Learning To Pray as A New Muslim

5 mins read

Outline

In this guideline you will learn:

✅ What prayer means in Islam

✅ Step by step guide to do Salah

Introduction

The teachings of Islam are based on five pillars: Faith, Worship, Charity, Fasting, and Pilgrimage. Prayers are major parts of this faith and how we worship Allah. Praying is a central part of our religion. It is a time to contemplate the meaning of life, our purpose on earth, and our relationship with God. During these times, we pray five times every day to keep Allah and our relationship with Him in our minds. By praying five times daily, we strengthen our relationship with Allah. It also helps us live healthier lives by providing structure and balance in our routines.

تۡلُ مَاۤ  اُوۡحِیَ  اِلَیۡکَ مِنَ الۡکِتٰبِ وَ اَقِمِ الصَّلٰوۃَ ؕ اِنَّ الصَّلٰوۃَ  تَنۡہٰی عَنِ الۡفَحۡشَآءِ  وَ الۡمُنۡکَرِ ؕ وَ لَذِکۡرُ اللّٰہِ اَکۡبَرُ ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ یَعۡلَمُ مَا تَصۡنَعُوۡنَ

Recite, [O Muhammad], what has been revealed to you of the Book and establish prayer. Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing, and the remembrance of Allah is greater. And Allah knows that which you do.

(Qur'an - Chapter 29, Verse 45)

New Muslims are often searching for the right way to pray. They want to find guidance in their new faith and out of respect for Allah. However, it can be challenging to find the correct information when you're just getting started. This guide will teach you everything you need to know about prayer in Islam, how to begin, when to pray, what to say and more. It's an essential part of your spiritual life that you should enjoy! So, take a minute or two in this article to learn all about prayer in Islam!

What Does Prayer Mean In Islam?

You should pray five times a day, at sunrise, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and before you go to sleep. Prayer in Islam is not just about five obligatory prayers. It's about the entire spiritual journey of the Muslim. Prayer in Islam is about strengthening one's connection to Allah by expressing oneself to Him. It's the act of turning towards Allah in submission.

Prayer is also about attaining peace through the remembrance of Allah. When you pray, you can focus on Allah and everything else around you slips away.

Hadith about prayer

حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ حَمْزَةَ ، قَالَ : حَدَّثَنِي ابْنُ أَبِي حَازِمٍ ، وَالدَّرَاوَرْدِيُّ ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ، يَقُولُ :   أَرَأَيْتُمْ لَوْ أَنَّ نَهَرًا بِبَابِ أَحَدِكُمْ يَغْتَسِلُ فِيهِ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ خَمْسًا مَا تَقُولُ ذَلِكَ يُبْقِي مِنْ دَرَنِهِ ، قَالُوا : لَا يُبْقِي مِنْ دَرَنِهِ شَيْئًا ، قَالَ : فَذَلِكَ مِثْلُ الصَّلَوَاتِ الْخَمْسِ ، يَمْحُو اللَّهُ بِهِ الْخَطَايَا  

Narrated Abu Huraira:

“I heard Allah's Apostle saying, if there was a river at the door of anyone of you and he took a bath in it five times a day would you notice any dirt on him? They said, not a trace of dirt would be left. The Prophet added: that is the example of the five prayers with which Allah blots out evil deeds."

(Sahih Bukhari#528)

Prayer: Step By Step Guide

Performing Salah requires mental, physical, and spiritual preparation. Wudu’ is an important part of this preparation. Before offering prayer, every Muslim must undergo this purification process. Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say:

لا تقبل الصلاة بدون وضوء.

“No Salah is accepted without Wudu (purification)"

(Sahih Muslim, Book 2, Hadith 2)

Below are the ways to perform Wudu':

• Make your intention to perform Wudu'.
• Say "Bismillah".
• Wash your hands three times.
• Rinse your mouth three times.
• Sniff water into your nostrils three times.
• Wash your face three times.
• Wash your arms three times.
• Wipe your head once.
• Clean your ears once.
• Wash your feet three times.
• Recite the Shahada and the Du'a.

Prophet Muhammad SAW always said shahada after completing the Wudu':

أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ

Ash-hadu 'an laa 'ilaaha 'illallaahu wahdahu laa shareeka lahu wa 'ash-hadu 'anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa Rasoo

I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah alone, who has no partner; and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and His Messenger.

(Muslim 1/209)

Continue by saying:

اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْنِي مِنَ التَّوَّابِينَ وَاجْعَلْنِي مِنَ الْمُتَطَهِّرِين

Allaahummaj'alnee minat-tawwaabeena waj'alnee minal-mutatahhireen

O Allah, make me among those who turn to You in repentance, and make me among those who are purified.

