Sunday, January 12, 2014

How To Pray for beginners ...

Face the Qiblah (toward Mecca), and make sure you’re in a clean area, now you are about to start one of the following prayers: 1st prayer (Subh), 2nd prayer (Dhuhr), 3rd (Asr), 4th (Maghrib), 5th (Ishaa).


Dua Al-Istiftah (Supplication of Starting) Recited only in the first Rakath
Transliteration: Subhana Kal-lah hum-ma wabi hamdika wata-bara kasmuka wata'ala jad-duka wala ilaha ghyruka.
 

Standing, you will start the prayer raising both hands up close to your ears and say "Allahu Akbar" (God is Most Great). (Look at the picture on the side).
prayer_files/image001.jpg
Then put one hand on the top of the other hand between your chest and upper stomach, and start reciting surat “al fatiha”, say “ameen” once you finish it, and then start reciting another small surat.
prayer_files/image002.jpg
Once you finish reciting raise your hands up to the ears, saying "Allahu Akbar." Bow (your hands on your knees, back straight, your face toward the ground, saying three times, "Subhana rabbiyal adheem" (Glory be to my Lord Almighty). This position is called (ruku’). See photo.
prayer_files/image003.jpg
Rise back to standing while saying "Sami’a Allahu liman hamidah, Rabbana wa lakal hamd" (God hears those who call upon Him; Our Lord, praise be to You).
prayer_files/image004.jpg
Raise hands up, saying "Allahu Akbar" then descend to the ground (see photo), while your face on the ground say three times "Subhana Rabbiyal A'ala" (Glory be to my Lord, the Most High). This position is called “sujud”
prayer_files/image005.jpg
Rise to a sitting position (see picture), saying "Allahu Akbar." -
Allah hum maghfirlee war-ham nee
prayer_files/image006.jpg
Then prostrate back on the ground (this is the second time you do it), while your face on the ground say three times "Subhana Rabbiyal A'ala"
prayer_files/image007.jpg


 This will conclude the first “rak’a”. Now to start the second “raka’a” you simply need to repeat steps from 2 to 8. Note that at the end of your second “rak’a” you will have to add step 9, which is:

 Rise to a sitting positition (see photo), remain sitting and recite the first part of the Tashahhud in Arabic:  "At-tahiy-yatu lil-lahi was sala-watu wat-tay yibatu
As-salamu 'alayka ay-yuhan-nabiy-yu
wa rahma tullahi wa bara-katuhu
As-salamu 'alayna wa'ala 'ibadil-la his-sali-heen
Ash hadu al-la ilaha il-lal lahu
wa ash hadu an-na Muhammadan
'ab-duhu wa rasuluh.


Note that while reciting “Ash-hadu-al-la ilaha illaAllahu …” one should move the index finger of the right hand in a small circle like you’re drawing a circle on the sand beach with your index while the hand is still on the thigh. Only the index should be moving, the rest of the fingers and hand don’t have to move. See photo:
     
                      prayer_files/image006.jpg   
If the prayer is to be longer than 2 “rak'as”, then add the same steps from 2 to 8 depending on how many “rak’as” you have to perfom, for example if you have to make 4 “rak’as” then you will have to add steps 2 to 8 two more times (which means 4 times in total). Then finally add the step number 9 again (basically after each two “rak’as” the step #9 is required).
Main prayers of the day:
 1st prayer (Subh) = 2 Rakats
 2nd prayer (Dhuhr) = 4 Rakats
 3rd prayer (Asr) = 4 Rakats
 4th prayer (Maghrib) = 3 Rakats
 5th prayer (Ishaa) = 4 Rakats
To end your prayer, while still sitting, turn your face to the right and say "Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah" (Peace be upon you and God's blessings), and turn to the left and say the same “Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah". And that’s how you finish your prayer, easy!
Example of how to pray the 3rd Prayer (Asr) which consist of 4 Rakats: Follow steps 1-8, then steps 2-9, then steps 2-8, then finally step 2-10.

Note:  There is a second half part of tashahhud which is recited in the final “rak’a” but if it can be learned later, you don’t have to do it if you’re still in your first days, it says “Allahumma salli ala Muhammad wa ala aali Muhammad kama salaita ala Ibraheem, wa barik ala Muhammad wa ala aali Muhammad kama barakta ala Ibraheem wa ala aali Ibraheem fel ‘alameena innaka hameedun majeed”, this will be added to step 9 before reaching step 10.



No comments:

Post a Comment