Pray as you saw me pray

STEP 1: Declaring intention: The person intending to offer prayer must declare his intention to do so. The person should not say the intention in words as this contradicts the sunnah of Allah’s Apostle (PBUH)

STEP 2 –Raise both the hands upto the level of the shoulder, palm open, as “ Allahu Akbar ” (Allah is the Greatest) is uttered. Invocation for the beginning of the prayer Allaahumma baa’id bainee wa baina khataayaaya kamaa baa’adta bainal-mashriqi wak-maghribi, Allahumma naqqinee min khataa-yaaya kamaa yunaqqath-thawbul- abyadhu minad-danasi, Allaahm-maghsilnee min khataayaaya, bith-thalji wal-maa’i wal- barad. Oh allah, sepearte me from my sins as You have seperated The East from the West. Oh Allah, cleanse me of my transgressions as the white garment is cleansed of stains. Oh Allah, wash away my sins with ice and water and frost.

STEP 3 : Qiyam (standing) : Place right hand over the back of the left hand along the wrist and the forearm over the chest and look down at the place of prostration. Then Recite first chapter of the Qur’an and a short chapter or few verses should be recited from the Holy Qur’an.

Surah Al Fatiha Surah Al Fatiha بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيم In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيم In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ All the praises and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists). All the praises and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists). الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ The Only Owner (and the Only Ruling Judge) of the Day of Recompense (i.e. the Day of Resurrection) The Only Owner (and the Only Ruling Judge) of the Day of Recompense (i.e. the Day of Resurrection) إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything). You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything). اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ Guide us to the Straight Way. Guide us to the Straight Way. صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ The Way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace, not (the way) of those who earned Your Anger (i.e. those who knew the Truth, but did not follow it) nor of those who went astray (i.e. those who did not follow the Truth out of ignorance and error)., The Way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace, not (the way) of those who earned Your Anger (i.e. those who knew the Truth, but did not follow it) nor of those who went astray (i.e. those who did not follow the Truth out of ignorance and error).,

قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم ): "He is Allah, (the) One. اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ "Allah-us-Samad ( السيد الذي يصمد إليه في الحاجات ) [Allah the Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need, (He neither eats nor drinks)]. لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ "He begets not, nor was He begotten. وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ "And there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him." Surah Al-Ikhlas

STEP 4: Ruku (Bowing) : Before bending at the waist, raise your hand and recite Allahu Akbar(Allah is the Greatest), then, bow with both hands tightly on knees, spreading fingers as if holding the knees with head at level with head at level with back & elbows outwards n recite Subhaana Rabbiyal –’Adheem (Glory to my Lord the Exalted (3 times)).

STEP 5: Qauma (Straight standing) : While rising from the bending position of ruku, raise your hands again to the level of the shoulders and recite Sami Allahu Li-man Hamidah (Allah hears whoever praises Him), Rabbanaa wa lakal Hamd, hamdan katheeran tayyiban mubaarakan feeh (Our Lord, praise is Yours, abundant, good and blessed praise). Then return to standing position, arms at side.

STEP 6 : Sajdah (Prostration) : While prostrating place hands on the ground before the knees. The following seven body parts should be in contact with the ground : forehead (along with the tip of nose), two palms(with fingers pointing in the direction of the Qibla), two knees and two toes of both feet. Don’t put your forearms on the ground (during prostration). Recite Allah Akbar while going down and then, Subhaana Rabbiyal –A’laa (Glory is to my Lord, the Most High(3 times)).

STEP 7 : Sitting between two prostration : Recite Takbir Allah Akbar(Allah is the Greatest) on arising from the prostration step 6 and assume the sitting Posture with right foot propped up (upright position) & direct the toes of right foot in direction of Qiblah and bend the left foot beneath himself and recite Rabbighfir lee Rabbigfir lee (My Lord forgive me. My Lord forgive me.) or Allaahum-maghfir lee, warhamnee, wahdinee, wajburnee, wa ‘aafinee, warzuqnee, warfa’nee.(O Allah forgive me, have mercy on me, guide me, support me, protect me, provide for me and elevate me.) *the duration of this sitting position should be approximately equal to the duration of the Sujud.