(At-Tirmidhi 1/78)

How to offer prayer?

1.    After Wudu’, follow these important steps to offer your prayer according to the Sunnah: Set your intention to Salah (Niyyah). The Prophet SAW said:

"All actions are based on intentions and everyone will be rewarded according to their intentions."

(Al Bukhari, 1)

2.    Qiyam

When the Prophet SAW stood for prayer, he would face the Ka’bah, in both obligatory and voluntary prayers, and he ordered:

“When you stand for prayer, perform your Wudu’ perfectly, then face the Qiblah and say Takbir."

(Al Bukhari, 6251; and Muslim, 886)

3.    Takbiratul ul-ihram

To look at the Sujud area and recite “Allahu Akbar."

4.    After saying “Allahu Akbar”, lower your hands and place them below your chest and  over your naval. Make sure your right hand is positioned over your left.

5.    Du’a Iftitah

Make sure you keep your eyes focused on the ground and say this Du’a Iftitah:

اللهُ اَكْبَرُ كَبِيْرًا

وَالْحَمْدُ لِلهِ كَثِيْرًا

وَسُبْحَانَ اللهِ بُكْرَةً وَاَصِيْلًا

وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِيْ فَطَرَالسَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ

حَنِيْفًا مُسْلِمًا وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِيْنَ

إِنَّ صَلَاتِيْ وَنُسُكِيْ وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِيْ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ 

لاَ شَرِيْكَ لَهُ وَبِذَلِكَ اُمِرْتُ وَأنَا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِيْنَ

Allaahu Akbar Kabiraa

Walhamdulillāhi Kathīrā

Wa Subhānallāhi Bukratan Wa aṣīlā

Wajjahtu Wajhi lil-lazi Fataras-Samawāti wal-Ardh

Hanīfan-Musliman Wamā ana minal-musyrikīn

Inna ṣalātī, wanusukī wamahyayā, wamamātī Lillāhi rabbil-‘ālamīn

Lā Syarīka lahu Wa Bidzālika Umirtu Wa Anā Minal Muslimīn

Allah the almighty, the greatest all praises be upon Him. Allah the most exalted of them all, day and night. I stand before the one who created the skies and the lands. I sincerely submit to Allah and I am certainly not among those who associate Allah with other beings. Indeed my solat, my good deeds, my life and my death, are all for Allah the lord of all the worlds. And I have been ordered as such, and I am from those who embrace Islam.

6.    Recite Ta'awwudh

أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ

A'uzubilllahi Minash-shaytanir-Rajim

I seek refuge with Allah from the accursed Shaytaan

7.    To recite Basmalah

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيم

Bi-smi llāhi r-raḥmāni r-raḥīmi

In the name of God, the most gracious, the most merciful

8.    Recite Surah Fatihah (The first chapter of the Qur’an)

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ (١) الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ (٢) الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ (٣) مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ (٤) إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ (٥) اهدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ (٦) صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ الضَّالِّينَ(٧) 

1. Bismillahi Rahmani Rahim
2. Alhamdu lillaahi Rabbil 'aalameen 
3. Ar-Rahmaanir-Raheem 
4. Maaliki Yawmid-Deen
5. lyyaaka na'budu wa lyyaaka nasta'een 
6. Indinas-Siraatal-Mustaqeem
7. Siraatal-lazeena an’amta ‘alaihim ghayril maghdoobi ‘alaihimwa ladaalleen

1. In the name of Allah , the entirely merciful, the especially merciful
2. (All) praise is (due) to Allah, Lord of the worlds
3. The entirely merciful, the especially merciful
4. Sovereign of the day of recompense
5. It is you we worship and you we ask for help
6. Guide us to the straight path
7. The path of those upon whom you have bestowed favor, not of those who have earned (your) anger or who of those who are astray

9.    You can recite any other Qur'an chapter after you have recited Surah Fatihah. However, you must at least recite Surah Fatihah every Raka'at of prayer.

