Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Aslm,

Brother it would be of great help if you can email me how to perform SALAH. As I a muslim by birth but was not serious about prayers. Now I realize and want to be a true muslim.

Can you teach me how to perfoem SALAH. Step by step in easiest way.

For example what one should read between 2 sajdas and end of prayers,

Please guide.

Allahhafiz

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Full prayers

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verse 103:

Indeed the Salaat is a prescribed duty that should be performed by the believers at (their) appointed times.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verses 45-46:

45 Nay seek (Allah's) help with patient perseverance and ‘salaah’: it is indeed hard except to those who bring a lowly spirit.

46 Who bear in mind the certainty that they are to meet their Lord and that they are to return to Him.

The Prophet (saws) said, "The head of the matter is Islam, its pillar is the prayer, and the top of its hump is Jihad in the Way of Allah."

Jabir reports that the Prophet (saws) said, "Between a person and disbelief is discarding prayer."

Related by Ahmad, Muslim, Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah.

Abdullah ibn 'Amr ibn al-'Aas reported that the Prophet (saws) one day mentioned the prayer and said, "Whoever guards and observes his prayer, they (his prayers) will be a light and a proof and a savior for him on the Day of Resurrection. Whoever does not guard and obvserve them, they will not be a light or a proof or a savior for him. On the Day of Resurrection, he will be with Qarun, Fir'aun, Haman and Ubayy ibn Khalf."

Related by Ahmad, at-Tabarani and Ibn Hibban.

Intentionally missing an obligatory prayer is not even given as an option in the deen of Islam! Dear and Beloved Sister, the salaahs that you missed are a debt which you owe unto your Lord; and just like any debt, you may strive your utmost to pay it, or get it forgiven.

Abu Hurairah reports that the Prophet (saws) said: "The first thing that the people will be called to account for on the Day of Resurrection will be the prayers. Our Lord will say to the Angels although He knows better: 'Look into the ‘Salah’ of My servant to see if he observed it perfectly or been negligent in it.’ So if he observed it perfectly it will be recorded to his credit, but if he had been negligent in it in any way, Allah would say: ‘See if My servant has any supererogatory (nafl) prayers.’ Then if he has any supererogatory prayers, Allah would say: ‘Make up the deficiency in My servant's obligatory prayer with his supererogatory prayers.' Thereafter all his actions will be examined in like manner"

Related by Abu Dawud.

Your Question: Can you teach me how to perfoem SALAH. Step by step in easiest way.

What we can do here is outline the basics and the obligatory acts of prayer as prayed by the Messenger of Allah (saws) with its transliteration and translation:

1. INTENTION AND TAKBIR

To make intention in your heart regarding the prayer you are about to make. Then raise your hands to your ears and say “Allah o Akbar” meaning Allah is the Greatest, signaling the start of Prayer.

2. QIYAM or Standing

Pray the Surah Al Fateha and any other aayahs from the Quran. (minimum 3 aayahs) These meanings can be learnt from the Quran Translation of the Surahs you want to pray.

3. RUKU or bowing

The Prophet (saws) used to say: “Subhan Allah il Adheem” meaning Glory be to Allah, the Most Great 3 times or more (but preferably in odd number formations, 3,5,7,9….)

4. STANDING UP FROM RUKU

The Prophet (saws) used to say: “Sameh Allah ho Leman Hameda” meaning Allah listen to the one who is grateful (for the bounties received by Allah).

In reply the nobles companions in the congregation used to say: “Rabbana lakal hamd” meaning O our Lord, we are grateful to you.

5. SAJDAH

The Prophet (saws) used to pray: “Subhana Rabb eil A’ala” meaning Glory be to Allah, the Most High. (3 times or more in odd number formation 3,5,7,9…)

6. SITTING BETWEEN TWO SAJDAHS

(This can be used to invoke any prayer to Allah.)

At times the Prophet (saws) used to make this supplication: ‘Allah hum mag firli wale waale dayya, wal lil mu’minina, wal mu’minate, wal muslemeena, wal muslemaate, hayy min hum wala hum amwaat.’

O Allah, forgive me, my parents, the true believing men, the true believing women, the believing men, the believing women, whether alive from amongst them, or they have died. (We beg You to forgive them all)

7. TASHAHUD

At tahiya tu lillahe was salawaato, wat tayyebato lillahe.

Every kind of salutes, all kinds of prayers, and all kinds of good and pure words and things, are for Allah Alone.

As Salaam alieka ya ayyo han nabi o, wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.

(Allah told the Prophet(saws) these words on the Night of Mairaaj in His audience): May Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon you, O Prophet (saws)

As Salaam o alayna wa a’la ibaa dallah hiss saleheen.

(The Prophet(saws) replied, as Allah Himself is the source of All Peace, and the Prophet (saws) could not possibly send Peace upon Allah): May Peace be upon me (saws), and the good, obedient or pious slaves of Allah.

Ash hado ann laa ilaha illahlah, wahdahu, laa sharika lahuu,

(The Prophet(saws) said to Allah in audience): I bear witness that there is no god, except Allah, Alone, He has no partners.

Wa ash hado anna Mohamed dan abdullahi wa Rasul Allah.

(And Allah replied): And I bear witness that (you, O) Mohamed, are the slave and Messenger of Allah

Allah humma salle a’la Mohamed din wa aa’le Mohamed, kama sallayta a’la Ibrahim wa ala aa’le Ibrahim

May Allah’s blessings be upon Mohamed (saws), and his ummah (or family or both), just like the blessing of Allah on Ibrahim and his ummah (or family or both)

Innaka Hameed un Majeed

For You are the All-Praiseworthy, the Glorious One.

Allah humma barik a’la Mohamed din wa aa’le Mohamed, kama barakta a’la Ibrahim wa ala aa’le Ibrahim

May Allah’s baraka be upon Mohamed (saws) and his ummah (or family or both) just like the baraka of Allah on Ibrahim and his ummah (or family or both)

Innaka Hameed un Majeed.

For You are the All-Praiseworthy, the Glorious One.

(Any Invocation to Allah)

Allah hum mag firli wale waaledayya war hum homa kama rabba yani saghira

O Allah, forgive me, and my parents, and have mercy upon them both, just as they had mercy on me when I was an infant.

8. TASLEEM to signal the end of prayer.

After completion of the ‘tashahud’, the Prophet (saws) would end his prayer by first turning his face towards his right and then left by saying: ‘As Salaam-o-alaykum wa Rahmatullah’ meaning ‘May Peace be upon you and the Mercy of Allah’.

The above is a short and concise description of the prayers as prayed by the Messenger of Allah (saws). If you have any further questions or need any clarifications whatsoever, you could write to us and we will try to answer them to the best of our abilities in light of the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws), Insha Allah.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan