Beginner’s Guide on How to Pray Salah, the second most important pillar of Islam which is the prayer (salah)

Beginner’s Guide on How to Pray Solat, the second most important pillar of Islam which is the prayer (solat)

The essentials a Muslim needs to know in order to make their daily prayers:

Here are the steps of the solat:

· Standing

· Takbir

· Fatihah – Recitation

· Ruku – Bowing

· Sujud – Prostration

· Tashahud – Sitting

To understand the steps of the solat it is important to understand that the prayer is made up of Rak'a, or units of prayer. Every Rak'a has the same basic steps within it.

· There will be a part when you are standing

· A part when you recite from the Quran

· A part when you bow down

· A part where you prostrate (make sujud)

Step 1 – Make your intention to pray

We first began the prayer by making an intention from the heart to pray to Allah. As soon as you begin, your entire focus should be on the prayer itself and nothing else.

Depending on which prayer you are performing there will be slight differences in how these Rak'a are performed. Here is a summary of how each of the five daily prayers differ from one another:

· Fajr (Subuh) – has two Rak'a , or two units

Usolli fardu subhi rak’ataini ada’an lillahi taala

· Dhur (Zohor) – has four Rak'a

Usolli fardol zuhri arba’a raka’atin ada’an lillahi taala.

· Asr (Asar) – has four Rak'a

Usolli fardol Asri arba’a raka’atin ada’an lillahi taala.

· Maghrib (Maghrib) – has three Rak'a

Usalli fardhal maghribi salasa raka’atin adaan lillahi ta’ala

· Isha (Isyak) – has four Rak'a

Usolli fardol Isya’e arba’a raka’atin ada’an lillahi taala.

Step 2 – Raise your hands to your ears and say ‘Allahu Akbar’

اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ

The moment you say “Allahu Akbar” the prayer will officially begin. From this point forward you should focus wholeheartedly on the prayer and do your best to ignore all distractions.

( While standing up, facing Al-Qibla, a worshipper places his/her right hand over the left hand, above the belly button, and below the chest, or even without that altogether, as this represents politeness with the Creator, praise to Him.)

Step 3 – Lower your hands and place them over your naval. Your right hand should be placed over your left hand.

He/she starts with “Isti’adha,” saying: “A’udhu billahi minash shaytanir rajim” (I seek refuge with Allah from the Stoned Shaytan (Satan).

أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرجيم

: “A’udhu billahi minash shaytanir rajim”

Start reciting these verses silently:

"Subhanaka allahumma wa bi hamdika wa tabara kasmuka wa ta'ala jadduka wa la ilaha ghairuka."

سبحانك اللهم و بحمدك، وتبارك اسمك، و تعالى جدك، ولا إله غيرك

“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 firstRak'a]

Step 4 – Keep your eyes focused on the ground in front of you

Although it is not obligatory, it is also highly recommended to read the following Doa Iftitah (supplication) after saying Allahu Akbar:

اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ كَبِيرًا، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ كَثِيرًا، وَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلًا، وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِي فَطَرَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ حَنِيفًا مُسْلِمًا وَمَا أَنَا مِنْ الْمُشْرِكِينَ، إنَّ صَلَاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَبِذَلِكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأَنَا مِنْ الْمُسْلِمِين

The meaning of Doa Iftitah

Allahuakbarkabira
• Allah the All Mighty, the Greatest;
- Allah yang Maha Besar.

Walhamdulilahikathira
• All praises be upon Him;
- Segala puji bagi Allah sebanyak-banyaknya.

Wasubhanallahi bukratawwaasila
• Allah The Most Exalted of them all, day and night;
- Maha suci Allah, pagi dan petang.

Wajjahtu Wajhialilazi Fatraasama wati wal Ardh
• I stand before The One Who created the skies and the lands;
- Aku hadapkan mukaku bagi Tuhan yang mencipta langit dan bumi,

Hanifammuslimaw
• I am ready to leave my fate in Allah's Hands;
- dengan sepenuh penyerahan,

Wama ana minal-musyrikin.
• And I am certainly not among those who associate Allah with other beings;
- dan aku bukanlah daripada golongan orang2 yang musyrik.

