WorldOfIslam.info | Learn to pray Salaat / Salaah, videos, tet, explinations and rulings
Learn how to Pray (the
salaat)! :
The importance
of the prayer in Islam cannot be understated. It is the first pillar of
Islam that the Prophet (peace be upon him) mentioned after mentioning the
testimony of faith, by which one becomes a Muslim. It was made obligatory
upon all the prophets and for all peoples. Allah has declared its obligatory
status under majestic circumstances. For example, when Allah spoke directly
to Moses, He said,
"And I have chosen you, so listen to that which is
inspired to you. Verily, I am Allah! There is none worthy of worship but I,
so worship Me and offer prayer perfectly for My remembrance." [Taha
13-14]
Once a man asked the Prohpet (peace be upon him) about
the most virtuous deed. The Prophet (peace be upon him) stated that the most
virtuous deed is the prayer. The man asked again and again. The first three
times, the Prophet (peace be upon him) again answered, "The prayer," then on
the fourth occasion he stated, "Jihad in the way of Allah." [This is form a
hadith recorded by Ahmad and ibn Hibban. According to al-Albani, the
hadith is hasan. Muhammad Nasir al-Din al-Albani, Sahih al-Targheeb wa
al-Tarheeb (Beirut: al-Maktab al-Islami, 1982), vol. 1, p. 150]
The
importance of prayer is demonstrated in the many of the Prophet’s statement.
For example, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said,
"The first matter that the slave will be brought to
account for on the Day of Judgment is the prayer. If it is sound, then the
rest of his deeds will be sound. And if it is bad, then the rest of his
deeds will be bad." [Recorded by al-Tabarani. According to al-Albani,
it is sahih. Al-Albani, Sahih al-Jami, vol.1, p. 503.
As for the
Hereafter, Allah’s forgiveness and pleasure is closely related to the
prayers. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said,
"Allah has obligated five prayers. Whoever excellently
performs their ablutions, prays them in their proper times, completes their
bows, prostrations and khushu` [Khushu` in the prayer is where the person’s
heart is attuned to the prayer. This feeling in the heart is then reflected
on the body. The person remains still and calm. His gaze is also lowered.
Even his voice is affected by this feeling in the heart. For more details on
this concept (as well as the difference between it and khudhu`), see
Muhammad al-Shaayi, al-Furooq al-Laughawiyyah wa Atharahaa fi Tafseer
al-Quran al-Kareem (Riyadh: Maktabah al-Ubaikaan, 1993), pp. 249-254.] has a
promise from Allah that He will forgive him. And whoever does not do that
has no promise from Allah. He may either forgive him or punish him."
[Recorded by Malik, Ahmad, Abu Dawud, al-Nasa’I and others. According to
al-Albani, it is sahih. Al-Albani, Sahih al-Jami, vol. 1, p. 616.] ]
Wherever a person
is in the world, he should face towards the Kabah when he is going to pray. The
Kabah is in the sacred mosque of Makkah in Saudi Arabia. Facing towards Qiblah
(Kabah) is a very important condition of performance of Salat. However, if the
person is in a place such as a desert, jungle, unknown strange city or a place
where he does not know the direction of the Qiblah, he should try his best to
find out the direction of Qiblah from others. However, if it is not possible
then he should use his judgment and face in a direction which he thinks is that
of Qiblah and Allah will accept his Salat.
It is important
to start the Salat facing the direction of Qiblah and it does not matter if his
direction changes while he is praying e.g. in a ship, a train or an airplane,
etc.
Note: Nowadays, a
compass is available which gives the direction of Qiblah. In strange places and
airplanes it is a useful instrument to possess.
1- Intention
The prophet
(sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) used to say:
All actions are by intention, and every
man shall have what he intended.
Note: You shouldn't say the intention by mouth
cause it is Innovation.
Make it in your heart
2- Takbeer
The First step to
enter the prayer is Takbeer .. the prophet peace be upon him used to say:
اللّهُ أكبر
Allaahu
Akbar
This means:
Allah is the greatest
Notes :
1- You should raise
your hands with the takbeer. Look at the picture
2- Then you should place your right arm on you left arm and place it overy
our chest.
3- You should place the right arm on the back of your left palm, wrist
and forearm
4- Then you should incline your head during prayer and fix your sight
towards the ground .... as the Prophet peace be upon him do....
