Prayer is one of the most important pillars in Islam and is the best and most noble of deeds. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) explained in the hadith narrated by `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud (RAA): "I asked the Messenger of Allah (PBUH): `What deed is most beloved by Allah?' He (PBUH) said, `To offer each prayer as soon as it is due.'" Prayer is the link between the servant and Allah. It is the rich source from which a person derives strength, steadfastness, mercy and contentment, and it is a means of cleansing the stain of his or her sins: Abu Hurayrah (RAA) narrated: "I heard the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) say: `What would you think if there were a river running by the door of any of you, and he bathed in it five times every day, would any trace of dirt be left on him?' The people said: `There would be no trace of dirt on him.' He said: `This is like the five daily prayers, through which Allah (SWT) erases sins.'" [Sharh al- Sunnah 2/175].

If these 3 conditions are fulfiied then compulsory prayer is obliged: Firstly the individual is muslim; they have reached puberty (if younger then prayer should be encouraged); and finally are of sound mind.

Before one can offer Salah and workship Allah, the place where we ray must be clean and we, ourselves must be in a clean and pure state. Clothes must be clean, loose fitting and cover the body. It is essential to do Wudu or Ablution. Salah is not valid without proper wudu. Allah says "Surely Allah loves those who turn to Him and those who care for cleanliness." [The Holy Qur'an 2:22].

"O all you who believe, whenever you intend to perform Salah (prayer), first wash your face and hands up to the elbows, wipe off your heads, and wash your feet up to the ankles. And if you are in the state of Janaba (after sexual discharge), then take a full bath to purify yourselves. But if you are sick or travelling, or any of you has come from the toilet, or had sexual contact with your spouses, and you do not find any water then resort to clean sand or earth, and with it wipe your face and hands." [The Holy Qur'an 5:6]

Animation on 'How to make wudu'

Other conditions which must be fulfilled include:

• Confident of the time of prayer. Being unsure invalidates even if the time turns out correct.
• Facing the qibla (makkah), with the chest facing the direction of kaabah.
• For males, trousers should be overlapping the ankles.

Once you are in a pure state then you are ready to offer salat. Below is a detailed guide on How to pray Salah.

How to Pray Salah

In the Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Most Kind

Step 1- INTENTION

The next step to enter prayer is known as Takbeer-e-Tahreema. Raise both hand up to the ears with the palms facing Qiblah (ladies lift their hands up to their shoulders) and say:

اللّهُ أكبر

"Allahu akbar"

{"Allah is the greatest"}

Now the posture known as qiyaam (meaning standing is assumed. Place the palm of your right hand on the left, just below, above or on the navel (ladies placing their hands on their chest), incline your head and fix your gaze on the floor where the forehead will rest in prostation (sajdah) and say:

سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ وَلاَ إِلَهَ غَيْرُكَ

"Subhanaka Allahumma wa bihamdika wa tabaara kasmuk wa Ta'ala jadduk wa la ilaha ghairuk"

{"Glory be to You, O Allah, and Yours is the praise and blessed is your Name, and exalted is Your Majesty, and there is no god besides You."}

Then recite Surah Fatiha:

أَعُوذُ بِاللهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

اَلْحَمْدُ ِللهِ رَبِّ العَالَمِينَ () الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ () مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ () إيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وإيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ ()

اِهْدِنَا الصِّراطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ () صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ الضَّالِّيِنَ()

"A'udhu Billahi Min ash-Shaitan ir-Rajeem
Bismillahir ramanir rahim
Alhamdulilahi rabbil alamin () Ar-Rahmanir rahim () Maliki yawmid din () iyyaka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'in () ihdinas siratal mustaqim () siratal ladhina an'amta 'alaihim ghairil maghdubi 'alaihim wa lad-dallin ()"

{"I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds () Most Gracious, Most Merciful () Master of the Day of Judgment () Thee do we worship, and Thine aid we seek () Show us the straight path () The way of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace, those whose (portion) is not wrath, and who go not astray ()"}

Now recite the following or any other passage from the Qur'an:

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

قُلْ هُوَ اللهُ اَحَدٌ () اَللهُ الصَّمَدُ () لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ () وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُُفُواً اَحَدٌ

"Bismillahir ramanir rahim
Qul hu Allahu Ahad () Allahu Samad () Lam yalid wa lam yulad () Wa lam yakul lahu kufuwan ahad."

{"In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Say, he is Allah, the One () Allah, the Eternal () He begets not, nor was He begotten () And there is none comparable to Him."}

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Step 4-RUKU

Raise your head and sit upright with knees still on the ground, saying:

اللّهُ أكبر

"Allahu akbar"

{"God is Great"}

The position of Qaidah is assumed. In this position when you sit, tuck your left foot under your right foot, bent towards the right; make sure that it is vertical to the mat with the toes touching the mat. The palms should be lifted from the mat and placed on the knees. Left hand on left knee, and right hand on right knee (as shown in the figure)


Rest for a moment in this position.

Now go down into the second Sajdah, saying:

اللّهُ أكبر

"Allahu akbar"

{"God is Great"}

In the second Sajdah, as before, recite the following words three times:

سُبْـحانَ رَبِّـيَ الأَعْلـى

"Subhana rabbi- al 'ala"

{"Glory to my Lord the Most High."}

Raise your head again, and sit upright with knees still on the ground, saying:

اللّهُ أكبر

"Allahu akbar"

{"God is Great"}

This completes one rakat of Salah.

The second rakat is said in the same way, except that after the second Sajdah (as above), you sit back and don't get up again.

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Step 8-Tashahhud

In the qaidah position, silently say the following Tashahhud:

التَّحِيّـاتُ للهِ وَالصَّلَـواتُ والطَّيِّـبات ، السَّلامُ عَلَيـكَ أَيُّهـا النَّبِـيُّ وَرَحْمَـةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكـاتُه ، السَّلامُ

عَلَيْـنا وَعَلـى عِبـادِ كَ الصَّـالِحـين . أَشْـهَدُ أَنْ لا إِلـهَ إِلاّ الله ، وَأَشْـهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمّـداً عَبْـدُهُ

وَرَسـولُه

"At tahiyyatu lillahi was-salawatu wat-tayyibatu, as-salamu'alaika ayyuhan-Nabbiy wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu. As-salamu 'alaina wa 'ala' ibadil-lahis salihin. Ash hadu an-la Ilaha illAllahu Wa ash hadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa Rasulu."

{"Our salutations, our prayers and all pure things are for Allah. Salutation to you, O Prophet and Mercy and Blessing of Allah. Peace be on us and on all pious servants of Allah. I testify that there is no god but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is the servant and messenger of Allah."}

When you reach the point "La illaha ilAllahu" (I testify that there is no god but Allah), raise the index finger of the right hand. Drop it back down again upon reaching "ilAllahu" (but Allah).

Now turn your face to the right and say:

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ

"Assalamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullah"

{"Peace be on you and mercy of Allah."}

Then turn your face to the left, and repeat, saying:

اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ

"Assalamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullah"

{"Peace be on you and mercy of Allah."}

This Salaam is directed to the angels and the muslims to our right and to the left.

After reciting the above, Salah is complete.