How To Perform the Muslim Prayers

Five times each day, Muslims bow down to Allah in prayer. If you are learning how to pray, or are just curious about what Muslims do during prayers, follow along with these general guidelines.

Difficulty: Easy

Time Required: 10 minutes

Here's How:

1. Make sure your body and place of prayer are clean. Perform ablutions if necessary. Make the intention to perform your obligatory prayer.
2. Standing, raise hands up and say "Allahu Akbar" (God is Most Great).
3. Standing with hands folded over chest, recite the first chapter of the Qur'an in Arabic. Then recite any other verses of the Qur'an that you would like.
4. Raise hands up, saying "Allahu Akbar." Bow, reciting three times, "Subhana rabbiyal adheem" (Glory be to my Lord Almighty).
5. Rise to standing while reciting "Sam'i Allahu liman hamidah, Rabbana wa lakal hamd" (God hears those who call upon Him; Our Lord, praise be to You).
6. Raise hands up, saying "Allahu Akbar." Prostrate on the ground, reciting three times "Subhana Rabbiyal A'ala" (Glory be to my Lord, the Most High).
7. Rise to a sitting position, saying "Allahu Akbar." Prostrate again in the same manner.
8. Rise to a standing position, saying "Allahu Akbar."
9. This concludes one rak'a (cycle or unit of prayer). Begin again from Step 3 for the second rak'a.
10. After two rak'as, one remains sitting after the prostrations and recites the first part of the Tashahhud in Arabic.
11. If the prayer is to be longer than these two rak'as, one now stands up and begins again to complete the prayer, sitting again after all rak'as have been completed.
12. Recite the second part of the Tashahhud in Arabic.
13. Turn to the right and say "Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah" (Peace be upon you and God's blessings).
14. Turn to the left and repeat the greeting. This concludes the formal prayer.

Tips:

1. There are five daily prayer timings. Formal prayers can be done during a window of time between the start of one prayer and the start of the following prayer.
2. If Arabic is not your native tongue, learn the meanings in your language while trying to practice the Arabic.
3. Software programs are available that can help you learn the correct positions and Arabic pronunciations. Better yet, pray with other Muslims to learn.

What You Need:

• The heart-felt intention to perform the prayer
• A clean body with correct ablutions
• A clean place to pray
• A prayer rug (optional)