How to Pray in Islam

Prayer (Salaat) is one of the five pillars of Islam and a fundamental act to perform correctly. It is believed that communication with Allah will bring life to the prayerful and bring them courage. It means Allah is talking to them. Whether you're just curious as to how Muslims pray or if you're looking to learn for yourself, move down

Ensure the area is clean and free of impurities

Ensure the area is clean and free of impurities. This includes your body, your clothes, and the place of prayer itself.
  • Perform Ablution if necessary. You must be ritually pure before you go about praying. If you're not, it's good to perform Wudu before you do. If since your last prayer you have urinated, defecated, passed gas, bled excessively, fallen asleep lying down, leaned against something, projectile vomited, or fainted, off to the bathroom you go.
  • Make sure all of your necessary parts are covered. The nakedness of a man is considered to be between the navel and the knees; for a women, her entire body except the face and palms.
  • If you are praying in a masjid (mosque), which is preferred, enter quietly--other fellow Muslims might still be praying and you don't want to disturb them. Stand in a free space away from the entrance/exit.
    • If you are unsure of the cleanliness of your area, spread a mat or cloth on the floor for good measure. This mat (or prayer rug) is very important to islamic culture.

Face the Qibla

Face the Qibla. This is the direction all Muslims face to turn in prayer toward Kabah.
  • The Holy Mosque in Mecca is the most revered place of worship for Muslims around the entire world. At the center of the mosque is the Ka'ba. All Muslims are required to face the Ka'ba five times every day when offering their prayers.

Pray at the proper time

Pray at the proper time. The five prayers of each day take place at very specific times. For each one, there is a brief period of time it can be performed, determined by the rising and falling of the sun. Each salah takes about 5 to 10 minutes from start to finish.[1]
  • The five prayers are Fajr, Zuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha. They are at dawn, immediately after noon, in the mid-afternoon, at sunset, and at night, respectively. They are not at the same time each day as they are timed by the sun, which changes path throughout the seasons.
  • These are the amount of rakat (rounds, more or less) for each of the 5 salah:
    • Fajr - i) First two rakat Sunnat Mokadda, ii) Two rakat Fard
    • Zuhr - i) Four rakat Sunnat Mokadda, ii) Four rakat Fard, iii) Two rakat Sunnat Mokadda, iv) Two rakat Nafl (Optional but spiritually beneficial)
    • Asr - i) Four rakat sunhat ghair mokadda (Optional but spiritually beneficial), ii) Four rakat Fard
    • Maghrib - i) Three rakat Fard, ii) Two rakat Sunnat Mokadda, iii) Two rakat nafl (Optional but spiritually beneficial)
    • Isha - i) Four rakat sunhat e Ghair Mokadda (Optional but spiritually beneficial), ii) Four rakat Fard, iii) Two Rakat Sunnat Mokadda, iv) Two rakat Nafil (Optional but spiritually beneficial), v) Three rakat Wajib, vi) Two rakat Nafil (Optional but spiritually beneficial)

Make your intention known in your heart

Make your intention known in your heart. Before initiating the salat, it is important that your intention be known and understood. Not necessarily aloud, but from within.
  • You may think about how many rakats you are going to do and for what purpose. Whatever it is, be sure you mean it.

Raise your hands up to your ears and say in a moderate tone "Allah - Akbar"

Raise your hands up to your ears and say in a moderate tone "Allah - Akbar (الله أَكْبَر)." This translates to, "Allah is the greatest." Do this while standing.

Place your right hand over your left hand on your navel and keep your eyes focused on the place you are standing

Place your right hand over your left hand on your navel and keep your eyes focused on the place you are standing. Do not let your eyes wander.
  • Recite Isteftah Dua (opening prayer):

    subhanakal-lahumma
    wabihamdika watabarakas-muka wataaaala
    judduka wala ilaha ghayruk.
    a’auodu billaahi minash-shaytaanir rajeem
    bis-millaahir rahmaanir raheem
  • Follow it with the opening chapter of the Qu'ran, the Surah Al- Fatiha (this Surah is recited in each Rak'ah):

    al-hamdu lillaahi
    rabbil’aalameen
    arrahmaanir raheem maaliki yawmideen
    iyyaaka na-budo wa-iyyaaka nasta’een
    ihdinassiraatalmustaqeem
    siraatalladheena an’amta alayhim
    ghayril maghduobi’alayhim
    waladduaaalleen
    ameen
    • You can also recite any other surah or any part of Qu'ran such as:

      Bis-millaahir rahmaanir raheem
      Qul huwal-lahu ahad alluhus-samad
      Lam yalid wa lam yulad
      Wa lam yakul-lahu kuhuwan ahad
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