Following is the most important information you must know about Salah (the Prayer in Islam), and how to perform Salah (with pictures and videos.)
There are five daily prayers in Islam, and Salah is the most important of them. It is a chance to commune with Allah, and thank Him for His blessings. Muslims believe that prayer is a conversation with God and that it should be done with humility and concentration.
The specifics of Salah (Muslim Prayer) are that it must be performed facing Mecca, and is performed five times a day, with the hands cupped at the chest, and the head bowed in respect. There are four main positions: standing, bowing, prostrating, and sitting. The prayer is done in cycles of these four positions, and each cycle is called a rak’ah. There are different numbers of rak’ahs for the different daily prayers, but the minimum is two.
What Is the Salah?
Prayer (Salah) is one of the five pillars of Islam (The second pillar of Islam).
What Are the Five Pillars of Islam?
1- Shahada (Testifying that there is no god but Allah, that Muhammad is His bondsman and messenger)
2- establishment of prayer
3 – Payment the zakat
4 – Fasting of Ramadan
5- Pilgrimage to the House (Ka’ba), for those who are able to do so
Quran Verses on Salah
(Who believe in the unseen, establish prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them,) Surat Al Baqara, 03
(And establish prayer and give zakah and bow with those who bow [in worship and obedience]( Surat Al Baqara, 43
(And seek help through patience and prayer, and indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive [to Allah ]) Surat Al Baqara, 45
Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) On Salah
The Messenger of Allah Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) said: “Islam is built on five (pillars): Testification of ‘La ilaha illallah’ (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah), that Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) is his slave and Messenger, the establishment of Salat, the payment of Zakat, the pilgrimage to the House of Allah (Ka’bah), and Saum during the month of Ramadan.”
The Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) also said: “The root of this matter (foundation) is Islam, its pillar (mainstay is) As-Salat (the Prayer (Salah)) and its highest point is Jihad (fighting in the Cause of Allah).”
What Are the Names of the Five Daily Prayers in Islam?
Allah – the Almighty – has enjoined upon Muslims five Prayers (Salahs) a day.
Muslims pray five times every day. The five daily prayers are as follows:
1- Fajr Prayer (Salah) – 2 Rakkas
2- Al Zuhr Prayer (Salah) – 4 Rakkas
3- Al Asr Prayer (Salah) – 4 Rakkas
4- Al-Maghreb’s Prayer (Salah) – 3 Rakkas
5- Al Isha Prayer (Salah) – 4 Rakkas
Who Is Required to Perform Salah?
Salah is obligatory for every sane adult Muslim who is free of excuses, whether he is male or female. In addition to Prayers (Salahs) are performed on different occasions, such as: the two Eid Prayers, the funeral Prayer, the rain Prayer, and the eclipse Prayer.
The Prayer (Salah) is obligatory for every Muslim, adult, sane, male or female.
The Prayer (Salah) was made obligatory in Mecca before the Prophet Muhammad’s (Peace Be Upon Him) migration to Medina in the second year before the Hijrah, during the Isra and Mi’raj.
Who Is Not Required to Perform Salah?
- Menstruating and postpartum women
- The madman until he regains his mind
- Young boys or girls till they become adult
Other than that, Prayer (Salah) is obligatory even on the sick. If a person is not able to pray standing, it is permissible for him to pray while sitting. If he is not able to pray while sitting, it is permissible for him to pray while asleep. Even if he can’t move any of his body parts, he can move his head or his eyes.
Where To Perform Salah in Islam?
It is better for men to pray in the mosque and for women to pray at home.
The Prophet Muhammed, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, said:
(The earth has been made for me a place for praying and something with which to perform Tayammum (to purify oneself for praye
When To Perform Salah in Islam?
Each Salah has its appointed prayer time. There are 5 daily Salah. It is not permissible for a Muslim to delay the prayer beyond its time, but rather he must perform the prayer at its appointed time.
Can I Make a Recitation in Salah in My Language?
No, the recitation in Salah must be done in Arabic.
Preparation Before Salah (Checklist):
To Get ready for the Prayer (Salah):
- Before you pray, you must make sure that your body, clothes, and the place you performing Prayer (Salah) on are clean and free of impurities
- You must perform ablution.
- Direct towards the Qiblah. The Qibla is the place that Muslims turn to during Prayer (Salah), which is the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca.
