How to Pray

Content Every Muslim is ordered to make ablution before performing prayer. Without ablution, prayer is invalid and unaccepted by Allah (to Him belongs all Dignity and Glory). In the Holy Qur'an Allah says: (O you who believe! When you intend to offer prayer, wash your faces and your arms (fore-arms) up to the elbows, rub (by passing wet hands over) your heads, and wash your whole body.)[Holy Qur'an:5:6] With the revelation of this important verse, on prayer could be performed without ablution. If using the water is impossible, or difficult, you can perform tayammom, (as it will be later explained). How to Make Ablution: It was narrated by Al-Bukhari that Prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessinngs of Allah be on him) had said: "Perform your prayers in the same manner you have seen me doing. " Therefore, here is the explanation for the Prophet's manner of prayer: 1. To perform completely the abulution, adopting the method commanded by Allah in the Qur'an: "O ye who believe, when ye prepare for prayer, wash your faces and your hands(and arms) to the elbows, rub your heads(with water) and (wash) your feet to the ankles."(5:6) The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said: "Prayer without ablution is invalid" 2. To turn one's face and whole body towards the Ka‘aba, The Holy House at Makkah, intending by heart to perform the prayer which he wants to fulfill, whether it is an obligatory prayer or a supererogatory prayer, the worshipper in all cases, should not pronounce his intention openly, because neither the prophet nor his companions used to utter the intention for prayer. Thus, pronouncing the intention for prayer in audible voice is a heresy and an illicit action. Whether the individual be an Imam or performs his prayer individually, he should make (A Sutra) i.e. a curtain for his prayer. Directing the face towards the Qibla (The Ka‘aba at Makkah) is an imperative condition for every prayer. However, there are few exceptions for this rule explained in authoritative books for whom who wish to refer. 3. To pronounce "Takbirat Al Ihram" that is to say "Allahu Akabar" celebrating by that the greatness of Allah and looking meanwhile, downwards to the place where he will prostrate. 4. To raise one's hands up to the level of the shoulders of near to the lobes of the his ears, while pronouncing "Takbirat Al-Ihram". 5. To put one's right hand over his left hand and left wrist, and put them both over the chest, as the Prophet(peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to do. 6. It is advisable that the worshipper recite this opening supplication saying: "Allahumma ba‘id bayni wa bayena khatayaya kama ba‘adta bayena al-mashriki wal maghribi, Allahumma naqqiniy min aldans .. Allahumma igysilniy min khatayaya bilmai wathalgi walbarad." This supplication means: "O Allah, separate me from my sins as You have separated the east and west. O Allah, cleanse me of my sins as the white rope is cleansed from dirt. O Allah, wash off my sins with water, snow and hail." Or, he may say instead: "Sobhanaka Allahumma wa bihamdika watabaraka Ismoka wata‘la jaddoka wala ilaha ghayroka" This supplication means: Praise and glory be to Allah. Blessed be Your Name, exalted be Your majesty and Glory. There is no god but You." Or he may say any other supplications which the Prophet, (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) used to say in his prayers. It is better to recite these supplications alternately, the first one in the morning prayer "Zuhr", each one by turn, in conformity with what the Prophet used to do. After reciting the opening supplication, the worshipper says: "Aouuzo billahi min al-shaytani-r-ragim" Which means: "I seek protection of Allah against the accrued Satan." Then the says: "Bismillahi-Rahmani Raheem." Which means: "In the name of Allah, the All Merciful, the All Compassionate." and recites the Fatiha (the opening Sura of the glorious Qur'an). Prophet Muhammad, may peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Prayer without reciting the Fatiha is invalid." The worshippers should say "Ameen" after reciting the Fatiha loudly if the prayer is said loudly, and whisper it in inaudible prayers. To be in conformity with the traditions of the Prophet, the worshipper is advised to recite verses from medium size Suras of the Qur'an in the Zuhr (noon), A‘sr (late afternoon), and I‘sha (night) prayers. As for the Fajr(morning) prayer, the worshipper is advised to recite a passage from the long Suras of the