحَانَ ربِّيَ الأعْلَى
Transliteration: Subhaana Rabiyyal-'Alaa
"Far removed is my Rabb, the Most High, from any Imperfection" (3 times)
(9) Rise up to sit down before making the second Sujud
Say Allahu Akbar then rise from the ground, sit down and pronounce this before making the second sujud.
رَبِّي اغفِر لِي
Transliteration: Rabbigh-fir lee
O my Rabb! Forgive me.
After that, Allahu Akbar then repeat Sujud again. Allahu Akbar then stand up again and repeat the steps.
(10) Recite Tashahhud after the first two rakaahs
After the 2nd rakat or after the 4th sujood point your index finger straight toward the Qiblah and move it during the recitation of the Tashahhud while holding your right hand closed and keeping your thumb and middle finger in a circle and recite this:
التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ السَّلَامُ عَلَى النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِين. أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
Transliteration: “At Tahiyyaatu lilaahi was Salawaatu wat tayibaatu
Assalaamu alaika ayyuhan nabiyyu wa rahmatu Allahi wa barakaatuh
Assalaamu alaynaa wa alaa ebaadillaahis saaliheen,
Ash hadu allaa ilaha illa Allah Wa ash hadu anna Muhammadan abduhuu wa rasuuluh”
Translation: “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.”
This is known as the the first part of the Tashahhud. Bear in mind, we do not recite this for fajr, fajr needs to be recited with the full Tashahhud after the last sujood in the last rakat.
In the last rakaah of any salah, we recite the full Tashahhud. Both part 1 and 2. Part 2 goes as follows:
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ. اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ
Transliteration: “Allahumma salli ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala aali Muhammad
Kamaa salayta ala aali Ibraaheem wa ‘ala aali Ibrahim
Innaka Hameedun Majeed
Wa baarik ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala aali Muhammad
Kamaa baarakta ala Ibraaheem wa ‘ala aali Ibrahim
Innaka Hameedun 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.”
(11) Make Tasleem
As you finish your salah, make Tasleem by looking to your right and saying,
السَّلامُ عَلَيكُم وَرَحمَةُ اللهِ وبَرَكَاتُه
Transliteration: "Assalamu alaykum wa Rahmatu Allah,"
Translation: May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon you.
and then looking to your left and repeating it. This is done after reciting the full Tashahhud.