- Perform the salat as per the following steps
Learning How to Perform Salah, Step-By-Step (With Pictures and Videos)
- Face the Qiblah (Kabah direction in Makkah) and Make your intention to pray in your heart. Raise your hands to your ears, and say ‘Allahu Akbar’ (Allah is the Greatest)
2- Put your right hand on your left hand, and recite Surah al-Fatihah, then recite any other Surah.
3- Say ‘Allahu Akbar’ (Allah is the Greatest), then bow down (Ruku) and place your hands on your knees, saying ‘Subhaana rabbi al-azeem’ three times
4- Stand up again and say “Sami`allahu liman hamidah”, then say ‘Rabbanna wa laKa Al-hamd’
5- Say ‘Allahu Akbar’ and go down in the prostration (sujood), then say “Subhaana Rabbi Al-A’laa” three times
6- Sit up while saying ‘Allahu Akbar’, It is acceptable for to sit in any manner during Tashahhud, but the Sunnah is to sit upon the left foot and keep his right foot upright except in the prayer which has two Tashahhuds (i.e. the prayer of three or four Raka’hs), then it is recommended in the last Tashahhud to spread the left foot out under the right leg and sit on his buttock
7- Go down in the prostration (sujood), then say “Subhaana Rabbi Al-A’laa” three times
8- Stand up straight again while saying ‘Allahu Akbar’. You have now completed your first unit, or Rak‘ah, of Salah!
9- Follow steps from 2 to 8 again.
10- After taking position in step (6), recite first part of Altashahhud.
Notes:– Recite the tashahhud at the end of every two rak’ahs |
– In Salat Al Fajr:Recite the full Tashahhud after you finish the second Rak’ah |
– In Salat Al Maghrib:Recite half the Tashahhud after the second Rak’ah, then recite the full Tashahhud after the third Rak’ah |
– In Salat Al Zuhr, Al Asr, and Al Isha:Recite half the Tashahhud after the second Rak’ah, then recite the full Tashahhud after the Fourth Rak’ah |
In Al Tashahhud, When Saying “Ash-hadu ‘an laa ‘ilaaha ‘illallaahu wa ‘ash-hadu ‘anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa Rasooluhu”, raise your right index finger of your right hand as in picture 10 |
| The Prayer (Salah) | Number of Rak’ahs | Silent or loud recitation of Al-Fatiha and the Other Surah
|
What to recite while standing |
| Al-Fajr | 2 | loud recitation in the 2 rak’ahs | Al Fatiha and another Surah in the 2 Rak’ahs |
| Al Zuhr Prayer | 4 | silent recitation in the 4 rak’ahs | Al Fatiha and another Surah in the first 2 Rak’ahs, then Al Fatiha alone in the other 2 Rak’ahs |
| Al Asr Prayer | 4 | silent recitation in the 4 rak’ahs | Al Fatiha and another Surah in the first 2 Rak’ahs, then Al Fatiha alone in the other 2 Rak’ahs |
| Al Maghrib Prayer | 3 | loud recitation in the first 2 rak’ahs, then silent recitation in the third rak’ah | Al Fatiha and another Surah in the first 2 Rak’ahs, then Al Fatiha alone in the third Rak’ah |
| Al Isha Prayer | 4 | loud recitation in the first 2 rak’ahs, then silent recitation in the second 2 rak’ahs | Al Fatiha and another Surah in the first 2 Rak’ahs, then Al Fatiha alone in the other 2 Rak’ahs |
Sunnah (Optional) Prayers
The Sunnahs in Prayer (Salah) are what the Messenger of God – may God’s Prayers (Salahs) and peace be upon him – always performed, and the Messenger of God – may God’s Prayers (Salahs) and peace be upon him – was keen on these Prayers (Salahs) in addition to the obligatory Prayers (Salahs).
They are desirable Prayers (Salahs) that raise the status of a Muslim and he does not sin if he does not perform them.
