How to Pray Salah

What is Salah?

Salah (Prayer): Salah is the obligatory daily prayer performed five times a day hat was revealed in the Holy Qur’an and taught to us by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). It serves as a direct link between the individual and Allah, fostering spiritual connection, mindfulness, and discipline.

Salah vs Dua

  1. Salah (Prayer):
    • Definition: Salah refers to the ritual prayer performed by Muslims as one of the Five Pillars of Islam.
    • Structure: Salah is structured and consists of specific physical postures and recitations, including standing, bowing, prostrating, and reciting verses from the Quran. It is performed at specific times throughout the day and night.
    • Frequency: Muslims are obligated to perform five daily prayers (Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha) as a means of maintaining regular communication with Allah.
  2. Dua (Supplication):
    • Definition: Dua refers to the act of supplicating or making a personal prayer or request to Allah. It is a form of communication with Allah, seeking His guidance, mercy, forgiveness, and blessings.
    • Structure: Dua does not have a fixed structure, and it can be performed in any language. It is a conversation with Allah, where individuals can express their thoughts, concerns, and wishes in their own words.
    • Frequency: Dua can be made at any time and in any place. There are specific times, such as during the last third of the night and on Fridays, when supplications are said to be more likely accepted. However, Muslims are encouraged to make dua regularly in various situations.

What are the steps of Salah?

    1. Make the intention
    2. Have wudu.
    3. Face the Qibla
    4. Start the prayer by raising your hands to your ears and say ‘Allahu Akbar”
    5. Lower your hands and place them over your naval (men), chest (women). Your right hand should be placed over your left hand.
    6. Recite the opening chapter of the Qur’an, Surah Fatihah. Learn it here
      • Bismillaahir ar-Rahmani ar-Raheem
        Al hamdu lillaahi rabbil ‘alameen
        Ar-Rahmani ar-Raheem
        Maaliki yawmid deen
        Iyyaaka na’aboodu wa iyyaaka nasta’een
        Ihdeenas siraatal mustaqeem
        Siraatal ladheena an ‘amta’ alayhim
        Ghayril maghduubi’ alayhim waladawleen
      • After reciting Surah Fatihah, you can recite another chapter from the Qur’an.
    7. Bow down (ruku) and say “Allahu Akbar” with hands on your knees
      • In the position say Subhanna rabbeeyal adheem x3
    8. Return to standing up again saying Samee Allahu leeman hameeda
    9. Go down to prostration (sujud)
      • As you are moving into this position say Allahu Akbar.
      • And also make sure your forehead, nose, palms of both hands, knees, and both toes are touching the ground.
      • Say Subhanna rabbeeyal ‘alaa x3
    10. Rise up from sujud and sit for a moment
      • Say Allahu akbar as you rise from sujud and then sit on your left leg. Your left foot will rest on the floor while your right foot is upright. Place your hands on your knees.
    11. Return to the position of sujud
      • You will repeat step 9 again and perform a second sujud and say subhanna rabbeeyal ‘alaa three times again.
    12. Arise from the sujud to return to the standing position and say Allahu Akbar
    13. That was one full rakah! When you reach the end of the second rakah you will perform the tashahud, step 13.
    14. Perform the tashahud at the end of every two rakah
      • Instead of standing up after the two sujud, this time around you will sit on your legs and knees again. You will raise your right index finger and say:
      • At Tahiyyaatu lilaahi was Salawaatu wat tayibaatu
        Assalaamu ‘alaika ayyuhan nabiyyu wa rahmatu Allahi wa barakaatuh
        Assalaamu ‘alaynaa wa ‘alaa ‘ebaadillaahis saaliheen,
        Ash hadu allaa ilaha illa Allah Wa ash hadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhuu wa rasuuluh
    15. If this is the final rakah in the prayer then you will add this part to the tashahud:
      • Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala aali Muhammad
        Kamaa salayta ‘ala Ibraaheem wa ‘ala aali Ibrahim
        Innaka Hameedun Majeed
        Wa baarik ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala aali Muhammad
        Kamaa baarakta ‘ala Ibraaheem wa ‘ala aali Ibrahim
        Innaka Hameedun Majeed
    16. Final step, The ‘tasleem’: after reciting the second part of the tashahud, you will say the “tasleem.”
      • The tasleem is to look to your right and say: Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatu Allah
      • And then to look to the left and say it again: Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatu Allah

How Many Rak’ahs (units of prayer)?

Fard means compulsory or obligatory. There are five obligatory Prayers everyday: Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, and Isha.
It is sinful to not pray a Fard Prayer intentionally, but if it is missed through forgetfulness or due to unavoidable circumstances, then this mistake can be rectified by offering the missed Prayer as soon as one remembers, or whenever possible.

Fard PrayerRak’ahs
Fajr2
Dhuhr4
Asr4
Maghrib3
Isha4

What are Sunnah Prayers?

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) performed extra prayers voluntarily and never missed, in addition to Fard prayers.  These prayers are called Sunnah prayers. 

Sunnah PrayerRak’ahs
Fajr2 before Fajr fard
Dhuhr4 before Dhuhr prayer and 2 after
Maghrib2 after Maghrib fard
Isha2 after Isha fard

Special Prayers

Tahajjud

Tahajjud is a voluntary night prayer performed after the Isha prayer and before the Fajr prayer performed in the last third of the night.

Janazah (Funeral Prayer)

It is performed after the deceased has been shrouded and placed in a coffin but before burial, most likely at a Masjid.

Eid Prayers

Eid prayers are special congregational prayers performed on the days of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.

Istikhara (Seeking Guidance)

Istikhara is a prayer for seeking Allah’s guidance when making decisions or choices. It can be performed at any time.

Taraweeh

Performed after the Isha prayer during the nights of Ramadan. Taraweeh is a Sunnah prayer observed in congregation during the nights of Ramadan.

Sunnah Prayers

As seen in the table above, there are different extra prayers before and after the fard prayer. Sunnah prayers are non-mandatory prayers that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) practiced regularly and recommended to the Muslim community. While they are not obligatory like the five daily prayers (Fard), Sunnah prayers are highly encouraged.

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