I thought it may be good to help Muslims, new and old, by explaining the actions of prayer. I have previously covered some issues around washing and cleanliness: How to Pray Part 1: Cleanliness, How to Pray Part 2: Getting ready for Prayer, How to Pray Part 3: The Call to Prayer. I have included references to hadith in square brackets – the hadiths used are strong hadiths.
CLASSIFICATIONS OF PRAYER
There are basically three classifications of prayer. These are:
- FARD – This is an obligatory prayer. As a Muslim, you MUST perform this prayer each day. To leave off this prayer is a serious matter and a sin.
- SUNNAH – This is a voluntary prayer but is strongly recommended for you to perform – the choice is yours. There is no sin if you do not perform this prayer but you will miss out on some major benefits and rewards.
- NAWAFIL – also known as Nafl, this is another voluntary prayer but there is no strong recommendation for you perform this. Again, the choice is yours if you do and there is no harm if you do not perform this prayer. There are always benefits and rewards to performing these prayers.
Not only does performing sunnah and nawafil prayers earn you more blessings and rewards but they make up for any deficiencies in your fard prayer.
UNITS OF PRAYER
Each prayer is made up of units, called rakaat. Below are the number of rakaats (units) for each FARD (obligatory) and sunnah (voluntary and recommended) prayer and the order in which they are prayed:
- Fajr – 2 rakaats sunnah, then 2 rakaats fard
- Dhuhr – 2 or 4 rakaats sunnah, then 4 fard, then 2 rakaats sunnah
- Asr – 2 or 4 rakaats sunnah, then 4 rakaats fard
- Maghrib – 3 rakaats fard, then 2 rakaats sunnah
- Isha – 4 rakaats fard, then 4 rakaats sunnah
Nawafil prayers (voluntary prayers) are always prayed as 2 rakaats. You can pray as many Nawafil prayers as you like but not during the forbidden times for prayer (see How to Pray Part 2).
THE CALL TO PRAYER
Make the call to prayer (Adhaan) and then, before praying, also make the Iqaamah. You can find details of this in my post: The Call to Prayer
HAVE A SUTRA
A sutra is any object which is used as a marker and is placed in front of the praying person [Bukhari, Muslim, Ahmad and others]. It marks the space in which no one should pass while he is praying. Basically, you would place a sutra a short space ahead of where your head would be if you were to prostrate. In a masjid, the row of people in front of you tends to be your sutra. If you are in the front row, your sutra could be the wall in front of you or even the edge of the prayer mat you are using (a lot of Masjids have carpeting with patterns in rows, so your sutra would be the front edge of the pattern of your row). You can use a pillar as a sutra. You can also use anything like a bag or something that people can easily see is being used as your sutra.
FACE THE KAABA
All prayers are performed by facing in the direction of the Kaaba – also known as facing the Qibla (as narrated by Bukhari and Muslim). Use a Islamic compass – especially useful if you are on a journey and need to pray whilst on route. If you do not know which direction the Qibla is, it is sufficient to make intention to face Qibla before you pray.
MAKE INTENTION
You should make intention for the prayer that you are about to perform (eg. I intend to pray the four rakats of Fajr, Fard). You do not need to say this out loud but can say this in your heart.
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PERFORMING PRAYER
I will describe the prayer below as though you were praying on your own. When you are praying in congregation (with others), then there are a couple of things which are different and I will explain this in How to Pray Part 5: Praying in Congregation.
NOTE: When you are reciting anything in prayer, you do all of it quietly except for the following:
- In the first and second rakaats, when reciting Surah Al-Fatiha, “Ameen” and another Surah, you say it out loud if you are performing either Fajr, Maghrib or Isha prayers. If you are performing Dhuhr or Asr prayers, everything is said quietly, in all rakaats.
a) The first rakaat
1. You start, as described above, by standing and facing Qibla. You should look down at the point where your head will prostrate [Baihaqi and Haakim] and you should look at this spot throughout the prayer. Your legs are shoulder-length apart. (NOTE: If you are praying in congregation, standing in a row with other men, your feet should be touching the edges of the feet of the Muslim either side of you.)
2. Raise your hands to your shoulders and say “Allahu Akbar” [Muslim]. Your prayer has begun and you should try not to respond to distractions or people calling you, unless it is an emergency [Ahmad, Haakim, Tirmidhi].
