PERFORMING THE FIRST RAK’AH (UNIT OF PRAYER

STEP .1 Intention

 Have an intention immediately prior to the prayer.  The intention is an action of the heart. It should not be uttered.  Include in the intention what kind of prayer you wish to perform.  The most important: Make the intention of your prayer only for the sake of Allah alone.

STEP .2 Face the Qiblah

 The Qiblah is the direction of prayer.  The Qiblah is facing the Ka’bah.  Muslim do not worship the Ka’bah.

STEP .3 Takbeeratul Ihram

The prayer begins the moment you lift up your hands (see picture) and say: الله أكبر (Allah is The Greatest).

Lift up your hands to the level of the shoulders or the earlobes. You are required to look at the place of prostration.

STEP .4 Recite Al-Fathiah +Some Verses

Recite this before reciting Al-Fathiah: أَعُوذُ بِاللَّ مِنَ الشّيْطَانِ الرّجِيمِ (I seek refuge in Allah from the cursed satan)

 Recite Surah Al-Fathiah and complete it by reciting Ameen.  Continue to recite some Qu’ranic verses.

STEP .5 Transition to bowing (RUKU’) position

Before bowing, lift your hands as shown in the picture and whilst moving into the bowing position, say: الله أكبر (Allah is The Greatest)

STEP .6 RUKU’/ Bowing

Recite while moving your lips (سُبْحانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظيم)(How perfect my Lord is, The Supreme.)(3x)

STEP .7 Transition to I’tidal (standing after bowing) position

Whilst moving to the I’tidal position, raise your body and say: سَمِعَ اللهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَه (May Allah answer he who praise Him.)(1)

(1) You recite this if you pray alone, but if you are in a congregational prayer (jamaat) you do not need to recite this and should instead move to step 8 below.

STEP .8 I’tidal (standing after bowing)

While in tidal (standing after bowing) position, say: رَبّنا وَلَكَ الحَمْد ( Our Lord, for you is all the praise)

STEP .9 Transition to 1st prostration (SUJOOD) Position

When moving down to the prostration position, say: الله أكبر (Allah is The Greatest)

STEP .10 1st Prostration

While in prostration, say: سُبْحانَ رَبِّيَ الأَعْلى (How perfect my Lord is, The Highest.)(3x)

STEP .11 Transition to Sitting between the two prostrations’ Position

While moving to the sitting position between the two prostrations, say: الله أكبر (Allah is The Greatest)

STEP .12 Sitting between the two Prostrations

Whilst sitting between the two prostrations, say: رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لي، رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لي (My Lord forgive me, My Lord forgive me.)

STEP .13 Transition to the 2nd Prostration’s Position

When moving down toward the 2nd Prostration’s position, say: الله أكبر (Allah is The Greatest)

STEP .14 The 2nd prostration

Whilst in 2nd prostration’s position, say: سُبْحانَ رَبِّيَ الأَعْلى (How perfect my Lord is, The Highest.)

STEP .15 Transition to the 2nd Rak’ah’s position

Whilst making the transition to the 2nd Rak’ah toward standing position, say: الله أكبر (Allah is The Greatest)

STEP .16 Recite Al-Fathiah + Some Verses

 Recite Surah Al-Fathiah and after it say Ameen.  Continue to recite some Qu’ranic verses.

STEP .17

Follow Steps 4 to Step 14

STEP .18 Transition to TASHAHHUD Position

While in transition to tashahhud position, raise your body and say: الله أكبر (Allah is The Greatest)

التَّحِيّاتُ للهِ وَالصَّلَواتُ والطَّيِّبات ، السَّلامُ عَلَيكَ أَيُّها النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكاتُه ، السَّلامُ
عَلَيْنا وَعَلى عِبادِ لله الصَّالِحين . أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لا إِلهَ إِلاّ الله ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمّداً عَبْدُهُ وَرَسولُه
اللّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلى مُحمَّد، وَعَلى آلِ مُحمَّد، كَما صَلَّيتَ عَلى إبْراهيمَ وَعَلى آلِ إبْراهيم، إِنَّكَ
حَميدٌ مَجيد ، وبارِكْ عَلى مُحمَّد، وَعَلى آلِ مُحمَّد، كَما بارِكْ تَ عَلى إبْراهيمَ وَعَلى آلِ
إبْراهيم، إِنَّكَ حَميدٌ مَجيد.
At-tahiyyatu lillahi wassalawatu wattayyibat, assalāmu alayka ayyuhan-nabiyyu warahmatullāhi
wabarakātuh, assalāmu alayna waa la ibadil-lahis-saliheen. Ash-hadu an lā ilāha illal-lāh,
wa-ashhadu anna Muhammadan abduhu warasooluh. Allāhumma salli ala Muhammadin waala
āali Muhammad, kama sallayta ala Ibraheema wa-ala āali Ibraheem, innaka Hameedun
Majeed, wa barik ala Muhammadin, wa-ala āali Muhammad, kama barakta ala Ibraheema waala
āali Ibraheem, innaka Hameedun Majeed.

STEP .19 TASHAHHUD

Whilst in the Tashahhud position, recite dua’ (prayer) as above which means: Greetings are for Allah. All acts of worship and good deeds are for Him. The peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you O Prophet. Peace be upon us and all of Allah’s righteous servants. I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.’

‘O Allah, send prayers upon Muhammad and the followers of Muhammad, just as You’ve sent prayers upon Ibraheem and upon the followers of Ibraheem. Verily, you are full of praise and majesty. O Allah, send blessing upon Mohammad and upon the family of Muhammad, just as you’ve sent blessings upon Ibraheem and upon the family of Ibraheem. verily, You are full of praise and majesty.’

STEP .20 Transition to the 3rd Rak’ah’s Position

Whilst transitioning to the standing position for the 3rd Rak’ah, say: الله أكبر (Allah is The Greatest)and raise your hands while standing.

STEP .21 Recite Al-Fathiah

Recite Surah Al-Fathiah and say, Ameen

STEP .22

Follow Steps 4 to Step 14

STEP .23 Transition to the 4th Rak’ah’s Position

Whilst making the transition to the 4th Rak’ah, say: الله أكبر (Allah is The Greatest)

STEP .24 Recite Al-Fathiah

Recite Surah Al-Fathiah and say, Ameen.

STEP .25

Follow Step 4 to Step 14 Continue with Step 19

STEP .26 FINAL STEP: AT-TASLEEM

Upon completion of the prayer, follow these steps: Turn your head to the right, and whilst doing that, say: Assalamua alaykum wa rahmatullah (May Allah’s peace and mercy be upon you). Then turn your head to the left, and whilst doing that, say: Assalamu alaykum wa Rahmatullah (May Allah’s peace and mercy be upon you)