Qur'an. He has the choice in Maghrib prayer (Evening prayer) either to recite passages from the long Suras or from the short Suras of the Qur'an. 7. Then, the worshipper bows in "Ruku" raising his hands up to the level of his shoulders or ears while saying "Allahu Akbar" "Allah is Great" then bends down, making his head and back on one level and putting his hands with the fingers spread on his knees. The worshipper should feel serenity and tranquillity while bowing, he should say thrice at least: "Subhana Rabbiayl A'zim" Which means: "Glory be to my Lord, the Almighty. " It is advisable to say while bowing in addition to that: "Subhanak-Allahumma Rabbana wa bi hamdika, Allahumma Ighfir liy" Which means: "Glory be to Thee, O Allah, and I praise Thee, forgive me my sins." 8. To raise one's head up from bowing, raising one's hands to the level of his shoulders or ears, saying, in case of being Imam or praying alone: "Sami'a Allahu liman hamidah" Which means: "Allah listens to him who praises Him" While resuming the standing position, he should say: "Rabbana wa laka al hamdu hamdan katheera'n tayyiban mobarakan feehiy mil'a ssamawati wa mila alardhi wa mil'a ma baymahoma wa shita min shiyin ba'ad" This supplication means: "Our Lord, praise be for Thee only, praise plentiful and blessed as to fill the heavens, the earth what in between, and fill that which will please Thee besides them." But if the worshipper is a follower, and led in his prayer by the Imam he should say when rising up "Rabbana wa laka alhamd...etc. It is advisable for the Imam, the follower, or who prays alone to add also: "You Allah who deserve all praises and all glory, your praising is the best and most true of whatever Your servants can say, we all are Your servants, Our Lord, no one can ever deprive aught of what You have bestowed and no one can ever give aught of what You have deprived." The worshipper is advised to put his hands on his chest, as he had done before he bowed. Both Wa'il Ibn Haggar and Shal Ibn Sai'yd reported that this was the manner of the Prophet when he used to raise his head up after bowing. 9. To prostrate saying "Allahu Akbar" which means "Allah is Great". His fingers and toes should be directed towards the Qibla Makkah, and his hands should be stretched, and the fingers close together and not separated. In prostration, the worshipper should use these seven organs: The forehead, the nose, both hands, both knees and the internal parts of the toes. These seven organs should say thrice or more: "Subhana Rabbiyal A‘ala" Which means: "Glorified is my Lord, the Exalted." It is advisable to say: "Subhanaka Allahuma Rabbana wa bi hamdika, Allahuma Ighfir-liy." This means: "Glory be to Thee, Our Lord, and I praise Thee. Our Lord, forgive me my sins." It is recommendable for the worshipper to exceed more and more in supplications and ask for more from his Lord, because the Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be on him, said: Which means: As for bowing "Ruku" you should glorify your Lord during performing it, as for prostration, you should do your best to supplication and ask for more from Him, because your supplications during prostration are more worthy to be accepted." The worshipper should ask his Lord for prosperity both in this worldly life and in the Hereafter. Whether it is an obligatory prayer or an optional prayer, the worshipper, while prostrating, should neither bring his hands close to his sides, nor stick his abdomen to his thighs or his thighs to his legs. The worshipper's arms should be raised up from the ground because the Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be on him, prohibited putting the arms and stretching them on the ground, ordering that "adjust your prostration, keep straight in it, and stretch not your hands on the ground as dogs." 10. He should raise his head from prostration saying: "Allahu Akbar" which means "Allah is Great" and lays his left foot flat on the ground and sits upon it, keeping his right foot erected, his hands on his thighs and knees, and says: "O my Lord, forgive me have mercy on me, guide me, provide me with your blessings and console me." The worshipper should feel tranquillity during this pause. 11. To prostrate again saying "Allahu Akbar" which means "Allah is Great" and repeating during his prostration what he did and said in the first prostration. 