For the benefits of muslims who want to learn how to pray and for nonmuslims who are curious about what it entails





1. After a ritual ablution with water (wudu), make the intention to pray. Stand facing the House of God. (The Qiblah, ritual facing, is usually considered north-east in North America.)

2. Raise your hands to ear level, palms open, and say ALLÂHU AKBAR, God is Supreme!

3. Lower your hands. Recite the Fatihah, the Opener, in Arabic. Get pronunciation help here.





al-hamdu li-llâhi rabbi-l-‘âlamîn

ar-rahmâni-r-rahîm

mâliki yowmi-d-dîn

iyyâka na‘budu wa iyyâka nasta‘în

ihdina-s-sirâta-l-mustaqîm

sirâta-lladhîna an‘amta ‘alayhim

ghayri-l-maghdûbi ‘alayhim

wa la-d-dâââl-lînâââmîn


All praise is to Allah, Lord of the Worlds

The Universally Merciful, the Singularly Compassionate

Master of the Day of Judgment.

You alone we worship and You alone we ask for help.

Guide us [to] the straight way

The way of those whom You have blessed

Not [the way] of those on whom is [Your] anger,

nor those who are astray.Amin.

4. Bow from the waist, keeping your back straight. Put your weight on your knees with your hands. Be still and glorify Allah in your heart for a moment. Return to standing.

5. Prostrate onto the earth on your toes, knees, palms and face. Be still and glorify Allah for a moment, then sit up. Ask for mercy and forgiveness, then prostrate again as before.

6. One rak‘ah or cycle is done. Stand up. Repeat steps 3 through 5 for a second rak‘ah.

7. After the second prostration, remain kneeling. Say (minimum is in italics):





at-tahiyyâtu li-llâh!

as-salâmu ‘alayka ayyuha-n-nabiyyu wa rahmatu-llahi wa barakâtuh

as-salâmu ‘alaynâ wa ‘alâ ‘ibâdi-llâhi-s-sâlihin.

ash-hadu an lââ ilâha illa-llâ

wa ash-hadu anna muhammadan ‘abduhûwa rasûluh


Greetings be to God!

Peace be upon you, oh prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessing.

Peace be upon us all and upon all holy servants of God.

I witness there is no god but Allah, God

And I witness that Muhammad is His Slave and His Messenger.

8. You have completed two rak‘at. Close the salah, turning your head to the right and left, saying:




as-salâmu ‘alaykum wa rahmatu-llâh
Peace be upon you, and the Mercy of Allah!
After the salah, sit in remembrance of Allah & supplicate to Him



-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wudu: Purification with the Water of Mercy

1. Make your intention for ablution. You may say “I intend this wudu for prayer to Allah most High. In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate�.

At each step, cover the body part completely with just enough water to wet it. The water used must be clean and unaltered, for example by soap or perfume.

2. Wash your hands three times. Wash the right with the left, then the left with the right, then each hand twice more.

3. Rinse the mouth three times. It is recommended to clean the teeth now or before wudu.

4. Rinse your nose three times by snuffing water and blowing it out.

5. Wash your face with both hands three times.

6. Wash your right forearm from the fingers to elbow three times, and wash the left arm in the same way three times.

7. Wash your head once by running both hands from the forehead to the nape and then back to the forehead.

8. Wash your ears, index finger in ear and thumb in back of ear, once.

9. Wash your feet three times, first the right foot up to the ankle with the right hand and then your left foot with the right hand. Wash between the toes at least once on each foot.

10. Then say:

as?-hadu al-laa ilaha illa-llah
wa as?-hadu anna mu?ammadan ?abåduhu wa rasuluh.

“I bear witness there is no god but God and that Muhammad is His Slave and His Messenger.� You may raise your right index finger, indicating the Unity, as you say this.
It is recommended to let your washed parts air-dry.