Prayer – Second Principle of Islam The second Principle of Islam is to offer the Obligatory Prayers five times a day. Prayer is the act of worshipping Allah according to the teaching of the Holy Prophet. The essentials requisites of offering Prayer are: Wudu (Ablution), Ghusl (Bath Iqamat: It is the second call to prayer and is uttered immediately before the beginning of the Fard (Obligatory Prayer). It is similar to Adhan but with the addition of the sentence, “Qad qaamatis-Salaah” meaning “Prayer has indeed begun” to be uttered twice after item (5) of Adhan.
How to Pray: Niyyah (Intention) – Standing erect, facing the direction of Ka’ba in Mecca, and after having the intention of what prayer is to be offered and preferably uttering it to himself. Takbir-i-tahrimah – You start prayers with "Takbir--I-tahrimah" raising your hands to the level of your shoulders and saying “Allaahu-Akbar” meaning “Allah is the Greatest."
Qiyam – Standing erect and placing the right hand upon the left below the navel.
Sana – Then you recite the following prayer "Subhana kal-la hum-ma, wa bi hamdika, wa tabara kasmuka, wa ta'alaa jad-duka, wa laa ilaaha ghairuk." Meaning "Glory to Thee O Allah! Praise be to Thee. Blessed is Thy Name and exalted is the Majesty of Thee. And there is no god other than Thee.
"Ta'uuz - A'uuzu bil-laahi minash shaitanir rajiim Meaning "I seek protection of Allah from Satan, the rejected one."
Here is a transcription of Fatiha:"Alhamdu lil-laahi Rab-bil ‘aalaameen ar-Rahmaa-nir-Raheem. Maaliki Yaum-id-Deen – Iyyaaka na’budu wa iyyaka nasta’een; ihdi-nas siraa-tal musta-qeema siraa-tal-la zeena an’amta ‘alaihim ghai-ril magh-dhoobi ‘alaihim wa lad-daal-leen. (Ameen). This Surah (Chapter) means “Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, the Most Kind, the Most Merciful, Master of the Day of Judgment. Thee do we worship and thy aid we seek. Show us the straight way. The way of those on whom You have bestowed Thy Grace. Those whose (portion) is not wrath. And who do not go astray."
Recite a surah e.g.
Akhlaas – “Qul Hu-wal-laahu Ahad, Allaa-hus Samad. Lam yalid wa lam you-lad. Wa lam yakun lahu kufu-wan Ahad”. This Surah, "Unity" means “Say: He is Allah, the One. Allah, the Eternal Absolute. He begets not, nor is He begotten. And there is no like unto Him.”
Nasr - "Itha Jaa nas-rullaahi wal-fat-hu wa raai-tan-naasa yad-khuloona fi dee-nil-laahi af-waajan. Fa sab-beh be-hamdi rab-bika was-tagh-fir-hu. Inna-hu kaana Taw-waaba." Which means "When comes the help of Allah, and victory, and you do see the people enter Allah's religion in crowds, celebrate the praises of thy Lord, and pray for His forgiveness. For He is Oft-Returning (in Grace and Mercy)."
Say "Allaahu Akbar" then proceed to Ruku' i.e., bowing down in such a way as to grasp the knees with the hands keeping the back in a straight line so as to form a right angle with the legs. Recite “Sub-haana Rabbi-yal-‘Azeem” three times. This clause means "Glory be to my Great Lord".
Straighten back your body saying: “Sami’ Allaa hu li-man hamidah” meaning “Allah has listened to him who has praised Him”. When you are completely straight up you say: “Rab-bana lakal hamd” meaning “Our Lord, praise be to Thee”. Then you go down prostrating (in such a way that both the palms of the hands, the forehead, the nasal bone, the knees and the toes of both feet touch the ground; there must be sufficient space between the arms and the chest and the legs and the belly so that they do not touch each other but remain separate.) and saying "Allaahu Akbar"
Then you recite “Subhaana Rabbi-yal-A’la” three times, which means “How glorious is my Lord, the Highest”. Then you raise your head saying "Allaahu Akbar", seat yourself on your left foot and straight up your right foot in a vertical position. You prostrate again saying "Allaahu Akbar", then say - “Sub-haana Rabbi-yal-A’la” three times. After finishing with the second prostration stand up saying - "Allaahu Akbar", thus finishing First Raka'a. Standing straight up, you recite Al-Fatiha followed by a number of verses of the Qur'an. Bow, straighten your back, then make two prostrations, the way you have done in the First Raka'a. When you have raised your head form the second prostration you seat yourself, in the same position you had between the two prostrations, in order to start reciting the "Tashahhod." Qa’dah – sitting down in a reverential posture, keeping the right foot erect on the toes and the left one in a reclining position under the rumps.