Inna salati, wanusuki wamahyaya, wamamati Lillahi rabbil-'alamin
• Indeed my , my good deeds, my life and my death; I leave it all in the Hands of Allah, who administers the whole universe;
- Sesungguhnya ku, ibadatku, hidupku, matiku adalah untuk Allah, Tuhan sekalian alam.

Lasyarikalahu Wabizalikaumirtuwaana minal muslimin
• He has no rival nor parallel whatsoever; and I have been ordered as such; and I am from those who embrace Islam.
- Tidak ada sekutu bagi-Nya dan demikianlah aku diperintahkan dan aku adalah dari golongan orang2 Islam.

Step 5 – Recite the opening chapter of the Qur’an

Then recites Al-Fati'ha (The Opening), in Arabic. This is the first Sura (Chapter) of the Holy Quran, which represents the sixth stage of performing prayers. It is recited in Arabic, like all parts of the prayer.

1. بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

2. الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

3. الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

4. مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ

5. إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ

6. اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ

7. صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ

This is the meaning of the verses from Surah Fatihah:

Bissmilah irra'hman irra'heem

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful (1)

Al'hamdu lilahi rabbil ‘alameen

Praise be to Allah , Lord of the Worlds (2)

Arra'hman arra'heem

The Beneficent, the Merciful (3)

Maliki yawm iddeen

Owner of the Day of Judgment (4)

Iyaka na’budu wa iyaka nassta’een

You ( alone ) we worship, You (alone) we ask for help (5)

Ihdinas siratal musstaqeem

Guide us (to) the straight path (6)

Sirata ladheena ana’mta ‘alayhim

Gharil maghdhoobi ‘alayhim

Waladh dhaleen

The path of those whom You have blessed, not (the path of) those who earned Your anger, nor of those who went astray (7)

(Al-Fati'ha, I: 1-7).

Ameen.

Step 6 – Bow down. This is known as the ‘ruku’

As you are bowing down say ‘Allahu Akbar’. Make sure to keep your back straight, your hands on your knees, and your eyes focused on the ground where you will be prostrating.

When you are in this position you will say this sentence three times:

سُبْحَانَ رَبيَّ العَظِيم

Subhanna rabbeeyal adheem

‘How perfect is my Lord, the Magnificent’

Step 7 – Return to standing up again

As you are rising up from the ruku position to a standing position you will bring your hands to your ears and will say:

سَمِعَ اللهُ لِمَن حَمِدَه

Samee Allahu leeman hameeda

‘Allah hears those who praise him’

(Then, all categories of worshippers (imam, a worshipper in a group, or an individual worshipper, if in congregation / jemaah ) say:

رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ

“rabbana walakal ‘hamd” (Our Lord, to You is praise).

Step 8 – Go down to perform prostration. This is known as ‘sujud’

After standing upright calmly, saying words of praise to Allah, a worshipper makes takbeer (saying Allahu Akbar), as an indication of the transition to the next stage of prayer, prostration (Sujud), in which he/she goes all the way down to the floor, placing his/her face on the floor. The complete prostration requires eight body parts to touch the floor. These are the forehead, nose, the two hand palms, the two knees, and the tiptoes of the two feet. A minimum prostration is achieved by placing part of each body organ on the floor.

Step 9 – Say this phrase while in sujud (prostration)

Once in prostration on the floor, say:

Sub'hana rabiyal ‘ala (Exalted is my Lord, the Most High).

سُبْحَانَ رَبِيَ الأعْلَى

Say this sentence three times:

Then, makes takbeer (saying Allahu Akbar), while lifting his/her head while sitting on the floor.

