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How to Pray in Islam

An introductory guide to performing salah: the 5 daily prayers, their importance and the essential steps.

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The Importance of Prayer

Prayer (salat) is the second pillar of Islam and the most important act of worship after the testimony of faith. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The first thing the servant will be asked about on the Day of Judgment is the prayer." (An-Nasa'i)

Allah says in the Quran:

"Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers at specified times." (An-Nisa, 4:103)

The Five Daily Prayers

Every adult Muslim of sound mind must perform five prayers each day:

  1. Fajr (dawn): 2 units (rak'at) - before sunrise
  2. Dhuhr (noon): 4 units - after the sun passes its zenith
  3. 'Asr (afternoon): 4 units - in the afternoon
  4. Maghrib (sunset): 3 units - just after sunset
  5. 'Isha (night): 4 units - after twilight disappears

Prerequisites

Before praying, certain conditions must be met:

  • Ritual purity: performing ablution (wudu) with water, or tayammum if water is unavailable
  • Cleanliness of the body, clothing and place of prayer
  • Covering the 'awrah: the parts of the body that must be covered
  • Facing the Qibla: the direction of Mecca
  • The prayer time must have entered
  • The intention (niyyah) in the heart

Main Steps of a Prayer

Here is a summary of the steps in one unit of prayer (rak'a):

  1. Stand facing the Qibla and form the intention
  2. Pronounce the opening takbir: "Allahu Akbar" while raising the hands
  3. Recite Al-Fatiha (obligatory in every rak'a)
  4. Recite an additional surah or verses (in the first two rak'at)
  5. Bow (ruku') saying "Subhana Rabbiyal-'Adhim"
  6. Rise saying "Sami'Allahu liman hamidah"
  7. Prostrate (sujud) saying "Subhana Rabbiyal-A'la"
  8. Sit briefly between the two prostrations
  9. Prostrate a second time
  10. After every two rak'at, sit for the tashahhud

The prayer concludes with the taslim: turning the head to the right then left saying "As-Salamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullah".

Learning Step by Step

Learning to pray requires patience and regular practice. The Azkars app offers an illustrated step-by-step guide to accompany you. Feel free to check the "Prayer Basics" section for a complete visual guide.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Pray as you have seen me praying." (Al-Bukhari). Take the time to learn each gesture and each invocation correctly, and Allah will facilitate your learning.

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