How to pray your 5 daily prayers.
Salah, or the five daily prayers, is considered one of the most important acts of worship in Islam. It is the second pillar of Islam and is obligatory for all Muslims who have reached the age of puberty and are of sound mind.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to perform the five daily Islamic prayers:
1. Perform Wudu (ablution): Before you start praying, it is important to perform Wudu, which is the Islamic ritual washing of the hands, face, arms, head, and feet. This is done to purify oneself before standing in front of Allah. You can find a detailed guide on how to perform Wudu here.
2. Make the intention (Niyyah): Before starting the prayer, you should make the intention in your heart to perform the specific prayer that you are about to start. You can make this intention silently in your heart.
3. Stand facing the Qiblah: The Qiblah is the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca, which is the holiest site in Islam. Muslims pray facing this direction. You can use a compass or a Qiblah app on your phone to determine the direction.
4. Start with the Takbir: The Takbir is the declaration of the Oneness of Allah. You start the prayer by raising your hands to your ears and saying “Allahu Akbar” (Allah is the Greatest).
5. Recite Surah Al-Fatihah: This is the opening chapter of the Quran and is recited in every rak’ah (cycle) of the prayer.
6. Recite additional verses from the Quran: After reciting Surah Al-Fatihah, you can recite additional verses from the Quran or perform the prayer silently.
7. Bowing (Ruku’): You bow down from the standing position, placing your hands on your knees, and saying “Subhana Rabbiyal Adheem” (Glory be to my Lord, the Great).
8. Standing up from bowing: You stand back up from the bowing position, saying “Sami Allahu liman hamidah” (Allah hears those who praise Him).
9. Prostration (Sujud): You then prostrate yourself on the ground with your forehead, nose, hands, knees, and toes touching the ground. You say “Subhana Rabbiyal A’la” (Glory be to my Lord, the Most High).
10. Sitting between prostrations: After the first prostration, you sit up and recite “Rabbighfirlee” (My Lord, forgive me). You then perform the second prostration.
11. Ending the prayer: After completing the required number of rak’ahs for each prayer, you end the prayer by turning your head to the right and saying “Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah” (Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah) and then turning your head to the left and repeating the same phrase.
Here is a brief summary of the number of rak’ahs for each prayer:
- Fajr: 2 rak’ahs
- Dhuhr: 4 rak’ahs
- Asr: 4 rak’ahs
- Maghrib: 3 rak’ahs
- Isha: 4 rak’ahs
It is important to note that the times for each prayer may vary depending on your location and the season. It is recommended to consult a prayer timetable or Islamic app for the correct timings.
May Allah guide us all to perform our prayers with sincerity and devotion.