5- Be careful: When you start to pray don't
look at the sky because it is forbidden as the Prophet peace be upon him
said :" People must refrain from looking up at the sky in prayer, or their
sight will not return to them (and in one narration: or their sight will
be plucked away)
3- Opening Supplications
The prophet (sallallaahu
'alaihi wa sallam) used to say one of this opening Supplications, You can choose
the easiest one for you:
Allah humma ba'id
baynee wa bayna khatayana kama ba'adta baynal mashriqi wal maghribi,
Allah humma naq-qinee min khatayaya kama yunaq-qath thuwabul abyadu minad
danasi , Allah hum maghsilnee min khatayaya bil maee wath thalji wal bardi
This
means:O Allaah! Separate me (far) from my sins
as you have separated (far) the East and West. O Allaah! Cleanse me of my
sins as white cloth is cleansed from dirt. O Allaah! Wash me of my sins with
water, ice and snow.
4- Recitation of Suratul Fatiha:
أَعُوذُ بِاللهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ
الرَّجِيم
A'uzu bil-llahi minash
shayta nir-rajeem
This
means:
I seek refuge with Allaah from the Evil One, the Rejected
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِِ
Bisimllah hir-rahman
nir-raheem
This means:
In the Name of Allaah, the Most Merciful, the
Bestower of Mercy
الْحَمْدُ للّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
Alhamdu lil-lahi
rab-bil 'alameen
This means:
Praise is only for Allah, Lord
الرَّحْمَنِ
الرَّحِيمِ
Ar-Rahma nir-raheem
This means:
The Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy
مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ
Maliki yawmid-deen
This means:
Master of the Day of Judgment
إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وإِيَّاكَ
نَسْتَعِينُ
Iyyaka
na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'een
This means:
You alone we worship and u to you alone we pray for help
This means:
The way of those whom you have blessed .. Who have not desrved your anger, Nor
gone astray
Ameeen
This means:
Oooh Allah please accept
Notes:
1- The Prophet peace be upon
him said : "No prayer is acceptable without the recitation of Fathiha"
2-
Abu Hurairah
reported that Allah's Messenger (pbuh) said: "If anyone observes prayer in
which he does not read Umm-ul-Quran (Fatihah), it is deficient, it is
deficient, it is deficient, and not complete. It was said to Abu Horairah:
:What should we do when we are behind an Imam?" He, (Abu Horairah) replied,
"Read it in silence..." (Muslim)
3- If you are praying in Jama'a then you
should raise your voice when you are saying "Ameen "
4- Becarful :
Ubadah bin Samit
said: "We were behind the Prophet (pbuh) in the Fajr prayer, and he recited
a passage from the Quran, but the recitation became difficult for him. Then
when he finished he said, "Do you recite behind your Imam?" We replied,
"yes, Allah's Messenger (pbuh)." Then Allah's Messenger (pbuh) said "Do not
recite anything (behind the Imam) except Fatihah-tul-Kitab (Surah Fatihah)
because he who does not include it in his recitation in prayer, his Salat is
not valid." (Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi)
5- Recitation after Suratul Fatiha:
The
Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would recite another soorah after
al-Faatihah, making it long sometimes, and on other occasions making it short
because of travel, cough, illness or the crying of infants
Let's take two examples of short
Suras you can pray with the both every prayer till you learn another Sura's
Surat Al-Ikhlas (Number 112)
أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرجيم
A'uzu bil-llahi minash
shayta nir-rajeen
This means:
I seek refuge with Allaah from the Evil One,
the Rejected
بِسْمِ اللهِ
الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Bisimllah hir-rahman
nir-raheem
This means:
In the Name of Allaah, the Most Merciful, the
Bestower of Mercy
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ
Qul howa Allahu ahad
This means:
Say : he is Allah, the only one.
اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ
Allah hus-samad
This means:
Allah helps and does not need help
لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ
Lam yalid wa lam yulad
This means:
He does not produce a child, and he was not born of anyone
وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ
Walam yakul-lahu
kufuwan ahad
This means:
There is no one equal to him
Surat An-Nas
(Number 114)
أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرجيم
A'uzu bil-llahi minash
shayta nir-rajeem
This means:
I seek refuge with Allaah from the Evil One, the Rejected
بِسْمِ اللهِ
الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Bisimllah hir-rahman
nir-raheem
This means:
In the Name of Allaah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ
Qul a'uzubi rab-bin nas
This means:
Say : I seek refuge in the Sustainer of Mankind
مَلِكِ النَّاسِ
Malikin
nas
This means:
The Owner of Mankind
إِلَهِ النَّاسِ
Ila hin-nas
This means:
Lord of Mankind
مِن شَرِّ الْوَسْوَاسِ الْخَنَّاسِ
Min shar-ril waswa sil
khan-nas
This means:
From the evil of the sneaking whisperer
الَّذِي يُوَسْوِسُ فِي صُدُورِ
النَّاسِ
Allazi yuwaswisu fee
sudu rin-nas
This means:
Who whispers in the hearts of Mankind
مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَ النَّاسِ
Minal jin-nati wan-nas
This means:
(Whether he be) from among jinns or mankind
Notes :
1- You have to read Sura after the Fatiha
only in the first two Rak'a in the Zuhr or Asr but in
Fajr,Maghrib and E'sha you just hear the Imam and you should't say it with
him. No other Surah
should be read after surah Fatiha in the third and fourth Rak'ahs of any
fard salah.