3. Lower your hands and place them on your chest, your right hand over your left hand. [Sahih Muslim, Ahmad and Abu Dawood]
4. Begin by reciting a dua – This is only done in the first rakaat and not any other rakaat. A recommended dua is as follows:
- “Subhana kalla humma wa bihamdika, wa tabarakasmuka, wa ta’ala jadduka, wa la ilaaha ghayruk” [Abu Dawood and Haakim]
5. Then seek refuge with Allah by saying the following- This is only done in the first rakaat and not any other rakaat:
- “Aa-oodhobillahi minash-shaytaan nir-rajeem” [Abu Dawood, Haakim, Ibn Maajah]
6. Then say, “Bismillah-hir Rahman-nir Raheem” [Bukhari, Muslim, Ahmad]
7. Then recite Surah Al-Fatiha [Bukhari and Muslim]
8. Then say “Ameen” [Bukhari]
9. Then recite any other surah of the Qur’an. [Bukhari and Muslim]
10, Having finished the surah, pause for a moment [Abu Dawood and Haakim]. Then raise your hands to your shoulders and say “Allahu Akbar” [Bukhari and Muslim]
11. Then bend down and bow [Bukhari and Muslim]. This bowing is called Rukoo. You grip your knees with your hands [Bukhari and Abu Dawood] and keep your back straight and level and horizontal [Bukhari]. Do not drop your head nor raise it [Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawood].
12. Whilst in Rukoo, you say the following three times [Abu Dawood, Ahmad, Tabaraani, Baihaqi]:
- “Subhana rabiyall-adheem wa bihamdihi”
13. Then you stand up straight again. As you move back to a standing position, you say the following [Bukhari and Muslim]:
- “Sami-Allah huliman hamida”
14. As you move back into a standing position, you also raise your hands to your shoulders [Bukhari and Muslim]:
15. When you are standing up straight, you say the following [Bukhari and Ahmad]:
16. Then you say “Allahu Akbar” and prostrate on the floor [Bukhari and Muslim]. This is called sajda or being in sujood.
- When you go down, you place your hands down before your knees [Abu Dawood, Haakim, Daaraqutni]. Your hands are place either side of your head, near to your ears and shoulders [Abu Dawood]. Your fingers should be closed and not spread out and pointing in the direction of Qibla [Baihaqi and Haakim].
- Your nose and forehead should be firmly on the ground [Abu Dawood and Tirmidhi].
- Your knees and toes are also firmly on the ground [Baihaqi]. Your toes should be pointing towards Qibla [Bukhari and Abu Dawood].
- Your heels should be together [Tahaawi and Haakim].
- Your forearms should not be on the floor but raised slightly away from the floor [Bukhari and Abu Dawood]. Your forearms should also be away from your sides [Bukhari and Muslim].
17. Whilst in sujood, say the following three times [Abu Dawood, Ahmad and Baihaqi]:
- “Subhana Rabi-yall ‘aala wa bihamdihi”
- Whilst in sajda, you can make as many duas as you want and ask Allah for things.
18. Then say “Allahu Akbar” and rise from sujood and go into an upright sitting position [Bukhari and Muslim]. In this position, you should sit with your left foot down [Ahmad, Abu Dawod, Bukhari and Baihaqi] but your right foot upright, with your toes pointing towards Qibla [Muslim and Nasaai]. You are still looking at the spot where your head has prostrated. Your back is straight. The palms of your hands are on your knees.
19. Whilst sitting, you recite the following [Ibn Maajah]:
- “Rabbi, ghfer lee, ghfer lee”
20. Then you say “Allahu Akbar” and go into sujood for a second time [Bukhari and Muslim].
21. Whilst in sujood, say the following three times [Abu Dawood, Ahmad and Baihaqi]:
- “Subhana Rabi-yall ‘aala wa bihamdihi”
- Whilst in sajda, you can make as many duas as you want and ask Allah for things.
22. Then you say “Allahu Akbar” and return to a sitting position for a moment [Bukhari and Abu Dawood].
23. Then you return to a standing position. To stand up, you get up by clenching your fists and supporting yourself on them on the ground, before standing up [Bukhari and Baihaqi]. You stand with your hands on your chest and your right hand over your left hand. This is the end of the first rakaat (one unit of prayer is now complete).
b) the second rakaat
The second rakaat is the same as the first rakaat except for a few differences.
24. Start the second rakaat by reciting Surah Al-Fatiha [Muslim]. After this, say “Ameen” and then recite any other Surah of the Qur’an.
25, Having finished the surah, pause for a moment [Abu Dawood and Haakim]. Then raise your hands to your shoulders and say “Allahu Akbar” [Bukhari and Muslim]
26. Then bend down and bow [Bukhari and Muslim]. This bowing is called Rukoo. You grip your knees with your hands [Bukhari and Abu Dawood] and keep your back straight and level and horizontal [Bukhari]. Do not drop your head nor raise it [Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawood].
27. Whilst in Rukoo, you say the following three times [Abu Dawood, Ahmad, Tabaraani, Baihaqi]:
- “Subhana rabiyall-adheem wa bihamdihi”
28. Then you stand up straight again. As you move back to a standing position, you say the following [Bukhari and Muslim]:
- “Sami-Allah huliman hamida”
29. As you move back into a standing position, you also raise your hands to your shoulders [Bukhari and Muslim]:
30. When you are standing up straight, you say the following [Bukhari and Ahmad]:
31. Then you say “Allahu Akbar” and prostrate on the floor [Bukhari and Muslim]. This is called sajda or being in sujood.