Step 10 – Rise up from sujud and sit for a moment

Say Allahu akbar as you rise from sujud and then sit on your left leg. Your left foot will rest on the floor while your right foot is upright. Place your hands on your knees.

When you are in this position it is recommended to ask Allah for forgiveness. A simple and easy doa you can say is:

رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِيْ وَارْحَمْنِيْ وَاجْبُرْنِيْ وَارفَعْنِيْ وَارْزُقْنِيْ وَاهْدِنِيْ وَعَافِنِيْ وَاعْفُ عَنِّيْ

Rabbighfirlii warhamnii wajburnii warfa’nii warzuqnii wahdinii wa ‘aafinii wa’fu ‘annii

Artinya:
“Ya Tuhanku, ampunilah aku, kasihanilah aku, benarkanlah aku, angkatlah derajatku, karuniakanlah aku rezeki, sehatkanlah aku, dan maafkanlah aku.”

Step 11 – Return to the position of sujud

Then, a worshipper makes takbeer (saying Allahu Akbar), while lifting his/her head while sitting on the floor. Then, he/she makes takbeer (saying Allahu Akbar) again, while going down to perform a second Sujoud.

You will repeat step 9 again and perform a second sujud and say subhanna rabbeeyal ‘alaa three times again.

Step 12 – Arise from the sujud to return to the standing position and say Allahu Akbar

Congratulations, you have just completed one full Rak'a! The first rak’a of every prayer is performed with these twelve steps.

When you reach the end of the second rak’a you will perform the tashahud, or a step 13.

Step 13 – Perform the tashahud at the end of every two Rak'a

Instead of standing up after the two sujud, this time around you will sit on your legs and knees again.

After performing the prostration (Sujoud) of the second prayer unit (Rak'a), a Muslim worshipper sits down on the floor, with his/her legs bent beneath him/her, reciting Al-Tashahud (The Proclamation and Bear Witnessing),

At ta'hiyatu, al mubarakatu, wassala watu at tayibatu, lilah

Assalamu 'alayka ayuha anabiyu wa ra'hmatul lahi wa barakatuh

Assalamu 'alayna wa 'ala 'ibadil lahis sali'heen

Ash hadu alla ilaha illal lah

Wa ash hadu anna muhammadan rassoulul lah

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

Segala penghormatan yang berkat yang baik adalah untuk Allah. Sejahtera atas engkau wahai Nabi dan rahmat Allah serta keberkatannya. Sejahtera ke atas kami dan atas hamba-hamba Allah yang soleh. Aku naik saksi bahawa tiada Tuhan melainkan Allah dan aku naik saksi bahawasanya Muhammad itu adalah pesuruh Allah. Ya Tuhan kami, selawatkanlah ke atas Nabi Muhammad.

التَّحِياتُ المُبَارَكَاتُ ، وَالصَّلَوَاتُ الطَّيبَاتُ للهِ ، السَّلامُ عَلَيكً أيُهَا النبيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ ،

السُلامُ عَلَينَا وَعَلى عِبَادِ اللهِ الصَّالِحِينَ ، أشْهَدُ أنَّ لا إلهَ إلا الله ، وأشْهَدُ أنَّ مُحَمَّداً رَسُولُ الله.

If this is the final rak’a in the prayer then you will add this part to the tashahud:

Allahumma salli 'ala muhammadin, wa 'ala aali muhammad

Kama salayta 'ala ibrahima, wa 'ala aali ibrahim

Wa barik 'ala muhammadin, wa 'ala aali muhammad

Kama barakta 'ala ibrahima, wa 'ala aali ibrahim

Fil 'aalamina

Innaka 'hameedun majeed

O Allaah, bless Muhammad and the family (or followers) of Muhammad as You blessed Ibrahim and the family (or followers) of Ibraaheem,
Verily, you are full of Praise and Majesty.

