How to Perform a Prayer
How to perform a prayer:-
1-Niyah (intention), Make your intention known in your heart. Before initiating the prayer, it is important that you have the intention to pray.
2-Take a standing position facing The Qibla (the direction to Mecca), Raise your hands up to your ears while your palms face The Qibla and say Allahu Akbar, This translates to "Allah is the greatest”
3-Place your right hand over your left hand, place your hands on your chest, keep your eyes focused on the place you are standing.
Do not let your eyes wander.
-Recite Surat Al-Fatiha (this Surah is recited in each Rak'aa) and as much of The Quran as may be easy for you: -
Surah Al-Fatiha
Bismillaahir Rahmaanir Raheem
Alhamdu lillaahi Rabbil 'aalameen
Ar-Rahmaanir-Raheem
Maaliki Yawmid-Deen
Iyyaaka na'budu WA lyyaaka nasta'een
Ihdinas-Siraatal-Mustaqeem
Siraatal-lazeena an'amta 'alaihim
Ghayril-maghdoobi 'alaihim wa lad-daaalleen
4- Again, raise your hands up to your ears while your palms faces The Qibla and say Allahu Akbar, bend your body so that your back and neck are as straight as possible and level with the ground, place your palms on the knees, this position is called ruku.
While bowing, say, Subhanna Rabbiyal Adheem three times. This translates to, "Glorious is my Lord the most great."
5- Resume the standing position raising your hands up to your ears while your palms face The Qibla, while rising up recite Samiallahu liman Hamidah, this means "Allah hears those who praise Him".
6-Say Allahu Akbar and prostrate, place your forehead, knees and hands on the floor. This is the position called "sujud”, say Subhanna Rabbiyal A'laa (Glorious is my Lord, the most High) three times.
Your forearms should not be on the floor.
7-Rise from sujud while saying Allahu Akbar, and sit on your knees then say:
Allāhumma’ghfir lī, war’ḥamnī. wahdinī, wajburnī. wa `āfinī, warzuqnī, warfa`nī, which means: O Allah forgive me, have mercy on me, guide me, support me, protect me, provide for me, and elevate me. and this is to be said every time you sit between 2 prostration positions,
8-Return to sujud and say Subhanna Rabbiyal A'laa three times, now You have completed one rak'aa.
9-Say Allahu Akbar and stand up to repeat those steps to perform the second rak’aa.
10-After the second rak’aa in any prayer while in the sitting position you should recite The First Tashahud.
The First Tashahud:-
Attahiatu Lillah wattaybatu, Assalamu Alayka Ayoha Annabi warahmatullahi wabarakatu, Assalamu Alayna wa ala Ebadellah Assaleheen, Ashehadu Anla Elaha Ella Allah Wa Ashehadu Anna Muhammadan Rasulullah (All compliments, prayers and pure words are due to Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah. I bear witness that there is no god except Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is His Messenger).
11-If the prayer is a three or four rak’aa (unites) prayer, repeat the previous steps.
12-After finishing all the units (rak’aa) of your prayer, keep your sitting position as in step 10 and say The First Tashahud and follow it up with The Final Tashahud.
The Final Tashahud:-
Allaahumma salli ‘ala Muhammad, wa ‘ala aali Muhammad, kama salayta ‘ala Ibraaheem, wa ‘ala aali Ibraaheem, innaka hameedun majeed. WA baarik ‘ala Muhammad, wa ‘ala aali Muhammad, Kama baarakta ‘ala Ibraaheem, wa ‘ala aali Ibraaheem, innaka hameedun majeed (O Allah, exalt Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You exalted Ibraaheem and the family of Ibraaheem, You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You blessed Ibraaheem and the family of Ibraaheem, You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory).
13-Finally, finish your prayer by:
Turning your head to the right and saying, As-salamu alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
Turning your head to the left and saying, As-salamu alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
The prayers have ended.