10.    Bow down saying “Allahu Akbar.” This is called Ruku. Read this sentence 3 times.

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّي الْعَظِيمِ

Subhana Rabbiyal Adhim

Glory be to my lord almighty

11.    Return to standing up again and say:

Allah listens to the one who praises Him

رَبَّنَا وَلَك الْحَمْدُ

Robbanaa wa lakal hamd

Our lord, and to You be all praise

12.    Then say “Allahu Akbar” and get down on your knees to perform prostration. This is called Sujud. In Sujud, you should recite this 3 times:

How perfect is my lord, the most High

13.    Rise up from Sujud saying “Allahu Akbar” and sit for a moment. Du’a in between two Sujud:

رَبِّي اغْفِرْ لِي وَارْحَمْنِي وَاجْبُرْنِي وَارْفَعْنِي وَارْزُقْنِي وَاهْدِنِي وَعَافِنِي وَاعْفُ عَنِّي

Robbighfirlii, warhamnii, wajburnii, warfa'nii, warzuqnii, wahdinii, wa 'aafinii, wa'fuannii

O Allah! Forgive me, have mercy on me, rectify me, raise my rank, give me sustenance, guide me, also give me health and forgive me for my sins

14.    Then again go for sajadah. Read three times:

How perfect is my lord, the most High

15.    Getting up from Sujud.

While getting up, recite “Allahu Akbar” “Allah is the Greatest” (Al Bukhari, 825). Now you have completed all steps of the first Rakat.

16.    The 2nd Raka’ah

Repeat the next Raka’ah in the same manner:

        A.    Recite Al-Fatihah

        B.    Recite a Surah

        C.    Make Ruku'

        D.    Rise for I'tidal

        E.    Make Sujud

        F.    Sit in between 2 Sujud

        G.   Make Sujud

17.    You should perform the Tashahhud after every two Raka’ah:

التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْك أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إلَهَ إلَّا اللَّهُ ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ

Attahiyyatu lillaahi wassalawatu, wattayyibaatu, 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 wa Rasooluhu. Allahumma salli 'alaa Muhammad

All compliments, prayers and pure words are due to Allah, Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, Peace be upon us, and on the righteous slaves of Allah, I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah, And I bear witness that Muhammad is messenger, O Allah, send prayers upon Muhammad

18.    The following part of the Tashahhud will be added to the prayer if this is the last Raka’ah.

التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْك أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إلَهَ إلَّا اللَّهُ ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ

 وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إبْرَاهِيمَ. وَبَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى إبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إبْرَاهِيمَ فِي الْعَالَمِينَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ

Attahiyyatu lillaahi wassalawatu, wattayyibaatu, 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 wa Rasooluhu. Allahumma salli 'alaa Muhammad

Wa 'alaa 'aali Muhammadin, kamaa sallayta 'alaa 'Ibraaheema wa 'alaa 'aali 'Ibraaheema. Wa baarik 'alaa Muhammadin wa 'alaa 'aali Muhammadin, kamaa baarakta 'alaa 'Ibraaheema wa 'alaa 'aali 'Ibraaheema, fil aalamiina 'innaka Hameedun Majeed

All compliments, prayers and pure words are due to Allah, Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, Peace be upon us, and on the righteous slaves of Allah, I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah, And I bear witness that Muhammad is messenger, O Allah, send prayers upon Muhammad

And upon the family (or followers) of Muhammad, Just as You sent prayers upon Ibrahim, And the family (or followers) of Ibrahim, O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family (or followers) of Muhammad, as You blessed Ibrahim and the family (or followers) of IbrahimVerily, You are full Praise and Majesty

19.    Dua after the final Tashahhud and before ending the prayer.

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ وَمِنْ عَذَابِ جَهَنَّمَ وَمِنْ فِتْنَةِ الْمَحْياَ وَالْمَمَاتِ، وَمِنْ شَرِّ فِتْنَةِ الْمَسِيحِ الدَّجَّالِ

Allahumma inni ‘a'udhu bika min ‘adhab al-qabri, wa 'adhabi Jahannam,  wa min fitnat il-mahya wa’l-mamat wa min sharri fitnat il-masih id-dajjal

(O Allah, I seek refuge with You from the punishment of the grave, the punishment of Hellfire, and from the trials of life and death and from the worst of the turmoil of the Dajjal (antichrist).

(Sahih Muslim, 588)

20.    As you recite the second part of the Tashahhud, you will say the Tasleem. As you look to your right, you should say:

‏اَلسَلامُ عَلَيْكُم وَرَحْمَةُ اَللهِ

Assalamualaikum Warahmatullah

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings

21.    As you look to your left, you should again say:

اَلسَلامُ عَلَيْكُم وَرَحْمَةُ اَللهِ

Assalamualaikum Warahmatullah

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings

Conclusion

Salah is the most important matter that needs to be explained directly to every Muslim, verbally and practically. It can be difficult to find the right information when you're just getting started. Too much information out there and it can be overwhelming for new Muslims.