1. After you have performed your wudhu (ablution), you will then be pure enough to perform Salah. If you don't cleanse yourself, then your prayer will not be valid. It will just be a waste of time. Apart from cleansing your body, you must also ensure you are wearing clothes free of impurity (I.e., impurities from the body (sexual organs), alcohol, blood etc.). Also, there is a way you must dress while praying. For men, you must wear clothing that covers your body from your stomach down to and including your knees. It is also best that your shoulders are covered by whatever top you wear,
When all of the above are in place, you should stand upright and face the direction of the Ka'abah. This position is called the Qiyam, and the direction is called the Qiblah. You should ask around (from Muslims around if there are any, or you can find a mosque close-by and look at which direction it is pointed at. This will give you a general idea), also, there is this app for iOS that I use. The name is "Islamic Compass", you can search for it on the app store. And for those who don't use iOS, just google: "Islamic Compass for (insert your phone name and model here).
2. Ensure there is a space of three fingers spread wide apart between your legs (I.e., your legs should not be too wide apart).
3. Like I said in my other blog posts, you should then make niyyah. This is the intention to pray. Some people say that you should whisper it, but I don't think that is necessary, all you have to do is make the intention in your heart. It's still the same.
4. After you make your intention, raise your hands up to your ears (the tips of your thumbs should be near the bottom of your earlobe). After you raise your hand, say the Takbiratul Ihram: "Allahu Akbar" (Allah is the Greatest).
About the standing position while praying, you can stand whichever way you are comfortable. You can either place your right hand on your left hand and encircle your left hand with the thumb and little finger of your right hand (while the three fingers in the middle lay on your left hand), or you could just drop your hands by your side (whichever works for you, so long as you are not shy because of it). Whichever hand position you choose, you must look downward at the place where your forehead will touch the ground while you're prostrating (sujood).
5. You then recite:
سبحانك اللهم و بحمدك، وتبارك اسمك، و تعالى جدك، ولا إله غيرك
("Subhanaka allahumma wa bi hamdika wa tabara kasmuka wa ta'ala jadduka wa la ilaha ghairuka."
This means: “O Allah, how perfect You are and praise be to You. Blessed is Your name, and exalted is Your majesty. There is no god but You.” [Only recite this supplication, Subhanaka, at the beginning of the first Rak'ah])
Then recite: "A'udhu billahi minash shaitanir rajim." silently (“I seek shelter in Allah from the rejected Satan.”). This is known as the Ta'awwudh.
After the Ta'awwudh recite: "Bismillah Ir-rahman Ir-rahim." (“In the name of Allah, the most Gracious, the most Merciful). This is known as the Tasmiyah.
6. After the Tasmiyah, you recite Surah Al-Fatiha from the Qur'an. It is the first chapter in the Qur'an.
Surah Al-Fatiha:
"Al hamdu lil lahi rabbil 'alamin. Arrahmanir rahim. Maliki yawmiddin. Iyyaka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'in. Ihdinas siratal mustaqim. Siratal ladhina an'amta'alaihim, ghairil maghdubi'alaihim wa lad dhallin. (Amin)"
"All praises and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds, the most Gracious, the most Merciful; Master of the Day of Judgment. You alone we worship, from You alone we seek help. Guide us along the straight path - the path of those whom You favored, not of those who earned Your anger or went astray.”
You have to recite Surah Al-Fatiha in every cycle of the prayer (Raka'a) if you are praying alone. The imam usually recites loudly if you are praying in congregation, so you should not recite it with him. It is forbidden, even if you can't hear what he is saying.
7. After Surah Al-Fatiha, you recite any other chapter from the Qur'an. We'll take Surah An-Nas:
You Start With: "Bismillah Ir-rahman Ir-rahim"
Surah An-Nas: "Qul a'uzu birabbin naas, malikin naas, ilaahin naas, min sharril was waasil khan naas, al ladhi yuwas wisu fee sudoorin naas, minnal jinnati wan naas"
"Say: I seek refuge with the Lord and Cherisher of Mankind, The King (or Ruler) of Mankind, The Allah (or Judge) of Mankind, From the mischief of the Whisperer (of evil), who withdraws (after his whisper), (the same) who whispers to mankind, among Jinns and among Men."
8. After reciting the chapter (or three verses, or verse equal to three verses) from the Qur'an, say "Allahu akbar", then bow (Rukoo').
While you're bowing, you should ensure your body is parallel to the ground, and your hands should push your knee back so it is at a ninety-degree angle. You shiuld keep your eyes on the point of sujood and your head should be in line with your back. When you are in the bowing position, say: "subhana Rabbiyal Azeem" (How Perfect is my Lord, the Supreme) three times.
9. Stand up from the bowing position whilst saying: "Sami'Allahu liman hamidah" (Allah hears those who praise Him)' and then "Allahumma Rabbana Walakal Hamdu" (Our Lord, praise be to You).
