How to pray

How to perform 2 rakat prayer

Below is the description on how to prefrom two rakats. To preform four rakats follow the steps until you have reached step 15, before reciting Salawat, say. "Allah u Akbar" and stand up and continue prayer from Faitha in step 2, for the third rakat. Complete all the steps.

Step 1

Make a sincere intention to perform the prayers purely for the sake of Allah. Say to yourself (in any language) that you intend to offer this Salat Fard or  Sunnat and the number of rakats (example- "I intend to offer Four rakats of Fard, Zuhr, Asr or Isha prayer for Allah"). This posture is called qiyam and it is assumed after having made the intention to pray. Raising both hands up to the ears (palms facing the Qiblah) "Allah u Akbar" ("Allah is the greatest") is said.

Step 2

Next this position is assumed by holding the left hand with the right hand on top and following prayers are recited:

 

1.Thana (or Sana)

"Subhanaka Allah humma wa bihamdika, wa tabaraka ismuka, wa ta'ala jadduka, wa la ilaha ghairuk"

 

"Praise and glory be to you O Allah. Blessed be Your Name, exalted be Your Majesty and Glory. There is no God but You"

 

2.Ta'awadh

"Audu bi Allah i mina ashaitan i errajeem"

 

"I seek Allah's shelter from Satan, the condemned"

 

3.Tasmiah

 "Bismillah i rrahman i erraheem"

 

 "In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful."

 

4.Al-Fatihah, and any short surah or a few verses from the

 

Holy Quran:

"Al humdo lil-lahi rab-bil al ala-meen. Arrahman i rraheem. Maliki yaum i eddeen. Iyyaka nabudu wa iyyaka nasta een. Ihdinas sirata almustaqeem. Siratal lazhina anamta alaihim, ghairil maghdubi alaihim, wa la adhdhaal leen. (Aameen)"

 

"Praise be to Allah, The Cherisher and Sustainer of the Worlds; Most Gracious, Most Merciful; Master of the Day of Judgment. Thee do we worship, and Thine aid we seek. Show us the straight way, the way of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace, Those whose (portion) is not wrath, And who go not astray."

 

5. A short Sura or a few verses from the Holy Quran

Step 3

Saying "Allah u Akbar", this position is assumed as shown in the figure. This position is called ruku and the prayers as given are recited (three times).

 

"Subhana rabbiya al azeem"

 

 "Glorified is my Lord, the Great"

Step 4

While going back to qiyam position the first prayer, as given below, is said. Then having taken this position the second prayer is said:

 

"Samia Allah u liman hamidah" -  "Rabbana wa laka al hamd"

 

"Allah listens to him who praises Him" -  "Our Lord, praise be for you only"

Step 5

This position is called sujood. Saying "Allah u Akbar" ("Allah is the greatest") one prostrates as shown and then the prayer below is said (three times).

 

"Subhana rubbiyal a'ala"

 

 "Glorified is my Lord, the Exalted"

Step 6

Saying "Allah u Akbar" ("Allah is the greatest") and rising from the sujood position, this posture is assumed and the prayer below is said:

 

"Rabbi eghfir lee wa rhamnee"

 

"O my Lord, forgive me and have Mercy on me"

Step 7

Saying "Allah u Akbar" ("Allah is the greatest") the sujood position is re-assumed and the prayer below is said (three times).

"Subhana rubbiyal a'ala"

"Glory to Allah, the Exalted"

 

Step 8

Saying "Allah u Akbar" ("Allah is the greatest") this position of  qiyam is assumed once again to begin the second rakat, and the  following prayers are recited:

Al-Fatihah, and Any short surah or some verses of the Holy Quran.

 

Step 9

Saying "Allah u Akbar", this position is assumed as shown in the figure. This position is called ruku and the prayers as given are recited (three times).

"Subhana rabbiya al azeem"

 "Glorified is my Lord, the Great"

 

Step 10

While going back to qiyam position the first prayer, as given below, is said. Then having taken this position prayer the second is said:

"Samia Allah u liman hamidah" - "Rabbana wa laka al hamd"

"Allah listens to him who praises Him" - "Our Lord, praise be for you only"

 

Step 11

This position is called sujood. Saying "Allah u Akbar" ("Allah is the greatest") one prostrates as shown and then the prayer below is said (three times).

"Subhana rubbiyal a'ala"

"Glorified is my Lord, the Exalted"

 

Step 12

Saying "Allah u Akbar" ("Allah is the greatest") and rising from the sujood position, this posture is assumed and the prayer below is said:

"Rabbi eghfir lee wa rhamnee"

"O my Lord, forgive me and have Mercy on me"

 

Step 13

Saying "Allah u Akbar" ("Allah is the greatest") the sujood position is re-assumed and the prayer below is said (three times).

"Subhana rubbiyal a'ala"

"Glory to Allah, the Exalted"

 

Step 14

In this posture these prayers are to be recited:

Tashahud;"Attahiyat u lil Allah i wa assalawat u wa attaiyibat. Assalam u a'laika aiyoha annabiyyu wa rahmat u Allah i wa barakatuh. Assalam u a'laina wa a'la  ebadi e llahi essaliheen".

"All our oral, physical and monetary ways of worship are only for Allah. Peace, mercy and blessing of Allah be on you, O Prophet. May peace be upon us and on the devout slaves of Allah.

Step 15
  

Move your first finger up and then down as shown while reciting "alla ilaha il Allahu" in the tashud..

“Ashehadu alla ilaha il Allahu wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa rasooluh”.
 
"I testify that there is no God but Allah and I testify that Muhammad is His  slave and messenger". 

Salawat: "Allah umma salli a'la Muhammadin wa ala aali Muhummadin, kama sallaita ala Ibraheema, wa ala aali Ibraheem, innaka hameedun majeed. Allah u mma barik a'la Muhammadin wa ala aali  Muhummadin, kama barakta ala  Ibraheema, wa ala aali Ibraheem, innaka h ameedun majeed".

"O God send your Mercy on Muhammad and his posterity as you sent Your mercy on Abraham and his posterity. You are the Most Praised, The Most Glorious." "O God, send your Blessings on Muhammad and his posterity as you have blessed Abraham and his posterity. You are the Most praised, The Most Glorious".
 

Dua: "Rubbana aatina fi uddunya hasanatun wa fi l aakherati hasah, waqina  a'zabannar".

 "Our Lord, grant us the good of this world and that of the Hereafter and  save us from the torture of Hell."

Step 16

Having said the above mentioned prayers, turning the face to the right. This following prayer is read: "Assalam u a'laikum wa rahmatu Allah".  "Peace and mercy of Allah be on you".

Note: This Salaam (Prayer for Peace) is directed to the angels and the Muslims to our right and to the left

 

Step 17

Then turning the face to the left, the prayer above is said again.”Assalam u a'laikum wa rahmatu Allah”. ”Peace and mercy of Allah be on you”.