12. Then the worshipper raises his head saying "Allahu Akbar" which means "Allah is Great" taking a pause similar to the pause between the two prostrations; this is called "the pause for rest. " It is recommended for the worshipper to do such a pause, but there is no sin if he desists from it. Then the worshipper rises up and stands supporting on his knees*, or on the ground if he cannot support himself on the knees, reads the Fatihah (The opening Sura of the glorious Qur'an) and some other verses the Qur'an and do as just as he did in the first Rakaah (unit of prayer). Those who pray behind the Imam should not compete with him in the prayer actions as the Prophet (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) said: Which means: The Imam is to be followed, if he says: "Allahu Akbar" which means "Allah is Great" then say the same after him. If he bows in "Ruku" bow after him. If he says: "Samia-l-lahu liman hamidah" which means "Our Lord! All praises are for Thee"; and if he prostrates, after him."(Bukhari V:1 P.37) 13. If the prayer consists of two Rakaat (two units of prayer) as the morning prayer "Fajr", Feast prayer "Eid", or the Friday prayer "Jumu'a, the worshipper sits after the second prostration, with his right foot laid down, putting his right hand on his right thigh, all his fingers close-fisted save the index finger which he uses to point out as a sign for his monotheistic belief, and his left hand is put on his left thigh. There is nothing in the way, if the worshipper keeps both the little and ring fingers closed, while rounding his thumb and middle finger in a ring-shape, and uses his index finger to point out as a sign for his monotheistic belief. It has been related that the Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be on him, had practised both of these ways, thus, it is advisable for the worshipper to perform the first way once and other on the second time. The worshipper reads the Tashahud while sitting and says: "Al-tahiyatu lilahi wasalawatu watayibatu Assalamu alayka ayuha-n-nabiyu wa rahmat-u-llahi wa barakatuhu. Assalamu alayina wa ala ibadi-l-lahi-s-salalihiyn. Ash-hadu ala ilaha ila lahu wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan a‘bdoho wa raswuloh. Allahuma salliy ala Muhammad wa a‘la aali Muhammad, kama salayata ala Ibrahima wa aali Ibrahim. Inaka Hamidon Majid. Wa barik ala Muhammad wa ala aali Muhammad kama barakta ala Ibrahima wa aali Ibrahima. Inaka Hamidon Majid." This means: "Greetings, prayers and the good things of life belong to Allah. Peace, mercy and blessing of Allah be on you, O Prophet. May peace be upon us and on the devout slaves of Allah. I testify that there is no god but Allah and I testify that Muhammad is His slave and messenger. O Allah, bless Muhammad and his family. You are the Most-Praised,The Most-glorious. O Allah, bestow Your grace on Muhammad and his family as You bestowed it on Ibrahim and his family. You are the Most-Praised, The Most-glorious." After reciting the Tashahud, the worshipper asks Allah's protection from four evils, he should say: "My Lord, I ask your protection from torment of the hell, torment of the grave the trials in life-time and after death, and from the impostor Antichrist. " The worshipper may ask Allah for prosperity in this worldly life and in the Hereafter, supplicate Allah to bestow His favors on his parents and the other Muslims. He could do this in both obligatory and optional prayers. It has been reported by Ibn Massoud that the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be on him, taught him how to recite the Tashahud and told him that the worshipper should invoke Allah and ask Him for the more beloved wishes which he likes, or as it has been related in other wordings, the worshipper should ask Allah for whatever he wishes. In this manner, the prosperities of this worldly life and the life to come. The worshipper terminates his prayer by turning his face to right saying: "As-salamu alai kum wa rahmatu Allah" and to the left saying this salutation which means "Peace and mercy of Allah be on you." 14. In case of a three Rakaat Prayer (prayer consisting of three units) as that of Magrhib prayer, (evening prayer), or a four-Rakaat prayer like that of noon prayer (Zuhr), A‘sr prayer (late afternoon) or, I‘sha prayer (night prayer), the worshipper stands up to the level of his shoulders saying (Allahu Akbar). The worshipper puts his hands over his chest as it had been explained before, and recites only the Fatiha. There is no objection if be adds to the performing the third or fourth Rakaat (units of prayer) of noon prayer (Zuhr), because this was stated to be one of the manners adopted by the Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be on him, according to the tradition reported by Abi Saied. After the third Rakaah of Maghrib prayer (evening prayer), and the fourth Rakaah of Zuhr (noon), A‘sr (afternoon) and I‘sha prayer (night prayer), the worshipper recites the Tashahud and terminates his prayers by saying: "Assalamu-alaikum wa rahmatu Allah" while turning first to the right, and second to the left as it has been explained before. It is not an obligatory duty, but it is a recommendable prophetic tradition to invoke Allah after terminating the prayer by asking Him forgiveness thrice and saying before turning one's face towards his followers if he is the Imam: "O Allah, You are peace and from You is peace, You are blessed, O possessor of Glory and Honour." It is advisable for the worshipper to Say: "There is no god but Allah. He is the One. He has no partner. His is the dominion and to Him alone is the praise. He has power over all things. O Lord, none may give what You have given and none may give what You have withheld and the riches cannot avail a wealthy person with You. There is no might or power except by the support of Allah.There is no god but Allah and we do not worship but Him alone. To Him alone belong all bounties, to Him alone belong all grace, and to Him worthy praise is accorded. There is no god but Allah, to Whom we are sincere in devotion, even though the unbelievers may detest it." It is also advisable to the worshipper to extol Allah 33 times by saying (Subhana Allah). Praise Him by saying (Al Hamdu lil-Allah) 33 times also by saying (Allah Akbar) and worshipper completes his supplications to be one hundred by saying once: "There is no god but Allah. He is the One. He has no partner. His is the dominion and to Him alone is the praise. He has power over all things." The worshipper adds to that the recitation of the verse of the Throne "Ayat Al-kursiy", Surat Al-Iklas, Surat El-Falaq, and Surat An-Nas. It is recommendable to recite these Suras thrice after the Fajr prayer (Morning prayer) and the Maghrib prayer (evening prayer) because this was reported to be one of the traditions of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be on him. As it had been stated before, all these after-prayer supplications are optional and not obligatory. Every Muslim, whether be male or female, is recommended to pray 12 Rakaat of supererogatory prayers every day: four of these Rakaat are before noon prayer, two after it, two after Maghrib prayer two after I‘sha prayer and two before the morning prayer -These supererogatory prayers- called (Rawatib) which means: "Certain supererogatory exercises of optional prayers." The prophet peace and blessings of Allah be on him, preserved the performance of these optional prayers wherever he settled. During his travels, he used to practise the two optional Rakaat before the morning prayer and also the Witr prayer (after I‘sha prayer). There is no objection to perform these optional prayers in the mosque, but it is better to perform it at home, because the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be on him said: "The best of the prayers are those which are fulfilled at one's home, with exception to obligatory prayers which should be performed in congregation at the mosque." Observance of fulfilling these optional prayers is a means for gaining admission to paradise. The Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be on him, said: "Whoever prays optionally twelve Rakaat every one day and night, Allah will reward him by an established dwelling in the Paradise." It is also advisable to the Muslim to pray four optional Rakaat before A‘sr prayer (afternoon prayer), two before Maghrib prayer (evening prayer), and two before I‘sha prayer (night prayer, because this manner was reported to be one of the traditions of the Prophet. Allah, the Almighty says: "You have indeed in the messenger of Allah an excellent exemplar" (33:21). And the prophet (May the peace of Allah be upon him) said: "Perform your prayer in the same manner as you had seen me doing." Allah is the He Who is Able to render us success and prosperity, and may Allah give His blessings and peace to our Prophet Muhammad son of Abdellah, his family, his companions and whoever follows his way till doomsday. It is reported that Prophet peace be upon him have said: " If any of you makes Sujood, he should not kneel as the camel does. Let him place his hands (on the ground) before his knees." Authenticated in Saheeh Sunan Abee Daawood. "