There are two types of these Prayers (Salahs):
1- The confirmed Sunnahs
It consists of twelve rak’ahs:
- Two rak’ahs before Fajr Prayer (Salah)
- Four rak’ahs before the noon Prayer (Salah) and two after it
- Two rak’ahs after Maghrib Prayer (Salah)
- Two rak’ahs after the evening Prayer (Salah)
2- Unconfirmed Sunnahs
Consisting of:
- Two additional rak’ahs after the Al Zuhr Prayer (Salah), performed after the confirmed sunnah after of Al Zuhr Prayer
- Four rak’ahs before Al Asr Prayer (Salah)
- Two rak’ahs before Al Maghrib Prayer (Salah)
- Two rak’ahs before Isha Prayer (Salah)
The Table of Sunnah (Optional) Prayers (Salahs)
| The Prayer (Salah) | The confirmed Sunnah before the Prayer (Salah) | The confirmed Sunnah after the Prayer (Salah) | The unconfirmed Sunnah before the Prayer (Salah) | The unconfirmed Sunnah after the Prayer (Salah) |
| Al-Fajr | 2 Rak’ahs | |||
| Al Zuhr Prayer | 4 rak’ahs | 2 rak’ahs | 2 rak’ahs | |
| Al Asr Prayer | 4 rak’ahs | |||
| Al Maghrib Prayer | 2 rak’ahs | 4 rak’ahs | ||
| Al Isha Prayer | 2 rak’ahs | 4 rak’ahs |
Recitation Al-Fatiha (With Translation)1. Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim 2. Al-Hamdu lillahi Rabbil- ^alamin 3. Ar-Rahmanir-Rahim. 4. Maliki yawmid-Din. 5. Iyyaka na^budu wa iyyaka nasta^in. 6. Ihdinas-siratal-mustaqim 7. Siratal-ladhina an ^amta ^alayhim, Ghayril-maghdubi ^alayhim wa lad-dallin.
|
| Note:
H = ح ^ = ع S = ص
|
| Translation:
1- In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. 2- [All] praise is [due] to Allah, Lord of the worlds 3- The Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful, 4- Sovereign of the Day of Recompense. 5- It is You we worship and You we ask for help. 6- Guide us to the straight path – 7- The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray. |
Recitation of the first half of Al Tashahhud (that you recite after the first 2 rakaas in salat Al Zuhr Prayer, Al Asr Prayer, AlMaghrib, and Al Isha Prayer)
| – Attahiyyaatu lillaahi wassalawaatu , wattayyibaat
– assalaamu ‘alayka ‘ayyuhan-Nabiyyu wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuhu – assalaamu ‘alaynaa wa ‘alaa ‘ibaadillaahis-saaliheen. – ‘Ash-hadu ‘an laa ‘ilaaha ‘illallaahu wa ‘ash-hadu ‘anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa Rasooluhu. |
| Translation:
– All greetings of humility are for Allah, and all prayers and goodness. – Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. – Peace be upon us and upon the righteous slaves of Allah. – “I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and His Messenger. |
Recitation of the first half of Al Tashahhud (that you recite after finishing all rakka’hs in all prayers
| – Attahiyyaatu lillaahi wassalawaatu , wattayyibaat
– assalaamu ‘alayka ‘ayyuhan-Nabiyyu wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuhu – assalaamu ‘alaynaa wa ‘alaa ‘ibaadillaahis-saaliheen. – ‘Ash-hadu ‘an laa ‘ilaaha ‘illallaahu wa ‘ash-hadu ‘anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa Rasooluhu. – Allāhumma ṣalli `alā Muḥammadinwa `alā ’āli Muḥammadin, kamā ṣallayta `alā ‘Ibrāhīma wa `alā ’āli ‘Ibrāhīma, ‘innaka ḥamīdum-majīd. – Wa bārik `alā Muḥammadin wa `alā ’āli Muḥammadin, kamā bārakta `alā ‘Ibrāhīma wa `alā ‘āli ‘Ibrāhīma, ‘innaka ḥamīdum-majīd. |
| Translation:
– All greetings of humility are for Allah, and all prayers and goodness. – Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. – Peace be upon us and upon the righteous slaves of Allah. – “I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and His Messenger. – O Allah, bestow Your favor on Muhammad and on the family of Muhammad as You have bestowed Your favor on Ibrahim and on the family of Ibrahim, You are Praiseworthy, Most Glorious. – O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You have blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim, You are Praiseworthy, Most Glorious. |
Invalidators of Prayer (Salat)
1- Intentionally eating and drinking during salat
2- Intentionally speaking
3- Intentionally speaking other than the words of prayer
4- Too much movement on purpose
5- Laughter in Salah
6- Leaving one of the conditions of Salah
7- Changing the intention of Salah, such as intending to leave the Salah
8- Happening of an event during salah
The event is divided into two types:
A- Smaller event: This is what requires ablution, such as defecation, urination, and passing wind, which prevents the prayer from being valid
B- Larger event: This is what requires ghusl (full-body ritual purification), such as janaabah, menstruation, and postpartum bleeding
