How to Do Prayers of Islam
Muhammad. Chi-pu An
Sep. 10, 2025
1. Some Sayings of Allah
O you who believe! Seek help in patience and As-Salat (the prayer). Truly! Allah is with As-Sabirin (the patient ones, etc.).(The Qur'an, 2:153)
When you have finished As-Salat (the prayer congregational), remember Allah standing, sitting down, and lying down on your sides, but when you are free from danger, perform As-Salat(Iqamatas Salat). Verily, the prayer is enjoined on the believers at fixed hours.(The Qur'an, 4:103)
Recite (O Muhammad SAW) what has been revealed to you of the Book (the Quran), and perform As-Salat (Iqamatas Salat). Verily, As-Salat (the prayer) prevents from Al-Fahsha (i. e. great sins of every kind, unlawful sexual intercourse, etc.) and Al-Munkar (i.e. disbelief, polytheism, and every kind of evil wicked deed, etc.) and the remembering (praising, etc.) of Allah is greater indeed. And Allah knows what you do.(The Qur'an, 29:45)
And offer your Salat (prayer) neither aloud nor in a low voice, but follow a way between.(The Qur'an, 17:110)
“O Children of Adam! wear your beautiful apparel at every time and place of prayer”(7:31)
Before prayers, Wudu(washing yourself) should be completed. About how to do Wudu, see the 5th part in the article.
2. Different Types of Salat
There are four different types of salat which make up the five daily prayers.
Fardh – Imperative (missing a Fardh salat is considered a grave sin).
Wajib – Obligatory (missing is considered a sin, just not as great as a fardh salat).
Sunnah – Prophet’s Practice.
Nafl – Voluntary.
3. Daily Prayer Times
According time, daily prayers include 5 times:
The five prayers are Fajr, Zuhr, Asr, Maghrib, and Isha. They are at dawn(It is better before sunrise 1 hour), afternoon, in the mid-afternoon, at sunset, and at night, respectively.
Many Muslims chose to follow the example of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) by praying additional optional prayers around the obligatory prayers, giving a daily cycle as follows:
Fajr: Two rakah(a set of behavior in a prayer, see 4th part in the article) sunnah (optional but highly recommended), then two rakah fardh;
Zuhr: Four rakah sunnah (optional but highly recommended), then four rakah fardh, then two rakah sunnah (optional but highly recommended), then two rakah nafl (optional);
Asr : Four rakah sunnah (optional but spiritually beneficial), then four rakah fardh;
Maghrib : Three rakah fardh, then two rakah sunnah (optional but highly recommended), then two rakah nafl (optional);
Isha : (Four rakah sunnah, optional), then four rakah fardh, then two rakah sunnah (optional but highly recommended), then two rakah nafl (optional), then three rakah witr (optional but highly recommended; it's better to do in mid-night), then two rakah nafl (optional).
Besides, Jummah (i.e. doing prayers with Muslims of a community and following a leader) generally includes two rakah fardh, four rakah sunnah and two rakah sunnah. You must go to a mosque to do it, on Friday, at noon.
4. Method of Prayer
After going through the prerequisites of prayer we are now ready to begin our prayer.
4.1 Intention
Begin with the proper niyyah (intention) that you want to pray, this can be done verbally. The purpose is so that you are not heedless in prayer but are aware of the kind of salat you are about to offer.
I intend to offer the _____ rakah of the ____ prayer. So you could say something along the lines, “I intend to offer the 4 rakah fardh of the Isha prayer” or “2 rakah nafl for zuhr prayer”.
Ensure your praying area is clean, put down you prayer mat facing the direction of the Qiblah, i.e. direction of the sacred shrine of the Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Stand as you would normally with your feet around four inches apart. Direct your gaze towards the place that your head will contact the ground. Now, with palms open, raise your hands to your ears and say Takbir, "Allahu Akbar"(ﺎﻠﻠﻫ ﺄَﻜْﺑَﺭ), which means Allah is the greatest. Your prayer has now commenced. Women praying should raise their hands to their shoulders.
(The picture from streamstime.com)
4.2 Cross Hands
After Takbir, place cross your hands at lower belly level grabbing your left wrist with your right hand. Begin with the recitation of Thana:
Glory and praise be to You, O Allah. Blessed be Your name and
exalted be Your majesty, there is none worthy of worship except
You.
The Arabian meaning:
سُبْحانَكَ
اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، وَتَبارَكَ
اسْمُكَ، وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ، وَلاَ
إِلَهَ غَيْرُكَ
Then recite:
I seek Allah’s protection from Satan, the
accursed.
اعوذ
باللہ من الشیطان الرجیم
After this, recite Surah Al-Fatiha which is the first chapter of the Qur'an.
At the end of reciting Surah Fatiha say "Ameen"(i. e. I pray that Allah can agree.).
After saying "Ameen", recite any passage from the Qur’an. Commonly, a short chapter or 5 verses.
Before you learn and understand Arabic, you can recite verses of Qur’an in your language. Of course, It's better to learn it as soon as possible.
4.3 Bend Down
Say Allahu Akbar; bend down for Ruku. Ruku is the position where
you keep your head and back aligned and put your hands on your knees.