STEP 8 : Sajdah (prostration) : Repetition of step 6 exactly. Allahu Akbar must be said upon rising from second sujud & sit briefly on the left foot so that every part of the body gets back to its original position.

STEP 9: Stand for 2 nd rakah with both fists must be placed on the ground as done in kneading dough by saying Allahu Akbar (Allah is Greatest) and repeat from step 2 to step 8. For sitting in Tashahud in second rakah, sit in the same fashion as between the two sujuds. Place right hand on right thigh & knee (similarly left hand on left thigh & knee) without allowing the elbow to extend beyond the thigh or point outward in the direction of other person. Join the fingers of right hand making a fist with middle finger touching the tip of thumb n index finger pointed outwards in the direction of qiblah & move it up & down during entire session of sitting for Tashah-hud. Recite Tashah-hud & Salat-’ala-al-Nabi & get up for 3 rd Rakah. If you are just praying 2 rakahs than sit with the left hip touching the ground with both feet in position on the right side placing the left foot under the right shin n recite tasha-hud till the final Tashah-hud & end salah with Taslim.

Invocation for At-Tashahhud (sitting in prayer) At-tahiyyaatu lillaahi was-salaawaatu, wat tayyibaatu, assalaamu ‘alayka ‘ayyuhan-Nabiyyu wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuhu, assalaamu ‘alaynaa wa ‘alaa ‘ibaadillaahis-saaliheen. ‘Ash-hadu ‘an laa ‘ilaaha ‘illallaahu wa ‘ash-hadu ‘anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa Rasooluhu. (All greetings of humility are for Allah, and all prayers and goodness. Peace b upon you, O Prophet, and mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous slaves of Allah. I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and His Messenger.)

Reciting blessings on the Prophet after the Tashahhud (Salat- ’ala-al-Nabi) Allaahumma salli ‘alaa Muhammadin wa ‘alaa ‘aali Muhammadin, kamaa sallayta’alaa ‘Ibraaheema wa ‘alaa ‘aali ‘Ibraaheema, ‘innaka Hameedun Majeed. Allaahumma baarik ‘alaa Muhammadin wa ‘alaa ‘ali Muhammaddin, kamaa baarakta ‘alaa ‘Ibraaheema wa ‘alaa ‘aali ‘Ibraaheema, ‘innakaHameedun Majeed. (O Allah, bestow Your favour on Muhammad and on the family of Muhammad as You have bestowed Your favour on Ibrahim and on the family of Ibrahim, You are Praiseworthy,Most Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You have blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim, You are Praiseworthy, Most Glorious.

Invocation after the final Tashahhud and before ending the prayer Allaahumma ‘innee ‘a’oothu bika min ‘athaabil-qabri, wa ‘a’oothu bika min fitnatil maseehid-dajjaali, wa ‘a’oothu bika min fitnatil-mahya walmamaati. Allaahumma ‘innee ‘a’oothu bika minal-ma’thami walmaghrami. Allaahumma ‘innee dhalamtu nafsee dhulman katheeran, wa laa Yaghfiruth thunooba ‘illaa ‘Anta, faghfir lee maghfiratan min ‘indika Warhamnee ‘innaka ‘Antal Ghafoorur –Raheem. (O allah, I seek refuge in You from the punishment of the grave, and I seek refuge in you from the trial of the False Messiah, and I seek refuge in You from the trials of the life and death. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from sin and from debt. O Allah I have greatly wronged myself and no one forgive sins but You. So, grant me forgiveness and have mercy on me. Surely you are Forgiving, Merciful

STEP 10: End the prayer by saying As-salamu’alaikum wa rahmatul-lahi by turning face to the right & the left

STEP 11: Praying more than two rakahs, for 3 rd rakah stand with raising the hands to level of the shoulders saying Allahu Akbar n continue with step 3 to 8. Before standing for the 4 th rakah, it is recommended to sit for a moment on the left foot until each part of the body returns to its original position & get up by placing both fists on the ground as it is done when kneading dough as done previously. (While standing for 4 th Rakah, one should not raise his/her hand to level of shoulder.) Begin 4 th Rakah with Allahu Akbar & continue with step 3 to 15.