Now, and while seating yourself as mentioned, recite “Tahiyyaat”. Its transcription is given below. “At-tahiy-yaatu lil-laahi, was-sala-waatu wat-taiyyi baatu, as-salaa-mu alaika ayyu-han Nabiy-yu wa rahma-tul-laahi wa bara-kaatu-hu, as-salaamu ‘alaina wa ‘ala ‘ibaa-dil-laa his-saali-heen. Ash-hadu anla ilaa-ha il-lal laa-hu wa ash-hadu anna Muhammad-an ‘abdu-hu wa rasuulu-hu. Which means: “Salutations be to Allah, pure ones to be Allah. Peace be upon you, ye Prophet, and the Mercy of Allah. Peace be upon us and upon good servants of Allah. I witness that there is no god other than Allah and I witness that Muhammad is His Servant and His Apostle.” Now, if prayers were to consist of two Raka’as like Fajr, you go saying Darood: “Al-laa hum-ma sal-li ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala aali Muhammadin kama sal-laita ‘alaa Ibraheema wa ‘alaa aali Ibraheema in-naka Hameed-um Majeed. Al-laa hum-ma baarik ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘alaa aali Muhammadin kam baarakta ‘alaa Ibraheema wa ‘alaa aali Ibraheema, in-naka Hameed-um Majeed” Which means: “O Allah, Send grace on Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, the way Thou sent grace on Ibraheem and on the Family of Ibraheem. For Thou art worthy of all praise, full of all Glory. O Allah, Send blessings on Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, the way Thou sent blessings on Ibraheem and on the family of Ibraheem, For Thou art worthy of all praise, full of all Glory.” But if prayers to consist of three Raka’a, like Maghreb , or of four Raka’as, like Zuhr, Assr or Ishaa, you add reciting the second portion of Tashahhod at the end of the last Raka’a only. Reciting Tashahhod, you reach the phrase “Ash-hadu anla ilaa-ha il-lal laa-hu wa ash-hadu anna Muhammad-an ‘abdu-hu wa rasuulu-hu” And while saying that, you raise your right-hand fore-finger. Recite the following Dua “Rab-bij 'alnii muqee-mas salaati wa min zur-riyya-tii, Rab-bana wa taqab-bal dua. Rabba-nagh-firli wali-waali-daiyya wa lil mu’me-neena yauma yaquu mul hisaab.” Turn your head to the right and say: “As-salaamu 'alaikum wa rahma-tul-lah” which means “Peace be upon you and mercy of Allah.” Then you turn your head to the left and say: “As-salaamu alaikum wa rahma-tul-lah” which means “Peace be upon you and mercy of Allah.” This completes your prayer.
Dua after prayer - "Rab-banaa aatena fid-duniyya hasana tanwa qina 'azaaban naar wa qina 'azaabal qabari wa qina 'azaabal miizaan.
Dua e Qanoot - "Al-laah hum-ma inna nas-tastaiinuka wa nastagh-firuka wa nu'-minu bika wa na-ta-wak-kulu 'alaika wa nuth-nii 'alaikal khaira wa nash-kuru-ka wa la nak-furuka wa nakh-la-'u wa nat-ruku mayyaf-juruk. Al-laa-hum-ma iyyaka na'budu wa laka nusal-li wa nas-judu wa nah-fidu wa narju rah-mata-ka wa nakh-sha 'azabaka inna 'azaabaka bil kuf-faari mul-hiq.
Classification of Prayer: Fard Prayers, Wajib-ul-Witr, Salat-ul-Janazah
External Links: Eid-Prayers
Janaza Prayers Athan Benefit of salat Conduct of salat Prayer4 Prayers, manners of Why pray Worship in Islam