Prayer
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
If you are unsure of the cleanliness of your area, spread a mat or cloth on the floor for
good measure. This mat (or prayer rug) is very important to islamic culture.
Page

1
away from the entrance/exit.
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.
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
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)
Page

2
changes path throughout the seasons.

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)
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.
Whatever it is, be sure you mean it. Allah SWT can see what is in our hearts.
3
You may think about how many rakats you are going to do and for what purpose.
Page

Beginning
Takhbeera tul Ihram – Raise your hands up to your ears and say in a moderate
tone "Allah - Akbar (‫)هللا أ َ ْكبَر‬." This translates to, "Allah is the greatest." Do this while
standing.

Recite Isteftah Dua (opening prayer):
Page
4
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.
Invocations for the beginning of the prayer
Subhanaaka Allaahumma wa bihamdika wa tabaarakasmuka, wa ta’aalaa jadduka, wa laa ‘ilaaha
ghayruka.
(Say: Istiada)
“Authu billahi minayshaytan I rajeem” (To say this is Sunnah)
Follow it with the opening chapter of the Qu'ran, the Surah Al- Fatiha (this Surah is
recited in each Rak'ah):
Bismi Allahi Rahman ir Raheem. (In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficient, the Most Merciful.)
Alhamdu lillahi rabbil AAlameen. (All the praises and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the ‘Alamin
(mankind, jinns and all that exists).
Alrrahmanirr aheem. (The most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.)
Maliki yawmi ddeen (The Only Owner (and the Only Ruling Judge) of the Day of
Recompense(day of Resurrection, or day of Judgement)
Iyyaka naAAbudu waiyyaka nastaA’een (You (Alone) we worship, and you (Alone) we ask for
help (for each and everything)
Ihdina ssiraatalmustaqeem (Guide us to the straight Path)
Sshiraatalladheena an amta Alayhim ghayril maghdoobi Alayhim waladh-dhaalleen (the Way of
those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace, not (the way) of those who earned Your Anger,
nor of those who went astray.)
AMEEN
Bismi Allahi Rahman ir Raheem.

You can also recite any other surah or any part of Qu'ran such as Surah Al-Ikhlas
Bis-millaahir rahmaanir raheem
Qul huwal-laahu ahad, Allaahus-samad,

Surah Nas, Surah Falaq, Surah Kawthar, and many more
Page
Wa lam yakul-lahu kufuwan ahad
5
Lam yalid wa lam yulad,
Say: Allahu Akhbar
Position: Ruku
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'."
Invocations during Ruku (bowing in prayer)
Subhaana Rabbiyal- ‘Azzeem wa bi hamdihi (Recite 3 times) This translates to, "Glorified is
6
my Lord, the most great."
Page

Say: Allahu Akhbar
Position: Standing
Stand back up (raise from ruku'). In the process raise your hands to your ear
and recite : Sami’Allaahu liman hamidah.
While speaking, lower your hands. This means, "Allah hears those who praise
Him. O our Lord, and all praise is to you.
Rabbanaa wa lakal-hamd, hamdan Katheeran tayyiban mubaarakan feeh.
7
(when Imam are present just recite this after he said “Sami’Allaahu liman
hamidah.”) :
Page

Say: Allahu Akhbar
Position: Sujood (prostration)
Go down and place your head, knees and hands on the floor. This is the
position called "sajdah." Or “sujood”
When you are positioned fully, say "Subhaana - Rabbeyal – A’laa - wal - Bi –
8
hamdihi " three or more odd times.
Page

Say: Allahu Akhbar
Position: Sitting
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 Rab-bigh fir lee, (recite 3 times), ." This means "Lord, forgive me.
Return to sajda and, just as before, say "Subhaana - Rabbiyal – A’laa - wa - Bi -
9
hamdihi" three or more odd times
Page

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.
(back to standing position)
Proceed with the same ,
Recite Surah Al-Fatiha and after recite any Surah from Quran
-----When in 2nd Rakat you will be in sitting position:
10
In every second rakaat, after second sajda, sit on your knee again and recite
Page

