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Prayer, also known as salah, salat, or salawat) is the second pillar of the five pillars of Islam. Every Muslim is obligated to fulfill five daily prayers as taught by our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (peace be upon him). It is strictly required by those aged ten and over.
Before praying, one must ensure they meet the below prerequisites:
- Cleanliness: It is crucial to be clean during the time of praying. The area in which one is to pray must be clean and free from any impurities. In addition, a person looking to pray must have performed wudu’ (ablution) or ghusl (full shower – if required) before praying.
- Covering up: Men and women must cover themselves before praying. Men must be covered from the navel to the knee. Women must cover everything but their faces and hands. Ensure you do not wear any tight clothing or clothing that may slip or expose your skin while moving during prayer.
- Qibla (facing the Ka’bah): Prayer must be done while facing the Ka’bah. One can use a “Qibla Finder” application on their mobile phone to determine the direction of the Qibla.
- Timing: The five daily prayers take place at specific times and each prayer must be performed within the allowed time frame. These timings can change according to one’s geographic location and the time of the year.
- The five obligatory prayers are: Fajr (dawn prayer), Dhuhr (afternoon prayer), Asr (mid-afternoon prayer), Maghrib (evening/sunset prayer), and Isha’a (night prayer).
Salah (prayer) must be performed in Arabic as that is the language the Qur’an was revealed in and avoid issues with words/details being lost in translation.
Each prayer has a number of Rak’ah (units) in which they must be prayed, these are called “Fardh”. Most prayers have additional complimentary (optional, but highly recommended) prayers known as Sunnah which can be performed as follows (in order):
- Fajr (dawn prayer):
- 2 Rak’ah of Sunnah (optional, but highly recommended)
- 2 Rak’ah of Fardh (obligatory)
- Dhuhr (afternoon prayer):
- 4 Rak’ah of Sunnah (optional, but highly recommended)
- 4 Rak’ah of Fardh (obligatory)
- 2 Rak’ah of Sunnah (optional, but highly recommended)
- Asr (afternoon prayer):
- 4 Rak’ah of Fardh (obligatory)
- Maghrib (evening/sunset prayer):
- 3 Rak’ah of Fardh (obligatory)
- 2 Rak’ah of Sunnah (optional, but highly recommended)
- Isha (night prayer):
- 4 Rak’ah of Fardh (obligatory)
- 2 Rak’ah of Sunnah (optional, but highly recommended)
- 3 Rak’ah of Witr (optional, but highly recommended)
Do not rush in a prayer or skip praying entirely. A prayer that is missed must be made up as soon as possible. Missing a prayer due to a social gathering, work, meeting, etc. is not considered a valid excuse.
While praying, one must refrain from performing any of the following, as this will break the salah (prayer):
- Turning away from the Qibla to a large extent.
- Anything which invalidates Wudu’ (ablution) (i.e: passing gas)
- Uncovering parts of the body which must be covered (‘awrah – intimate parts)
- Excessive unnecessary movement.
- Deliberately adding an extra pillar
- Deliberately omitting a required pillar.
- Deliberately performing a pillar incorrectly (i.e: in an incorrect order)
- Deliberately speaking.
- Laughing out loud.
- Eating or Drinking.
The above is not an exhaustive list. One must refrain from doing anything apart from what is required whilst praying. Forgetting an obligatory part of the prayer does not invalidate the prayer but one must do the prostration of forgetfulness (sujood al-sahw)
Once all prerequisites have been met, one can begin their prayer:
- Intention: One must have the intention to pray, this can be verbally or silently in your own language.
- For example, you can say: ‘I intend to pray four Rak‘ah of Salatul Dhuhr, seeking nearness to Allah, in obedience to him.’ (replace the bold parts with what you intend to pray)
- After making this intention, focus completely on Allah and do not get distracted until the end of your prayer (salah).
- Takbeer: Raise your hands up to your ears and shoulders, then say Allāhu akbar (الله أَكْبَر). This means Allah is the Greatest. Do this while standing facing the Qibla then fold your hands, placing your right hand over your left hand and place them on your chest. Keep your eyes focused on the ground, do not move your eyes or look around.
- If you are unable to stand due to an illness, you may pray while sitting down.
- Dua’a: Recite the opening Dua’a. “Subhanaka Allahumma wa bihamdika wa tabarakasmuka, wa ta’ala jadduka wa la ilaha ghairuk.” This means “O Allah, glory and praise are for You, and blessed is Your Name, and exalted is Your Majesty and there is no god but You.” This only needs to be recited once, in the beginning of the prayer.