Berkatilah penghulu kami Sayidina Nabi Muhammad dan keluarga Penghulu kami Sayidina Muhammad. Sebagaimana Engkau memberkati Sayidinia Nabi Ibrahim dan keluarga Sayidina Nabi Ibrahim. Di alam semesta ini, Engkau sahajalah Yang Paling Terpuji dan Yang Paling Mulia.

اللَهُمَّ صَلَّي عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ ، وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ ، كَمَا صَلَّيتَ عَلَى إبْرَاهِيمَ ، وَعَلَى آلِ إبْرَاهِيم.

وَبَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ ، وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ ، كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى إبْرَاهِيمَ ، وَعَلَى آلِ إبْرَاهِيم ،

فٍي الْعَالَمِينَ ، إنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيد.

Then, the prayer is completed by saying the Islamic greetings (The ‘tasleem’) to those on the right and to those on the left.

The tasleem is to look to your right and say:

Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatu Allah

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ

Peace of Allah be upon you, His mercy, and His blessings

And then to look to the left and say it again:

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ

Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatu Allah

Peace of Allah be upon you, His mercy, and His blessings

Now you know how to perform a rak’a – one unit of prayer. The next step is to combine 2, 3, or 4 rak’a together to complete one solat.

ADDITIONAL / OPTIONAL

DOA QUNUT

Allah humah dini fiman hadait.
Ya Allah berikanlah aku hidayah sebagaimana mereka yang telah Engkau beri hidayah.

Wa’a fini fiman ‘afait.
Berikan kesihatan kepadaku sebagaimana mereka yang telah Engkau berikan kesihatan.

Watawallani fiman tawalait.
Dan peliharalah aku sebagaimana orang-orang yang telah Engkau peliharakan.

Wabarikli fimaa a’tait.
Berilah keberkatan bagiku pada apa-apa yang telah Engkau kurniakan.

Waqinii syarramaa qadhait.
Dan selamatkan aku dari bahaya yang telah Engkau tentukan.

Fainnaka taqdhi wala yuqdha ‘alait.
Maka sesungguhnya, Engkaulah yang menghukum dan bukannya yang kena hukum.

Wainnahu layadziluman walait.
Dan sesungguhnya tidak hina orang yang Engkau pimpin.

Walaa ya’izzuman ‘adait.
Dan tidak mulia orang yang Engkau musuhi.

Tabaa rakta rabbana wata’alait.
Maha Suci Engkau wahai Tuhan kami dan Maha Tinggi

Falakalhamdu ‘ala maaqadzait.
Maka bagi Engkaulah segala pujian di atas apa yang Engkau hukumkan.

Astaghfiruka wa’atubu ilaik.
Aku memohon ampun dari-Mu dan aku bertaubat kepada-Mu.

Wasallallahu ‘ala Saidina Muhammadinin nabiyil ummiyi waala aalihi wasahbihi wasalam.
Dan semoga Allah mencurahkan rahmat dan sejahtera ke atas junjungan kami Nabi Muhammad dan keluarganya.

اَللّهُمَّ اهْدِنِىْ فِيْمَنْ هَدَيْتَ ,وَ عَافِنِى فِيْمَنْ عَافَيْتَ ,وَتَوَلَّنِىْ فِيْمَنْ تَوَلَّيْتَ

وَبَارِكْ لِىْ فِيْمَا اَعْطَيْتَ ,وَقِنِيْ شَرَّمَا قََضَيْتَ ،فَاِ نَّكَ تَقْضِىْ وَلاَ يُقْضَى عَلَيْكَ

وَاِ نَّهُ لاَ يَذِلُّ مَنْ وَالَيْتَ ,وَلاَ يَعِزُّ مَنْ عَادَيْتَ

تَبَارَكْتَ رَبَّنَا وَتَعَالَيْتَ ,فَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ عَلَى مَا قَضَيْتَ

وَاَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَاَتُوْبُ اِلَيْكَ

وَصَلَّى اللهُ عَلَى سَيِّدَنَا مُحَمَّدٍ النَّبِيِّ اْلاُمِّيِّ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ وَسَلَّمَ