Invocations for At-Tashahhud (sitting in prayer)
At tahiyyaatu lil laahi was salawaatu, wat tayyibaat,As salaamu ‘alayka ‘ay-yuhan Nabiy-yu wa
rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuh, As-salaamu Alaynaa wa ‘Alaa ‘ibaadil-laahis saalihin. (Raise index
finger up on your right hand) ‘Ash-hadu ‘an laa ‘ilaaha ‘illal-laah wa ‘ash-hadu ‘an-na
Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa Rasuluhu.
(All greetings of humility are for Allah, and all prayers and goodness. Peace be upon you,
O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be upon us and upon the
righteous slaves of Allah. I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah,
and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and His messenger.)
This is called "tashahhud.
How to recite blessings on the Prophet during Tashahhud
Allaa-humma salli ‘alaa Muhammadin wa ‘alaa ‘aali Muhammad, kamaa sal-layta ‘alaa
‘Ibraahima wa ‘alaa ‘aali ‘Ibraaheema,
Wa baarik ‘alaa Muhammad wa ‘alaa ‘aali Muhammad, kamaa baarakta ‘alaa ‘Ibraahima wa
‘alaa ‘aali ‘Ibraahiim, ‘in-naka Hamidun Majid.
(O Allah, bestow Your favor on Muhammad and on the family of Muhammad as You have
bestowed Your favor on Ibrahim and on the family of Ibrahim, You are Praiseworthy, Most
Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You have blessed Ibrahim
and the family of Ibrahim, You are Praiseworthy, Most Glorious.)
Invocations after the final Tashahhud and before ending the prayer.
Allaa-humma ‘inee ‘a’udzu bika, wa min ‘adzaabil-qabr, wa min ‘adzaabi jahan-nam, wa min
fitnatil-mahyaa wal mamaat, wa min sharri fitnatil-masiihid-daj-jal.
(O Allah, I seek refuge in Your from the punishment of the grave, and from the punishment of
the grave, and from the punishment of the Hell-fire, and from the trials of life and death, and
from the evil of the trial of the False Messiah.)
(you can add more)
Page
11
Allaa-humma ‘innee ‘as’alukal-jannata wa ‘a’udzu bika minan-naar. (O Allah, I ask Your for
Paradise and seek Your protection from, the Fire.)
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 Rahmatullah 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 Rahmatullah wa
Barakatuhu'." The angel who records your wrongful deeds is to this side. The
prayers have ended!
What to say after completing the prayer.
‘Astaghfirullaaha (3x times) Allaahumma ‘Antas-Salaamu wa minkas-salaamu, tabaarakta yaa
Thal-Jalaali wal-‘Ikraam.
Subhana Allah (33x times), Alhamdu lillah (33x times), Allahu Akhbar (33x times)
12
La hawla wa la quwwata illa billahil ‘aliyyul ‘adhim la ilaha illallahu mukhlisina lahud-dina walaw
karihal kafirun.
Page

La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lah lahul mulku wa lahul hamdu wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay-in
qadir.
Recite: AYAT-UL-KURSI (Al-BAQARAH 2:255)
ALLAHU LA ILAHA ILLA HUWAL HAYYUL QAYYUM, LA TA’KHUDZUHU SINATUW WALA NAWM,
LAHU MA FIS SAMAWATI WA MA FIL-ARD, MAN DZAL LADZI YASFA’U INDAHU ILLA BI-IDZNIH
YA’LAMU MA BAYNA AYDIHIM WA MA KHALFAHUM WA LA YU-HITUNA BISHAY-IM ‘ILMIHI ILLA
BIMA SHA WASI’A KURSIYYUHUS SAMAWATI WAL ARD WA LA YA’UDUHU HIF-DUHUMA WA
HUWAL ‘ALIYYUL ‘ADIM.
Page
13
(I seek refuge in Allah from Satan the outcast. – Allah! There is none worthy of worship but He,
the Ever Living the One Who sustains and protects all that exists. Neither slumber nor sleep
overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is
he that can intercede with Him except with His Permission? He knows what happens to them in
this world, and what will happen to them in the Hereafter. And they will never encompass
anything of His Knowledge except that which He wills. His Throne extends over the heavens and
the earth, and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them. And He is the Most High, the
Most Great.)