2- If you tried to memorize this two
Suras but you failed .. then there is a permission to read Al-Fatiha only ..
and in-Shaa-Allah your prayer is right
6- Bowing (Rukoo')
After completing his
recitation, the prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would pause for a
moment, then raise his hands in the way described earlier , say takbeer
الله أكبر
Allaahu Akbar
This
means:
Allah is the greatest
Notes :
1- You should raise your
hands with the takbeer.
(up to the level
of the shoulders or near to the lobes of his ears, while pronouncing "Takbirat
Al-Ihram")
2- Be careful: When you start to pray don't look
at the sky because it is forbidden as the Prophet peace be upon him said :"
People must refrain from looking up at the sky in prayer, or their sight will
not return to them (and in one narration: or their sight will be plucked away)
Then ..
you make Ruku' and say :
سُـبْحَانَ
رَبِّـَى الْعَظيِمِ
Subhana Rabbi yal
azim
This
means:
How Perfect is my Lord, the Supreme!
Note :
Be
careful: The Prophet said :
Verily, I have indeed been forbidden from reciting the Qur'aan in rukoo'
or sujood. In the rukoo', therefore, glorify the Supremity of the Lord,
Mighty and Sublime, in it; as for the sujood, exert yourselves in
supplication in it, for it is most likely that you will be answered
...so it is forbidden to read Quran in Rukoo' or Sujood
7-Straightening up from
Rukoo':
The prophet
(sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would straighten up his back out of rukoo',
saying :
سَمِـعَ اللهُ لِمَـنْ
حَمِـدَه
Sami'
Allah hu liman hamidah
This means:
Allaah listens to the one who praises Him
Then ..
while he is still standing he would say :
رَبَّنـا وَلَكَ الحَمْـدُ
Rab-bana wa lakal hamd
This
means:
Our Lord, to You be all Praise
Note :
When you Straightening up from Rukoo': you
would raise your hands like what we discribed early in the Takbeer.
(raise his
hands up to the level of his shoulders or ears with palms facing
outwards and fingers stretched to the earlobes. And then he should lower
his hands to his sides or the worshipper is advised to put his hands on
his chest, as he had done before he bowed. Both Wa'il Ibn Haggar and
Sahl Ibn Sai'yd reported that this was the manner of the Prophet when he
used to raise his head up after bowing)
8-Prostration (The sujud):
The prophet (sallallaahu
'alaihi wa sallam) would say takbeer:
الله أكبر
Allaahu
Akbar
This
means:
Allah is the greatest
&
go down into sajdah saying :
سُبْـحانَ
رَبِّـيَ الأَعْلـى
Subhana Rabbi yal a'la
This
means:
How Perfect is my Lord, the Most High
Note :
1- You should say
Subhana Rabbi yal a'la three times on each Sujud . 2- The right postion of Sujud:
a) You would support yourself on your palms [and
spread them]
b) put his fingers together
c) point them towards the qiblah
d) Make your nose touch the ground cause the
prophet said : There is no prayer for the one whose nose does not feel as much
of the ground as the forehead
e) Put your knees and toes down firmly and point
with the front of the toes towards the qiblah and put your heels together and
keep your feet upright.
f) These are the seven limbs on which he
(sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would prostrate: the palms, the knees, the
feet, and the forehead and nose.
9-Rising from Sajdah:
The
prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would raise his head from prostration
while saying :
الله أكبر
Allaahu Akbar
This means:
Allah is the greatest
Then you will
sit in a specific postition and say:
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي
وَارْحَمْنِي
Rabb
ighfirlee wa irhamnee
This
means:
O my Lord! Forgive me, and have mercy on me
Notes :
1- The right
position of sitting down:
The Prophet peace be upon him would lay his left foot along the ground and sit
on it [relaxed]. 2- You should stay a while in this sitting, cause the prophet
peace be upon would sit straight on his left foot, upright, until every bone
returned to its position.