- Isti’atha: Recite quietly, “A’oodhu Billahi min al-Shaytan ir-rajeem” which means, “I seek protection in Allah from the rejected Satan.”
- Basmalah: Recite quietly, “Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim” which means, “In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.”
- Repeat this for every Surah (chapter) except Surah At-Tawbah
- Al Fatiha: Quietly recite Surat Al Fatiha, end it by saying Ameen (Let it be so).
- Additional Surah: Recite any Surah or any part of the Qur’an.
- If not reading a full surah, one must read a minimum of three verses or one long verse which is equal in length to three short verses.
- Ruku’ (bow): Say Allāhu akbar (الله أَكْبَر) then bend down. Put your hands on your knees with your legs and back straight. Your back and head should be at a 90° angle with your legs. You don’t need to make a perfect angle. Then say “Subhana Rabbiy-al-‘Adheem” (سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ) which means, “Glory be to my Lord, the Great” 3 times.
- Stand up: Stand up fully straight again, reciting “Sami’Allahu liman hamidah” (سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ) which means “Allah heard the one who praised Him.” Then say, “Rabbana wa laka’l-hamd” (رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ) which means “O our Lord, all praise belongs to You.”
- Sujood (prostration): Say Allāhu akbar (الله أَكْبَر) and go down into prostration (sujood). When prostrating, your forehead, nose, palms of both hands, knees and toes pointing forward should all be touching the floor. When in this position, say “Subhaana Rabbiy-al-A‘laa” (سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الأَعْلَى) which means “Glory be to my Lord, the Highest.” 3 times
- Sitting: Say Allāhu akbar (الله أَكْبَر) and rise from Sujood while sitting on your knees. Place your hands flat on your knees. Sit on the flat of your left foot, whilst keeping the toes of the right foot planted and pointing forward. Women should lean on their left hip pointing the toes of both feet to the right side. Recite “Rabighfirlee, Rabbighfirlee” (ربي إغفرلي) which means “O Allah, forgive me.”
- Sujood (prostration): Repeat step 10 again.
- Stand up: Say Allāhu akbar (الله أَكْبَر) and stand up completely, repeating steps 5-11. (you’ve just completed one rak’ah – unit)
- Tashahhud: While sitting, recite the first part of the Tashahud:
- “At-tahiyyatu lillah, was-salawaatu wat-tayyibaat. As-salaamu ’alayka ayyuhan-Nabiyyu wa rahmat-Ullahi wa barakaatu. As-salaamu ’alayna, wa ’alaa ‘ibaadi-llahis saaliheen” (التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ) which means “All compliments are for Allah, and prayers and goodness. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be upon us and on the righteous servants of Allah.”
- Keeping your hands resting on your knees, raise your right index finger and recite, “Ashhadu an laa ilaaha ill-Allahu wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduHu wa Rasooluh.” (أشهدُ أنْ لا إلهَ إلاَّ اللهُ وأشهدُ أنَّ محمّداً رسولُ الله) which means “I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.” then lower your index finger.
- Durood: While sitting, recite:
- “Allahumma salli ’alaa Muhammadiw wa ’alaa aali Muhammadin, kamaa sallayta ’alaa Ibraheema wa ’alaa aali Ibraheema, innaKa Hameedum Majeed. Allahumma baarik ’alaa Muhammadiw wa ’alaa aali Muhammadin, kamaa baarakta ’alaa Ibraheema wa ‘alaa aali Ibraheema, innaKa Hameedum Majeed.” (ٱللَّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ ٱللَّٰهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ) which means “O Allah, send Your mercy upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, just as You sent mercy upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Truly You are Praiseworthy and Glorious. O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, just as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Truly You are Praiseworthy and Glorious.”
- Dua’a: Quietly recite some supplications, such as:
- “Rabbana aatina fid-dunya hasanataw wa fil-aakhirati hasantaw wa qina ‘adhaaban Naar” which means “O our Lord give us good in this world and good in the hereafter and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.”
- This is optional, but highly recommended.
- Salam: Complete your salah by turning your head over your right shoulder and say “Asalamu alaykum Warahmatullah” which means “Peace and the mercy of Allah be on you” turn your head over your left shoulder and repeat.
- If you are praying Fajr or any 2 unit salah (prayer), your prayer is now complete! If you are praying Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, or Isha, go to step 19.
- Stand up:
- If you are praying Maghrib, repeat steps 6-12 once, then skip to step 14.
- If you are praying Dhuhr, Asr, or Isha, repeat steps 6-13 twice, and continue until step 17.