Here recite Tasbeeh three times or any odd number of times you
like:
Glory be to my Lord Almighty
سُبْحَانَ
رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ
Next, stand up from the bowing position, saying:
Allah hears
those who praise Him.
سَمِعَ
اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَه
Our lord, to you be the praise.
رَبَّنَا
وَلَكَ الْحَمْد
4.4 Prostration
Say "Allahu Akbar" and go down for Sajdah (prostration).
There should 5 points of contact with the ground: your forehead,
nose, palms of hand, knees, and toes of the feet. Put your head
between your palms such that your thumbs are aligned with earlobes.
The elbows should be raised away from the ground. In this position
recite Tasbeeh three or any odd number of times you like:
How
Perfect is my Lord, the Highest
سُبْحَانَ
رَبِّيَ الأَعْلَى
Say "Allahu Akbar", sit upright. Rest your hands on the
thighs with fingers reaching the knees. Recite the following:
O
my Lord! Forgive me.
رب
اغفر لي
Say Allahu Akbar, don't stand up, do the second Sajdah (prostration) and recite the same.
After Thana, until now, one complete rakat of prayer has been done.
After say Allahu Akbar and stand back up and cross your arms just as before. Perform the second rakat the same, except you do not need to recite Thana.
4.5 Sitting Position of the Prayer
After 2 rakah or after the last rakat, stay seated in position of Jalsah. It is sunnah to keep your right foot up and lay the left foot on the ground. This position is called Jalsah Al-istiraha or the sitting position of the prayer.
Here we recite Tashahhud :
All the best compliments and the
prayers and the good things are for Allah. Allah’s Peace, Mercy
and Blessings be on all Prophets! Peace be on us and on the pious
slaves of Allah, I testify that none has the right to be worshiped
but Allah, and I also testify that Muhammad is Allah’s slave and
His messenger.
التَّحِيَّاتُ
لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ،
السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ
وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ،
السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ
اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ
لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَأَشْهَدُ
أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
When you read the Shahada (testimony of faith – I testify that
none has the right to be worshiped but Allah) ball up your right hand
into a fist and raise your index finger. This symbolizes the tawhid
or oneness of Allah. At this point if the salat consists of more than
two rakat you would say the Takbir, i. e. Allahu akbar and begin the
third rakat. If the prayer only consists of two rakah then you would
continue with the following supplication known as Salawat which is
sends blessings and salutations towards the Prophet Muhammad and
Prophet Ibrahim, may peace be upon them:
O Allah, let Your mercy
come upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You let it come upon
Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim O Allah, bless Muhammad and the
family of Muhammad as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim.
Truly You are Praiseworthy and Glorious.
ٱللَّٰهُمَّ
صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ
مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَىٰ
إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ
إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ ٱللَّٰهُمَّ
بَارِكْ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ
مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَىٰ
إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ
إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ
3.6 End Your Prayers.
If you have completed your prayers, turn your face towards looking
over your right shoulder and then turn to left. Each time recite the
following:
peace and the mercy of Allah be on you.
السَّلاَمُ
عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ
This example completed the two rakah prayer. If you want to do 4 rakah, before end the prayers, do 2 rakah again.
If you can learn Arabian language, it's better to recite in it when you do prayers.
It is recommended to offer Dua (i. e. to pray) after prayer, especially after fardh prayer.
Dua After prayer:
O Allah, help me to remember You and thank
You and help me to the best manner to worship You.
اللَّهُمَّ
أَعِنِّي عَلَى ذِكْرِكَ، وَشُكْرِكَ،
وَحُسْنِ عِبَادَتِكَ
5. How to Do Wudu
O you who believe! When you intend to offer As-Salat (the prayer), wash your faces and your hands (forearms) up to the elbows, rub (by passing wet hands over) your heads, and (wash) your feet up to ankles. If you are in a state of Janaba (i. e. had a sexual discharge), purify yourself (bathe your whole body). But if you are ill or on a journey or any of you comes from answering the call of nature, or you have been in contact with women (i. e. sexual intercourse) and you find no water, then perform Tayammum with clean earth and rub therewith your faces and hands. Allah does not want to place you in difficulty, but He wants to purify you, and to complete His Favor on you that you may be thankful.(The Qur'an, 5:6)
It is better to bring a handful of water into the mouth and rinsing thoroughly, 3 times, and use the right hand to bring water up into the nose sniffing the water, 3 times, and use wet fingers to wipe the inside and outside of the ears. It is said that these were done by Prophet.
Bibliography
1 The Noble Qur'an, English Translation of the Meanings and Commentary, Translated by Dr. Muhammad Taqi-ud-Din and Dr. Al-Hilali Muhammad Muhsin Khan
2 HOW TO PRAY SALAH ACCORDING TO QURAN AND SUNNAH OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD， https://myislam.org/how-to-pray-salah/
3 How to Pray in Islam, https://www.wikihow.com/Pray-in-Islam
4 How Muslims Clean For Prayer, https://www.thoughtco.com
Pictures in this paper are from www.baidu.com or www.bing.com