10-The second Sajdah:
The prophet
(sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would say takbeer:
الله أكبر
Allaahu Akbar
This means:
Allah is the greatest
& go
again to Sujud postition saying :
سُبْـحانَ
رَبِّـيَ الأَعْلـى
Subhana
Rabbi yal a'la
This
means:
How Perfect is my Lord, the Most High
Notes :
1- You should say
Subhana Rabbi yal a'la three times on each Sujud . 2- The right postion of Sujud:
a) You would support yourself on your palms [and
spread them]
b) put your fingers together
c) point them towards the qiblah
d) Make your nose touch the ground cause the
prophet said : There is no prayer for the one whose nose does not feel as much
of the ground as the forehead
e) Put your knees and toes down firmly and point
with the front of the toes towards the qiblah and put your heels together and
keep your feet upright.
f) These are the seven limbs on which he
(sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would prostrate: the palms, the knees, the
feet, and the forehead and nose.
11- The Second Rak'a:
The
prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) used to say Faatihah which we teach you
how to say it in step number 3
& then do all the steps
which the prophet peace be upon him did in the first Rak'a
Note :
When you rise up from Sujud to the
second Rak'a you can rise up supporting one self with hand .
12- The First Tashahud:
The
prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would sit for Tashhud after finishing
the second rak'ah and say :
At-Tahiy-yatu lil-lahi was-salawatu wat-tay yibatu, As-Salamy 'alika
ay-yuhan-nabiy-yu wa rahma tullahi wa barakatu, As salamu 'alayna wa 'ala
'ibadil-la his-saliheen , Ash hadu al la ilaha illal lahu, wa ash hadu an-na
Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasuluh
This
means:All compliments, all physical prayer , and
all monetary worship are for Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and Allah's
mercy and blessings. Peace be on us and on all righteous slaves of Allah . I
bear witness that no one is worthy of worship except Allah. I bear witness that
Muhammad (peace be upon him ) is his slave and Messenger.
Notes :
1- What is the
right sit position in The first Tashahud? : In the Fajr there is only one
Tashahud so it there is no first or second Tashahud so in the first Tashahud
on the other prayers and in Al-Fajr Tashahud you would sit as you are setting
between the two sujud, but if you can't sit in this way you can sit in any way
you can, but this is the way the prophet used to sit. 2-
the worshipper
sits at the first Tashahud, with his right foot erect, sitting on his left
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.
13- The Second Tashahud
The prophet
(sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would sit for the second Tashhud after finishing
the last rak'ah and would say the first Tashuhud which is in step 12 and then
say :
Allah humma sal-li 'ala Muhammadin
wa 'ala aali Muhammadin, Kama sal-layta 'ala Ibraheema wa 'ala aali ibraheema
innaka hameedum majeed, wa barik 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala aali Muhammadin, Kama
barakta 'ala Ibraheema wa 'ala aali ibraheema innaka hameedum majeed
This
means:
O Allah, send Grace and Honour on Muhammad (peace be upon
him) and on the family and true followers of Muhammad (peace be upon him) just
as you sent Grace and Honour on Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and on the family
and true followers of Ibrahim (peace be upon him). Surely, you are praiseworthy,
The Great .O Allah, send
blessings on Muhammad (peace be upon him) and on the family and true followers
of Muhammad (peace be upon him) just as you sent blessings on Ibrahim (peace be
upon him) and on the family and true followers of Ibrahim (peace be upon him).
Surely, you are praiseworthy, The Great.
Note :
1-What is the right
sitting position in The second Tashahud ?
: In the prayers like
Zuhr, Asr, Maghrib and 'eisha, in the last rak'a you should sit in a position
called "Iftirash" click here to see how you can sit in this position ... but
if you can't sit in this way you can sit as you feel comfortable ...
2-
the worshipper
sits at the second Tashahud, with his right foot erect, sitting on his left
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.
14-Salution of Peace (The
Tasleem):
Next, The prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would salute to his right
saying:
اَلسَّلاَمُ
عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ
As-Salamu
'alikum wa Rahmatul lah
This
means:
Peace be on you and the mercy of Allah.
Next, The prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would salute to his left
saying:
اَلسَّلاَمُ
عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ
As-Salamu
'alikum wa Rahmatul lah
This
means:
Peace be on you and the mercy of Allah.
"… when it is said to them; 'Make not mischief on the Earth', they say; 'We are only peace makers'. Indeed they are the ones who make mischief, but they perceive it not"