- When you go down, you place your hands down before your knees [Abu Dawood, Haakim, Daaraqutni]. Your hands are place either side of your head, near to your ears and shoulders [Abu Dawood]. Your fingers should be closed and not spread out and pointing in the direction of Qibla [Baihaqi and Haakim].
- Your nose and forehead should be firmly on the ground [Abu Dawood and Tirmidhi].
- Your knees and toes are also firmly on the ground [Baihaqi]. Your toes should be pointing towards Qibla [Bukhari and Abu Dawood].
- Your heels should be together [Tahaawi and Haakim].
- Your forearms should not be on the floor but raised slightly away from the floor [Bukhari and Abu Dawood]. Your forearms should also be away from your sides [Bukhari and Muslim].
32. Whilst in sujood, say the following three times [Abu Dawood, Ahmad and Baihaqi]:
- “Subhana Rabi-yall ‘aala wa bihamdihi”
- Whilst in sajda, you can make as many duas as you want and ask Allah for things.
33. Then say “Allahu Akbar” and rise from sujood and go into an upright sitting position [Bukhari and Muslim]. In this position, you should sit with your left foot down [Ahmad, Abu Dawod, Bukhari and Baihaqi] but your right foot upright, with your toes pointing towards Qibla [Muslim and Nasaai]. You are still looking at the spot where your head has prostrated. Your back is straight. The palms of your hands are on your knees.
34. Whilst sitting, you recite the following [Ibn Maajah]:
- “Rabbi, ghfer lee, ghfer lee”
35. Then you say “Allahu Akbar” and go into sujood for a second time [Bukhari and Muslim].
36. Whilst in sujood, say the following three times [Abu Dawood, Ahmad and Baihaqi]:
- “Subhana Rabi-yall ‘aala wa bihamdihi”
- Whilst in sajda, you can make as many duas as you want and ask Allah for things.
37. Then you say “Allahu Akbar” and return to a sitting position [Bukhari and Abu Dawood].
38. Whilst sitting, your raise the index finger on your right hand. pointing it forwards [Muslim].
39. Whilst sitting and pointing your finger, you recite the following, which is called Tashahhud [Bukhari and Muslim]:
- “At-tahhyyatu lillahi was-salawatu wattayyibbatu. As-salaamu ‘alayka ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa rahma tullahi wa barakatuhu. As-salaamu ‘alayna wa ‘ala ‘ibadil-la his-salihin. Ash-hadu al la ilaha illal-lahu wa ash0hadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasooluhu.”
40. You now lower your finger down.
41. What happens next is dependent upon whether you are performing a prayer that has 2 rakaats, 3 rakaats or 4 rakaats.
- If you are performing a prayer that only has 2 rakaats, go on to step 42.
- If you are performing a prayer that has 3 rakaats, you say “Allahu Akbar” [Bukhari and Muslim] and stand up, with your hands on your chest – your right hand on your left hand. You now perform one more rakaat. So repeat steps 24 to 40. Then you go onto step 42.
- If you are performing a prayer that has 4 rakaats, you need to perform 2 more rakaats. So you say “Allahu Akbar” [Bukhari and Muslim] and stand up, with your hands on your chest – your right hand on your left hand. You now repeat another two rakaats (from step 6 to 40) and then go on to step 42.
42. You are sitting and have put your finger down after reading the Tashahhud. You now invoke the Blessings of Allah on the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) by reading the following [Bukhari and Muslim]:
- “Allahumma salli ‘alaa Muhammadin wa ‘alaa aali Muhammadin kamaa sallayta ‘alaa Ibraheema wa ‘alaa aali Ibraheema, innaka Hameedum Majeed. Allahumma baarik ‘alaa Muhammadin wa ‘alaa aali Muhammadin kamaa baarakta ‘alaa Ibraheema wa ‘alaa aali Ibraheema, innaka Hameedum Majeed.”
43. After this, you can recite any supplication/duas you like.
44. When you have finished reciting your duas, you now end the prayer with Tasleem [Abu Dawood, Nasaai, Tirmidhi]. This is done by first turning your head to your right side and saying the following:
- “Asalaaamu alaikum wa rahmatulah”
45. Now turn your face to your left side and say the following:
- “Asalaaamu alaikum wa rahmatulah”
Your prayer is now complete.
The above is an explanation of the basics of prayer. There are additional duas and recitations that you can recite at different stages of the prayer. I won’t go into these additional things now, to avoid confusion for people.
If there is anything in the explanation of prayer above, which is confusing, please let me know by leaving a comment.
Move on to “How to Pray Part 5: Praying in Congregation”
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