10. After this, prostrate on the floor (sujood) whilst saying: "Allahu Akbar". You must touch the ground with your hands first before your knees do. Then you ensure your forehead and the tip of your nose touch the ground, and then You say: "subhana Rabbiyal A'la" (How Perfect is my Lord, the Highest) three times.
While in the bowing position, look down at your nose. Your hands must be away from your body (by your side and facing the Qiblah) and they must also touch the ground, and they should be by your ears (see step four). You should also sure that your toes are bent and they are facing the Qiblah.
11. After bowing, sit up whilst saying: "Allahu Akbar". Your knees should be bent under you and your hands should rest on your thighs. You should spread your left foot on its nape and sit upon it, but your right leg should be upright with the toes bent. Then you say: "Rabbighfir li" ("O my Lord! Forgive me." Then say "Allahu Akbar" and prostrate again. Recite "Subhana Rabbiyal A'al" three times again then stand up (raise your knees before your hands).
This completes one Rak'ah or cycle of Salah. All the other cycles you'll perform (depending on the prayer) will be performed in the exact same way, except that you will not recite Subhanaka at the beginning.
12. In the second cycle (after the two sujood's of the second cycle), you won't stand up, instead, you'll sit up again and form a fist with your right hand with your index finger sticking out. Your left hand should remain on your left thigh. Then you recite tashahud:
"At-Tahiyyatu lillahi “Greetings, prayers and
was- Salawatu wat-Tayyibatu. goodness belong to Allah.
As-Salamu ' alaika Peace be on you,
ayyuhannabiyyu O Prophet
wa rahmatullahi and the mercy of Allah
wa barakatuhu. and His blessings.
Assalamu 'alaina wa’ala Peace be on us and on
ibadil-Lahis -Salihin the righteous servants of Allah
ash hadu al-La ilaha I bear witness that
il-Lal lahu there is no god but Allah,
wa ash hadu anna and bear witness that
Muhammadan abduhu Muhammad is His servant
wa rasuluhu." and Messenger.”
Depending on the salat you are performing, you will either say "Allahu Akbar" and stand up and go over the cycles again (Dhuhr (four cycles), Asr (four cycles), Maghrib (three cycles) and Isha (four cycles), or as for the Fajr prayer (two cycles) you will remain seated after the tashahud and recite Assalatul-Ibrahimiyah.
(NOTE: This might be too cumbersome for you initially, so, I suggest you memorise the tashahud alone initially, then when you have memorised it well enough, you can proceed to memorise the Assalatul-Ibrahimiyah).
(Assalatul-Ibrahimiyah:
"Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammadin “O Allah, let Your mercy come upon Muhammad
Wa 'ala ali Muhammadin and the family of Muhammad
Kama sallaita 'ala Ibrahima as You let it come upon Ibrahim
wa 'ala ali Ibrahima and the family of Ibrahim
wa barik 'ala Muhammadin O Allah, bless Muhammad
wa 'ala ali Muhammadin and the family of Muhammad
Kama barakta ' ala Ibrahima as You blessed Ibrahim
Wa ' ala ali Ibrahima and the family of Ibrahim.
Fil a'lamina Innaka Truly You are
hamidun Majid." Praiseworthy and Glorious.”
After this say silently: "Allahumma inni a'udhu bika min adhabi jahanam wamin adhabil qabri wamin sharri fitnatil mahya wal mamat wamin sharri fitnatil masihid dajjaal. Rabbi-ghfir li waliwalidayya, rabbi-rhamhuma kama rabbayani saghira."
اللهم إني أعوذ بك من عذاب جهنم، و من عذاب القبر، و من فتنة المحيا و الممات، و من فتنة المسيح الدجال، رب اغفر لي و لوالدي رب ارحمهما كما ربياني صغيرا.
This means: “O Allah! I seek refuge in You from the torment of the Hellfire, from the torment of the grave, from the trials and afflictions of life and death, and from the deception of the False-Christ. O my Lord! Grant me and my parents forgiveness, and bestow Your mercy upon them, just as they brought zme up when I was small.”)
After the tashahud (and the Assalatul Ibrahimyah), turn your face to the right, saying: "Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah" (peace and the mercy of Allah be on you) and then turn your face to the left and repeat the same words. This completes the two-raka'ah Salah.
*In the four raka'ah Salah's, the imam won't recite Surah Al-Fatiha (if you're praying in congregation), so you'll have to recite it yourself silently. Silently enough for you to hear, but not loud enough for the person beside you to hear.
* After reading this, the best thing to do (and the easiest way to learn) is to go to a mosque (like I did) while they are praying, then stand in the distance and watch them. Or just go to the internet and download a video of someone praying (I'd really love to do a video for you, but I can't do that now). Anyways, all you have to do is continue to learn. Keep learning! But don't just learn alone, also put it into practice and gain experience on the various fields!
* ( and ) stand for things that are not entirely necessary when you're first starting off, but you should incorporate them as time goes by.
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